Helppppppppppp

The problem with the 1.8s is caused by the thermostat. It is not correctly influenced by the actual temperature of the engine and when it finally realises that the engine is getting hot and opens it sends cold coolant from the radiator to a very hot engine which causes thermal shock to the the head - remember we have always been taught not to put cold water in a hot engine - well this is what the thermostat does. If the head gasket hasn't blown from the hot engine then it will from the thermal shock - the problem is this is often not noticed and if the engine gets really hot the cylinder liners slip destrying the engine. This problem also happens to the MGF and the Lotus Elise which also have the same engine - it is less of a problem though.

Engines normally last between 30,000k to 100,000k and it happens time and time again - good servicing is no preventative. So the odds are that this has already happened to your car at least once.

The fix is a modified head gasket, a modified termostat system and very regular maintenance of the cooling system and never, never allowing it to get hot. This apparently fixes the problem.

There is also a design issue in the drivetrain of pre 2000 models. All cars AWD cars with viscous couplings have different front and rear diff ratios. In your model the difference is too great and the VC has to work hard to compensate with the result that it fails at about 130,000 km and locks up causing tarnsmission windup. This causes the IRD (Transfer Case) to fail with expensive results - though a VC is 1 1/2 times the cost of the IRD. The only way of stopping this is to check the VC every few thousand km and replace if suspect or replace the IRD from a later model (I have done this after mine failed).

See http://www.ashcroft-transmissions.co.uk/category_8.html

Fore warned is for-armed and all is manageable just as most of the Landrover design issues are managable.

Overall the car is great.

Garry

Thanks for the Info Gary however how do i check the viscous couplling? And what do i look for? Stefan

Gary is very accurate with regards to the car. I have a 1.8 and love it to bits. literally.

If you are concerned about it, check that is has the remote thermostat fitted to reduce cooling issues and has the new coolant tank and cap. Apart from that, the cars including engine are hard to break. If you do alot of mud work, check the timing tensioner occasionally.

Thea gearbox is tough (for the power it has), IRD units only fail if the mounting bracket cracks, so get that checked, and the Vicsous Coupling starts to wear out by the 150oookm mark. Not that it will be a problem, just less rear wheel power. You can usually pick the VC dying in poor rear tyre wear.

The only thing i have found with it is it has an intolerance to muddy water ...... but remove the plastic cover on the ignotion leads (it holds water) and check the timing system regualrly and you are sweet.

Everything expensive that breaks on the freelanders is usually due to the failure of something cheap. So regular maintenance is your best friend.

When people tell you to buy a defender, remember what its like to have integrated aircon, good road handling, comfy seats.... i could go on :P


I have had mine into almost every constituent part now, so dont hesitate to ask.

Cheers!

Has anyone ever thought of making a D Coupling device so its 2wd and 4wd when you need it ? How can i tell if it has a remote thermostat fitted? Cheers Stefan

while you pontificate over your intergrated air con and heater from the luxury of your comfortable seat supping a warm coffee from the cup holder in the dash lament on what it could be like if you had a bit more height to keep the belly out of the mud, the water off the top of the donk, enough room to fit a decent size set of tyres so you could have some decent gripping rubber on the rims and then a low range with a Center Diff lock to get the lashings of torque and power that the donk has got onto that slippery stuff instead of having to go around the long way...

Ponder also the fact that once youve gotten to where your going that clean up is a simple as opening the doors and applying the hose......

While your slaving away with the carpet shampoo and the vacume cleaner that laughing sound and crack thhhst noise you hear will be the defender drivers poping the tops on one of the many cartons of beer that we picked up dragging toymotors and pootrols out of the same bog hole you just knew you couldnt cross.

ahhh a defender, Earning the driver more than his fair share of the free beer and making life simpler in the aftermath.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ShellNStef

Thanks for the Info Gary however how do i check the viscous couplling? And what do i look for? Stefan

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Mark the front of the VC with a white line and mark the rear of the VC with a white line, so that both lines line up - then take the car for a short drive - if the VC is serviceable the lines should no longer line up because the VC has provided the required slip.

What I do is put the car in 1st and release the handbrake and chock the front wheels - jack up the drivers side rear wheel so it is off the ground. Either remove the rear wheel or just the little centre hub cap - put a large socket (I think it is 1 1/4") on the hub nut with a breaker bar or large socket bar. Take up the tension in a clockwise direction then apply a heavy but steady pressure in a clockwise direction to the bar - the wheel should very slowly turn which is the VC slipping. Steady pressure is required - jabbing at it will not work. I do this every 5000km.

Other symptoms can be odd tyre wear on the rear tyres - saw toothing. I never had this problem. As the VC is basically locked there will always be some tightness felt in the drivetrain when making tight turns however when reversing it is obvious but if the VC has failed - when reversing on full lock it will feel as if the handbrake is on and indeed indeed may cause the engine to stall - however a little binding is normal.

Garry

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ShellNStef

Has anyone ever thought of making a D Coupling device so its 2wd and 4wd when you need it ? Cheers Stefan

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It is called a Viscous Coupling - despite all the hype a Freelander is really a front wheel - 2wd drive vehicle until when the front wheels slip then only then do the rear wheels engage fully. On the bitumin only 10% of drive goes to the rear wheels and this is just because of the inbuilt friction of the VC.

Garry

Best fix for a Freo is to accidently set it on fire, a News paper and ciggy butt does well, and claim the insurance lol.:wasntme::wasntme::wasntme:

Too much of a time bomb in my opinion BUT if everything is done I have heard they can be relativly reliable or at least as much as a TD5.:wasntme:

The 300tdi engines have their problems aswell but I think it is a lesser evil than gambling on a freo.:D:D

I have a couple of freinds that have had them 1x1.8 1xV6 and both had heaps of elec problems as well as the usuall engine replacements and VC replacements so hope you earn a good quid.

The Disco is a great compromise between the Defa and the freo, can do most of what a Defa can do but you have comfy interior great air con, elecy wimdows and nowhere near the problems of the freo.

The only plus's for a defa is more ground clearance standard and more luggage space and the hose out capability but all this is a trade off to comfort.:wasntme:

Ive made a mistake in buying a Jeep (ZJ Grand) which I lost nearly $10k in repairs and change over to a Carolla so dont feel bad, we all make mistakes lol.:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:: mad:

Get rid of it and buy a disco, Freo's are for people who like public transport, walking and have freinds in the towing industry lol.:D:D:D:D

No offence guys but just do a search for freelander problems and spend the next week reading about horror stories like I did to find info for one of my freinds and it is not a good sign.:wasntme:

Send a PM to Justinc
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/z/index.php?z-profile=justinc

He's in Kingston, he fixes Land Rovers, probably seen it already.

Welcome to the forum.

Cheers
Simon

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mcrover

Too much of a time bomb in my opinion BUT if everything is done I have heard they can be relativly reliable or at least as much as a TD5.:wasntme:

The Disco is a great compromise between the Defa and the freo, can do most of what a Defa can do but you have comfy interior great air con, elecy wimdows and nowhere near the problems of the freo.

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My Freelander has been far more reliable than my disco - the electrics in particular and things do not fall off it. Build quality is better in the Freelander. I have had 2 discos over a long period and a freelender and owned both at the same time and can make a reasonable comparison.

The freelander is no where as bad as people say and most who say a lot haven't owned them - having said that the 1.8s were a worry but that was mainly because Landrover refused to address the issue until it started to impact sales and it was too late.

Gazzz