Couple of questions about a Freelander

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VirusWar

Member
Posts
20
Location
Serbia
Got myself a Freelander 2001 2.0 TD4 (112 Hp) Automatic, it sounds well, and drives well, I think the engine and the transmission are good; the problem is that there are very little Land Rovers around where I live, so I have no experience with them, nor anyone to ask.
Therefore, I've got couple of questions:

1. Power steering is quite stiff. I don't know if it should be like that cause its an older car and it should be like that or it could be needing new steering fluid or maybe a pump. I also own a Renault Megane II and its steering is really easy, you can do a full turn with only your palm pressed against it, in the Rover I need to use both hands and it requires decent strength. I need to put quite some strength if I would like to turn with one hand, and I'm quite a big guy, ~200cm.

2. Couple of times it happened that I completely lose throttle, an ember icon with a "!" shows up on the dashboard and I lose throttle pedal input. I'm sure its not a fuel pump, cause I don't gradually lose power or anything similar, it's like I release the pedal completely for a second or two and then it works again. Happens once or twice every week for a split second. I think its the throttle pedal sensor.

3. Fuel gauge shows inaccurate values. Not always, but I've noticed that I, for example, have half a tank of fuel and it drops down and then comes back up in a period of around half an hour. Should I try cleaning the sender?

4. Heating is slow to start up. I turn it on and it barely pushes heat for a whole hour and then it starts working really well. Core needs a flush?

Thanks whoever answers, I would also really appreciate any tips you might have about this car.
 
Hi, welcome to the forum.

Before you try to resolve these issues you should have a read of this, it might keep your Freelander alive long enough to fix the other problems :D ...

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/tests-new-freelander-1-owners-should-do-on-their-car.312863/

With regards the power cutting, have you tried reading the diagnostic codes? A 2001 will probably need LR (Freelander) specific device to read them, a LR specialist should have the kit if there is one near to you.

The TD4 is know to run cool, so not necessarily delivering much heat. You could search TD4 and thermostats on here for info.
 
Steering shouldn't be that stiff, I can turn my 2011 sd4 with just the palm of my hand on the steering wheel. First thing that comes to mind is are your tire pressures right, then checking steering fluid levels, any strange noises going on, because it sounds as if your pump has gone. Problem is that it could be a load of things, bushes/linkages worn. I know what is is like being on your lonesome, only Freelander in my area, no correction only LR in my area. There is a LR club for Sweden with a branch for the north of Sweden but a 4 or 6hr drive for a club meet is a tad too far. Nearest LR accredited workshop is 8hrs away. I brought a Gap11 diagnostic tool, expensive but it has paid for itself already just being able to turn off the folding mirrors for the winter. Reading temp to change transmission oil, resetting service intervals etc. uhmm just reread the post and grumpies post, brain read 2011 on first read. Not sure a Gap 11 will read a 2001, maybe a Hawkeye would do the job, comments anyone. At that age with a vehicle new to yourself a thorough going through would be worth it in the long run, changing all fluids etc unless you have complete service records of what has been done.
 
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re: the steering ..
from my experience .. the FL1 steering be a tad heavier than many other vehicles
( including the FL2 ) ..
i actually prefer the 'feel' of it .. i.e. compared to the fl2 .. disco sport .. evoque .. etc
and other 'cars' .. so to speak .. as the fl1 steering feels more truck-like ..
( having driven hgv's before power-steering became common )
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
 
