What have you done to your Freelander today

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Today I started to investigate the mystery of the disappearing coolant. It seems to vanish under moderate engine load, like when towing my trailer a couple of weeks back. It's lost almost nothing with my normal weekly drive, but it's lost something.

I figured I'd start with the thermostat (LR call it a thermal control module:eek:), as the issue only seems to manifest itself when the engine is working, and putting the heater on hot reduces coolant loss.

However I was scuppered before I could even start to remove the thermostat, as I couldn't find a 5ltr container of coolant which I was sure I had stashed away. :mad:
I'm thinking I used it in the daughter's car when I replaced the rad last year. :oops:

I'll order some more this week, and see about changing the thermostat next week instead.
 
On my previous TD4 the 'stat developed a slight leak along a split line in the moulding on the large diameter part.

Only found it when I ran my finger over it...
 
Changed the diff oil again.

Found a cheap 25€ 12V pump that makes this task easier. It's not meant for gear oil, but it did the job, both ways.
Screenshot_20221023-143523_Photos.jpg
 
I know it is off piste, but has anyone got knowledge or experience of the VW DSG DQ500 automatic direct shift gearbox ??
If not, no worries but worth an ask. It was parked next to my F1 for a while so it clearly is a valid question on this forum !!:eek:
 
andyfreelandy said:
I know it is off piste, but has anyone got knowledge or experience of the VW DSG DQ500 automatic direct shift gearbox ??
Click to expand...

Yes, they're best avoided. They have a very short life, often just 10s of thousands of miles.
My wife loves her VWs having had several.
One thing all the forums say is to avoid the DGS on the second hand market.
 
Interesting. What's the failure mode? The mechatronic unit appears to fail but VW claim to have sorted that out with the latest.

Not that there was anything wrong demanding a recall from the previous one though !!!
 
Nodge68 said:
I've got one of those pumps. It makes getting oil out and back in pretty easy. Mine has blown the internal fuse on 75w90 gear oil with the smallest hose connected.
Click to expand...

It was definitely struggling especially with the fresh 75w90. Old oil was still warm and thinner after driving, it came out quicker. It's not used daily so I'd expect it to last several changes. Should have got 2 of them...so cheap. :rolleyes:
 
Stance said:
It was definitely struggling especially with the fresh 75w90. Old oil was still warm and thinner after driving, it came out quicker. It's not used daily so I'd expect it to last several changes. Should have got 2 of them...so cheap. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
I've got one of them, it was an absolute life saver when I foolishly thought "Since I'm servicing both my car and the duchesses car, and they both use the same oil, I'll just buy a 20l drum of it" - without thinking of how the hell I was going to pour it into the engine - tip - touring from a 20l drum into a filler cap will end in tears no matter how big a funnel you try to use...
 
andyfreelandy said:
Interesting. What's the failure mode? The mechatronic unit appears to fail but VW claim to have sorted that out with the latest.

Not that there was anything wrong demanding a recall from the previous one though !!!
Click to expand...
It could be lies but I was told not to buy a DSG over 60k miles if it hadn't had an oil change. And even then it could be an issue.
I drove a Skoda Octavia with a DSG gearbox for a couple of years and never liked it much. In my case the car had a small diesel engine with only 105hp (so no torque) and the DSG gearbox meant you had zero possibility of pulling away quickly.
If I was pulling out of a junction while on a hill I had to wait until there was a huge gap in the traffic as the car was so slow to accelerate. At times it was downright dangerous.
Currently I drive an old Merc C Class with an auto box and I can hold the brake while revving the engine a little so the car takes off nicely (Even does burnouts :p) The DSG doesn't allow you to do that.
 
Fitted the new wiper motor and linkage assembly. :)
I think they sent LH drive version as the wipers park vertically. :(

Refund or replace requested from vendor, but can I change the sense myself so it parks correctly?
 
Cheated on my FL1 today. Did the pads all round on the Mrs's Porsche Macan. Not too bad a job but the rear ones were a faff because of the electric handbrake. I do love the uncomplicated nature of the FL1, and I don't know why but I just down like the idea of electric handbrakes. No reassuringly secure feeling of pulling a lever and feeling mechanicals hold your car back.
 
Don't they also release when you drive off?
Defeats the object of the handbrake being the last line of safety when your foot slips off the clutch too quickly.
 
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