On of the most important things to do with a Freelander K-Series engine is to check the water regularly – a problem caught early could save you a lot of money! So you have been regularly checking your water level and all has been going well, until one day you check it and it has used more than normal. What could it be?
If all other driving conditions are as normal – that is you have not been working it harder than usual so it may have naturally used more water – then there are a few places where the water could be escaping from:
- It could be your head gasket. If this is the case you may see a leak around the cylinder head, however the water may be escaping into the oil – this would show up as a mayonnaise coloured residue within the oil, often seen on the oil tank filler cap.
- It may be that your water pump leaking through a worn seal or bearing. In this situation you would tend to find that it drips after the car has been driven. On a Freelander K-Series engine the drip would be seen on the drivers side at the front of the engine; on the Freelander K V6 engine the drip would be seen on the drivers side at the back of the engine.
- Your thermostat housing may be cracked or have worn seals. If water is escaping from the thermostat housing you would expect to see the water drip from the back of the engine underneath the inlet manifold for a Freelander K-Series engine. With the Freelander K V6 engine the thermostat housing is in the centre of the V so the water would drip into the V and then may drip out at the rear of the engine. With the K V6 engine it can be difficult to tell from where the drip is whether it is the thermostat housing or the water pump.
- The leak could be from the radiator, hence it would be dripping from, well, the radiator!
- The cooling system pipes could be weakened, causing them to split, or the clips holding the pipes have loosened and are no longer strong enough to hold the pressure of the water as it expands. In either of these situations it is a case of checking for drips from any of the cooling system pipes in the engine bay.
- There may be a leak in your heater matrix. Generally if your heater matrix is leaking you will find the foot well inside the car becomes damp.
- The leak may be coming from your inlet manifold gasket. Check for water dripping from around the inlet manifold.
- Water could be leaking into the IRD if the cooling plate has been damaged. Check the breather hose for the IRD unit – if this is the case then you will not see a drip of water as the leak is internal to the IRD unit.
- Perhaps the worst cause of a water leak is a crack in one of the cylinder liners. In this situation water would be leaking into the engine itself. Often only small quantities of water are escaping into the engine which may mean that traces of water in the oil are not obvious.
For effective cooling the Freelander K-series engine requires the red coolant to be used, and when it comes to determining where a leak is this can often be very beneficial as if the leak is dripping externally it will leave pink stains around the area of the drip.
But don’t panic, we can help!
Hi
I’ve got a 1999 1.8 with about 100k miles. It uses barely a cup full of coolant every 300-500 miles. No visible leaks around the matrix and all is dry in the engine bay. I replaced the inlet gasket and header tank when I got the vehicle. When doing the inlet gasket I did a flush and refilled with the correct oat coolant. It drives well with a steady temp on the gauge and no mayo or steam. Does this water loss seem acceptable for a vehicle with this mileage? Many thanks.
Hi Gavin,
No, this does not appear normal. There must be a leakage somewhere, check the water pump, the thermostat housing underneath the intake manifold – you would not generally see these easily. It could be worth doing a coolant pressure test.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Hi Sue
Many thanks I’ll continue the hunt!
Kind regards
Hi Sue,
Can I get a replacement for the cooling system pipes for my Freelander 1 1.8l YOM 1999. And at what cost for the complete set? Do you import to Kenya?
Hi Dennis,
Thank you for your enquiry.
If you can let me have your chassis number I can get you a price for the pipes.
All the best,
Sue
sue@freelanderspecialist.com
Hi Sue,
I have a Freelander Kalahari 1.8 petrol which seems to have developed a thirst for coolant and has a minor weep above the bell housing on the right hand side of the engine block.
I have tried to trace the weep back to its origin, but have had little success and short of removing the inlet manifold itself I’m wondering if anyone else can identify the source of this small bleed.
I first became aware of it in the winter, possibly when the block had cooled, so it leads me to think it might be a gasket leak, or a seal where the metal can contract to allow an escape.
I also checked the reservoir and that has extensive cracking around the neck, suggesting a build up of pressure, which is possibly allowing coolant to boil off under the bonnet.
So, I’m thinking the following:
1. There may be a split in the manifold inlet gasket, causing the weep.
2. The coolant may just have boiled off out of the reservoir and condensed onto the block, leaving a pool of liquid somewhere.
3. The radial splits/fractures in the reservoir might indicate a blockage somewhere in the cooling system and the pressure is being released through the reservoir.
Otherwise she’s running fine with just under 140k on the clock!
Tom
Hi Tom,
Firstly the coolant reservoirs are prone to cracks so one of the first things to do is to replace the reservoir and cap.
It would then be best to do a coolant pressure test to identify where the leak is coming from as it could come from a number of places. It is best to do the coolant pressure test while the engine is warm.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Hi,
I have a Freelander 2.5 V6 petrol model, recenly i experience a problem:-
the car sometimes fail to start for no reason, when this happen I ask somebody to recharge my battery, sometimes it works bu often it fail.
This confuses me ’cause i dont know whether it is starter or camshaft sensor; so please give advise.
Regards
J.Mwanganda
+255 754 597752
Hi Julius,
We are sorry to hear you are having problems with your Freelander. When it fails to start does it crank or does it do nothing at all? Have you put it on diagnostics to see what error codes there are? Putting it on diagnostics would be a good idea as it would help ascertain where to start looking for the fault.
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
Dear Sue
I have a Freelander 2000 Model , 1.8 litre , Petrol . Every morning I add half a litre of Coolant water ,I have checked and there are no any visible leaks , its not mixing and no any sign from the exhaust and I wonder what it could be.
I also want to replace the Petrol engine with a diesel one and someone advised a 2.4 BMW(landrover diesel) engine would do. What is your advice and what challenges am likely to encounter. I love this vehicle. If possible please give me a quote of the replacement diesel engine , am in Zimbabwe.
Hi James,
It could be worth doing a pressure test on the cooling system to determine where the leak is coming from. Are you using red coolant? This is the coolant you should be using, with Organic Acid Technology (OAT). and when using this any leak leaves a pink residue so it is easier to determine where the leak is coming from. Do you have any hairline cracks around the neck of the coolant reservoir? Is there any damp patch in the footwells inside the Freelander?
Changing the engine from petrol to diesel requires not just a replacement engine (the 2.0 BMW M47 engine would be the best choice as this is already used in a Freelander), but you also need to change the ECU, sensors, wiring loom, fuel lines etc. etc. It is a mammoth job (we have actually undertaken it once before but would not be keen to do it again!) You would need a donor diesel vehicle in order to get it to work.
All the best,
Sue
Hi Sue
We got the freelander 1999 model and it’s loosing water too much and it’s trowing white smoke out of the exhaust pipe what can it be please help ? From Namibia
Hi Lucia,
Is it the 1.8 petrol model?
Unfortunately, if it is throwing out white smoke once the engine is up to temperature then it sounds like you have either a cracked cylinder liner or the cylinder liners have sunk into the block. If this is the case then your best way forward would be to replace the engine with a good used, a reconditioned or a new engine.
If you would like to go for a reconditioned engine we can certainly help. If you let me know where in Namibia you are I will get you a quotation for the engine and shipping.
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
sue@freelanderspecialist.com
Hi Sue!
My freelander 2003, 2.5, petrol overheats after driving very short distance has the following symptoms:
1. New expansion tank and cap fitted.
2. No visible coolant leakage, except when expansion tank splits.
3. No water contamination in oil. No visible water contamination in oil.
4. white smoke from the exhaust after the Freelander has heated up.
I get the head gaskets changed a few months ago, I changed thermostat, water pump, but it did not resolve the problem.
Thanks ahead for your precious comments.
