What have you done to your Freelander today

htr said:

Recently added an oil temperature gauge.

Click to expand...

I never realised HTR stood for Harvey the Rabbit, marvellous
Nice job BTW.
Mike

New pads, discs and O/S caliper.

At Kwik-Fit.

It was an emergency.

They did a good job TBH. Got me out of the sticky stuff.

Tempus Fugit said:

New pads, discs and O/S caliper.

At Kwik-Fit.

It was an emergency.

They did a good job TBH. Got me out of the sticky stuff.

Click to expand...

Brave man using K-fit to fix your brakes. Must have deep pockets too.
Mate of mine took his company car there for a noise coming from the brakes. It was probably a stone but they quoted for new disks and pads. The car only had 38k miles on it but they insisted it was dangerous.
Needless to say when checked by the dealer there was nothing wrong with the disks but they changed the pads.

Alibro said:

Brave man using K-fit to fix your brakes. Must have deep pockets too.
Mate of mine took his company car there for a noise coming from the brakes. It was probably a stone but they quoted for new disks and pads. The car only had 38k miles on it but they insisted it was dangerous.
Needless to say when checked by the dealer there was nothing wrong with the disks but they changed the pads.

Click to expand...

Had the phone call one dreads, so had no choice. Could have tried the city's Landy dealer, would probably have had an even bigger bill and told they couldn't do it until a week next Christmas. Sometimes needs must. Annoying thing is a job I could have done myself. Oh well.

Tempus Fugit said:

Had the phone call one dreads, so had no choice. Could have tried the city's Landy dealer, would probably have had an even bigger bill and told they couldn't do it until a week next Christmas. Sometimes needs must. Annoying thing is a job I could have done myself. Oh well.

Click to expand...

I have a local lad who does work like that if I'm stuck. He used to put all our cars through MOT before I got my garage built and started doing the work myself.
Very handy to have someone like that for just such emergencies.

Not exactly today, but a few weeks ago I put TPMS sensors on the wheels so I can keep an eye on tyre pressures during journeys.

I went for the TyrePal Solar 4, which cost ~£100. The sensors screw into the valves externally, so replace the standard caps with a more chunky cap that has the sensor in it. To prevent corrosion, (I assume), a rubber sleeve covers both the valve stem and the sides of the cape. (I'll take a photo an post, once I figure out setting up a photo album site). The overall look doesn't look out of place of something like the Freelander. They just look like slightly chunky valves on the wheels. (There is nut which is supposed to make theft more difficult. But I'm not convinced it does much to make them any more secure).

Anyway. It's interesting to see the tyre pressure and temperature on each tyre being reported continuously throughout the journeys. I have my cold tyre pressure set to 33PSI, and as the tyres heat up on a motorway, they do creep up, (as expected), to 34/35, as does the temperature a little. The pressures have been rock solid over the past month, and with a mix of motorway and local journeys, which must total around 800 miles.

Just need to find a permanent home to put the monitor. At the moment it just lives in the little cubby hole right of the steering wheel. Motivation for buying... until the Freelander, I've never really given much thought to tyres, other than checking pressure if they looked a bit low, and making sure they were legal. But with sensitive drivetrain I'm a bit paranoid about messing things up with a tyre that has a slow puncture. Also, earlier this year I had an issue with one of the front brake callipers seizing, and causing the wheel to overheat. The reason for the Freelander suddenly feeling sluggish was apparent when I got home and saw, in the rain, as the water droplets were vaporising as they landed on the wheel and tyre! - With those dodgy little guide pins that look like they could fail again quite easily, I want to be warned in advance next time!

Let's just hope no one pinches these little things.

Jim
(PS not noticed any wheel balancing issues after fitting them - the 6g weight is not supposed to affect balancing)

4Bee4Bee said:

Not exactly today, but a few weeks ago I put TPMS sensors on the wheels so I can keep an eye on tyre pressures during journeys.

I went for the TyrePal Solar 4, which cost ~£100. The sensors screw into the valves externally, so replace the standard caps with a more chunky cap that has the sensor in it. To prevent corrosion, (I assume), a rubber sleeve covers both the valve stem and the sides of the cape. (I'll take a photo an post, once I figure out setting up a photo album site). The overall look doesn't look out of place of something like the Freelander. They just look like slightly chunky valves on the wheels. (There is nut which is supposed to make theft more difficult. But I'm not convinced it does much to make them any more secure).

Anyway. It's interesting to see the tyre pressure and temperature on each tyre being reported continuously throughout the journeys. I have my cold tyre pressure set to 33PSI, and as the tyres heat up on a motorway, they do creep up, (as expected), to 34/35, as does the temperature a little. The pressures have been rock solid over the past month, and with a mix of motorway and local journeys, which must total around 800 miles.

