Rescued a Hippo Tonight...

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D

Doo

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Visiting my sister in Banff and needed to pop into the robbi.... I mean very fair (NOT) Esso station for some WD40. I spray it on the door rubbers so I can get in on a frosty day...especially after I just washed her. Her being a P38.

Anyway, I see a man in a Freelander not having much luck starting it.

I asked what was wrong?

"My key wont go in!" :( "I am supposed to collect my wife and I don't have the phone so I cant even call her...."

I had a look. The little metal thingy was preventing the key going into the ignition. I fixed it in less than 5 seconds ;)

Got a toenail clippers, the ones with the little file and a pointy pick on the end. Slipped it in, lifted the little metal thingy and popped the key in beside it, pulled out the file and fired her up :cool:

Happy? He was almost in tears! He'd been there for ages and was panicking. Gave me 20 quid :) Tried to refuse but "you saved my life!" and he forced it in my hand. He went off happy as larry :D

So, there we go, an easy fix and at the side of the road with a toenail clippers :D:D

Yes, yes, I'm a genius, but then with LR ownership, you have to be :p
 
Doo said:
Visiting my sister in Banff and needed to pop into the robbi.... I mean very fair (NOT) Esso station for some WD40. I spray it on the door rubbers so I can get in on a frosty day...especially after I just washed her. Her being a P38.

Anyway, I see a man in a Freelander not having much luck starting it.

I asked what was wrong?

"My key wont go in!" :( "I am supposed to collect my wife and I don't have the phone so I cant even call her...."

I had a look. The little metal thingy was preventing the key going into the ignition. I fixed it in less than 5 seconds ;)

Got a toenail clippers, the ones with the little file and a pointy pick on the end. Slipped it in, lifted the little metal thingy and popped the key in beside it, pulled out the file and fired her up :cool:

Happy? He was almost in tears! He'd been there for ages and was panicking. Gave me 20 quid :) Tried to refuse but "you saved my life!" and he forced it in my hand. He went off happy as larry :D

So, there we go, an easy fix and at the side of the road with a toenail clippers :D:D

Yes, yes, I'm a genius, but then with LR ownership, you have to be :p
Click to expand...

Try a smear of petroleum jelly on the door rubbers instead ....
 
Nodge68 said:
Or silicone spray lube.
Click to expand...

They had none! Lucky they had WD... It was almost 8 feckin quid :eek::eek::eek:

But forget the rubbers (ooerr o_O:eek::confused: ) what about my ingenious rescue, is it helpful to the Freelander blokes??

Not looking for praise, but I am interested if this is a worthwhile fix, even if just to get you home. It would mean I carry a nail file in my rescue pack ;)
 
Doo said:
They had none! Lucky they had WD... It was almost 8 feckin quid :eek::eek::eek:

But forget the rubbers (ooerr o_O:eek::confused: ) what about my ingenious rescue, is it helpful to the Freelander blokes??

Not looking for praise, but I am interested if this is a worthwhile fix, even if just to get you home. It would mean I carry a nail file in my rescue pack ;)
Click to expand...

£8 for WD40:eek::eek::eek::eek: I'd have left it on the shelf. :confused:

Good fix, to a problem that isn't very common.
 
I rescued one on Thursday too, I dragged it 3/4 of a mile as his rear wheels wouldn't turn
& it was snowing heavily so into low box & dragged it to a safer place, passed it today its still
sitting there !!
 
Ahhhhhhhrrrr you see just like the war.....we all know we can act like knobs when it don't matter but when the chips are down and a Brit is in need regardless what landy they have. You know what to do when the time calls for you to do your DUTY!
 
kevstar said:
I rescued one on Thursday too, I dragged it 3/4 of a mile as his rear wheels wouldn't turn
& it was snowing heavily so into low box & dragged it to a safer place, passed it today its still
sitting there !!
Click to expand...

It's obviously running 2WD. It's possible the owner doesn't even know. Many FL1 get sold by unscrupulous traders without the rear propshafts. Or the owner may have had the propshafts removed to "improve economy" which it doesn't. A 2WD Freelander is a useless Freelander imho.
 
Nodge68 said:
It's obviously running 2WD. It's possible the owner doesn't even know. Many FL1 get sold by unscrupulous traders without the rear propshafts. Or the owner may have had the propshafts removed to "improve economy" which it doesn't. A 2WD Freelander is a useless Freelander imho.
Click to expand...

Your probably right but there was no way I was lying underneath to find out, I was happy enough to take it
to a safer place & take the chap home :)
 
Nodge68 said:
IA 2WD Freelander is a useless Freelander imho.
Click to expand...
Mine is offended at your statement. :eek:

Been a great family wagon and general tour bus for 4 years in 2WD.

Its because of that, that it hasn't gone back to 4WD.

...and, the boys with toys here love my Freelander - they get to practice their recovery techniques when I venture into places I shouldn't really think of going to :)
 
GrumpyGel said:
Mine is offended at your statement. :eek:

Been a great family wagon and general tour bus for 4 years in 2WD.

Its because of that, that it hasn't gone back to 4WD.

...and, the boys with toys here love my Freelander - they get to practice their recovery techniques when I venture into places I shouldn't really think of going to :)
Click to expand...

How about this. A 2WD Freelander isn't a useless vehicle, but hopeless in snow? ;)
 
kevstar said:
Your probably right but there was no way I was lying underneath to find out, I was happy enough to take it
to a safer place & take the chap home :)
Click to expand...
I saw a whole host of modern SUVs spinning front wheels frantically and going nowhere. While me with a Freelander full of BMW owning colleagues drove straight past, like there wasn't any snow at all. One colleague who's recently bought a new BMW said "maybe I bought the wrong new car". :D
 
Doo said:
Visiting my sister in Banff and needed to pop into the robbi.... I mean very fair (NOT) Esso station for some WD40. I spray it on the door rubbers so I can get in on a frosty day...especially after I just washed her. Her being a P38.

Anyway, I see a man in a Freelander not having much luck starting it.

I asked what was wrong?

"My key wont go in!" :( "I am supposed to collect my wife and I don't have the phone so I cant even call her...."

I had a look. The little metal thingy was preventing the key going into the ignition. I fixed it in less than 5 seconds ;)

Got a toenail clippers, the ones with the little file and a pointy pick on the end. Slipped it in, lifted the little metal thingy and popped the key in beside it, pulled out the file and fired her up :cool:

Happy? He was almost in tears! He'd been there for ages and was panicking. Gave me 20 quid :) Tried to refuse but "you saved my life!" and he forced it in my hand. He went off happy as larry :D

So, there we go, an easy fix and at the side of the road with a toenail clippers :D:D



Yes, yes, I'm a genius, but then with LR ownership, you have to be :p
Click to expand...

Well done - sorry if my humour offended anyone - especially freelander queens ;)
 
Last edited:
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