Sas
Hi Sas,
If you are getting white smoke from the exhaust after the engine Freelander has heated up then it sounds like you have an issue with a cracked cylinder liner, or possible a sunken liner, although this is not so common on the V6 models. If you have a cracked liner once the engine heats up the crack will open and coolant will go into the cylinder and be burnt off as white smoke through the exhaust. If this is the case you will be looking at rebuilding or replacing the engine.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Hi Sue,
could you or any of the forum answer this? I have just replaced the head gasket, timing belt, rods, spark plugs and manifold gaskets on my 02 freelander 1.8. All appeared good–faces cleaned thoroughly and appeared flat to my eye and a straight edge. When I came to refill the coolant, it literally poured out of the engine (somewhere behind the alternator and valve sprocket case but cannot pinpoint it). What surprised me was the rate at which it emptied. If I hadn’t tightened the rods to the correct torque I would have expected a drip and even the weight of the valve head alone should stop it pouring. The seal around the water pump is good and dry. Apart from taking the engine out and starting again i would appreciate any suggestions.
Yours tearing hair out
Phil
Hi Phil,
Because the cylinder head is aluminium it really needs to be skimmed whenever it is removed, as just removing the head can cause it to warp a little. So if you did not machine the head this could be your problem.
Have you used the modified multilayer head gasket? If so did you put the saver shim on the top or the bottom? The shim needs to be on the top.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Hi I have a 1.8 Petrol, it keeps over heating on the motorway. All’s find at around 65 anything more than that it over heats. The temperature gauge flys up. It I turn it on for a couple of seconds and then back on it goes back to normal. However today on the way home.. non motorway it over heated, turned it off and back on and went back to normal again. The fans go crazy and carry on for around 5-10 seconds after turning engine off. No mayo substance on oil cap. Please help! Thank you
Hi Holly,
Do you have any sign of mayo in the coolant header tank? When it overheats do you get any steam from the coolant header tank? Does the bottom radiator hose get hot?
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
When 2001 FL 1.8L gets hot the gear lever sticks difficult to change
Hi Eb,
This sounds like it could be an issue with your clutch hydraulics. On the 1.8 Freelander it is a single unit comprising the master and slave hydraulics. We would strongly recommend you use a genuine Land Rover replacement as, in our experience, the aftermarket hydraulics are not very reliable.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Hi! I have a freelander 1.8 2003, it starts to lose cooling liquids and I have noticed also cooling liquids only in the 4th cylinder! What do you believe it could be? Because I had changed head gasket 50000km ago I was always checking the temperature and it was always in the right temp!
Hi Archie,
Check the inlet manifold gasket and the inlet manifold itself for leaks.
All the best,
Sue
+44 780 9575 421
Hi, I have a 2001 Freelander 1.8i petrol with an overheating problem. When I drive uphill the temperatures rises rapidly, fans come on and reservoir bottle fills to full. If I pull to the side of the road, leave engine idling the temperature quickly returns to near normal. Once the engine is turned off I notice that the top pipe from the radiator goes flat. The head gasket, cam belt and water pump were replaced at 120000km (now has 152000km). I have replaced the water reservoir and thermostat. Local mecanics are saying anything from head gasket (no mix of oil and water) to just scratching their head! There appears to be a slight coolant leak but not using excessive coolant.
Hi Dave,
It sounds as though you have an airlock in the system. It is possible the head gasket has blown and exhaust gasses are leaking into the coolant rather than a coolant / oil mix. Try bleeding the system (make sure you bleed through both of the bleed screws and with the heater on red). If this does not solve the problem try a pressure test on the cooling system.
The coolant leak could be causing the issues as this could be how air is getting into the system.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Many thanks Sue, on further investigation coolant leak could be inlet manifold gasket. Would this be causing lack of pressure and overheating? Also top pipe from rad is mighty hot while bottom pipe and thermostst appear cold.
Thanks again
Dave
Hi Dave,
It does sound like it is exhaust gasses going into the coolant due to a blown head gasket.
All the best,
Sue
Hi Sue
I have a ’51 Freelander K-Series (120k miles), which has generally been great for the £400 I paid for it. Recently a few issues have occurred.
1. The temp gauge suddenly drops & the fans cuts in. This is intermittent, but increasingly the case. I have replaced the wire from the temp sender (should this be brown in colour?) to the ECU that looked perished, but still no good. During the winter I have had the fan disconnected. I have noticed that there is a second temp sender (Blue) underneath the pipe work, but is not connected to anything!?!
2. I am starting to lose coolant (red), sometimes more than others
– no noticeable drop in power (gutless to start with)
– No mayo in oil
– no visible leaks
– heating works fine
– occasion smell of coolant in the car (maybe linked to heating?)
– reservoir bottle new, no cracks
– doesn’t seem to be overheating
Please can you help on either problem?
Many thanks
James
Hi James,
The blue temperature sensor is the older model so it is correct that it is not connected to anything. It is worth you changing the brown temperature sensor itself as this could be the cause of your problems.
With regard to the coolant loss it sounds as though it is leaking from the heater matrix given you can smell coolant in the car. You may be able to see some pink residue in the passenger footwell to confirm this, although it does not always show itself.
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
Dear Sue,
I have a freedlander 2005,1.8 petrol.When the car is stoped-parked when the fan starts,there is severe bubbling in the coolant reservoir and after a while the water splashing out with high pressure and steam from the reservoir bottle.There is no sign of oil and I’m using only red coolant.
What could this be?Thanks in advance for your help.
Dear Vangelis,
It sounds like you are drawing air into the system. If you check around the neck of the coolant reservoir bottle are there any hairline cracks? If so, the first thing to do is replace the bottle and cap for genuine Land Rover parts – this may solve the issue. If not, check pipes etc. for any sign of a leakage. The other thing to check is that you do not have any blockages int eh system. Is the bottom radiator hose getting hot?
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
Dear Sue,
Thank you for the advise. I checked around the neck of the coolant reservoir bottle and found a perfect round crack in the bottom of the neck. I replace both the reservoir and the cap.Thanks again!
Good day, I have a freedlander 1.8l 2002. I have a problem with my coolant container, so I have to always refill. My car also jerks on gear two, finally my fans stopped coming on and I felt it rained… Will the fans automatically come back on?. I’m really bothered. I’ll appreciate your advice
Hello Dike,
What is the problem with the coolant container that causes you to always have to refill the coolant? If your cooling system is not sealed and under pressure it will not operate effectively and you risk major engine damage. Any leaks must be identified and rectified as soon as possible. If you leave the Freelander to idle you should find the fans come on after 30 to 45 minutes, if they do not come on after this time then there could be an issue with the fan relay or the fans themselves.
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
Thank you very much Sue. I also need you to clarify these questions. 1) why does my freelander jerk? 2) is it possible for my fan electrical connection to restrict the power performance (I increase gears and it doesn’t seem to accelerate properly)
Hi Dike,
I also have a td4 (2005) and have noticed jerking from time to time. In my mind engine jerking tends to be a fueling issue. It can be as simple as a dirty fuel filter, which restricts the flow of fuel and can be unpredictable when the jerking happens. If that hasn’t been changed to your knowledge, definately change it, they’re only like £10-20 and an easy DIY (check youtube, some videos of the process).
It could also be a fuel pump, but you should definitely try the filter first to save some pennies. Keep in mind a filter that is dirty restricts flow and the pump has to work a lot harder to force enough fuel through. When it struggles, that can manifest as stuttering/jerking. If it is a simple case of a dirty filter, don’t put it off as it could wear out your fuel pump due to having to work increasingly harder.
Alternatively, it could be an engine breathing issue. Most likely the EGR valve is getting very dirty (and they get VERY dirty). If you haven’t already, invest in an EGR by-pass (inexpensive and easy DIY). It prevents the engine re-ingesting it’s own exhaust gases, which builds up sludge in the EGR valve and intake manifold. The end result of that means the diameter of the pipe gets smaller and smaller and during certain situations it can make your car feel weak or jerky. If you haven’t already by-passed the EGR, get on it. 320 BMW’s have the same design and they replace the valve with a by-pass for the exact same reason.