Just need to find a permanent home to put the monitor. At the moment it just lives in the little cubby hole right of the steering wheel. Motivation for buying... until the Freelander, I've never really given much thought to tyres, other than checking pressure if they looked a bit low, and making sure they were legal. But with sensitive drivetrain I'm a bit paranoid about messing things up with a tyre that has a slow puncture. Also, earlier this year I had an issue with one of the front brake callipers seizing, and causing the wheel to overheat. The reason for the Freelander suddenly feeling sluggish was apparent when I got home and saw, in the rain, as the water droplets were vaporising as they landed on the wheel and tyre! - With those dodgy little guide pins that look like they could fail again quite easily, I want to be warned in advance next time!

Let's just hope no one pinches these little things.

Jim
(PS not noticed any wheel balancing issues after fitting them - the 6g weight is not supposed to affect balancing)

Click to expand...

They sound like a great idea. I guess the only question is how long they will last for. I can't see anyone pinching them as only you will ever notice they are there.

Each sensor has its own replaceable battery, which is supposed to last a year. It only starts transmitting when there is movement, and thereafter only if there is a change in pressure / temperature.

You can buy aftermarket systems that have the sensor integrated into the valve inside the rim, just like new cars have. They have a larger battery in them that should last several years, and when the tyre is fitted, can be balanced to account for the extra weight. It would have meant for me, I'd have to get 5 sensors for tyre wear rotation, and paid to have them all refitted.

If the ones I have get pinched, I might go that route. But like you say it's hopefully only going to be me that notices that they are on an (often) dirty old 4x4.

Jim

Fitted a good used power fold mirror to the drivers door as the existing one needed a helping hand to unfold every time. Very satisfied for £29 and half an hour of my time.

4Bee4Bee said:

Not exactly today, but a few weeks ago I put TPMS sensors on the wheels so I can keep an eye on tyre pressures during journeys.

I went for the TyrePal Solar 4, which cost ~£100. The sensors screw into the valves externally, so replace the standard caps with a more chunky cap that has the sensor in it. To prevent corrosion, (I assume), a rubber sleeve covers both the valve stem and the sides of the cape. (I'll take a photo an post, once I figure out setting up a photo album site). The overall look doesn't look out of place of something like the Freelander. They just look like slightly chunky valves on the wheels. (There is nut which is supposed to make theft more difficult. But I'm not convinced it does much to make them any more secure).

Anyway. It's interesting to see the tyre pressure and temperature on each tyre being reported continuously throughout the journeys. I have my cold tyre pressure set to 33PSI, and as the tyres heat up on a motorway, they do creep up, (as expected), to 34/35, as does the temperature a little. The pressures have been rock solid over the past month, and with a mix of motorway and local journeys, which must total around 800 miles.

Just need to find a permanent home to put the monitor. At the moment it just lives in the little cubby hole right of the steering wheel. Motivation for buying... until the Freelander, I've never really given much thought to tyres, other than checking pressure if they looked a bit low, and making sure they were legal. But with sensitive drivetrain I'm a bit paranoid about messing things up with a tyre that has a slow puncture. Also, earlier this year I had an issue with one of the front brake callipers seizing, and causing the wheel to overheat. The reason for the Freelander suddenly feeling sluggish was apparent when I got home and saw, in the rain, as the water droplets were vaporising as they landed on the wheel and tyre! - With those dodgy little guide pins that look like they could fail again quite easily, I want to be warned in advance next time!

Let's just hope no one pinches these little things.

Jim
(PS not noticed any wheel balancing issues after fitting them - the 6g weight is not supposed to affect balancing)

Click to expand...

An interesting accessory to add in a FL1! Definitely something I'd consider. I'd prob' look at one that fits into the lighter socket as I can't really see where to mount the other types. I think some would look odd stuck on top of the instrument housing 'binnacle?' and poss' block the view of the instruments / warning lights if mounted in\]front of the speedo / on the steering column shroud.... One stuck on the windshield glass would perhaps further block forward view too, lots gets hidden behind those stout A pillars! Any chance of a pic to show what that screen looks like.

Ok, my first attempt at posting photos...
Here are some pictures of the TPMS wheel sensors in situ...




And the readout in its current temporary home...


It could live up here, without obscuring the instruments though...

Those are really neat, the only thieves that'll ever spot those are ones looking for them.
Can't be that many people out there looking for tyre sensors. Can there?

Impressed with that TPMS setup, a good price too.

Today, I changed the fuel filter that lives under the rear wheel arch. Not difficult, and thankfully all the bolts came out!

Needless to say, everything has gone back liberally coated with grease.

