Right, today was my baptism of life driving a 3 door Sport and to be frank it didn"t impress me. On the rough Pot Holed roads around here it Rattled and Banged unlike my 5 door Serengeti which glides over rough terrain. Is it just this particular 3 door Sport or are they all prone to be much noisier? I realise they are fitted with Bigger Diameter Wheels 18" and larger low profile tyres but the drive this morning showed all it"s obvious faults. Mind you it certainly covers the ground bloody quickly but noisiely. I hope to book it in to my local garage tomorrow for him to do detailed examination of the underside joints etc etc and to let me know if ther is a problem and I will let you guys know the result.
Dar ran Dar ran
Well-Known Member
They definitely don’t like bumpy back roads
Mine also rattles a bit but I always the back seats down and rear window open for the dogs
Arctic2
Well-Known Member
I thought you were having to sell the 3 door due to your quote ( Hi, unfortunately I have to sell my recently purchased very tidy 2004 Freelander Sport TD4 AUTOMATIC 3 DOOR which I was hoping to keep to replace my 2003 Serengeti TD4 Automatic but because of a hitch I am unable to get the SPORT insured so it has to go. MOT Mid September...)
I"m sorry lads but this is probably going to be my last car so although it was cheap I still want to make sure it"s ok. I cant afford anything newer but on the other hand I want an LR so please forgive me for being unable to decide, but please help me discover why it doesn"t only Rattle but more importantly it Bangs and thumps over any rough roads
Sorry lads but the problem is I just dont know what to do.
To all you patient and helpful Freelander owners. Can I please apologise for being a prat. This is probably the last Freelander I will ever own and it was a 3 door I really wanted and this one looks the "Dogs B.llocks", but when driving over fairly normal roads it sounds bloody awful. It Rattles, Thumps over bumps and BANGS over anything bigger than a small hole in the road. To add discomfort to annoyance it"s also slow to fire up when cold. So please forgive my being a Prat but please help me diagnose what the problem is. This morning I had a quick look around the state of the tyres for which I have 4 new ones on order, but the tyres on the car are 3 of one size 235/50 R18/101W XL and just one 235/50 R18/97W. You see I bought in Haste incase I missed it. Cheers
Ok - it rattles, bangs and thumps on rough roads?
It could be a lot of things, but I’d first check underneath that everything is bolted up, nothing loose and nothing hanging off. How does the suspension look?
The tyres are the same size, but different speed and load ratings. Check the tyres - as you’ll know, if they are uneven in wear, and have been so for any length of time, then it’ll probably have issues with IRD/VCU and more. Are they inflated correctly (over-inflated and you’ll be feeling everything).
Slow to fire diesels could also be a number of things, but in this weather it should not be the glow plugs.
It could be a lot of things, but I’d first check underneath that everything is bolted up, nothing loose and nothing hanging off. How does the suspension look?
The tyres are the same size, but different speed and load ratings. Check the tyres - as you’ll know, if they are uneven in wear, and have been so for any length of time, then it’ll probably have issues with IRD/VCU and more. Are they inflated correctly (over-inflated and you’ll be feeling everything).
Slow to fire diesels could also be a number of things, but in this weather it should not be the glow plugs.
Thanks Freddie 17. Any help or advice will always be accepted by me, so thanks. I"m so used to my 5door Serengeti TD4 Auto which we have had for over 7 years that I cant get over how rough the 3 door is compared to our 5 door. Our Serengeti starts on the button no matter what the temperature is but this TD4 Sport is a bitch to start. The bloke I bought it off cheershad the IRD/VCU sorted just before I bought it.
“The bloke had the IRD and VCU sorted”
How did he “sort it”. Did he evidence this to you or show you receipts? Did he replace the prop bearings with the VCU?
Does it look ‘new and clean’?
Alarm bells ringing with a ‘bloke that sorted it’ unless you have the details. They are not cheap things., and any FL owner knows to keep the proof of such work.
How did he “sort it”. Did he evidence this to you or show you receipts? Did he replace the prop bearings with the VCU?
Does it look ‘new and clean’?
Alarm bells ringing with a ‘bloke that sorted it’ unless you have the details. They are not cheap things., and any FL owner knows to keep the proof of such work.
GrumpyGel
Well-Known Member
He's told you a pack of lies, or doesn't know anything about Freelanders - probably both.
He states that he has sorted the IRD/VCU - but it is running mismatched tyres. The 2 do not compute. Running mismatched tyres is the fastest way, apart from running 1 with no air in, to kill a VCU & IRD.
Lets hope the odd 1 tyre was replaced just before you got it to pass a MOT.
Don't use the car until you have all he tyres replaced with the same make/model of tyre - and, as stated, done a 1 wheel up test. Also change the oils in the IRD and diff - make sure they come out looking like oil, not a grey/metallic mess.
If the bangs and other noises only occur over rough ground, rather than on level but when turning, then the transmission (IRD/VCU/diff) is hopefully OK. There will be something worn with the suspension (unless there's something rattling around in the fish tank!). I'd have thought this was difficult to diagnose remotely over the forum. I'd have thought you need to get a local & trusted garage to look over it if you can't identify the problem yourself. It may be something cheap and simple, like drop links, that once resolved, give a ride to match the aesthetic condition of the car. It may of course be something more serious, but hopefully not.
As for the poor cold starting, common problems would be the old chestnuts of lift pump, HP pump pressure regulator solenoid O rings or rail fuel pressure sensor wiring/connector. First check point would be to plug in a diagnostics tool and check the low and high fuel pressures. What they should be I don't remember, but they will be on here (should be a sticky thread!).
That's what I was gonna say as well.Is it just me? 2 doors??
Sorry to disappoint all you Avid readers but today Tuesday 11th June 2024 the bloke is coming to collect the car and return my money, I HOPE. So sorry but no more talk about a 3 door anymore.
But while I have your attention in August I"m going to get my Serengeti MOT"d. Last year the tester told me that the Emissions might be too high next time, so is there anything I can do to make them better?
But while I have your attention in August I"m going to get my Serengeti MOT"d. Last year the tester told me that the Emissions might be too high next time, so is there anything I can do to make them better?
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Yes Freddie, every penny