Also, if you haven’t already make sure to switch to the replacement oil breather part (crankcase ventilation, PCV). Also quite easy to do, there are video guides on youtube. The standard filter gets blocked and can cause big problems. The replacement part prevents that. BMW’s using the M47 engine replace it for the exact same reason too. If you haven’t done that, make it a high priority. The sooner the better.
Hi Dike,
Rick has made some very good points. It is certainly worth checking the fuel filter.
However, the 1.8 petrol model is not the same as the TD4 and so there is no EGR valve or crankcase breather filter.
If the jerking is a fueling issue then try cleaning the wire mesh situated in the canister inside the fuel tank, this can often cause the 1.8 Freelanders to have restricted fuel flow and hence jerk or lose power as you describe.
Have you checked if your fans come on after idling for 30 to 45 minutes?
If possible can you send a video so we can understand the type of jerking your Freelander has – you can email this to sue@freelanderspecialist.com.
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
Thank you very much Rick and Sue. Jerking problem was as a result of my failed pump. I replaced it and no more stuttering or Jerking. I’m glad
Great to hear you have sorted it out Dike.
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
Hello,
My Freelander 2002 loses water very quickly and overheats. I replaced the plastic water bottle as I noticed it was leaking water from around the bottom. But it keeps losing water and getting over heated. I refill water after every 10 miles. I was advised to remove the termostat. Please help.
Hello Chuk,
Is your Freelander the 1.8 petrol model?
Are there any signs of oil in the coolant reservoir in the form of gunge in the bottle?
Are there any signs of coolant in the oil in the form of a mayonnaise coloured substance on the oil filler cap?
DO NOT remove the thermostat – you need to sort the issue out not bypass it, this could cause a lot more problems. Is your thermostat at the front of the engine in the pipework or at the rear of the engine?
What colour coolant are you using?
When it overheats what other symptoms do you get? e.g. loss of power, steam from the reservoir bottle etc.
Is the heating inside the cabin working?
Can you see any signs of where the coolant is leaking from under the bonnet? If you are using red coolant you would see a pink residue where coolant had dripped.
Is there any white smoke coming from the exhaust once the Freelander has got up to heat?
Does it only lose water when you are driving or does it also lose it when it is parked?
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
90% of the constant overheating is caused by not bleeding the system properly,
It may take 4 goes at it.
undo heater bleed valve, undo 10mm bleed nut on right side of cylinders between the air intake and head.
Undo the small 15mm hose on the back of cylinder head located on inlet manifold, this is the most difficult one to bleed, it remove air from the top of the cylinder head. there is a brass ball within the male section attached to the block, water must come out of here before reconnecting the hose, try blowing down it with a hose or air line, some punch out the brass ball.
make sure water and no bubbles come out of the 10mm nut/bolt then refit. reconnect the 15mm pipe to the back of the block on the intake manifold. Then the heater hose bleed screw.
Run the car with the heater control on hot and fan on speed 3. if it get cold then you still have air in the pipes. Bleed again once cold.
It took me 30 miles to correct this but now its just fine.
The heater pipe from the front thermostat to bottom radiator should remain cold until 98deg is reached then the pump will send hot water through the bottom hose and radiator to cool down shortly followed by the fans.
The biggest and most common problem is failure of the thermostat, mine seemed ok but after extensive trials at overheating It had to be that, and it was.
As far as the expansion bottle goes, the 1.8 petrol is pressurised and if the cap fails or there`s a leak in the bottle, it will overheat.
I fitted the upgraded head gasket before my 1.8 went and it saved me heaps.
Ive overheated 4 times run dry on one occasion and it survived.
Do not trust the temp gauge, mine was at half way when it overheated. Go by the blower, if it blows cold on hot setting then your out of water or have a block and the pumps not circulating because of it.
I have an 05 Freelander 1,8 petrol which I noticed yesterday has lost some water and has very slight bubbling in the expansion tank when the screw top lid is left off. On asking a mechanic with supposed Land Rover experience about this I was told “oh that will be the head gasket and it will be expensive, so scrap it”. They have not even seen the car – is this likely to be the only explanation?
Hi Deb,
Firstly, you should NEVER run your Freelander with the coolant reservoir cap off. It will draw air into the cooling system which can cause overheating and damage. You will need to bleed the cooling system to get out any air which it may have drawn in.
If the loss of water was after running the Freelander with the coolant cap off then this is likely to be the cause. If it lost water prior to this then there are many reasons why this could happen, if you could answer the following questions we will help as much as we can:
– Did it lose the water whilst parked or when it was being driven?
– Are there any signs of oil in the coolant or coolant in the oil? This will show as a murky, mayonnaise type substance.
– Do you have any hairline cracks around the neck of the coolant reservoir bottle?
– Are you using red coolant? If so can you see any signs of a pink residue anywhere in the engine bay?
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
Hi Sue and thanks for the reply.
I was advised to run the Freelander with the coolant cap off and look to see if bubbles were coming up through the water by the Land Rover mechanic – that worries me!
There was water being lost before I did this which is why he said I should run the check above.
I am not sure when the water is being lost – I will have to try and check this. I have checked it for the last couple of mornings and had to top it up a little each time.
No evidence of mayonnaise sludge or oil in coolant
I will check for hairline cracks on the coolant reservoir bottle in the morning
I am using the red coolant and will check for signs of staining in the engine bay tomorrow also (it is dark now unfortunately).
The same mechanic who told me to run the car with the coolant cap off had a quick look at my car today. He said he found very, very slight traces of exhaust gases (his words) and this could be from either a failed head gasket or cracked block both of which he said are going to be very expensive. That was the only suggestion he could make.
Kind regards
Debbie
Hi Debbie,
A cracked block is a VERY extreme diagnosis and not a common situation unless your Freelander has seriously overheated. What did he say were the signs of traces of exhaust gases?
What mileage has your Freelander done?
Do not go with such a severe diagnosis until you have satisfied yourself with all of the simpler, more likely, and cheaper possibilities.
– Has your Freelander ever overheated?
– Have you ever seen steam coming from the coolant reservoir bottle?
– When the car is up to running temperature is the bottom radiator hose warm or cold?
– When the car is up to temperature is there severe bubbling in the coolant reservoir or just minimal bubbling from the coolant re-entering the tank?
– Are you checking the coolant level when the Freelander is cold and on a level surface?
– Can you see any sign of dampness or coolant on the left hand side of the engine underneath the cover holding the timing belt?
– Is there any dampness in the passenger footwell inside the car?
– Are you experiencing any lack of power?
Where are you located? If you are not too far from us we would be happy to take a look at it and give you a second opinion. We are based at IP26 4RH.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
I have the same problem, no cap after it was mot’d it’s disappeared. Ordered a new one it’s too small so trying Tibet another.
Anyway I was driving today in stop start rush hour traffic and my freelander 1.8 53 plate , conked out. It started again with steam coming out the coolant bottle.
I stopped waiting for it to cool down and refilled the coolant/water it continued to steam, I’ve checked oil and no substances. Have topped up though as was low.
When I fill up the coolant bottle it’s bubbling and then disappears, I can’t see any leaks anywhere and no cracks in the coolant bottle .
It’s conked out 6 times in a 20 miles journey each time as I’m coming onto a roundabout.
Thankfully I carry water and kept filling up and me and my 5 year got home ok .
But just need some advice please .
Hi Sarah,
Which cap are you missing, the coolant reservoir one? If there is no cap on the coolant reservoir then you will be drawing air into the system which will not be pressurised and you will have big problems. You should not start or drive your Freelander without a coolant reservoir cap fitted.
If your coolant reservoir is the newer type with the larger neck then the part number you require is PCD500030.
All the best,
Sue
I have a 2005 TD4 at highway speed it is loosing water from the expansion tank it persisted even though I have change the cap. What could be the problem
I have also change the water pump and thermostat as well as having the radiator cleaned yet the problem persist
Hi Stewart,
It sounds like you have a blockage in the cooling system. Is your bottom radiator hose getting hot? The oil cooler is particularly prone to blockages so check this is clear.
