Help!

Tomuk21 · Monday at 22:43

I live in Rotherham (South Yorkshire) and dont know what to do with my 04 three-door Freedlander. It has not run for the last three years after it went to a local garage (one my dad used) when it was making a knocking noise from the back end. They even took the driveshaft so it 2 wheel drive to see if that would go any, but it didn't. I was told it was the rear diff mount and after about 5 months the garage towed it back and said it had died! It went in running!

Due to working away and having a car through work I have not done anything with it, but want it back on the road. Miss driving it!

The thing is I don't know where to start as not mechanically minded any suggestions? I have also toyed with the idea of getting it converted to an EV but wouldn't know where to start.

Any help with either idea would be appreciated. If it could be restored that would be Fab!

Alteredtech · 2024-12-10T06:38:13+0000

Hi

If I were you I will sell the car ! And buy another one in better conditions. If you leave a car and tell yourself you will fix It later, and already 3 years had passed, It will never get fixed.

Atomician · 2024-12-10T08:59:45+0000

I don't disagree with @Alteredtech, but I would say sell it and buy a new one, if you want to be driving it. If you're not bothered about driving it for a few more years, then keep it and start working on it.

Or better still, buy a new one and keep the current one for spares and repairs, or for a project, if it's got nostalgic value and you would enjoy the project of fixing it one day then it's worth more to you in its current state then you'll get for it.

As scrap it's worth probably 200, as a non working project for someone else, it could be worth 400 if mostly tidy, or fully working good condition it's worth maybe 1400-2500, so you're not looking at getting a lot for it.

saxavordian · 2024-12-10T09:27:25+0000

I agree eventually you'll have another garage and bills later on unless you have deep pockets. Let alone tax insurance and any other jobs can mount. Revaluate as plenty still available in full working order.

J_D · 2024-12-10T10:07:05+0000

First thing is to get it running, any bits missing?
Battery good?
New fuel in?
From there other options like easy start.
If doing it yourself, it's only nuts bolts and magic, get a code reader like the ebay elm ones with phone app(free is good). Decent six sided sockets and any other tools buy decent quality.
Lots of people here that will help, listen to them as they know their stuff.

Freddie17 · 2024-12-10T10:45:02+0000

Tomuk21 said:
I live in Rotherham (South Yorkshire) and dont know what to do with my 04 three-door Freedlander. It has not run for the last three years after it went to a local garage (one my dad used) when it was making a knocking noise from the back end. They even took the driveshaft so it 2 wheel drive to see if that would go any, but it didn't. I was told it was the rear diff mount and after about 5 months the garage towed it back and said it had died! It went in running!

Due to working away and having a car through work I have not done anything with it, but want it back on the road. Miss driving it!

The thing is I don't know where to start as not mechanically minded any suggestions? I have also toyed with the idea of getting it converted to an EV but wouldn't know where to start.

Any help with either idea would be appreciated. If it could be restored that would be Fab!

FL1’s are quite easy to work on, in so much as there is not a lot of electronics to worry about - they are mainly mechanical. A basic set of tools will see you through most things on them. You would need a code reader at some point also.
If you intend on doing it, think before you start, and buy the things that will help you - for example, a generic code reader is ‘ok’ most of the time, but a Pscan will really help you out in the long run. A trolly jack is good, but a heavy duty one with high-lift and a wide plate is better (and safer), so invest wisely and don’t buy cheap/buy twice!

Converting it to an EV can be done, but it is a major project - just ask @Alibro

Rear diff mounts are not that difficult, if that is the correct diagnosis. Knocking noises could be a lot of things…
When you say ‘it has died’, what do you mean? Does it start? Is the battery simply flat?

We can help, but only you can decide if you want to do it?

Alibro · 2024-12-10T17:00:33+0000

Freddie17 said:
FL1’s are quite easy to work on, in so much as there is not a lot of electronics to worry about - they are mainly mechanical. A basic set of tools will see you through most things on them. You would need a code reader at some point also.
If you intend on doing it, think before you start, and buy the things that will help you - for example, a generic code reader is ‘ok’ most of the time, but a Pscan will really help you out in the long run. A trolly jack is good, but a heavy duty one with high-lift and a wide plate is better (and safer), so invest wisely and don’t buy cheap/buy twice!

Converting it to an EV can be done, but it is a major project - just ask @Alibro

Rear diff mounts are not that difficult, if that is the correct diagnosis. Knocking noises could be a lot of things…
When you say ‘it has died’, what do you mean? Does it start? Is the battery simply flat?

We can help, but only you can decide if you want to do it?

It sounds like the garage is manned by utter morons. Freelander 1's are simple cars that any mechanic should be able to fix. The engine is an old BMW M47 so there are millions out there and the mechanicals are as basic as is possible for 4WD.
EV conversion is very rewarding but not for the faint hearted. However with the price of used batteries now as low as they have ever been it should not be expensive.
You need reasonable mechanical and welding knowledge plus reasonably strong electronic and coding knowledge.
Oh and severe bloody minded dogged stupid determination.

Edit: Don't even consider paying someone else to do it unless you're thinking of a professional converter. Think £20k or more to do it somewhat right.

Help!

Tomuk21

New Member

Alteredtech

Well-Known Member

Atomician

Well-Known Member

saxavordian

Well-Known Member

J_D

Well-Known Member

Freddie17

Can’t reMember

Alibro

Well-Known Member

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