What have you done to your Freelander today

This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Fitted a replacement TCM for the auto box. Drove it around for ages while it settled down a bit, still not there, needs driving along a nice A road me thinks.
One thing of note, the tcm is labeled with the vin number of the car it's fitted to. Don't know why. Didn't throw any error codes, but it's taking a while to bed in.
Mike

I don't know why the VIN is stored in the Freelander TCM. But it's common on modern cars to have the VIN stored in multiple locations. Seems strange to have it stored in the TCM which obviously was only fitted to auto transmission cars.
Do you have a way of updating the TCM with the correct VIN? Also you it would benefit from an adaptive reset.
 
I don't know why the VIN is stored in the Freelander TCM. But it's common on modern cars to have the VIN stored in multiple locations. Seems strange to have it stored in the TCM which obviously was only fitted to auto transmission cars.
Do you have a way of updating the TCM with the correct VIN? Also you it would benefit from an adaptive reset.
Don't think my reader will update the tcm coding, Icarsoft LR2.
Do you know how to do an adaptive reset?
Mike
Edit, 2 conflicting methods
1 turn ignition to position 2, hold accelerator pedal full down for 20 seconds, turn off, start car and drive like a t*sser for a while.
2 you can't. Needs plugging into a LR diagnostic.
 
Last edited:
Don't think my reader will update the tcm coding, Icarsoft LR2.
Do you know how to do an adaptive reset?
Mike
Edit, 2 conflicting methods
1 turn ignition to position 2, hold accelerator pedal full down for 20 seconds, turn off, start car and drive like a t*sser for a while.
2 you can't. Needs plugging into a LR diagnostic.

The first one will only recalibrate the throttle pot on early NEMS ECUs from memory.
I'm not sure what level of diagnostic unit is needed to clear adaptive values. My Icarsoft I930 says it should on the sales literature, however I've yet to find a menu for it in the unit itself.
 
The first one will only recalibrate the throttle pot on early NEMS ECUs from memory.
I'm not sure what level of diagnostic unit is needed to clear adaptive values. My Icarsoft I930 says it should on the sales literature, however I've yet to find a menu for it in the unit itself.
Same thing here. My Icarsoft LR2 is the newer version of the i930, but it still fails to function properly with the jacto ecu. It will read it's information status, but not fault codes, but will give some info on solenoids etc. But take into account mines a 52 plate, so not full obd compliant. Haven't tried reading the new tcm yet.
I've seen other postings where the jacto ecu fails to talk to readers on VAG, Nissan and Ford.
Might have to get it round to the brother in laws, hopefully his reader will communicate with it, as he's an auto electrician and got a real fancy machine. But easier said than done getting us both in the same place at the same time:rolleyes:
Mike
 
The I930 has only limited access to the TCM. I did have a couple of codes on the ABS ECU relating to CAN failure. I've cleared these and the transmission function improved. I'm getting a slight power fluctuation as the box shifts from 4 to 5. However it doesn't shift cleanly, it bounces back to 4th after the shift to 5th. Once it's done this shift, not shift, shift thing it stays in 5th. It's like the TCM shifted to 5th before it was needed, so drops back to 4th again. It's a pain but otherwise it's running sweet. I'm going to do a fluid change soon and wanted to reset the adaptation afterwards. Sadly it looks like the I930 can't reset them.
 
The I930 has only limited access to the TCM. I did have a couple of codes on the ABS ECU relating to CAN failure. I've cleared these and the transmission function improved. I'm getting a slight power fluctuation as the box shifts from 4 to 5. However it doesn't shift cleanly, it bounces back to 4th after the shift to 5th. Once it's done this shift, not shift, shift thing it stays in 5th. It's like the TCM shifted to 5th before it was needed, so drops back to 4th again. It's a pain but otherwise it's running sweet. I'm going to do a fluid change soon and wanted to reset the adaptation afterwards. Sadly it looks like the I930 can't reset them.
It's like your talking about my FL. Fault codes canbus to abs/autobox. I also get low power to ABS. Exactly the same with 4th/5th gear.
It was explained to me that the torque converter/solenoid setup is a bit basic in these boxes, and holds between 4th 5th gears then drops it into a gear unceremoniously.
Every now and then mine puts all the lights on the dash board on, rev and speedo drop, then it'll either sort itself out or very rarely do f4 limp mode. Turn it off, count to 10 start it up and all fine again? Very intermittent, but bugging my life out.
Mike
 
