Freelander 1 Return of the (Land) Rovers: Kilo-Hippo-Delta

This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Also managed to repair the passenger side fascia vent. It was broken with loose air guide vanes and a missing guide knob, so initially thought it was scrap. But yesterday, when vacuuming the carpets, I noticed that the direction guide know was acutually in the vent itself.

I managed to prise the vent out of the fascia, release the "missing" parts and after prising the internal vent from its housing, reassemble the whole thing and put it back as the manufacturer intended! :D

Happy days - another small but irritating fault fixed :)
 
Also managed to repair the passenger side fascia vent. It was broken with loose air guide vanes and a missing guide knob, so initially thought it was scrap. But yesterday, when vacuuming the carpets, I noticed that the direction guide know was acutually in the vent itself.

I managed to prise the vent out of the fascia, release the "missing" parts and after prising the internal vent from its housing, reassemble the whole thing and put it back as the manufacturer intended! :D

Happy days - another small but irritating fault fixed :)

The vents bug me because they're not symmetrical between left and right hand side. It looks odd in my opinion.
 
It's classical Rover industrial design. One dashboard moulding that suits both RHD and LHD markets (move pod and swap with glove box upper) and one vent design left and right.

Funnily I quite like that :)
 
It's classical Rover industrial design. One dashboard moulding that suits both RHD and LHD markets (move pod and swap with glove box upper) and one vent design left and right.

Funnily I quite like that :)

I want to put my Garmin above the stereo. There's a perfect flat area to fit it neatly on the facelift.
20161205_160319.jpg
However because the vents are all identical. The RH centre vent control would be obscured by the nav. :(
 
A small update: Good news, bad news.

Bad news first: failed its MoT. Annoying. Hand brake efficiency. I actually don't think he pulled on the hand brake hard enough (it passed last year, and the parking brake efficiency has not appreciably changed in the last 12 months), but to be fair, it has been on my to-do list for a while to go back and investigate why the hand brake still needs such a tug to get it to hold the car properly. I suspect that one of the mechanisms may still be slightly seizing...

I was going to do it myself, but looking at the weather forecast, I shall probably book it into a local garage to sort out. I don't feel good about doing that, but no time and no fun sitting in an ice cold puddle being rained on trying to work on brakes with numb fingers...

Good news: I LOVE this car.

It's not often you need a 4WD in London, but yesterday's snow was one of those occasions. The Yoko Geolander AT tyres were brilliant. People in "normal cars" were getting stuck just getting out of parking spaces, and seeing the cars spinning wheels uselessly on slippery roads (let alone hills) was hilarious as the little Hippo simply drove past. It was so sure-footed, for most part it seemed that the conditions weren't at all bad (until we past another motorist getting sideways). The kids loved this - as did the little kid inside me. :D In fact, I started to seek out particularly difficult little side roads: nothing phased it at all.

A perfect snowy day of Land Rovering, snow ball fights and tobogganing. And a snow man of course. Happy days! Pitty it's all turned to rain today...
 
A small update: Good news, bad news.

Bad news first: failed its MoT. Annoying. Hand brake efficiency. I actually don't think he pulled on the hand brake hard enough (it passed last year, and the parking brake efficiency has not appreciably changed in the last 12 months), but to be fair, it has been on my to-do list for a while to go back and investigate why the hand brake still needs such a tug to get it to hold the car properly. I suspect that one of the mechanisms may still be slightly seizing...

I was going to do it myself, but looking at the weather forecast, I shall probably book it into a local garage to sort out. I don't feel good about doing that, but no time and no fun sitting in an ice cold puddle being rained on trying to work on brakes with numb fingers...

Good news: I LOVE this car.

It's not often you need a 4WD in London, but yesterday's snow was one of those occasions. The Yoko Geolander AT tyres were brilliant. People in "normal cars" were getting stuck just getting out of parking spaces, and seeing the cars spinning wheels uselessly on slippery roads (let alone hills) was hilarious as the little Hippo simply drove past. It was so sure-footed, for most part it seemed that the conditions weren't at all bad (until we past another motorist getting sideways). The kids loved this - as did the little kid inside me. :D In fact, I started to seek out particularly difficult little side roads: nothing phased it at all.

A perfect snowy day of Land Rovering, snow ball fights and tobogganing. And a snow man of course. Happy days! Pitty it's all turned to rain today...

