Hello...newbie in distress

Hi there, I've dreamed of owning a freelander for ages & finally took the plunge....I bought an 05 TD4 SE, full service history 100k, one owner from new, serviced at a dealer etc...new clutch & flywheel 20k ago..seemed a dream. Drove it & it drove lovely, such a lovely car. I've had it 2 days now & it's kicking a good quantity of white smoke out. It also has a problem with the tailgate lock & the HTC light & another traction control light keeps flashing on (maybe once a journey) for 5 mins. Throughout it all it drives fine, but I'm panicking now. I'm no mechanic. I just loved the car & really wanted it. Please be kind to me, I'm no expert just really worried & before I go asking for my money back I want to hear your opinions.

The smoke is intermittently thick but fairly consistently thicker than it should be. Today it wafted through the car & up through the front - it smells a bit diesel like.... Though performance feels fine to me (it is new to me tho). The coolant level seems too high to me & it was something I just didn't notice on purchase. Crazy I know (again don't judge please

He says I have a 3 month warranty. I paid £2895 for it. Can I have some advice?

Thanks so much in advance.

Take it back and get your money back quick

Really?? Why.. Is it the turbo?
I've read such conflicting reports - some say it's fantastic. Unluckily for me the bad ones I've read since buying it. I read such good ones. Please say why

Sounds like head gasket and the lights don't seem clever either.
Doesn't matter how good the model is fundementaly, if you get a bad example that someone is trying to punt on then it will be trouble.

Tailgate and dash lights are common issues and sortable enough. Unburnt diesel smoke is a worry and could be a number of things but you have it under warranty so make use of that.

Issues sorted or money back.

You'll have enough things to sort in the future so why start before you have to?

Its the turbo seals going without doubt If and it will the engine starts to run away pop it into 5th hold the brake down and pop the clutch Or let it run and blow the engine. Get it back to whoy ou bought it from.

Thank you. Thanks for your help. Feel gutted. It was smoking a bit initially & he said it'd just been stood 2 months & needed a good run. 60 miles later no cigar. I feel such a fool. And I'm never normally anyone's fool. Is a head gasket very costly?

fredi250 said:

Its the turbo seals going without doubt If and it will the engine starts to run away pop it into 5th hold the brake down and pop the clutch Or let it run and blow the engine. Get it back to whoy ou bought it from.

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Oh thank you...okay. I'm going to ring them & take it back there tomorrow. We paid cash I'm just hoping to god my old shed is still there & he'll let me have it back

Cinderella_shoe said:

Oh thank you...okay. I'm going to ring them & take it back there tomorrow. We paid cash I'm just hoping to god my old shed is still there & he'll let me have it back

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Tbh there's considerable doubt what the issue might be but either way it's needs sorting or money back.

There's lots of td4s about if thats what you want and it'd be silly to land yourself with problems

I totally agree re lots about. I feel like I've had my fingers burnt now mind. I'm just hoping he'll be honourable about it. The garage wasn't a dealer or anything just a tiny garage in Rotherham. Didn't even have a card machine. My warranty is '3 months warranty' written on the top of my receipt. I actually feel really stupid now, I'm not one for rash decisions EVER. I'm only hoping that having it for 2 days will mean he will be honourable. It drives so lovely I dared to believe it would be okay.

Thanks so much for those of you who have replied - your advice is much appreciated.

Cinderella_shoe said:

I totally agree re lots about. I feel like I've had my fingers burnt now mind. I'm just hoping he'll be honourable about it. The garage wasn't a dealer or anything just a tiny garage in Rotherham. Didn't even have a card machine. My warranty is '3 months warranty' written on the top of my receipt. I actually feel really stupid now, I'm not one for rash decisions EVER. I'm only hoping that having it for 2 days will mean he will be honourable. It drives so lovely I dared to believe it would be okay.

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Have a read of this....
https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/buying-a-crock-of-or-if-you-already-have.76002/

Best to know where you stand before things get sticky

If you like the car, I wouldn't be to quick to take back for a refund.

There will be a reason for the smoke - and it sounds like the turbo. Take it back and get them to sort it. If they replace the turbo - tell them you'll only accept a reputable new/recon replacement (not one from a breakers) and you want to see the reciept. Maybe mark the current one in some way to see if they have replaced it.

A diagnostic machine will give you the codes as to why the HTC/TC/ABS lights are coming on (do you know anybody with 1?) - once again, get the dealer to fix them.

There's no reason the coolant to "seem" to high - there's high & low markings on the expansion bottle - its either inside those or its not. If its bubbling up or something that's a different matter.

What ever Freelander you get is going to be over 10 years old and probably have issues - obviously the smoke is a big one - but if you get the known issues sorted, it runs good and you like the car - then you're in a good position.

Give the dealer the option - fix the car to your saticfaction, or money back. At £3K he's got a fair bit of cash in there to fix the problems.

