What's my problem?

ok, so my 1.8 Xi s/wagon freelander (T plate) has developed a few 'issues' - the symptoms are:

1. Cluncking noise eminating from the rear of the car when pulling away in 1st, 2nd and less occasionally 3rd gear.

2. When steering is in full lock (left or right) in 1st gear, the car comes to a halt/stalls.

3. Similarly to point 2, when reversing whilst having the steering wheel engaged in a full left or right lock the engine seems to lose drive/power (it's as though the handbrake is on while reversing - though it's not!)

Having searched through various threads, the symptoms seem similar to various other threads which point towards the "VCU" or "IDR" units being knackered????....

Could anyone help to shed any further, more specific light on my problem, how I can carry out diagnostics which would help to confirm the problem(s) and any further advice on getting it sorted?

Thanks in advance!....

how much more specific can we get without seeing the actual car, i agree it sounds like the vcu or the idr, the reversing on full lock thing seems to be linked to the 4wd system, take it to a garage if you want a bit more specific, remember this is only a website so we cant actuaslly tell you the definate problem, just point you in the right direction

yella disco said:

how much more specific can we get without seeing the actual car, i agree it sounds like the vcu or the idr, the reversing on full lock thing seems to be linked to the 4wd system, take it to a garage if you want a bit more specific, remember this is only a website so we cant actuaslly tell you the definate problem, just point you in the right direction

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Yes, appreciate it's a bit vague and am planning to take to a local mechanic at the weekend - just looking to see if anyone could help me to identify / narrow down the problem before my "trusty" mechanic feeds some random guesswork!....

i would say that idr, vcu has narrowed it down a lot to be honest, as for the reverse thing i wouldn't worry too much, you will get used to it eventually, welcome to the forum by the way

How long have you owned your Freelander?

We bought ours a few weeks back and I've had similar questions, so the following may help if you've recently aquired yours : http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f9/new-owner-question-31541.html

Feeling like it loses most of its power when on full lock is normal. My V6 used to struggle too. As Yella mentioned it's down to the 4 wheel drive system.
Not sure about the clunk. Could be a mount that's worn out?

Clunk - rear diff - front mount.

tinytdi said:

Clunk - rear diff - front mount.

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Spot prize to that man!

Mechanic looked at the problem I was having last night - "rear diff mount" was the verdit - in fact, by levering it you can quite visibly see the problem!

Thanks to all who helped...hopefully getting that sorted will resolve my cluncking issue.

As for the problems with stalling/losing drive in low gear or reverse while on full lock, I'm surprised to hear that this is expected behaviour - it certainly doesn't 'feel' right? Anyone able to confirm?....

jatwap said:

it certainly doesn't 'feel' right? Anyone able to confirm?....

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I can confirm again. My V6 was auto but it was very noticable she struggled when on full lock. Lots of posts on here about it. Don't worry about it

Thanks for the prize - what do I get? LOL
Yeah, I can also confirm the feeling on full lock. The VC saps a LOT of power when it gets confused by full lock. Frett ye not.

SimonG said:

How long have you owned your Freelander?http://

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Ha Haha!(smirk)

you bought a Freelander yella???

tinytdi said:

Thanks for the prize - what do I get? LOL
Yeah, I can also confirm the feeling on full lock. The VC saps a LOT of power when it gets confused by full lock. Frett ye not.

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Hi,

Paid special attention to it today and I have to say that when reversing even on a slight sloop on full lock gives me no impression as if the car/engine would stall. I even left it crawl backwards on idle and no problem at all. What I already noticed in the past is that when turning full lock in forward slow drive I can hear a whine but still no stall of the engine.