I can also vouch for the Yoko AT's. Got a set of the new Yoko Geolandar AT G015's on the wifes TD4 and have to agree they're great tyres in this weather :)

I have exactly the same mentality in winter as well (all be it in my Jeep not a Landy :p) I live out in the sticks on a farm and purposely take the little country back roads when I can cos they don't get gritted and its great fun! Cooper Weather Master WSC winter tyres on the jeep and they're also great tyres in the snow and ice.
 
A small update: Good news, bad news.

Bad news first: failed its MoT. Annoying. Hand brake efficiency. I actually don't think he pulled on the hand brake hard enough (it passed last year, and the parking brake efficiency has not appreciably changed in the last 12 months), but to be fair, it has been on my to-do list for a while to go back and investigate why the hand brake still needs such a tug to get it to hold the car properly. I suspect that one of the mechanisms may still be slightly seizing...

I was going to do it myself, but looking at the weather forecast, I shall probably book it into a local garage to sort out. I don't feel good about doing that, but no time and no fun sitting in an ice cold puddle being rained on trying to work on brakes with numb fingers...

Good news: I LOVE this car.

It's not often you need a 4WD in London, but yesterday's snow was one of those occasions. The Yoko Geolander AT tyres were brilliant. People in "normal cars" were getting stuck just getting out of parking spaces, and seeing the cars spinning wheels uselessly on slippery roads (let alone hills) was hilarious as the little Hippo simply drove past. It was so sure-footed, for most part it seemed that the conditions weren't at all bad (until we past another motorist getting sideways). The kids loved this - as did the little kid inside me. :D In fact, I started to seek out particularly difficult little side roads: nothing phased it at all.

A perfect snowy day of Land Rovering, snow ball fights and tobogganing. And a snow man of course. Happy days! Pitty it's all turned to rain today...
The handbrake on my hippo was terrible until I sorted it last month. The cables and shoes were fine but some numpty had fitted the shoes wrong. Watch out for that if you're doing the same job yourself.
 
I love driving in snow. In 2010 my V6 hippo happily took me up down a local 1 in 5 hill on the way to work and back up it on the way home. There was a bit of TC action half way up, but it didn't falter. This was on the OE fitted Goodyear Wranglers that were almost out. The FL1 has never let me down for traction. If reliability was as good as it's ability, it would be the perfect vehicle.
 
Thanks Ali - I took one drum apart last year, and after some head scratching, I believe it was all fine. The other side I haven't touched yet - I think I'll need to look at both. However, a lack of time and a desire not to be sitting in a pool of ice water playing around with drum brakes probably means I'll wimp out and get the local garage to look at it. :( [Lesson to self: don't put off mechanical jobs until winter!]

If reliability was as good as it's ability, it would be the perfect vehicle.
So true Nodge!

I can also vouch for the Yoko AT's. Got a set of the new Yoko Geolandar AT G015's on the wifes TD4 and have to agree they're great tyres in this weather :)

I have exactly the same mentality in winter as well (all be it in my Jeep not a Landy :p) I live out in the sticks on a farm and purposely take the little country back roads when I can cos they don't get gritted and its great fun! Cooper Weather Master WSC winter tyres on the jeep and they're also great tyres in the snow and ice.
I've been hoping for more snow and play time! LOL :D
 
A little update on this thread.

Update #1:

I made a mistake. I'll not make it again.

Because I was time poor and I wanted my Hippo back on the road ASAP, I got a garage to sort out the handbrake for the MoT.

Good news is that the handbrake now works perfectly and I have a fresh ticket.

Bad news is that the work cost more than I paid for the car in the first place, they "lost" the dust caps for the rear wheel locking wheel nuts and there is now a 5mm hole where some monkey tried to release the cover for the centre cubby screws.

I am a very unhappy bunny. If I broke something that would be irritating. For a "professional" to break something and not own up to it is beyond irritating.

I won't be going back and will do all my own maintenance as I had previously done.

/Rant.

Update #2:

I also looked at the battery mounting over the weekend. Previous owner/ garage bodgery here too: I think someone decided to fit an incorrectly-sized battery in the past. Edges of the battery tray have been trimmed and the battery clamp has been crudely "modified". Battery clamping is now marginal.

Also, the mounting post for the battery clamp has a bolt on top of the tray - I presume that originally, the battery tray would have had a nylock for a M8 screw or somesuch? Looks as though that has flown west at some point. Do I get a replacement battery tray or repair the one in the car?

Feeling somewhat irritable at the moment! LOL
 
That's really poor by the garage. Will they cover the cost of the replacement parts?

I can't recall the battery tray, but something is telling me its metal and welded to the chassis - quite a job to replace it.
 
