3 silly questions on my new Freelander

Hi All

Probably the 1st 3 of a series questions about the 2010 Freelander TD4 auto I have just acquired.

The CD player doesn't work. That would not bother me much except it makes a wonderful series of whirrs and clicks for 10 minutes after the car is started. Are these things readily repairable? Or any suggestions on a replacement radio? How easy is it to swap it out ?

I see that the sidelights stay on even when the car is locked, that's OK, but knowing the wife's habits, are there LED replacement bulbs that can replace the side and tail light bulbs?

I like the key fob option to turn on the headlights for a period, the manual says that 'in some markets', a 2nd press turns on the reversing lights. That would be very useful. Is there a way to activate that setting ?

Thanks for any ideas !

mwanafunzi said:

Hi All

Probably the 1st 3 of a series questions about the 2010 Freelander TD4 auto I have just acquired.

The CD player doesn't work. That would not bother me much except it makes a wonderful series of whirrs and clicks for 10 minutes after the car is started. Are these things readily repairable? Or any suggestions on a replacement radio? How easy is it to swap it out ?

I see that the sidelights stay on even when the car is locked, that's OK, but knowing the wife's habits, are there LED replacement bulbs that can replace the side and tail light bulbs?

I like the key fob option to turn on the headlights for a period, the manual says that 'in some markets', a 2nd press turns on the reversing lights. That would be very useful. Is there a way to activate that setting ?

Thanks for any ideas !

Click to expand...

I doubt you'll be able to repair the stereo.
The stereo can be replaced. But it isn't as simple as swapping it out, unless your FL2 doesn't have reversing sensors. If you have reversing sensors and wish to keep them working, you'll need a converter box thingy. I think if you have sat nav, it requires the special CD player to work. Loose that and you could end with a blank screen.


Side lights staying on is a fault. Simply changing to the LEDs won't actually solve the problem. LEDs have a short life in modern vehicles, due to the high charging voltage involved.

Yes you can make the 3rd (LR) button do the lights, at least you can on the D3.This is the D3 instructions, so might not work on the FL2.
To set the remote to turn on the headlights, insert the key to position two and then remove it. Hold down the Land Rover button on the key fob whilst flashing the headlights (by pulling the headlight control stalk). The amount of time the lights remain on for depends on the headlamp delay setting (which can be changed within the Settings menu of the digital display.

Thanks, that is helpful. I have no parking aids or GPS (or steering wheel radio controls), so sounds like it should be straightforward to fit a new double DIN radio.

On the sidelights - that is strange, I do get a warning tone if I leave the car with the headlights on, and then on locking, the headlights go off, sidelights stay on.

The 'light' button on the key fob does turn on the headlights, but not the reversing lights, a 2nd press simply turns off the headlights. Because of the way we park, it would be really great if I had the option of a 2nd press turning on reversing lights, I presume it is just a firmware setup thing, but Googling this has led me to much confusion!

Thanks! I would add that her indoors is beginning to worry - I much prefer her Freelander to my Landcruiser! I love its behavior on the tarmac with nice predictable and progressive handling and response.

Sounds like you have a base model FL2. So the stereo should be a simple swap. You can add the stereo controls to the steering wheel. You just nees to get the correct switch panel. All the wiring will be in place.

I suspect that your firmware doesn't support reversing light activation.
It may be possible to update that, using the correct tool.

The whirrs and clicks are the sound of a pair of hair clippers running. Supposed to relax the owner when he/she gets in.

Nodge68 said:

...... You can add the stereo controls to the steering wheel. You just nees to get the correct switch panel. All the wiring will be in place.

Click to expand...

Cool. Sounds like my next project. Could you point me to a source of steering wheel controls ?
(I will probably try for a reversing camera at the same time - she is used to a camera for parking and horrified by not having one)

Nodge68 said:

...... I suspect that your firmware doesn't support reversing light activation.
It may be possible to update that, using the correct tool.

Click to expand...

Thanks, I have been poking around the internet for this sort of stuff. Looks like I need to edit the CCF, and possibly screw-up the whole vehicle. Anyone here with experience of doing this ?

wammers said:

The whirrs and clicks are the sound of a pair of hair clippers running. Supposed to relax the owner when he/she gets in.

Click to expand...

Would you like to explain that to her ? I can loan you a hard hat.

mwanafunzi said:

Would you like to explain that to her ? I can loan you a hard hat.

Click to expand...

Sounds like a formidable lady.

mwanafunzi said:

Cool. Sounds like my next project. Could you point me to a source of steering wheel controls ?
(I will probably try for a reversing camera at the same time - she is used to a camera for parking and horrified by not having one)



Thanks, I have been poking around the internet for this sort of stuff. Looks like I need to edit the CCF, and possibly screw-up the whole vehicle. Anyone here with experience of doing this ?

Click to expand...

Wheel switches come up on EBay all the time. https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/3821379197...=9047019&device=m&campaignid=861899693&crdt=0

The best tool for CCF file modification is the Gap Diagnostics IID BT tool.

What position is the light switch in when the sidelights are left on??

td4van said:

What position is the light switch in when the sidelights are left on??

Click to expand...

All the way to the right, headlights on. When I leave the car and lock it, headlights go off, side lights (and tail lights) stay on.

That's normal behaviour

You need to turn the switch to off and the sidelights will go out

In all the way to the right it leaves on the side and tail lights

mwanafunzi said:

All the way to the right, headlights on. When I leave the car and lock it, headlights go off, side lights (and tail lights) stay on.

Click to expand...

If you want the side lights off. You have to turn them off, by turn the knob to the left. It's a base model so you have to operate the light switch yourself.