Hi guys,

I have a 2004 TD4 freelander which has started developing a couple of strange issues over the last few months that i wanted to run past some more knowledgeable people.

Firstly after I turn the car off I have noticed a very high pitched humming/buzzing sound coming from the engine bay, it can happen for anything up to 10mins after the engine has been turned off. I’m pretty sure it is coming from somewhere on the near side of the engine bay but cant be sure exactly where, any ideas what this could be??

Another problem I’ve come across is very intermittent, every few days or so once I have stopped there is a large amount of smoke coming from behind the near side front wheel, it smells almost of burning but only lasts 10 seconds. I have also noticed a slight pull to the left which has not gone away after checking tyre pressures and wheel alignment. Could this be a sticking calliper or am I barking up the wrong tree with this??

Any help/advice would be great as the mechanic i normally use doesn’t seem interested.

Cheers,

Ash

Hi Ash, and welcome to LandyZone.

Have a search on here for fbh (Fuel Burning Heater)

I think that clever piece of kit is what is producing the sound and the slight smoke/smell. No problem that is completely normal when the temp drops to around 5degreeC.

The pulling to the left is almost certainly unrelated.

Cheers,

Singvogel.

Hi. The smoke is almost certainly coming from the fuel burning heater that is sited in the front nearside wheel arch. The exhaust pipe for the FBH is at the front of the wheel arch at the bottom. It is quite normal for some smoke to emit if the weather is cold and the FBH activates through the temperature sensor. Similarly, the noise you hear after you switch off is quite normal.
With regard to the pulling I may be inclined to swap the two front tyres with each other and see if you still get the came symptom. It could well be the way the tyres have worn, especially if the steering geometry has been wrong in the past and has not been rectified quickly. Whatever you do, if you dceide to put two new tyres on the vehicle to replace the ones on the front please remember to put the new ones on the rear. It will be VERY costly otherwise when you have to contemplate replacing the VCU, the diff and or the IRD. There is a mine of information on this excellent forum giving useful advice on this subject.

Thanks for the information guys, that has put my mind at rest!! Seems like an odd system, have never heard of anything like it!

With regards to the new tyres, why should you put new ones on the rear? I only ask as when I purchased the car the dealer fitted 4 new tyres to the car....should I be worried?

Thanks again,

Ash

Hello again. If you had all 4 tyres replaced at the same time then you have nothing to worry about. However if you only ever replace two then always put the new ones on the rear. It will be very costly if you don't!.