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
I have Freelander 2.5 V6 on 2003 plate (77k). I recently had an overheating problem, HG failure so got the HG’s replaced. Since then I have a recurring problem which originally I thought was because the system had not been bled correctly and air was still in the system so I refilled the system ensuring air was out of the system using the rear bleed screw on heater return hose.
However I still have the problem, which is;
I am having to replace the coolant expansion tank regularly, about once a month, (vehicle only used on short local journeys, changed tank now three times) due to it splitting its side seal I guess because of high pressure?
Here are my notes/symptoms:-
1. New expansion tank cap fitted.
2. No coolant leakage, except when expansion tank splits.
3. Water temperature gauge showing central position, ie correct normal temp.
4. No water contamination in oil.
5. Have had gas test on expansion tank, all ok.
6. Coolant slightly contaminated with oil, could be from original HG failure time.
7. I am getting bubbling in the coolant expansion tank (similar to having a watering hose in a bucket of water), bubbles more at higher revs.
8. Bottom hose takes a long time to warm up.
9. Fans seem normal.
Daniel
Hi Daniel,
When you changed the head gaskets did you also change the water pump and thermostat? Did you flush the system out with a good coolant flush, such as Forte, and ensure all the waterways were clear and flowing, particularly the two oil coolers? It sounds a little like you have a blockage somewhere which is not completely blocking the coolant but is restricting the flow, hence the bottom radiator hose takes a long time to become warm and the system builds up pressure. Try doing a good flush on it, if you use the Forte Bio Degreaser & Cooling System Flush this should also get rid of any traces of oil in the system. Then make sure you have a full flow through the system with no restrictions.
Please let us know if this solves the problem.
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
Hi Sue,
No the thermostat and water pump were left alone. The work was carried out by a local garage who I’m not to happy with, however, I’m pretty sure the system was not flushed.
This morning after a short journey (approx 7 mls round trip) the bottom hose was stone cold.
Can you tell me the procedure for a total flush? The bottom and top hoses seem very difficult to get too and after using the Forte where would I use/connect a garden hose to flush the system. Also would the thermostat restrict a cold water flush?
Daniel
Hi Daniel,
Disconnect the bottom radiator hose.
Put the garden hose on the expansion tank hose.
Undo the 13mm bolt on the engine block, just under the front cylinder head.
You should then be able to flush the system effectively. The thermostat is not going to prevent you from flushing.
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
Please is it normal for the water in my frelander 1998 model to pressurize before my fan picks and cool it down
Hi Adeleke,
No, it should not pressurise. You either have an airlock or your coolant is not circulating properly.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Hi, I’ve recently bought a 1999 Freelander ( my dream car ) all was going well, until the water hose popped off. On unscrewing the water bottle cap the water sprayed everywhere. I’d only driven around 15 miles in normal traffic conditions. I’ve refilled the water bottle, but it still seems to be loosing water and getting really hot. Head gasket? There are no obvious leaks. I’ve checked the oil and it’s not leaking into there. Any ideas? Thanks. Julie
Hi Julie,
Did you bleed the system when you refilled it after the water hose came off?
It sounds as though your coolant system is building up pressure, which is why the water hose came off in the first instance. Which engine does your Freelander have?
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
No we didn’t bleed it. I’m not sure on the type of engine, it’s a 1.8 petrol. Sorry to seem ignorant. We tried to drive it again today and the temperature got high really quickly with 10 mins.
Hi Julie,
You need to get the coolant system bled, there will be air in there and this will cause it to overheat. There are two bleed screws, one on the heater hose and one by the air filter. If it is still overheating after you have bled the system please let us know and we will give you some more ideas.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Hello. We have a 2.6l 2001 freelander and had a few water issues, with leaking pipes and broken t sections replaced those and now the thermo fans seem to stop kicking in all the time and the temp is steady now. But when we took the cover off the engine noticed some water in the throttle body along with some oil. And also noticed when taking the pcv pipe out of the right bank it gives off steam. What could be causing this? Cheers Nat.
Hi Nat,
Apologies for the delay in responding.
It is normal to have oil and water in the throttle body so do not worry about this. If you have disconnected the pvc pipe on the right bank when the engine is warm you would find steam from the condensation, so again, this would be nothing to worry about.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Thanks for the info Sue very helpful.
Cheers Nat!
i have freelander 1.8k 2001. the engine has been problematic for many years. i have again recently had engine rebuilt. but iam now using quite a lot oil, it’s not coming from block, the engine oil cap is clean, any ideas please. what is normal water use for this engine? all help more than welcome. wiill2
Hi Will,
If you are losing oil then there is a leak somewhere. The most common place for oil to leak from are is the camshaft oils seals, so you should check these first.
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
Hi I have a 98 freelander 1.8 petrol and notice im losing coolant when i drive short distance say 5mins come back and park after 2 or 3hrs the coolant disappears sometime I cant see it bubbling up in the expansion tank ive change one of the termastat the one near to the expansion tank and its still doing the same thing i cant see any leaks anywhere and dont know where the coolant is going also its a new head etc can you help please,
Hi Wayne,
You should only have one thermostat. Either one behind the engine block, or one in front of the engine (in which case the one behind the engine would have been blanked). If you have two thermostats fitted then this will be causing you a big problem.
You say sometimes you can not see it bubbling up in the expansion tank, does this mean sometimes you can? If the expansion tank is bubbling then you could have an air leak or a blockage (which having two thermostats would not help).
The water could be coming out of the expansion tank and evaporating whilst you are driving. Are you getting any white smoke from the exhaust after the Freelander has heated up?
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
hi sue there is no white smoke coming out ,today i started it up the hose on both sides were hot but the water in the e tank were still cold
Hi Wayne,
That is good news.
Is the coolant coming out of the header tank (i.e. can you see traces of the coolant on the outside header tank bottle or the area around it)?
Are you getting warm air in the car from your heating system?
Is there any mixture of water with the oil or oil with the water?
Is there any accumulation of residue (creamy substance) on the oil filler cap?
Are there any wet patches in the passenger footwell?
Have you done a coolant pressure test?
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
hello! Thanks, I wanted to warn me that I received the parts, but my office and held them arrived without problems thanks!
Now I have a new query.
This past Friday they installed everything but on Saturday, I was informed that the water does not circulate.
But if blowing directly into the water tank or in the last hose that connects to the tank, then the water circulates. but not by it self
That is, the shallow water of the tank but no water goes back to the tank
what is happend? I’m trying not to worry.
and thanks in advance.
Hi, i want to add, that i saw you send worldwide spare parts..
i think i going to need a new thermostat right?
Hi Paolo,
Sorry to hear you are having problems with your Freelander. If you had a leak from your hose and the thermostat was starved of water briefly then this could certainly affect it and cause it to fail.
It is also possible for the thermostat to stick intermittently, hence causing the fault.
If you are going to replace the thermostat you should also replace the two plastic pipes which go either side of it and the plastic clips. The prices are:
Thermostat: £28
Thermostat pipes (2): £19.50
Clips (2) : £9.50
Shipping to Chile: £60
TOTAL: £117.
It is worth checking your water reservoir bottle for and hairline cracks around the neck and replacing this and the cap at the same time if any are present.
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
Hii,
Thanks for the answer..
The workshop already bought the Thermostat the same day you answered me, but just the thermostat, I prefer change it all.
Did you send it via DHL or FEDEX? I mean how many business days will take to chile?
Becouse I need it between Wednesday and Friday
Thanks in advance.
Hi Paolo,
The quote is for UPS and the shipping time is 4 – 5 days so we would struggle to guarantee you could get it be Friday. Even going for a more expensive shipping option I can not seem to guarantee to get it too you any quicker.
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
Hi sue,
The shipping cost for the invoice without the thermostat will be the same?
can you guide to make the payment ?
Hi Paolo,
Without the thermostat the shipping will be £48. I will send you a Paypal invoice.