BTW - have you checked its 4WD? Is there a prop shaft under the car going from the front to the back? Have you checked that all 4 tyres are identical - ie exactly the same make/model/spec - it is vitally important for Freelander - don't run it unless they are all the same. I'm sure a dealer might just replace 1 or 2 with as cheap as pos to get it through a MOT. If you keep it, check the VCU is OK and not gone to stiff. VCU and tyres are what cause expensive repairs in Freelander.

Let us know what you decide to do, and if you ask for your money back, how it goes.

if you do not want it take it back and if he says no return take him to the small claims court I hat people like this ever since I was done over a Austin 1100 in the early 70's

Hello everyone, i thought i would update you with my landrover saga as you were so helpful. I called the garage several times the Monday morning after purchase, no response to the mobile number. Eventually got through on a number for another car they had for sale (naturally!) The lad said he would get the boss to call me back that afternoon and no call was forthcoming. So i decided to bite the bullet and call my own garage I have used for years. To cut a long (sorry) story short the news was not good. The smell is burning oil. The smoke is the turbo. The coolant is very high (way above max level marked on the reservoir) which was done deliberately to mask the loss due to it needing a headgasket. The dash lights are caused by an ABS sensor on my NSR wheel.

HAD it just been the turbo i think i would have let him repair it, but he genuinely has proved himself to be quite unscrupulous. I told him that i wanted my money back and my p/x renault back (i still have all the docs for it). He claimed my renault had been sold 'to a foreigner, and you best get me those docs or you'll be getting tickets because you know what foreigners are like' *grrr*. He also point blank refused to refund/exchange the cars back. I have the right to reject the vehicle within 30 days of purchase under the new Consumer Right Act 2015 - so i have cited this - he says i am wrong. He says he will fix the car but adamantly refuses to accept that it needs a turbo or headgasket. (I don't trust him anyways - imagine the most untrustworthy bloke you have EVER EVER spoken too and times it by 1000 - a real COWBOY!) He went on to say (i recorded the call thankfully) that he 'knows exactly what is up with the car and if i return it he will fix it'. So he sold it KNOWING it was faulty, which is a direct contravention. My partner also visited the site and my renault is still there tucked away. He asked if it was for sale and it is! They even had the cheek to lie about my Renault's past (it was a shed but it ran!) AND used my profession to try and gain his trust (we both work for the police).

So i have written to him, recorded delivery and I will go to Small Claims Court if i have too. I am genuinely upset though. I love the car. I wanted one for so long and this happens.

Thanks for all your help though. It was your advice that made me seek an independent inspection and I am glad i did.

teddywood1 said:

if you do not want it take it back and if he says no return take him to the small claims court I hat people like this ever since I was done over a Austin 1100 in the early 70's

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I agree completely and i am, people like this give the second hand motor trade a bad name.

Shimsteriom said:

Let us know what you decide to do, and if you ask for your money back, how it goes.

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Thanks - the saga is above in a new reply, thanks for you time

GrumpyGel said:

If you like the car, I wouldn't be to quick to take back for a refund.

There will be a reason for the smoke - and it sounds like the turbo. Take it back and get them to sort it. If they replace the turbo - tell them you'll only accept a reputable new/recon replacement (not one from a breakers) and you want to see the reciept. Maybe mark the current one in some way to see if they have replaced it.

A diagnostic machine will give you the codes as to why the HTC/TC/ABS lights are coming on (do you know anybody with 1?) - once again, get the dealer to fix them.

There's no reason the coolant to "seem" to high - there's high & low markings on the expansion bottle - its either inside those or its not. If its bubbling up or something that's a different matter.

What ever Freelander you get is going to be over 10 years old and probably have issues - obviously the smoke is a big one - but if you get the known issues sorted, it runs good and you like the car - then you're in a good position.

Give the dealer the option - fix the car to your saticfaction, or money back. At £3K he's got a fair bit of cash in there to fix the problems.

BTW - have you checked its 4WD? Is there a prop shaft under the car going from the front to the back? Have you checked that all 4 tyres are identical - ie exactly the same make/model/spec - it is vitally important for Freelander - don't run it unless they are all the same. I'm sure a dealer might just replace 1 or 2 with as cheap as pos to get it through a MOT. If you keep it, check the VCU is OK and not gone to stiff. VCU and tyres are what cause expensive repairs in Freelander.

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Thanks so much for that info, really grateful.. I am going to pursue this through small claims court.

A Couple of things...

1) you have 6 months warranty under the Consumer Rights Act if it was sold by a trader and not private sale.
2) you have 30 days to reject the vehicle or get your money back.
3) you may wish to have the faults fixed by the seller.
4) You may ask for compensation to have the faults fixed elsewhere.
4) All faults within 6 months are deemed to have been there at time of purchase
5) You must stop using it immediately, on notification to the seller of any faults.
6) It must have been sold as fit for purpose and be of satisfactory quality (taking in.to account its age and mileage)
7) if you buy a second-hand car that was not described as being in excellent condition or good working order and it breaks soon after you buy it, you don't have any right to reject it or to claim compensation.

Does it have 4 tyres all the same, newest on the back, a VCU and propshafts?