Freelander 1 indicators

Old diver · Mar 4, 2019

My left side indicators are flashing fast, front near side not flashing. Tried hazard lights, front near side not flashing. Off side working fine. Tried two tested bulbs, still the same. Changed the four pin towing relay for three pin, still the same. The bulb holder is dry and clean. How far should the bulb holder twist to get out? It only seems to twist a quarter of an inch. I’ve waded through dozens of old threads and there doesn’t seem to be an answer.

GrumpyGel · Mar 4, 2019

They flash rapidly when a bulb isn't working - which has happened in your case.

I had a front indicator bulb 'go'. Replaced it, and it went OK again for a short while, then failed again. On closer examination, 1 of the contacts in the headlight unit that the bulb's plug mates to had burnt out. I took the unit out and filled the burnt contact with solder, put it all back together and it worked for quite a while, but ultimately failed again and this time I swapped the headlights over from my parts car.

It was difficult to get a good pic of it, this is as good as I got...

I'm not necessarily saying this is what your problem is, but worth checking.

Old diver · Mar 4, 2019

Do I have to take off the full headlight unit?

GrumpyGel · Mar 4, 2019

Its difficult looking into the unit to see the contacts. You may need to take the wheel off to see through the access panel in the arch - or maybe use a mirror - you may also need a torch. I can't remember exactly.

its definitely easier to check if the unit is removed from the car! Even then though its not as easy as you think to identify what's what - there should be 2 square shiny pieces of metal that are the contacts.

Removing the light is a PITA. People say you can push the bumper a bit to get access to the bolt on the bottom of the light unit and to extract it - but I've had a look at doing that and ruled it out even knowing where the bolt is. So its a bumper off job, then the light comes out easy. Removing the bumper should be easy although there are lots of screws which makes it tedious - the problem comes with most of those screws being completely rusted up!

Probably worth trying to rule out other things first - although I don't know what they might be for an individual bulb not working when the bulb is known to be good.

kwondo · Mar 7, 2019

Old diver said:
My left side indicators are flashing fast, front near side not flashing. Tried hazard lights, front near side not flashing. Off side working fine. Tried two tested bulbs, still the same. Changed the four pin towing relay for three pin, still the same. The bulb holder is dry and clean. How far should the bulb holder twist to get out? It only seems to twist a quarter of an inch. I’ve waded through dozens of old threads and there doesn’t seem to be an answer.

Sounds like a bad earth on the one that's not flashing, as the other one on the same side is flashing twice as fast as normal I would guess

Old diver · Mar 8, 2019

kwondo said:
Sounds like a bad earth on the one that's not flashing, as the other one on the same side is flashing twice as fast as normal I would guess

There is a little rust on the earth connection which I will clean up and try again.

Old diver · Mar 11, 2019

Just spent hours trying to remove the front bumper to take out a headlight unit. Had to cut most of the screws. The two bolts that hold it to car frame are proving impossible to remove. I am in the insane position of possibly having to scrap my car because of an indicator bulb. All I want to do is fix it, then get rid of the damn thing.

GrumpyGel · Mar 11, 2019

IIRC they are a 10mm bolt. Nice long extension on the socket, pull back the plastic wheel arch liner for access and they should come out pretty easily. You just can't see them and have to feel around with your fingers to get the socket on them.

Same with reinstalling them - you can't see them, so have to work on the basis that if you've pushed the bumper in right then the bolt will do its job.

You've done the worst bit - getting all those rusted screws out. Salt is a killer for stuff like that. I've removed the bumpers on 2 Kiwi Freelanders, a '99 and a 2001, and all the screws just unscrewed.

Old diver · Mar 11, 2019

GrumpyGel said:
IIRC they are a 10mm bolt. Nice long extension on the socket, pull back the plastic wheel arch liner for access and they should come out pretty easily. You just can't see them and have to feel around with your fingers to get the socket on them.

Same with reinstalling them - you can't see them, so have to work on the basis that if you've pushed the bumper in right then the bolt will do its job.

You've done the worst bit - getting all those rusted screws out. Salt is a killer for stuff like that. I've removed the bumpers on 2 Kiwi Freelanders, a '99 and a 2001, and all the screws just unscrewed.

Thanks for your reply. Am I trying to get off the two correct bolts? These are the ones that are up through the access panel, one on each side of the car. If these are the ones, there is just not enough head on the bolt to get a grip on.

GrumpyGel · Mar 11, 2019

Old diver said:
Thanks for your reply. Am I trying to get off the two correct bolts? These are the ones that are up through the access panel, one on each side of the car. If these are the ones, there is just not enough head on the bolt to get a grip on.

They are not the best of bolts, but I've always managed to get them off reasonably OK. Don't do it through the access panel though, undo all the screws fixing the wheel arch liner to the bumper and pull the arch liner back to get access. As I say, you still won't be able to see the bolts, but access is easier.

Old diver · Mar 17, 2019

I was trying to take off the wrong bolts! The one that is horizontal instead of vertical, in fact I had to take out two. Waiting for headlight unit to be delivered. Battery clamp fell to bits, so had to replace that. There was a clump of gaffer tape behind the lower spots and I found these two connectors, anyone know what they are for? Also got an engine tray and have located the front two holes and the two angled fittings, but what do the four holes at the back fit to? Any help appreciated.

Old diver · Mar 20, 2019

Couldn’t repair the front nearside indicator and ended up having to buy a second hand unit which arrived with all bulbs fitted, wired it up and everything is working again.

Freelander 1 indicators

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