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
Hi Sue,
yesterday I completed the paypal transaction,
Then, I send you an important email about the shipping address
can you confirm me if you received this info?
Hi Paolo,
Yes, we have received your payment, thank you, and I have responded to your email.
Thank you for your custom.
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
Hi i’m Paolo, from chile and I own a 2006 2.5 v6 freelander.
in my case it come to leak through the hose connections, i change it, then the mechanical workshop says the fan never stop so it over heats.. why ? they say the thermostat just randomly failed.. it was working ok, i know the leakage is important on freelanders.
They cleaned the radiator too.
but can the thermostat randomly fail ? I mean. why now?
Thanks in advance
Hi Sue… the LR dealer states that the intake manifold is leaking coolant, and needs gaskets. Would that cause the coolant to leak into the oil? Thay also said that a little condensation in the oil cap is normal. Although, I have a white substance in the cap. Not sure about their diagnosis. Could you please give me your thoughts? Thanks! =) Jason
Hi Jason,
No, the intake manifold leak would not cause water to go into the oil.
You can get a little condensation on the oil cap if you use your Freelander for short journeys, however if it is used for longer journeys where the engine heats up fully you would not expect to see much of this.
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
Hello Sue –
I believe we may have reached the end of the road for our Freelander. Not one LR dealer in the Boston area wants to touch the head gasket in our KV6. The LR dealer we chose to bring our FL to has said that the mayo and condensation in the oil cap is “normal,” and gave us double talk… “well, we could change the head gaskets, and the engine could fail.” So, I told them to change the oil for now, to remove the gallon of coolant which is mixed in with the oil in the past 3 months.
One final question: can I keep adding coolant, and change the oil every 4 or 5 months for awhile, until we trade it in? Seems the car is now only worth about $4,000 according to NADA and KBB. What a waste, as the car itself is pristine, and we love it. I wish we lived closer to you, so that you could save our much loved car! Thank you for all your advice. This is truly a sad day for us. Peace to you. Jason in Boston, Massachusetts USA
Hi Jason,
That is a real shame. many garages, even here, do not want to do the head gasket on the KV^ Freelander because of the complexity of the timing and the tools required – even LR dealers often do not like doing it!
Yes, you can keep adding coolant and changing the oil regularly. Ultimately you could do more damage to the engine however, so it depends whether you are looking to run it to it’s death or not.
We can supply you with a reconditioned engine to put into her if you wanted to keep her going, we ship worldwide and have shipped many to the USA. Obviously the economic factor plays a big part here as the reconditioned engine, shipped to you would be £2,500 – £3,000.
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
Hello Sue:
Thank you for the offer of a reconditioned engine. That is a new suggestion for our predicament. American dollars, what if we were to send you our KV6 in exchange? Of course, we would pay up front for the engine in full, but would you give us anything in exchange for ours? The engine has 58,125 miles on it, and there is not much else I can tell you about it. We did just change out the timing belts, t-stat, and water pump 3 months ago at the LR dealer. I could give you our vin if that would assist…
In a new development, David at LR of Bedford, NH USA has informed us to ask our LR dealer to write that this engine is in “failure status” on the repair order, and contact LRNA, which I have done. LRNA has opened a case number, and we are attempting to see if LRNA will buy our FL back from us. Just another avenue open for us, although I do not know if LRNA will buy the vehice, or what they will give us for it.
The nicest aspect of owning our FL is that there are so few of them left on the roads here. We all know why that is though… it is a very sad situation. For the time being, when we retireve the vehicle, I will be monitoring the coolant level and adding as needed. I will not allow it to overheat under any circumstances.
Thank you Sue –
Jason
Hello Jason,
We have two issues with returning your current engine to us. One is customs duty and the other is shipping costs. Our reconditioned engines are generally on an exchange basis, however for some countries, such as the USA, we quote including the non-return surcharge of £250 as it is not possible to ship the old engine back for less than this, so it is the cheaper option.
Good luck in claiming from LRNA – if they would pay for a new engine and leave you with the Freelander this could be ideal!
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
Hello Sue! Our 04 KV6 with 58k has mayo in the oil cap, and I’m religious about keeping an eye on the coolant level. Topping off coolant level quite a bit,with no oil in the coolant reservoir, but definite coolant in the engine oil. Bought car used, don’t kno much about its’ history. I had the LR dealer change the thermostat, water pump, radiator hoses, timing belts, and poly v belt when we bought it. We love the car, and willing to put $ into it. It is currently 21 degrees outside, after driving 10 miles in traffic, just shut engine off in driveway, and the engine had heat steam coming from under hood. Never owned a car that did that in cold weather. I took the oil cap off, and there was steam coming out. I know this engine is programmed to run hot, but is it normal for it to be steaming like that in cold weather? There are no leaks under the car. I’m bringing it to LR for a new head gasket on Monday. Ideas, thoughts, and suggestions??? Thanks! 🙂
Hi Jason,
If your KV6 has water going into the oil then it would steam at the oil cap regardless of the outside temperature. If the head gasket had not gone then it would not steam like this.
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
Thank you, Sue. =)
One more broad question, please: What causes the head gasket to blow on the KV6? And should I ask to the LR dealer to check anything to make sure it doesn’t happen again for awhile?
Thanks much, and happy new year to you!
Jason
Hi Jason,
There are a number of things which can cause your head gasket to blow.
If you use the wrong coolant or just plain water, this can rust the head gasket. Make sure you use a red coolant with OAT.
If you have been losing coolant (which you say you have not) this can cause the head gasket to blow. Typical places for the KV6 to leak from are the thermostat housing, water pump or coolant reservoir bottle or cap.
If you have a blockage in the cooling system so the coolant is not flowing round the whole system this can cause the head gasket to blow. There are some very small pipes in the KV6 cooling system which can be prone to blockages (especially if substances such as K-seal are ever put in the coolant), so make sure coolant is getting all the way through the system.
We hope this helps.
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
Thank you Sue. I’ll let you know the outcome. It is going to the LR dealer near Boston on 01/13. You mentioned the coolant res bottle. There are 1cm lines that look like cracks under the cap area of the bottle. Also while idling, there are some serious air bubbles in the res bottle… I’ll definitely mention it to them.
I will replace the VCU when I get close to 70k, and is there anything I can do to maintain the gearbox? Or should I leave it be?
Thanks again! =)
Hi Jason,
The issue with the water reservoir bottle is a common one. Get it changed, along with the cap. Make sure you use a genuine Land Rover bottle and cap, we have found the after market ones to not be very good.
If I was you I would leave the gearbox alone, just make sure you have the gearbox oil changed every 60,000 miles with the exact oil that Land Rover recommends, and have it done by somebody who knows what they are doing (there is a plug that looks like the level check plug but if it is undone by mistake you will lose reverse gear and have to have the gearbox reconditioned to correct it!).
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
Hi im john I have a prob with my 1.8petrol freelander its y reg with 110, ooo miles. I noticed a water leak not a large amount on checking my bottle guage it was at minium I took it to my local garage
On inspection you see were the water had been splashing about. They checked the inlet manifold head gasket all ok, now it seems it only leaks after a drive but not a lot on further inspection they decided it was the water pump so iv a new pump on now alas yesterday it started leaking again same area arond the left hand side of the engine, any ideas! One thing my topping up bottle has crack jus below the filler cap and also the bottle is quite loose on its housing.
Hi John,
It is definitely worth changing your reservoir bottle and cap if it has cracks around the neck – they can be prone to this and cause al sorts of problems.