It's like your talking about my FL. Fault codes canbus to abs/autobox. I also get low power to ABS. Exactly the same with 4th/5th gear.
It was explained to me that the torque converter/solenoid setup is a bit basic in these boxes, and holds between 4th 5th gears then drops it into a gear unceremoniously.
Every now and then mine puts all the lights on the dash board on, rev and speedo drop, then it'll either sort itself out or very rarely do f4 limp mode. Turn it off, count to 10 start it up and all fine again? Very intermittent, but bugging my life out.
Mike
I've not checked the codes again since last week, but erroneous codes are not uncommon. My D3 gave plenty, none of them important.
I got the same ABS/TCM CAN failure and ABS low voltage. It's possible that those are logged at start up, if the ECU is checking it's routine while the engine is cranked.
It's interesting that yours also does this 4th to 5th back to 4th for another few seconds before finally shifting to 5th.
I put it down to a sluggish solenoid valve in my box.
Maybe it's a TD4 thing as my V6 never did anything it shouldn't. The whole engine and gearbox in that ran faultlessly. Except for an occasion power surge which I eventually traced to a faulty fuel pump. The box never did what my TD4 box does. This suggests it's a programming error, or a mismatch between the TD4 ECU and the box TCM.
 
That's worth a look. Mgf parts are generally cheaper than LR parts.


Now that looks better. I want to replace to cloth on the door cards with leather, just to add a bit of luxury.

I got 4 mgf door handles for a fiver down the scrap yard and replacing the cloth on the door cards is something else I plan to do.
 
I got 4 mgf door handles for a fiver down the scrap yard and replacing the cloth on the door cards is something else I plan to do.
I wish my local scrap yard was that reasonable. Mine wanted to charge me more than I would pay on Ebay :( If you get a bargain set of chrome handles again, give me a shout ;)
I thought of covering the cloth with punched Italian leather to match the bolsters on the seats.
 
I've not checked the codes again since last week, but erroneous codes are not uncommon. My D3 gave plenty, none of them important.
I got the same ABS/TCM CAN failure and ABS low voltage. It's possible that those are logged at start up, if the ECU is checking it's routine while the engine is cranked..
This appears to be a big problem on certain BMW and Mercedes cars with diesel engines of the same age as ours. Yes it's the engine crank that sucks power and faults the ABS/TCM ecu. So much so that someone on the BMW forum came up with a work around which involved splicing wires in the ABS loom!!
But apparently it was forcing limp mode, so they went down the drastic action route to fix it. Think I can live with the odd dodgy code.
Been out in the car again and it's starting to change up and down better. Also forgot to mention it's a newer tcm than my original , has a higher revision code. The whole engine sounds different. Who'd have thought it would make such a difference.
Mike
 
This appears to be a big problem on certain BMW and Mercedes cars with diesel engines of the same age as ours. Yes it's the engine crank that sucks power and faults the ABS/TCM ecu. So much so that someone on the BMW forum came up with a work around which involved splicing wires in the ABS loom!!
But apparently it was forcing limp mode, so they went down the drastic action route to fix it. Think I can live with the odd dodgy code.
Been out in the car again and it's starting to change up and down better. Also forgot to mention it's a newer tcm than my original , has a higher revision code. The whole engine sounds different. Who'd have thought it would make such a difference.
Mike
It's common to get erroneous codes due to low battery voltage on cranking. It's common for the D3 to log about a dozen codes every start if the battery is on its last legs. It even flash an on dash error saying "Special Programmes Off" on the start up.
Computers and low or fluctuations in voltage aren't really compatible.
 
Took it to the mechanic's on Thursday for a change of brake fluid. Wasn't happy with the brake efficiency. A noticeable improvement in the feel of the pedal but finding the brakes are not that great.
Maybe you should be looking for a brake upgrade? Even the later vented setup is a good improvement over the early system.
 
Replaced my brake pads last week, sick of the lockheed pads making grinding noises, better braking performance and now quiet.
 
Took it to the mechanic's on Thursday for a change of brake fluid. Wasn't happy with the brake efficiency. A noticeable improvement in the feel of the pedal but finding the brakes are not that great.
I don't know if your car is pre or post 01 but my first Freelander (98) had hopless brakes but both my current ones (02 and 04) have great brakes.
Does anyone know how to upgrade to the newer brake system?
 
Back
Top