What have you done to your Freelander today

Changed inlet manifold gasket.
It had been leaking water since we bought it and found coolant stains around manifold.
Very easy job! Only slight problem was lower bleed point was blocked with crud. But gave it a poke and it all bled up fine.

Am I weird that I actually enjoy working on her? I'm almost happy when something needs fixing!

Well, a couple of weeks ago I took my nice but expensive and time consuming to maintain TD4 off the road. Dropped it at my parent's house to keep it in storage whilst I borrow a friend's car as a run-around and look for a replacement (as it's getting old and the running costs are too high). However, after sorting a couple of issues (including a relatively easy starter contacts fix) I took it for a drive to a local dealer to get a trade in price and look at a boring estate. How I'd missed it! The upshot is that I missed it so much that it has to stay. I've decided I'm going to get a motorbike for the commute on dry days and keep the TD4 going as long as I can. Despite the constant regular fettling and cosseting that these cars need I just can't part with it. So, what have I done to my freelander today... decided to continue.

Alibro said:

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After yesterday afternoons disastrous events. The highlight of yesterday mornings work, fitting my new 18" spare wheel to the freshly painted carried.

Tonight I rebuilt the starter solenoid, adding copper to the back of the contacts to increase there service life.

Put new VCU bearings on it and took it for an MOT: pass, no advisories!! And that's 2 years running!

Mot'd it too, well yesterday it went through MOT and likewise no issues to report.

Fitted a set of silicone hoses to replace the original rubbers which were very spongy indeed. Cleaned my egr valve out, fitted a new crankcase filter and a new turbo vent filter.

To round off the day I applied a liberal amount gunk to my engine and rinsed it off.

A day well spent.

Today I replaced the tailgate window cables. And got the HP fuel pump off, ready for some new seals.

You have been busy recently. Ive got a list of things that need doIng, and a longer list of things I’d like to do.

One of the joys of owning a Freelander I guess.

Bonkers said:

You have been busy recently. Ive got a list of things that need doIng, and a longer list of things I’d like to do.

One of the joys of owning a Freelander I guess.

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TD4 SE has been an absolute pain this year. I'm thinking of perhaps replacing it next year.

Drove it again

htr said:

Drove it again
View attachment 134166

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Another great pic

Presumably Lake Dunstan in the distance and Cromwell - and assumed the river was the mighty Clutha, but is it the Kawarau? Didn't realise it was so big, just shows how much water goes through the gorge! Already looks quite dry like summer is kicking in down there.

Looks like a very steep decent back into town.

Booked 3 nights in Arrowtown for Feb this weekend

lubricated gear selector mechanism .both ends due to selector being stiff .

* STILL STIFF.*

Today I rebuilt the HP pump. It was very rusty under the cylinder heads, which was a surprise. I suspect that the rust was a contributory factor to leaking. A couple of the fuel gallery seals were also damaged, which wouldn't have helped.
I spent ages cleaning up the surface of the head and body.
Before finally reassembling with new seals.
Fingers crossed it's going to stop leaking now, as the rest of the pump looks in good condition.
I had time to refit the pump to the block, remove my sprocket retainer, refit the sprocket nut and the access plug, before calling it day.

I'm back in action (More or less) after being laid up with hand issues. First it was a "Blender cleaning injury" to my right hand and as soon as that healed I
went in for scheduled surgery on my right hand. Back to work tomorrow but on light duties for a couple of weeks. It will be really nice to be able to use both hands to shower (and pee!)
About all that I have accomplished in the last few weeks is to Rain-X the windscreen in preparation for the winter rains.
Anyway, I have started driving the hippo regularly for the first time since having the V6 apart to replace a camshaft and 4 suspect tappets as well as the cam belts, and am disappointed to find the tappety noise is back again. Just to make it more fun it is now intermittent. There is usually a light noise when the engine is cold which goes away after a couple of minutes. At the end of the trip it comes back, louder, but not always. I have decided to drive it for now and give it a bit of stick and see what happens. If the noise gets worse it may be easier to locate, and if it goes away even better. Of course the engine could blow it's guts all over the road which is another solution.

Fitted the inline thermostat mod quickly after work before heading home. Mine had failed open so at best the needle got to 1/3 warm and I really noticed it this morning trying to warm the cab up! Id also like to think itll help the fuel economy.

I didn't take the inlet manifold off but managed to cut the old hose clamp with a junior hack saw before fitting the new 'stat. Couple of jubilee clips and it's running much warmer!

GrumpyGel said:

Another great pic

Presumably Lake Dunstan in the distance and Cromwell - and assumed the river was the mighty Clutha, but is it the Kawarau? Didn't realise it was so big, just shows how much water goes through the gorge! Already looks quite dry like summer is kicking in down there.

Looks like a very steep decent back into town. It is steep.

Booked 3 nights in Arrowtown for Feb this weekend

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Yes it is the Clutha, the Kawarau is out of sight below the level of the hill. This track was very rough but there has been a digger over it and it's much improved albeit boring! February eh? Catch-up time maybe? Will you be 4WD then?

Just had the tracking done it will be next year when I hopefully go to town on it

htr said:

Yes it is the Clutha, the Kawarau is out of sight below the level of the hill. This track was very rough but there has been a digger over it and it's much improved albeit boring! February eh? Catch-up time maybe? Will you be 4WD then?

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Deffo for a catch-up. Not sure we'll have the Freelander with us - depends how many of us there are. There'll be 2 or 3 driving down and 3 others going Whale watching in Kaikoura while were driving - then they fly down the next day to meet us. So 5 or 6 for the drive back - if I try and get 6 in the Freelander, the Pomms on here will have a right larf when they're watching Highway Cops. Will know nearer the time if Grumpy Jnr will be taking/getting the time off work.

Refitted the old lower tie bar to see if it stops the vibration. Took it for a drive around the block but not sure if its cured anything as the engine was warm, but I think not. Its got to the point where I'm not sure how much the car should shake!

(this might give a clue as to 1 of the bits in the compo thread I just started )