With regard to the leak on the left hand side, do you know what make of water pump they used? Some of the water pumps available are not very good at all, so it is worth checking that it is not this again. The other thing worth checking is the thermostat housing, as this can also leak. This is more towards the back of the engine.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
My 1.8 Freelander (2002) overheated on the A30 dual c/way last year – overheating. I duly stopped and called my breakdown firm. Mechanic turned up (8pm at night – dark). Found the car was low on coolant (it was okay when I left home 60 miles previously). He topped it up, ran the car for about 20 minutes and checked for leaks. I told him I was concerned because the HG had been replaced 18 months earlier following the same symptoms. He finally told me that he couldn’t find any leak and there was no “mayonaise” in the oil filler cap. He said it should be okay to drive on (168 miles to destination) as long as we drove steady and kept an eye on the temperature gauge (which we did). About 50 miles down the road the whole thing blew up – result – another firm called out, (the mechanic said the one who told us it was okay to drive on was a “muppett”) recovered to a garage £1500 worth of repairs which failed to get the vehicle going (written off) and a large bill for the car I had to hire (till I bought a new one). (1). Has this ever happened to anyone else? I am presently in touch with the Ombudsman after the breakdown firm refused to accept any responsibility for the bad advice I received and the subsequent loss of my Freelander. (2.) Anyone want to buy a Freelander in excellent condition (umm except for the engine…) just joking!
Alan
Hi Alan,
We’re so sorry to hear about your terrible experience. If you had been a few miles from home the advice may not have been so bad, but to expect you to drive 168 miles after losing coolant is definitely not good advice. It does not need to be a visible external leak for there to be a problem. If you are losing coolant at that speed (after just 60 miles) then there IS a problem, whether it can be seen or not.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
I have a problem with my 2001 V6 Petrol Freelander. Ever since the vehicle was serviced, the vehicle somehow misfires and the breaks have become too hard. Even when you break, as long as the gear lever is still on D(Drive), the vehicle still wants to go forward; its like the breaks can’t hold it still. What could be the problem?
Hi Mubuyaeta,
My apologies for the delay in responding.
The problem with the brakes sounds as though it could be the brake servo.
What revs is your Freelander idling at? For the misfire you will need to put it on diagnostics to determine which cylinder is misfiring.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
That’s excellent Matt, really pleased to hear you got it sorted out quickly, and easily.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Hi,
I have a 2005 1.8 freelander which is loosing coolant.
I can’t find any leaks at all, however the car does smell very strongly of coolant.
The oil looks fine, the expansion tank is fine and it starts/drives fine. I’ve really been scratching my head with it. I also connected the diagnostics scanner and it came up with misfire on cylinder 1 & 4, I’ve since cleared these codes and they’ve not returned.
Are you able to offer any further advice/areas to check?
Thankyou very much for any help.
Lee
Hi Lee,
Do you have any dampness in the passenger footwell inside the Freelander? If so, then your heater matrix is leaking, and it would explain the strong smell of coolant. You can often see if it has been leaking from pink residue on the carpet (assuming you are using the red coolant – if not, get it changed to red coolant as soon as possible).
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Sue,
Good news. The AA attend the Freelander this morning and, as I suspected, confirmed a leaking inlet manifold gasket. I had it replaced with the more robust green one and the the cooling system was flushed clean of oil and pressure tested (static and dynamic)with the water pump kicking in as it should – no problems. Total cost £7.50!! Phew!! Just a routine timing belt change and I then hope for some trouble free motoring.
Hi Matt,
The brown staining on the water reservoir would concern me, and indicate that it could well be the head gasket going.
Our advice would be to get it sorted as soon as possible. If you keep driving it then you could end up doing a lot more damage. At this stage, it is possible that it is just one of the other gaskets, and if left it could end up blowing the head gasket. If it is in fact the head gasket going (which sounds likely), it will be cheaper to deal with it now as you could get away with just skimming and pressure testing the head rather than a fully reconditioned one – remember that although you keep it topped up with water, if oil is getting into the coolant channels it can cause damage.
It certainly does not sound as though you have any cylinder liner damage.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Sue,
*sigh*. Just had my 2001 1.8 Petrol Freelander back from the garage. I’m having to top up the coolant quite regularly (I watch the level like a hawk!). I’ve noticed a small pool of coolant on the ground beneath the engine first thing in the morning and, from my reckoning, it’s leaking from the back of the engine block. I think its the inlet manifold gasket but local mechanic has advised a new head gasket. The vehicle has not overheated and the dip stick and filler tank are clear of mayonnnaise. There is pressure in the water reservoir once it’s being running and some brown staining on the bottle (can’t identify any oil on the surface of the coolant in the bottle though). No excess steam from the exhaust, no leak in the front foot passenger foot well. Mechanic advises it’s OK to drive as long at the coolant level is maintained. What’s your take? Thanks for your help. Matt
Hi Jamie,
It is sounding as though you may have a blown head gasket, but rather than the oil going into the water or the water going into the oil, it could be you have exhaust gases going into the cooling system. Worth getting it checked for the presence of exhaust gases.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Bad news I have had a pipe split on me second pipe in2 weeks so not happy I couldn’t even get it to garage the tops pipes are getting that hot its obviously split again but the bottom pipe is hot aswell and I am getting heating but the gurgling as never gone I have bleed it I just can’t understand what it is
Thanks your a star
Wise decision Jamie. The main thing is that whatever you change make sure the water is circulating and the bottom radiator hose is getting hot.
Just shout if you need any more help.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Yea I will leave it tell weekend and get bus to work don’t want to risk it it’s not worth it I didn’t know If to just fit anew thermostat and water pump see if it solves it
Hi Jamie,
Ooops, two bottles would have really messed you up. We have found that 9 times out of 10 this seriously messes up a Freelander, it may be different on other vehicles but the Freelander hates K-seal.
If your bottom radiator hose is getting warm and you keep a close eye on the water level then you may be OK until the weekend. However if your bottom radiator hose is not getting warm then I wouldn’t risk it.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Cheers I will do that shows you how much my actually land rover dealer know lol They actually told me to get 2 bottles but I thought I would just try one do you think it will be ok tell weekend as I filled it up yesterday with k seal ? Mind you you the actually guy what told me to do this did say its at your own risk but 9 times outta 10 it works
Sorry meant to say it’s k series engine 1.8 freelander
Hi Jamie,
Unfortunately you could have caused more problems than you have solved by putting a tub of K-seal in – these engines hate K-seal, it gets in there and blocks up the small pipes. It sounds as though your problem is that the water is not circulating properly. Check your thermostat and water pump – you could be losing water from one of these. Flush out your cooling system to get rid of the K-seal then refill (using red coolant) and check that the bottom radiator hose is getting warm.
If you need any more help when you have done this please let us know.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Hi there just wondering if you could help me out my water/anti freeze is going down a lot and there is a gurgling sound when I start the car up and when I am revving up the car setting off etc it doesn’t over heat and doesn’t blow out Gray smoke do don’t think it’s head gasket I put a tub of k seal in its not made any difference I am a bit stuck now any ideas would be most great full
@martin
check your reverse switch, located on the gearbox. i found, if this is too loose or too tight the hdc light can flash too.
if you turn on your front wipers and put into reverse, the rear wiper should come on automatically with the reverse lights. if it doesnt. the reverse switch is faulty
Hi again Martin,
Sorry I forgot to answer your question on the T4. They can be difficult to get second hand and you are looking at £3,000 upwards.
All the best,
Sue
Hi Martin,
The IRD unit requires 1.1 litres of Texaco S5 75W/90 to specification API GL5.
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
what type of oil is put in the transfer case and IRD? IS it the 80w 90 advice on freelander
t4 would cost how much new or used one in very good condition
sorry a used very good one
brake lights are working well, i will need to check the wires, and diagnostics machine. will let you know.
would you know the best machine for diagnostics for land rover? and price even a very good one can do
Hi Martin,
The ultimate diagnostics for Land Rover is the T4. If you are using it for home use the Snap-On Ethos is a good machine, although it will work out cheaper just to take it in for diagnostics. A second hand Ethos machine is about £400 – £500.
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
it is the one which shows the car going downhill
Hi Martin,
This is your hill descent control (HDC) light. It could be a problem with your brake light switch (situated under the brake pedal) – are your brake lights working? It may also be a loose connection with the wires at the gear lever, so these could be worth checking. If it is neither of these you may be best to have it put on diagnostics, if the error is not clear from the fault codes let us know what they are and we will try to identify the problem. Make sure your HDC button (on the gear lever) is not pressed on.
