Freelander 1 Newbie fed up with garages ripping me off

i love my 2004 Freelander TD4 3dr sport auto. 78,000 miles. I have It serviced every year with a local mechanic who I’ve trusted for years with the little steed.. However I am beginning to have doubts.

This weekend the TD4 started billowing black smoke. My world was ending ahhh my baby was dying. I had a look on this forum and it turns out to be a intercooler hose. Had a look and sure enough it was the first hose and it was a 3 inch gash. By the power of the internet I recon I can get a bit of hose and tackle this problem.

HOWEVER in reasearching the TD4 there seems to be quite a few things I could tackle. I watched a video of a chap in Greece servicing his 06 TD4. I then had a look at my engine bay and it is a right mess. The screws are missing all over the place. The intercooler pipes are not secured and I am doubting that hardly ANY of the filters have been done. I wonder if the oil has been changed as there is a big pan to remove and they would have just sodded it probably

I recon I could do a lot more little jobs and sod the mechanics. I can mend the intercooler hose just for now but there is so much rust underneath.... The bar things that go to the front wheels are very very rusted. My anti roll bar rubber bits at the back are grumbling and I am missing so many screws and stuff I don’t know where to start. Especially with this new MOT all these bits need sorting with love.

I got tools and I’m reasonably handy but I don’t even know how to use axle stands. One major problem is knowing what things are called. I cannot lookup help if I don’t know what it’s called hehe

ITS NOT ABOUT THE MONEY it about giving the love. It is such a great little car even though there is no diff lock it gets me everywhere I aught to be and some places I shouldn’t.

So hello to you all I might fire the odd question? Or post the odd photo asking what’s this called etc. I think it might be fun

Thank you all

Go for it. I always do my own work. One time I didn't- I got myself an 87 quattro with full history so I left it in to get the stamp. Feck that, the main dealer used the wrong oil, only changed 1 oil filter , there's 2, didn't have the other one, broke a fog light fixing a bulb that wasn't blown...never again.

SWalker said:

Go for it. I always do my own work. One time I didn't- I got myself an 87 quattro with full history so I left it in to get the stamp. Feck that, the main dealer used the wrong oil, only changed 1 oil filter , there's 2, didn't have the other one, broke a fog light fixing a bulb that wasn't blown...never again.

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So I’m not alone haha
I am just a bit shocked at what’s been bodged for big money

There is an old saying if you want something doing right do it your self, so yes go ahead tackle those jobs you will get plenty of advice and help here on the FL forum

The Heinz Manwell and downloading a copy of RAVE are good reference points, then look through the threads on here to see how others have tackled things.

There is something rewarding about doing these things yourself and learning along the way. Even when you are stuck underneath the vehicle loosing skin off your knuckles trying to get a 15 year old rusted nut to shift!

You might want to work out how axle stands work before going anywhere near your car


Anyway!

As said above if you want a job done right, do it yourself!!

Welcome to the club, if you can take any amount of abuse from Hippo for not being perfect then you will stay the course. He’s only made me cry a couple of times and I am still here

Henry_b said:

You might want to work out how axle stands work before going anywhere near your car


Anyway!

As said above if you want a job done right, do it yourself!!

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I am going to have a word with a chap I know round the corner and ask him to have a look at my placement etc of the axle stands. He is into his land rovers and I’m sure he won’t mind making sure I’m safe

4Bee4Bee said:

The Heinz Manwell and downloading a copy of RAVE are good reference points, then look through the threads on here to see how others have tackled things.

There is something rewarding about doing these things yourself and learning along the way. Even when you are stuck underneath the vehicle loosing skin off your knuckles trying to get a 15 year old rusted nut to shift!

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I have always struggled with Haines manuals but I will have a look. Not heard of RAVE

I was in the same boat but with a little help & advice I've managed to get hands on & do things myself.

A service is a good place to start as far as learning goes imo. There are videos & plenty of help about.

Novice_27 said:

i love my 2004 Freelander TD4 3dr sport auto. 78,000 miles. I have It serviced every year with a local mechanic who I’ve trusted for years with the little steed.. However I am beginning to have doubts.

This weekend the TD4 started billowing black smoke. My world was ending ahhh my baby was dying. I had a look on this forum and it turns out to be a intercooler hose. Had a look and sure enough it was the first hose and it was a 3 inch gash. By the power of the internet I recon I can get a bit of hose and tackle this problem.

HOWEVER in reasearching the TD4 there seems to be quite a few things I could tackle. I watched a video of a chap in Greece servicing his 06 TD4. I then had a look at my engine bay and it is a right mess. The screws are missing all over the place. The intercooler pipes are not secured and I am doubting that hardly ANY of the filters have been done. I wonder if the oil has been changed as there is a big pan to remove and they would have just sodded it probably

I recon I could do a lot more little jobs and sod the mechanics. I can mend the intercooler hose just for now but there is so much rust underneath.... The bar things that go to the front wheels are very very rusted. My anti roll bar rubber bits at the back are grumbling and I am missing so many screws and stuff I don’t know where to start. Especially with this new MOT all these bits need sorting with love.

