New Owner - Teething Problem Please Help!!!

Hello

Firstly this is a great forum and helped me immensely with the researching of and purchase of my new Freelander.
I have recently purchased a 2004 Freelander 1 54 plate and it is generally running well. I bought it from a dealer and it has a 3 month warranty. I have had to change a few hoses which were old but the dealer paid for them.

I have one problem that I and the dealer just can’t diagnose. I have researched everywhere and spoken to many of the people I work with (engineers and diesel experts) but have not got a clue what the problem is. I am sorry to open my first post with a problem but if somebody could point me to a relevant forum post or offer any advice I would be eternally grateful as I keep having to take it in and be without my new beast.

I have recently removed the EGR and added a blanking fitting and the problem was there before and after although seemed to get worse for a while after to the point the engine cut out at high speed on the motorway. I stopped and then started up and continued my journey with the noise coming intermittently.

This morning I drove 70 miles and had no issues other than the noise appearing a few times but otherwise a good run.

The car starts fine and seems sound OK when idling, in fact it sounds much better now the EGR has been done. I have plenty of power and everything seems fine for 45 minutes driving or so.

When I have been on the motorway for a while at around 70-75 and maintaining a steady speed I get what I can only describe as a clanking noise and the cars feels like its juddering/surging. It sounds like a really high pitched misfiring. The problem is intermittent and is not always there but it doesn’t sound good. Aside from that I have no issues with the car and am very happy with my purchase.

Any help would be appreciated and if you need any further information then please let me know.

Worn turbo spindle maybe?
I don't really know anything about the TD4 but my old L series sounded clanky before I fixed the turbo.

Have you checked out the 'wont go over 70mph thread at the top?

Yes I did have a look at that, but it didn't quite seem to be the same. I still have power, but maybe I will just do the test to rule it out. Anymore suggestions welcome.

Thanks for taking the time to reply

If your hippo feels like its surging slightly at constant throttle I would guess at an injector problem. Mine used to do this and it would sound like a spitfire until you blipped the throttle which would clear it.
Get them to do a leak back test on your injectors as if it is this it will eventually fail on you......hopefully not on a duel carriage way like mine did.

Thanks MJ I will suggest that when I take it in

Update.

Also I have noticed that I get the same 'knocking noise' when I rev the car in neutral. Its a single knock towards the higher revs. I dont know if that makes any difference...

Dual Mass Flywheel coming apart for the knocking or are you certain it's fuel related..?

id look at lash adjusters and injectors if theres noise and not just misfire

Thanks for all your advice. I decided to take the freelander to a mate of mine who owns a garage and he diagnosed the following problems.

Faulty rear fuel pump

Pipe that was attached to the EGR valve didnt have a clamp which meant the pipe was leaking exhaust fumes into the car (He suspected this was the cause of the knocking noise which ended up appearing at over 2500 revs)

Crankbreather needed replacing

Oil leak in sump area

I then took the report to the dealer and dropped the car off and they have fixed everything I mentioned.

I would be interested to hear what other owners views are on these issues causing the problem I described. Will update when I pick the car up tomorrow.

Fingers crossed...

Ok. Problem solved. The dealer identified the problem which ended up being a faulty fuel pressure sensor. This has been replaced and with the other fixes my lovely freeloader is running very well. Thanks for all your help!