Possible VCU problem - South Wales

Well it looks like I may have to put my replacement ignition on hold

I might be over-reacting, having only had this car a week, but I'm a bit concerned about the VCU. The horror stories of what can happen if it packs in have put me a bit on edge.

I was thinking it might be in my best interest to get it checked out. I read Mad Hat Man's testing thread & tried the full lock-reverse test, but having had the car such a short time I've nothing to compare it's current driving state to. Anyone know of a good place in the Newport/Cardiff area where I can take the car for a check-up? I've heard that people in the know can tell if the VCU needs replacing from a quick drive.

Put it on a flat road, drive forward in first, and get a feel of the car. Then put it in reverse and drive, if it feels like the brakes are on , your vcu is chuffed.
Mike

The "one wheel up" test seems quite reliable.

It's always worth checking but have you got any real reason to think it might be faulty?
What is the mileage?

No point in going backwards in a straight line, you need to put it on full lock, one way or other, do not touch throttle, and then lift clutch and move in as tight a circle as possable still on tickover. If the VCU is seized or close to it, it will feel as though the brakes are dragging, trying to slow you down. If VCU is ok then you should be able to reverse with no problem, do not try it on a loose surface, you need the grip to feel any drag. Another quick check, is to chalk a line on the two ends of the VCU and then drive around the block, if the lines still line up, you have a problem.

BigRog said:

Another quick check, is to chalk a line on the two ends of the VCU and then drive around the block, if the lines still line up, you have a problem.

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It's very unlikely that they will line up even if there is a problem with the VCU.
Even when faulty they don't tend to lock completely, rather they just stiffen up and slip less.

bukko said:

It's very unlikely that they will line up even if there is a problem with the VCU.
Even when faulty they don't tend to lock completely, rather they just stiffen up and slip less.

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This^^^^
A Chalk line on the VCU is a worthless test. Even a severely stiffened VCU will still slip, it has no choice as the transmission forces it to. This is why so much damage is done. The IRD and rear diff are pretty sturdy units, but they can't survive the massive extra strain for long. The very best test is the one wheel up test.

jrp353 said:

Well it looks like I may have to put my replacement ignition on hold

I might be over-reacting, having only had this car a week, but I'm a bit concerned about the VCU. The horror stories of what can happen if it packs in have put me a bit on edge.

I was thinking it might be in my best interest to get it checked out. I read Mad Hat Man's testing thread & tried the full lock-reverse test, but having had the car such a short time I've nothing to compare it's current driving state to. Anyone know of a good place in the Newport/Cardiff area where I can take the car for a check-up? I've heard that people in the know can tell if the VCU needs replacing from a quick drive.

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Bell Engineering.co.uk are not too far away, near mid Wales border in England. Give them a call.

Okay folks, based on everything you told me I went out and tried the lot.

I tried full-lock in reverse again & noticed no obvious resistance or engine braking aside from what you would usually get.
I tried jacking the back wheel and rotating it in 1st gear with the handbrake off. It rotated slowly, maybe only a centimetre at a time, but movement none the less.
And finally for good measure I tried chalking the vcu. Took it for a drive of a mile or so and the marks are most definitely not in line with one another.

I will admit that I'm satisfied for now & my mind has been put at rest somewhat. Cheers all for the advice.

If you do happen to venture near to Bell Engineering, I believe they will test your VCU for free.

sometimes you can read into things too much when I was a lad of 17 I had just started to be a mechanic and thought I knew everything there was to know mind you in those days in the 60s you did not have all the gismos that are about today , and I was reading a book on how to check your big ends bearing so I thought I can do that ,so I undid the sump on a Hillman minx and dropped the bearings .now I had not done this before
and guess what I put the bearing back in the wrong way around ,and within a day the engine which was a sweet as a nut had gone bang, after that I learnt the right way and never read into book or mags too much.so the moral is do not go around reading all the negatives read the good ones too.

I think you can also see the mileage...if it has more than 120-150.000 kms (74.000-93.000 miles) and it's never been changed, it usually has to be replaced immediately.

Does the car have matched tyres?, if they are mismatched then get them changed ASAP-at least the rears anyway, read the numerous threads on VCUs and you'll see how important tyres are to preserving the VCU.

Yep, got a full set of matching tyres, though there's not much life left in them. Really should get a new set.

As for mileage, it's on about 132k miles, but I've got no documentation of previous work shop no idea if the vcu has already been replaced.

The VCU is stamped with its type and year like GKN-V 405520 06 369 (mine is a 2006 TD4). Anyway, the point is that if the year of your car and the stamp on the VCU correspond then it's likely it's still the original.

This thread might help: http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f9/serial-number-location-231153.html

my old freelander lasted about 173,000 miles before the vcu gave any problems
but what ever you do, do not go to land rover spares north east as they are now ,they used to be freelander spares there are lots of scary stories about vcu from them on here.

teddywood1 said:

sometimes you can read into things too much. so the moral is do not go around reading all the negatives read the good ones too.

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^^^ this. Must admit I've read so many horror stories about all the things that can go wrong with freelancers that I'm now scared ****less every time I drive it listening for every sound and grumble and figuring it's going to explode any second.

Tbh I'm something of a worrier when it comes to things like this anyway. As for my reasoning, it may seem like a bit of an overreaction but it was based on this:
In my old car (a Kia Soul) if I was pulling into a parking space on full lock, I could just put the clutch in and coast into the space. With the Freelander, he comes to a stop about halfway into the space if I'm just using the clutch. In my head this sounded like the engine braking that happens when the VCU is knackered.
My mind tends to assume the worst.

If you want a good local landy specialist to look at it go here http://www.landroverpromec.co.uk
I'm in Cardiff. If you want to meet up and compare how your vcu feels with mine (ooh er mrs) then pm me

A 32mm socket with 1/2 inch drive is £5.39 from machine mart. Most peeps have a 1/2" wrench.

Clarke PRO268 32mm 1/2" Drive 'Flat Drive' Metric Socket - Machine Mart

You can then try the "one wheel up test".

Also try the "turnip test" which is free (betterer with am infra red thermometer).

Thanks for the help guys. Took it to a local Land Rover specialist today after checking the serial number on the VCU (turns out it was the original). He thinks that it's definitely on its way out & while I guess he could just be thinking of the money, I figure it's better to be safe than sorry.
My only question now is, if I get a replacement from Bell, how much labour am I likely to pay?
I have a local garage I've always taken my cars to, just want to know how long a job it is. 1 hour, 2... 3?