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
when do i need to change the timing kit? at what km?
hi advice i also see the yellow light come on when driving it gives the car more power. when i switch off some times it goes off then later when you press on the pad for fuel it comes on what can coz that? and how do i resolve this?
hi sue my name is martin from zambia i have a V6 need help i changed the Expansion tank and lad, i notice that water in the tank is bowing what can coz that
Hi Martin,
It is most likely to be your thermostat or head gasket. Run the car and check that your radiator bottom hose is getting hot and that the water is circulating.
Which yellow light is it that comes on, the engine management light or the hill descent control (which shows a picture of a car going downhill)?
The cam belt should be changed at 120,000 km.
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
help losing water but no leeks have mayonaise coloured residue in water tank ????
Hi Dennis,
Unfortunately the mayonaise coloured residue in the water tank means your head gasket has blown and oil is mixing with your water. Is your Freelander a 1.8 petrol or a 2.5 V6 petrol (I assume it is not a diesel model)?
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Ah, well done Rob, this certainly makes sense.
Ha Ha, think I got it, tow bar wires enter under the rear right hand wheel arch, into the space and panel of lights, no rubber gromit on the cables, as wheel throws up water runs into well.
Hello Sue.
Told you I would be back, went in the boot the well was half full of stagnet water.
any advice as to how its getting in, good job the amp is incased in plastic. lol
I have a feeling its the door rubber but it looks as good as new no damage at all.
Rob
Hello Rob,
This does tend to happen with some Freelanders. It’s a bit of a mystery which we have not had time to solve yet. Check the seals all the way around the rear door. It could be worth pouring water over the tailgate door area with somebody in the car to see how it is getting in.
Sorry we couldn’t be of more help on this one, if you do sole the mystery we would be very interested to hear about it.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Hi Rob,
They should have listened to you!
Good to hear you’ve got it sorted now.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
put them on a flat board drum was worped.
Hi Sue.
just to let you know, 4new tyres 2 rear brake drums, tracking spot on brakes dont rub anymore.
when i put drums on you could clearly see where the drum was rubbing on the back plate.
experts my bottom.
Thank you for you advice, it has helped to have a bit ok knowledge when dealing with these people.
I dare say I will be back.
once again thanks
Rob
No problem Rob, any time.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Hi Rob,
At least your drama seems to be coming to an end. It’s good that your VCU is not getting hot at all.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
I tested the VCU after a 10 mile drive stone cold. but I am going to sort the tyres myself. either 2 new rear and the best two on the front. Well they had it another 3 days this week. had the tracking properly done on a lazer tracking machine it was way out.
So I think we are coming to the end of things with Motor depot, I have purchased 2 new rear drums, then i know its safe and secure. now I just need to get the exstended warranty out of them 3 months as they have had it more than i have.
Hi Rob,
Having the same make, type and size of tyre on a Freelander is crucial because of the way the viscous coupling operates. After you have driven the Freelander for a number of miles have you tried to touch the viscous coupling unit? Be careful though, it could be hot! If it is too hot to touch then your tyres are definitely a problem with your tyres. If you can hold your hand on it comfortably then it will be fine with the tyres you have on.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Hi Sue.
they are not having it, landy expert says, “not nessasary on a landy its only for dico’s ect.”
as long as they are the same it does not matter, they have agreed to set the tracking on a fourwheel tracker that they dont have. they want change the rear drums.
Hi Rob,
If the viscous coupling is getting hot after driving it for a few miles then you will definitely sieze the new viscous coupling if they do not replace the tyres for a matching set.
Unfortunately it sounds as though they do not understand the Freelander at all.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
??? that is how they sold it to me????
update, Well they have had it for 2 days, viscous coupling has been replace, did nothing with the tyres still odd, did nothing with tracking still pulling to the left.
I think its time to get it repaired and send them the bill, enough is enough.
Hi Rob,
So is the viscous coupling unit (VCU) siezed due to mismatched tyres – is that what they are saying is broken?
All the best,
Sue
As far as the coolent goes, the engine was steam cleaned according to them so there should not be any remnants left. but the level is staying steady.
Should get it back Friday or Monday.
update, Well its back in their depot again, brakes are uneven pressure causing it to swerve when brakes applied, apparently the thing that makes the wheels speed up and slowdown when you go round a corner,this is broken need replaceing. Tracking and tyres are way out. it has 3 directional tyres fitted and one off road ~AT tyre on one wheel.
the list continues.
Hi Rob,
Yes, the cooling plate on the IRD / transfer box can cause leakage – especially if the clip is not tight! Good to hear you got that sorted out. Still getting the smell of coolant is worrying though, unless it is just the remnants from before.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
I have had the same simptoms as you, I dont know if this will help, apparenty there is a pipe that go’s into the transfer box the clip was not tight, it stopped the water loss. but i do still get the smell of coolant.
Still arguing with them about the other problems brakes wheel alignment, I was told friday by their expert that a hand brake is not for emergency stops, it is just for parking ?????
When you pull the hand brake it swerves into oncoming traffic Nothing wrong with that also you should hold a car on the road all cars pull to the curb.
its driving me mad, these are people who know nothing.
So at least your heater matrix is OK Brian!
They need to check the thermostat housing, cooling pipes and hoses and the IRD cooling plate.
Shame you are so far away – if you fancy a break in Norfolk we’ll sort it out for you!
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Hi Sue, ive checked footwell, no sign of moisture/coolant. Looks as though we will be back to the garage in the very new future…
Thanks again….
Brian….
Hi Brian,
Has your mechanic checked the metal pipe which runs at the back from the thermostat housing (it is prone to rusting) and the seals on the thermostat housing itself? Do you have any sign of the red coolant inside the Freelander in the passenger footwell? Get your mechanic to check if there is any leakage from the cooling plate of the IRD unit.
If none of these uncover the leak then do let us know and we will give you some more suggestions.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Hi Sue,
We got our freelander back a few weeks ago, after a few days I topped up coolant (red) as it was sitting on minimum. We have now noticed it has dropped to minimum again with a strong smell of coolant. As you may remember our car has been back and forth to garage for a while now. New HG (multi) expansion bottle (2nd hand). We took it to our local garage (who we trust) he said the engine was dry with no visible leaks. Oil/water is clean and the car seems to be running fine, but the coolant is going somewhere and the smell is strong.
Any help would be appreciated.
Yours Brian
West of Scotland.
Hi Rob,
I hope for your sake they have managed to fix it, but if not we would love to sort it out for you.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Update, Ready to pick up am tomorrow. If it is still losing I might take you up on that offer and bill them.
Hi Rob,
If you can prove it was a problem at the point of sale then they are responsible, even after 5 months and after the warranty runs out. If, however, it has developed afterwards then out of warranty it will be your problem.
This sounds as though it should be a simple thing of a leak somewhere. If you are not getting white smoke then hopefully your cylinder liners are fine. You just need a competent mechanic to find the problem.
If you don’t get any joy you are welcome to bring it to us – Nobert is fantastic at sorting out this type of issue!!
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Oh Well, Had Tradding standards (julie) on the phone, basicly thats what you get when bying secondhand cars. things go wrong.
120 point check and MOT mean nothing. 22nd of this month it becomes my problem to prove whats wrong, cannot expect to get money back after 5 months, cant get a like for like there is no such thing in second hand cars. if it was anything else like a washing machine, you cna get a like for like replacement. I wonder why consumer advice tell you to write and ask for it, if in law there is no such thing. I wasted £6500 and will hav eto fit it myself and send them the bill. waste of time
Hi Rob,
Generally the fuel consumption would not go down if you are losing water, unless the head gasket has blown.
The lambda sensor is just a sensor so it will only change readings according to what is happening with the Freelander.