I even remade the earth contact to the filter using a paper clip for now…

installed my twin volt meters to show main battery and aux battery.
had to run the neutral of both meters throw a relay so they both come on with the ign.
i only get true reading of the aux battery before the engine is running.
but thats good anothe

Nodge68 said:

It's strange why V6s suffer from so many HGFs in NZ. In the UK the V6 doesn't suffer so badly. HGF on the V6 isn't unknown but it's not super common. It can normally be attributed to some other cooling system fault first. I like the KV6 which is why I'm looking to install one in my MGF!!

Click to expand...

When I bought my Freelander recently I did it with the idea that I could always use the KV6 in my MGF, but I am enjoying the Hippo so much that is out of the question. Almost all of the Freelanders here are KV6. The only TD4 I have seen is a conversion that was recently for sale for $10,500.cdn. That's $3500. more than I paid for my 2004 KV6. I was surprised that the book value for mine was $9000. as that price is almost unheard of. It's very common to see Freelanders for sale with dead engines. They all seem to be due to cam belt or head gasket problems so those in NZ aren't the only ones who tend to ignore maintenance.

I got a couple of small jobs out of the way. Bought a set of wheel center caps off E-bay but got grey ones instead of silver as the seller was too lazy to put the proper picture in his ad. I left negative feedback and he sent me a refund which was enough to buy some silver wheel paint to repaint them. Also repainted the worn inner door pulls at the same time and replaced the rear wiper blade for good measure. While at the back I realised the previous owner had installed the spare wheel with three McGard locking nuts and didn't provide the key so I have ordered a new set of locks online and will butcher the old ones off. Here's hoping I don't get a flat before that's done!

Rich in Vancouver said:

When I bought my Freelander recently I did it with the idea that I could always use the KV6 in my MGF, but I am enjoying the Hippo so much that is out of the question. Almost all of the Freelanders here are KV6. The only TD4 I have seen is a conversion that was recently for sale for $10,500.cdn. That's $3500. more than I paid for my 2004 KV6. I was surprised that the book value for mine was $9000. as that price is almost unheard of. It's very common to see Freelanders for sale with dead engines. They all seem to be due to cam belt or head gasket problems so those in NZ aren't the only ones who tend to ignore maintenance.

Click to expand...

Hi Rich.
Good to see you hereabouts and glad to see someone else is as daft as me to own a MGF and then buy a Freelander.
If your like me you'll probably end up spending too much time in this forum and pretty much ignoring .org. It seems to be kinda dead these days.

Cheers mate
Alibro

Alibro said:

Hi Rich.
Good to see you hereabouts and glad to see someone else is as daft as me to own a MGF and then buy a Freelander.
If your like me you'll probably end up spending too much time in this forum and pretty much ignoring .org. It seems to be kinda dead these days.

Cheers mate
Alibro

Click to expand...

Nice to meet you. I've been obsessing on the MGF for the last three years and have pretty much got it sorted out (knock on wood!) so it's nice to have a new vehicle to play with.
I don't go on the MG forums as much as I used to as I've seem all of the questions time and time again.
My wife has already started rolling her eyes every time I mention the Freelander. Tomorrow we move into a new home and I finally get myself a garage. No more working outside in the rain. I'm sure that the place will be plugged up with piles of boxes for the next few weeks but I'm looking forward to having a bit of fun playing with the cars while she is upstairs watching home improvement shows.
Rich

You'll maybe get some carbon fibre bits done for the Freelander. It was you did the binnacle similar to mine wasn't it. Unfortunately although they are really nice to drive they suffer from similar build quality to the MGF.

Alibro said:

You'll maybe get some carbon fibre bits done for the Freelander. It was you did the binnacle similar to mine wasn't it. Unfortunately although they are really nice to drive they suffer from similar build quality to the MGF.

Click to expand...

Aha! I knew your name was familiar. After owning F's for a few years the Hippo doesn't worry me too much. Like you say they are really pretty similar. I have a Blackbox Nano diagnostic setup and will get the Freelander software to go with it.
I did the carbon fibre binnacle on the F but apparently the resin wasn't UV resistant and it went all milky and looks terrible. I'm trying to decide whether to cover it with leather or just paint it. That will be a good winter project. My current big job on the F is finishing an alloy hardtop I bought from Mike Satur when he moved his warehouse. I'm going to have a go at polishing it for the fighter plane look. The Freelander doesn't need much. I'm going to change all of the fluids and install a bluetooth head unit. Other than that the sunroof isn't working but that can wait as it has air-con for the summer

Alibro said:

Hi Rich.
Good to see you hereabouts and glad to see someone else is as daft as me to own a MGF and then buy a Freelander.
If your like me you'll probably end up spending too much time in this forum and pretty much ignoring .org. It seems to be kinda dead these days.

Cheers mate
Alibro

Click to expand...

I guess everyones FL is running well at the moment! Rich, Welcome to the club?, fraternity? group? Madness, yes that's it. I drive a 4 cylinder petrol in NZ.