Probably the diff mountings - usually the front one; I had the same symptoms. Search the forum on how to fix - I did it on mine whilst changing the VCU.

Thanks for the info. Apparently this is what happened which is just freaky bad luck. I have no idea how far it slipped so will just have to wait and see. I expect plans of summer holiday extravagence will need to be curtailed.

UPDATE The timing has slipped so it is a head off job to investigate the cause and assess the damage. €€€€ I cannot understand how an auxilliary belt failure can upset the timing - unless as Nodge said in his first post some debris got thrown somewhere. Merde! She was going so well before...

Thanks. But the engine did turnover with the key so presumably there was enough juice left for the fuel injection. I think I will just have to wait to see what the garage says and then try to work out what happened. Will update when I know more.

Thanks. My thoughts as well. I suppose the quesion is whether the engine computer has disabled the engine or whether there is real mechnical failure?

I just got home after having to have the poor hippo loaded onto a breakdown truck on a motroway and taken to a garage in Montpellier. There were some ugly clicking but not metalic noises coming from the engine bay and then the battery charging light came on - I assumed I had snapped a...

That's the spirit! Nice of you to offer and next time I drive up your way (bit of a trek for me) I may well look you up. I have to run an ABS diagnostic before the next MOT (every 2 years in France so I have some breathing space). Thanks again

Like the Evoque the roof and window lines have something of the old Citroen DS about them

Bargain price. The rover lump is very solid and I am happy with mine .......... replaced the VCU and feels like new.

That is good to know - thanks. Will check out Halfords when I am back in the UK in the summer

OK. Thanks. Next time around I will allow time to get the whole lot off - a few self tapping screws in a bit of plastic is what I had on another car! I guess this will give me more comfotable access to the oil filter as well!

Hi - two bolts at the back, then 4 rivets holding the plastic in place, two of which seem to have been replaced by nuts and bolts. Nothing corroded. Is there more to come off than just the plastic? If so, I got it wrong. Thanks Gareth

Ok everyone - thanks for the help. I guess all it needs is perseverence and a lot of elbow grease. I will take a look at the Halfords wrench as well but the overriding advice seems to be the old fashioned screwdriver way Thanks again. I will leave it a few 000 kilometers before having a...

Agree - maybe as a last resort - but I thought if I did that, and it still wouldn't budge I would be stuffed without a car to drive. Any wrenches out there ideally suited to this engine/filter? Thanks!

Good to hear you have plenty of faith (and proven history) in the Freelander doing long trips. I used to regularly do trips to Poland with my family which was a long drive, but fun (I had a big fast saloon in those days). It was always nice looking after the car before and after each leg of the...

Yes so did I but couldn't shift it partly because of lack of space (and it being so tight). If anyone has a wrench that seems to fit perfectly for the filter in the L diesel engine let me know the type and I will buy one. Thanks

Ok I just did a service but ended up having to leave the old oil filter in place. I tried everything to get it off using a filter wrench but because of its position found it difficult to get the clamp on and twist hard enough to shift it. Should I be using a specialist tool - if so I need to...

Great. Thanks. Will look for a good brand and get that;

Doing an oil change at the weekend. Haynes manual says 10-40 or 15-40. Given I have done around 120k miles am I better off going for the thicker 15-40 oil? Semi synth or mineral? Thanks Gareth

Get what you want out of the deal! If a timing belt change is needed, and you are buying from a garage, get them to do it