A little update on this thread.

Update #1:

I made a mistake. I'll not make it again.

Because I was time poor and I wanted my Hippo back on the road ASAP, I got a garage to sort out the handbrake for the MoT.

Good news is that the handbrake now works perfectly and I have a fresh ticket.

Bad news is that the work cost more than I paid for the car in the first place, they "lost" the dust caps for the rear wheel locking wheel nuts and there is now a 5mm hole where some monkey tried to release the cover for the centre cubby screws.

I am a very unhappy bunny. If I broke something that would be irritating. For a "professional" to break something and not own up to it is beyond irritating.

I won't be going back and will do all my own maintenance as I had previously done.

/Rant.

Update #2:

I also looked at the battery mounting over the weekend. Previous owner/ garage bodgery here too: I think someone decided to fit an incorrectly-sized battery in the past. Edges of the battery tray have been trimmed and the battery clamp has been crudely "modified". Battery clamping is now marginal.

Also, the mounting post for the battery clamp has a bolt on top of the tray - I presume that originally, the battery tray would have had a nylock for a M8 screw or somesuch? Looks as though that has flown west at some point. Do I get a replacement battery tray or repair the one in the car?

Feeling somewhat irritable at the moment! LOL

**** poor for a garage to damage a piece of trim. Especially as I suspect it didn't need removing in the first place.

It's common for the battery clamp bolt to seize up. There's a brass insert under the battery tray in which the bolt rusts solid. They are a devil to remove without causing damage. I drill the head off the bolt, then glue a nut into the place where the brass insert is removed from. It works ok but the new bolt needs to be stainless steel and well greased if future problems are to be avoided.

That's really poor by the garage. Will they cover the cost of the replacement parts?

I can't recall the battery tray, but something is telling me its metal and welded to the chassis - quite a job to replace it.

The battery tray is a simple plastic moulding, that is secured to the inner wing with just 3 8mm bolts. It takes just a few minutes to remove. ;)
 
Last edited:
**** poor for a garage to damage a piece of trim. Especially as I suspect it didn't need removing in the first place.

It's common for the battery clamp bolt to seize up. There's a brass insert under the battery tray in which the bolt rusts solid. They are a devil to remove with causing damage. I drill the head off the bolt, then glue a nut into the place where the brass insert is removed from. It works ok but the new bolt needs to be stainless steel and well greased if future problems are to be avoided.



The battery tray is a simple plastic moulding, that is secured to the inner wing with just 3 8mm bolts. It takes just a few minutes to remove. ;)
Yip, done the same myself. ;)
 
Thanks chaps - yes, that sounds like this is the explanation for the threaded bar currently in situ - my guess is that they've put a nut underneath and have another nut on top - which means the clamp doesn't fit flush with the battery tray.

I'll remove it and work out a way of repair. I am thinking of using a rivnut as an alternatively solution :)
 
It’s now sorted. Rivnut worked a treat with an M6 screw. Battery clamp now fits as it should and the battery is nicely secure.

Forgot to take any pictures - oops - but let me know if anyone wants to see (but I am sure you can imagine it! lol)
 
Good news: brilliant days' laning across Salisbury Plane on Saturday, with a great crowd of fellow LZ'ers :D
Nothing broke, nothing stopped. The doors didn't fall off. ;)

Two minor irritations:
  1. On the drive up from London, one of the decayed rubber bonnet hinge covers decided enough was enough and departed company with the car.
  2. On washing the Hippo the next day, I managed to break the aerial at the base mount on the roof - the cast base-metal hinge point sheared off (only gently nudged it with the high pressure hose, promise!)
I've previously looked at the cost of the rubber hinge covers. They're around £30 each. :eek: Must be re-inforced with unobtainium? I had hoped that someone woke up and smelt some coffee, but instead they must have gone to Costa (other coffee outlets available).
I am thinking of the later, face-lift two part scuttle trim panel? @Nodge, I recall you mentioning that these are a straight swap? A question of removing the windscreen wipers, unscrewing the old and fastening the new?

Aerial base. That's another £20. Argh! None advertised on the bay of fleas (except new ones). May be I should contact a few advertisers advertising "breaking for parts"...?
 
I've previously looked at the cost of the rubber hinge covers. They're around £30 each. :eek: Must be re-inforced with unobtainium?
Every time I walk round the Freelander to get in it, my eyes are drawn to the cracked hinge covers - but I to was recently aghast to find out how much they cost to replace.

A 3D printer just got $120 cheaper but still can't justify one :)
 
Back
Top