If they have not done anything with the Freelander then you will have all the same symptoms, loss of water, smell of coolant etc. Check for any signs of red coolant around the engine bay after you have taken it for a good drive, particularly around the expansion tank and at the back of the engine.
If you are concerned about your CAT then for about £10 most MOT garages will do an emissions test for you.
Best of luck,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Can you give me any advice on what to look for when i get my landy back, I dont for a minute believe they have done anything to fix it. I intend on giving it a run 100+ see how the water holds up, before the tank would have been empty.
am I think right that the fuel consumption could be down as it is burning water/antifreeze and petrol??? so the power would be down thus changing the setting from the lamber sensor. Thats if it has not messed up the CAT already. about 30ltr of water gone through it.
Can you give me any advice on what to look for when i get my landy back, I dont for a minute believe they have done anything to fix it. I intend on giving it a run 100+ see how the water holds up, before the tank would have been empty.
am I think right that the fuel consumption could be down as it is burning water/antifreeze and petrol??? so the power would be down thus changing the setting from the lamber sensor.
Hi Rob,
Well at least you seem to have got somewhere!
With regard to the warranty, if the problem existed when you first purchased the Freelander then even if it is out of warranty this does not affect the fact that the garage is responsible for fixing it.
Judges tend to be professional people, and however much somebody knows them they will not be influenced away from the facts of the case. As you say, it sounds like bully boy tactics!
Best of luck,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Well had a meeting with area manager, he had great pride in telling me he has been in business for 40 yrs and is a machanic,in response to have they checked water pump thermistat, or checked cracks in pitston sleaves. and then to tell me that I am not amahanic.
I would not have a hope in hell of winning in court as they have been reasonalble. and he knows the Julies in tradding standards as he deals with all court cases.
he offered to fix all proplems with water and few other bits.
will not exstend warranty.
Consumer advice have passed case to trading standdards, bully boy tactics. not professional.
I have accepted offer, but with all work carried out and parts paid for are given to me in paper form. and warranty is exstended.
See where we go from here????
left a message for the MD to call me to disguss it with me, see what happens
Good luck Rob, let us know how it goes.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Hi Rob,
Sorry to hear it has come to the point of rejecting the Freelander, but it is certainly right to push the issue as they have not got to the bottom of the problem.
Best of luck, hopefully they will come to their senses and sort it all out amicably.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Hello All.
Well what a fortnight its been.
I took it back, they offered me £3000 part ex, when I paid them £6500 5 months ago.
So they kept it a week and come up with, its only loosing a little water nothing wrong with that. they did clean the engine???? been back today after the recieved a letter from me rejecting the car under sale of goods act. (from Tading Standards) refund or like for like replacement. I was told they are gona take it to there hull depot as a landrover expert is employed there. wait and see what he comes up with, HA ha. they have 7 days to respond to my letter or I will be taking them to court For the £6500 plus cost , loss of use. aswell as a summons to the finace company that supplied £3000 finance, as they are joint and serveral responsable with motor Depot.
It does not matter what they come up with that time has passed, the crazy thing is they have 2.0 diesel same year make model but with 10,000 more on the clock they could like for like. idots.
The guage starts to left, within a few minutes of driving maybe a mile, the point is half way or strieght up. but the blowers bow cold after a further 2 miles it starts to warm up.
No they did not change the pump or thermostat.
I cannot see any resdue around, but you can smell the heated pink fluid
Hi Rob,
You need to take it back to the dealer because it is leaking from somewhere, you should not be able to smell the coolant. They need to check the thermostat housing, water pump and all the coolant pipes and hoses.
We would be interested to hear what they find if you wouldn’t mind dropping us a line.
Best of luck,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Hi Rob,
When you say the temp gauge is straight up do you me pointing up or half way (i.e. pointing to the left). If it is going straight up then you have a big overheating problem.
Did they change the thermostat and water pump when they did the head gasket? It could be that the water pump or the thermostat housing is leaking (the one positioned at the back of the engine).
Can you see any coolant residue around the area of the water reservoir?
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
there does not seem to been smoke or excess steam, the carpets are dry, it has the pink fluid, which can be smelt in the engine compartment when hot, the thirmistate does take a long time to switch from engine to heating from a cold start, temp gauge is strieght up before heat kicks in.
How do I aaproach the dealer with this????
sorry its a 1.8 petrol.
I have a 04 freelander last month had the head gasket replaced would loose hole bottle of water in 17 miles, I was told the supper dooper gasket was put in, under warranty, i had to pay for skim and fuilds £165.
I checked the bottle again today half empty, topped it up, 7 miles home and its lost about an inch.
can it have gone again.
Also mileage is down per tank around 70 miles.
Hi Rob,
It sounds as though you have another problem with your Freelander which may have caused the head gasket to blow in the first place and has not yet been rectified.
Do you get any white smoke from the exhaust? It could be that one of the cylinder liners has cracked and hence you are losing water into the engine.
Do you get any dampness in the passenger footwell inside the Freelander? If so then you have a leak on your heater matrix which will be causing the loss of coolant.
The other thing is to check all hoses and pipes for leaks. Can you see any traces of pink around the engine compartment from the coolant leaking (I assume you are using the red coolant)?
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
Need your advice. My 2000 Diesel Freelander started overheating on the highway, town driving it would be fine, no loss of water. Soon as I got on the highway it would start loosing water when I travelled at the speed limit. It would push water out the platic bottle.
I then replaced the cap as a process of elemination, still same result. So then I replaced the Radiator as it could be a block. Now it seems to be ok but yesterday I went on the highway again and I see traces of water escaping from the raditor cap and by the pipe at the bottom of the plastic bottle (Water runs) and she lost about 200mils of water… could this be a HGF or could the plastic bottle be brittle and need replacing?
Hi Keenyn,
The diesel Freelanders are not prone to blowing their head gaskets, however if it has overheated a lot it is possible this could have happened – do you have any oil in the water or water in the oil?
The header tank bottles are prone to hair line cracks around the neck of the bottles, so it is definitely worth replacing this, and we would recommend replacing the cap again if it has overheated since the last cap was put on.
Have your water pump and thermostat checked and check for and blockages in the pipes (have you ever put any form of sealant such as K-seal in the Freelander?)
All the best,
Sue
+44-780-9575-421
Hi,i own a 1998 s reg freelander 1.8. Over the last 2 weeks it has been using a lot more water than it normally does and i have been needing to top it up a lot. Today i have been to check my water and oil and there is a mayonnaise coloured residue on the oil cap and dipstick! Ive phoned my local garage but they say they need to see it. Do you know what this is most likely to be? And how much should it cost to repair? Many thanks
Hi Isabel,
Unfortunately your head gasket has blown. What mileage is your Freelander on? Has the Freelander overheated at all?
We do two types of head gasket replacement, a standard replacement for when it has not blown or overheated which is $545; and a deluxe replacement for when the head gasket has blown and overheated, which deals with all the issues which could have been affected, this is £945 – all prices include VAT. Since you have always made sure there is water in the system if it has not overheated at all you may get away with something in between the standard and the deluxe head gasket replacement.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
water leaking from possibly rear of engine cannot see from were it is coming from always seems to leak when vechile as been out although i have lost water even when it as not been out
any ideas
Hi Keith,
Which engine does your Freelander have?
If it is the 2.5 V6 petrol model then this could be the water pump or the thermostat housing if the leak is from the rear of the engine.
If it is the 1.8 petrol model then this could be the thermostat housing or the inlet manifold if the leak is from the rear of the engine.
The diesels are less prone to these types of leaks, but let me know if it is a diesel model (and the year) and we will advise.
All the best,
Sue
0780 9575 421
got 2002 v6 auto freelander,done 27k on a replacement engine(car done 97k) just began to lose water but not overheats,fans coming on regulary,no loss of power cant see any drips really stuck now as to what it is,can also smell oil when reversing and petrol from outside sometimes..please help shaun 07976040036
No problem Shaun, Nobert will give you a call to discuss, or you can contact him directly on 0788 9936 364.
All the best,
Sue