Does that give anyone any idea what it can be ???
and can I just swap an ECU over from another vehicle or does if have to have the matching ignition or anything ?
 
It does sound voltage related but obviously not to the engine.
What year is the Freelander. No you can't swap ECU's about as they are coded to the immobiliser ECU. I'm thinking that there could be a bad connection at the engine ECU. There are several live and earth connections to it. Also the ECU monitors battery voltage, adjusting engine speed to compensate for the extra load of electrical items.
 
the ECU monitors battery voltage, adjusting engine speed to compensate for the extra load of electrical items.
is that not exactly what is happening - just incorrectly?

18Volts across 12volt devices is likely to affect them badly, but in peculiar and spurious ways :(.
I suggest your ECU is malfunctioning in some weird and mysterious way. It needs to be checked.
 
Its a 1998 I am getting another alternator, then will have to get the ECU checked out if I can find someone near Liverpool that does it.
 
The 98 is a distributor engine for the HT. From memory, the ECU swings the ignition timing to speed up the running under load. I've see this timing swing cause problems with tracking inside the cap. It's definitely worth looking at the cap and rotor arm for burning before condemning the ECU.
 

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