I got tools and I’m reasonably handy but I don’t even know how to use axle stands. One major problem is knowing what things are called. I cannot lookup help if I don’t know what it’s called hehe

ITS NOT ABOUT THE MONEY it about giving the love. It is such a great little car even though there is no diff lock it gets me everywhere I aught to be and some places I shouldn’t.

So hello to you all I might fire the odd question? Or post the odd photo asking what’s this called etc. I think it might be fun

Thank you all

Click to expand...

I started oft the same as you. Used a garage which did a good job but then they messed up so I thought I'd have a go meself. That were years ago. I loves ma hippo anorl. Freelanders rule.

Been looking after my Freelander over 10 years, and I haven't killed myself or the car yet, and it's an auto.
Research, take your time, and shout for help before you break something.
And Welcome
Mike

I've always done all my own spanner work and don't trust anyone to do a job as well as me

I don't use axle stands for supporting vehicles. I use blocks of timber under the sub-frames. These are more stable than stands, and don't chip the paint or dent the underside. Remember that if you use axle stands, you need a trolley jack to go with them. Only lift the complete front or back, which is why the trolley jack is needed.

Yeh, go for it. When I was young I did bits and pieces on my car, but then just put them into a garage after that. Then got fed up with garages doing a poor job, so decided to do all maintenance myself. I've had my Freelander for 8 years and done all the maintenance on it apart from changing the timing belts. I'm no ninja mechanic, but have kept the old girl reliable and in decent condition. Most jobs on a car don't require an awful lot of knowledge, especially when there's help on the forum, but they do usually require care which you'll give it if you're doing you're own car. Freelanders are very easy cars to work on. You get a bit more space to work in as its a bit bigger than a 'normal' car, but all the bits are 'car' bits rather than big heavy cumbersome 4WD truck type bits. Its a good combo for working on them.

As for the axle stands, like most things, nobody knows what to do with them when they first need to use them in anger. Just ask around for advice. I've had my car up on axle stands on numerous occasions and it still scares me a bit. I won't get under the car if its on axle stands if I can help it - I will either drive (or jack) the car onto blocks (I use paving blocks but search hippo ramps!) or use my inspection pit (I'm lucky to have one). I try to only use axle stands when doing stuff like brakes when I'm working side on to the car. Even then, I'll still have both my trolly jacks supporting bits and the wheels below the sills

As said, you'll get a great deal of satisfaction from it, even if getting to that point may be fraught at times, and you'll save yourself a load of cash. I think of it as one of my hobbies - which it is.

Ahh the good old day's when I used the supplied scissor jack, removed a wheel then pushed it under the car then crawled around underneath. Mind you was a lot braver and thinner then !
Don't do this at home !

GrumpyGel said:

Yeh, go for it. When I was young I did bits and pieces on my car, but then just put them into a garage after that. Then got fed up with garages doing a poor job, so decided to do all maintenance myself. I've had my Freelander for 8 years and done all the maintenance on it apart from changing the timing belts. I'm no ninja mechanic, but have kept the old girl reliable and in decent condition. Most jobs on a car don't require an awful lot of knowledge, especially when there's help on the forum, but they do usually require care which you'll give it if you're doing you're own car. Freelanders are very easy cars to work on. You get a bit more space to work in as its a bit bigger than a 'normal' car, but all the bits are 'car' bits rather than big heavy cumbersome 4WD truck type bits. Its a good combo for working on them.

As for the axle stands, like most things, nobody knows what to do with them when they first need to use them in anger. Just ask around for advice. I've had my car up on axle stands on numerous occasions and it still scares me a bit. I won't get under the car if its on axle stands if I can help it - I will either drive (or jack) the car onto blocks (I use paving blocks but search hippo ramps!) or use my inspection pit (I'm lucky to have one). I try to only use axle stands when doing stuff like brakes when I'm working side on to the car. Even then, I'll still have both my trolly jacks supporting bits and the wheels below the sills

As said, you'll get a great deal of satisfaction from it, even if getting to that point may be fraught at times, and you'll save yourself a load of cash. I think of it as one of my hobbies - which it is.

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But G, weren't cars made out of canvas when you were young ( sorry )

Stuart hall said:

But G, weren't cars made out of canvas when you were young ( sorry )

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When I was young, cars were generally much more interesting, but far less reliable!

when I was very young cars seemed much bigger but when I see them now they seem a lot smaller than I remember ,the only comment is when you are undoing a nut and there is a bit of thread for it to come off is to brush that threat with a wire brush then spray on some oil you would be surprised how much better they come off.

I don't like them 3 legged axle stands, you have to be very carefull on how you position them. Also, soft Tarmac is the DIY mechanics enemy.

Col