Freelander 2 (LR2) Whining noise when clutch engaged

My Freelander 2 has probably been the most expensive car I've ever owned, being a land rover i'm not surprised but owned Mini's before and had far less problems!

Shes a 08 plate on 84k with full service history mainly at LR and in good nick really, had her 7 months now. I got lower mileage as I thought less problems.. but I'm doubting it now!

I had to have the entire haldex and module replaced at Bell engineering he done a great job but that was £600. Then the air conditioning unit packed up as well as the intercooler, around £300 later to repair those.

She now has a loud whining noise when driving for a few months, but its increasingly got worse. It is worse when the car is up to temperature, and when in a lower gear. If I put my foot on the clutch, it goes. Engage the clutch, its back. The whine happens when the car is over 2000 revs every time. I've now found out her power steering rack needs replacing as the power steering has got difficult when stationary (tried the reservoir, no difference) and I thought this whine may be the same problem but I think the whine is an separate issue. It drives perfect apart from the noise, YET occasionally after going up a hill and stopping it stinks of a 'clutch' type of smell.

My dad said it sounds like the turbo whining up, but I really don't think it is. Its far to loud, you can't hear the radio over the noise if I've just pulled out of a junction! I'm panicking now its the gearbox or the transmission box? Its coming from the front of the car 1000%. I tow 1.8 ton occasionally and it is worse when towing.

Feel like I have a bad egg.. never had so many problems. Love driving the car but can't deal with all these costs, shes not hammered and well looked after. Grrrrrr.

clutch release bearing ? just a thought is the clutch slipping? I wonder if the clutch plate is contaminated

Could be? We thought that. Is that common in them?

No more so than any other car. What mileage has it done.
Col

Col, as above, 84,000 miles on the clock. We've had TD5's on over 150,000 miles and only just had the transfer box go. Never had a car in the garage so much getting repaired.

Many problems can be put down to poor maintenance and bad handling by previous owners, even low mileage ones. Generally the Freelander is a good product. I would say that at 84,000 miles the clutch might need replacing. Can it pull away in second gear, that's usually a sign of a worn clutch. Also pull the handbrake on hard and try pulling away in 1st, if it don't stall, it's time for a new clutch. The whining sound could be the clutch bearing as previously mentioned. My air con doesn't work and I was quoted £700 so £300 doesn't sound bad.

Col

Its odd because the old owner had it serviced 7 monthly as he barely done 1,000 miles a year in it and didn't like the oil sat in it, the old first owner had everything done at Land Rover, its had 2 previous owners. The last owner gave me the recipe of £14,990 which he paid for it from a LR dealer 5 years ago. Yes it can pull away in second year if steady, no it stalls if the hand break is on hard. I bought the air con unit from a local manufacture and had it fitted by a local mechanic, managed to get a good price on that. I am considering (about to get serious hate mail) fixing and trading it in for a Shogun, slightly bigger engines but i'm sure they get problems too. I just want a reliable 4x4 that is happy to tow occasionally and big enough for the dogs, and good enough to go through a few fields in winter at the farm. I'll happily repair and keep, but if shes had bad handling from previous owners who know what else could keep going wrong.

From what you say about previous owners, she has had a cosseted life. Maybe too cosseted. These vehicles like to do a bit of work. The thing is, the previous owners could have spent plenty of money on servicing but if they were ****e drivers, the clutch would have had an hammering. Does this whining only happen when the car is moving or can you get it to do it whilst stationary but Erving the engine and operating the clutch.

Col

Could be, the first owner worked on a oil rig so she barely got driven with either owners. I had to under seal her as she was a little rusty from being sat at the sea front, done that all myself. She looks great if you look under now. It happens mostly when moving, I can only get it to make the noise (i think i'll have to check on my lunch) if the clutch is engaged. It won't make the noise just by reving.

Aimeetess1 said:

Could be? We thought that. Is that common in them?

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To be honest mate I don't know I have a Freelander 1 my daughter has a Freelander 2 and I know she is not happy with it I can only go by what experience I have with cars all be it little

UPDATE
We did flush the system Saturday with some power steering fluid recommended for the FL and the noise and steering got worse since then, I could barely turn the wheel. Booked it in to have a new reservoir and rack fitted at a garage, over £400 estimated cost. I read up on it, with my dad, it turns out Freelanders like the specific power steering fluid from LR. Called LR and asked them, the chap said the same and apparently the reservoirs have changed slightly so worth re flushing, trying a new reservoir and seeing how it goes (trying to save myself £400, cost of part and fluid £36 from LR) Re flushed the system, more black fluid- kept going until fluid went a clearer colour. Fitted new reservoir too. Instantly the noise went while stationary and steering, easy, no difficulty.
Drove the car, without thinking anything of it.. then noticed 'wheres the noise?' the loud droning whining noise (only above 2000 revs and when clutch engaged) has also completely gone. No droning/whining noise whatsoever, and I can eventually listen to my radio again - the car is silent! Not sure how long it will last, but for £36 I can't complain!

Great result.

Well done for working your way through it .... and fixing it

The FL2 power steering reservoir has a filter in it. They can become blocked over time. Fresh pas oil and a new reservoir has worked wonders on many FL2's.

Nice to know yer got it fixed.