Freelander 1 Leaking coolant, major problems?

Hi all I'm after a bit of help, I have a 2003 Freelander 2.0 TD4 Auto.

Yesterday whilst driving I noticed a bit of a whine from the engine when in low gears, i thought to myself i should get that looked at. Today the whine gradually got worse, I got home and basically fond my coolant leaking all over the engine bay, much like this chap:



I have also noticed that the gear changes are now quite jerky. Does this spell the end of the freelander?!
Any help would be massively appreciated.
Alex

Forgot to add, I have checked the engine oil and everything seems fine...

what is the gauge showing, it is a possibility that your thermostat is locked closed

I wonder if your ird cooler has split , think I,d check the oil in ird

If the gear changes are now jerky - is there an auto fluid cooler on the Jatco? Would indicate to me that that's the problem - not that I know anything about the auto!

As GG said. Sounds like the auto box fluid cooler has failed. It does happen sometimes.
Replace the cooler, flush the box and coolant. It's not the end of the world, but it can take time to clean the box should coolant have got in there.
The cooling system needs a decent clean too.

Well thanks for the replies guys looks like GG/Nodge68 hit the nail on the head it was the autobox cooler that had failed. He got everything back together and working but the engine sounded terrible, looks like a belt tensioner has gone, fingers crossed it'll be back on the road this weekend

I can't understand why an issue with gearbox cooler could cause the belt tensioner to go. Are you sure the noise is from the engine and not the gearbox?

As I say, I know very little about the auto boxes just what I read going through LZ. As I understand it, when the fluid is changed in the auto box, not all of it gets changed - there is always some left in it. As the fluid has got into the coolant, I'd have thought that coolant would have got into the auto and mixed with its fluid. Being heavier, its likely to settle at the bottom and be the bit left over. So a flush won't get rid of it. However, it may be the stuff that doesn't get changed is the stuff in the cooler, if that's the case, then disregard!

You had this issue for a couple of days that you know of. There was presumably coolant in the gearbox during this time, I'd suspect damage to the box. If the 'coolant' was spewing from the bottle, did the engine overheat? It may have been pressure from the box pushing the fluid out or it got to hot. Not sure what the thermo characteristics of transmission fluid is, but if the engine did overheat that may have caused more serious issues than just the belt tensioner.

I'm making it sound like doom-and-gloom - and it probably isn't, but it is strange that this issue would cause a problem with the belt tensioner.

I'd give the box a few changes of fluid. Just in case coolant has got into the box. The box runs quite hot which goes naturally force water out. However it's better do drain it a few times to get as much out as possible.

Sorry for the late reply, I don't seem to get notifications when a new post is added, must be a setting I need to tweak somewhere.
The tensioner is just a coincidence I think, he has shown me the old one and it looks as if its been on its way out for sometime.
I have the car back now and things seem OK. there is still a little whine from the gearbox in low gears so I think there may have been some long term damage. I'll keep it running for the time being but I think it may be time for a change in the new year. I have the freelander for towing and its been a great workhorse, but I have had several issues over the past 6 months and it just feels as though its finally on its way out

It's not uncommon for the box to whine a bit in first and second, especially when cold.
I'd give it another fluid change and see how it goes. There's no reason to get shot of it as it's probably got many thousands of miles left in it yet. Clean fluid is the key for long box life

Glad its basically sorted. Whines are worrying though! I've had a whine develop on mine and was convinced the belts were about to give, had them changed and all it did was change to a different type of whine! I should add that nobody except me could hear these whines! Car's been fine for a couple of years with them

How long have you had the Freelander?

I've had it for about 3 years now, its upto 110k on the clock. Its not been to bad on the whole. I had an injector fail far far from home but managed to get it sorted and a bearing that just ended up being a pig of a job. Hopefully the whine will just be a "feature" from now on, I have a long journey on Friday as we are off to the in-laws 200 miles away for Christmas, if it gets us there I'll be happy!

My auto box whines for the first 5 minutes from cold. And it's had 3 fluid changes this year. Doesn't bother me.
Mike

Skinny Mike said:

My auto box whines for the first 5 minutes from cold. And it's had 3 fluid changes this year. Doesn't bother me.
Mike

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They all whine when cold, especially in first and second.
Bearings are not a problem with the Jatco. It's the reverse brake band and solonoid valves that cause issues. Otherwise they are a good box. Much less trouble than the TD4 clutch and associated paraphernalia.