Power steering is quite stiff. I don't know if it should be like that cause its an older car and it should be like that or it could be needing new steering fluid or maybe a pump. I also own a Renault Megane II and its steering is really easy, you can do a full turn with only your palm pressed against it, in the Rover I need to use both hands and it requires decent strength. I need to put quite some strength if I would like to turn with one hand, and I'm quite a big guy, ~200cm.
The FL1 steering is a bit heavier than modern cars, but it's still possible to "palm" it from lock to lock. If the steering is very stiff, then look at the drive belt and consider changing the fluid. If both those don't solve the issue, then the pump could be suspect.
2. Couple of times it happened that I completely lose throttle, an ember icon with a "!" shows up on the dashboard and I lose throttle pedal input. I'm sure its not a fuel pump, cause I don't gradually lose power or anything similar, it's like I release the pedal completely for a second or two and then it works again. Happens once or twice every week for a split second. I think its the throttle pedal sensor.
You need to get any codes read, or it'll be just guess work.
3. Fuel gauge shows inaccurate values. Not always, but I've noticed that I, for example, have half a tank of fuel and it drops down and then comes back up in a period of around half an hour. Should I try cleaning the sender?
Below 1/2 a tank, the level will vary, depending on the angle of the car, as the sender unit is too the side and front of the tank.
4. Heating is slow to start up. I turn it on and it barely pushes heat for a whole hour and then it starts working really well. Core needs a flush?

Thanks whoever answers, I would also really appreciate any tips you might have about this car.

Does the temperature gauge get to the mid position?
 
Thank you for all your responses!

Nearest Land Rover workshop is >4 hours away from me, I'll probably go there when I can afford to pay for everything they might find, so I don't have to make multiple journeys. For now the car behaves quite well. I'll check the power steering at some car mechanic near me, I think we should be able to sort something out. Some of you say it should be stiffer, but I think it feels wrong, but since I never tried any other Freelander I can't compare.
I need to find someone who has a diagnostics tool to check the codes, since you say you need certain ones to be able to do that. If I can't find anyone, which ones do you recommend?

@Nodge68 3. There are a bit of rough roads around here, that could be it.. ; 4. It's a bit slow to get to the mid position, @GrumpyGel said that they run a bit cold, that could be the reason.

Also, I've forgot to mention something that might have been important, the car had a right steering wheel so it was changed to the left one, and there is a large plastic box in the now passenger side where the legs go, could it be whoever did the transition just made joints for the wheel and its still connected to the right side? Could that explain the wheel stiffness?
..I don't really think so, now that I think about it, if it was then the steering column would need to be shorter and would probably interfere with my legs if it wanted to be in level with the box I mentioned..
I'll try to see if its possible to open it up, it could be just electronics that were once at the drivers side... I'll check that out.
 
Thank you for all your responses!

Nearest Land Rover workshop is >4 hours away from me, I'll probably go there when I can afford to pay for everything they might find, so I don't have to make multiple journeys. For now the car behaves quite well. I'll check the power steering at some car mechanic near me, I think we should be able to sort something out. Some of you say it should be stiffer, but I think it feels wrong, but since I never tried any other Freelander I can't compare.
I need to find someone who has a diagnostics tool to check the codes, since you say you need certain ones to be able to do that. If I can't find anyone, which ones do you recommend?

@Nodge68 3. There are a bit of rough roads around here, that could be it.. ; 4. It's a bit slow to get to the mid position, @GrumpyGel said that they run a bit cold, that could be the reason.

Also, I've forgot to mention something that might have been important, the car had a right steering wheel so it was changed to the left one, and there is a large plastic box in the now passenger side where the legs go, could it be whoever did the transition just made joints for the wheel and its still connected to the right side? Could that explain the wheel stiffness?
..I don't really think so, now that I think about it, if it was then the steering column would need to be shorter and would probably interfere with my legs if it wanted to be in level with the box I mentioned..
I'll try to see if its possible to open it up, it could be just electronics that were once at the drivers side... I'll check that out.
There are reports on here of LHD Freelander conversions being done very badly - dangerously so, for example....

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/steering-rack-bracket-failure-2004-td4-lhd-conversion.351934/
 
I have contacted the previous owner and he said he bought it like that 9 years ago. I'll just have it checked out when I get to the mechanic in the upcoming days but if it didn't make any problems till now I don't think it will.
The plastic box has screws on it and when I looked around it with my phone I'm sure its there just to cover things, since behind it I can see some holes, I guess where the pedals where and the steering column. Probably cables and such, since the fuse box above it. I dont really have time to unscrew it now and dig in it..
 
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