Hello all,

Well, we've just taken the move to a 2003 Freelander ES. Its for the wife as we have a 2 year old, and another due any day and the Golf was tight with boot space with the new double pram we 'had' to get.

So far delighted with the Freelander, its only a 1.8, but suits herself. Just won't be winning any drag races off the lights.

So any way, the seller brought the car up to us as agreed (private sale) and all was well and good. This was on Tuesday. But the past cpouple of days I've driven it and can agree with my wife that 1st and second gear are a b*tch to get into, and reverse likes to grind its way in. Plus clutch it very heay, and pedel is very close to the ground.

Now I need to check the Clutch fluid Resivoior. (Where would I find this BTW)

But I'm guessing it could well be slave/master cylinder.

Has any one any other thoughts?

I read on another forum (can't find the link now... Darn) And a guy had a similar problem that was solved by changing the clutch oil to something called red... Does that make any sence?

Thanks in advance,

Pip

Oh dear please tell me it's not a 1.8 petrol!! If it is I suggest you go and have a look in the freelander section of this forum. And may the lord have pity on you.

That bad?

Afraid So have a look round the forum. petrol freelanders or (gaylanders) as they're also known, are not seen as a good vehicle to buy especially not with out a long test drive and a full service history.

A heavy clutch and difficulty with gears sounds like the pressure plate is fooked, it's a gearbox out job.

As the other threads indicate freelanders are prone to gearbox/clutch problems and in general the whole vehicle is crap, so if you can get rid of it then this is the time to do so and take a hit, dont waste money on it.

Trade the fooker against a decent motor.

Thanks lads.

If the freelander is reversed without using the yellow button, is this going to cause any problems?

Yellow button is only for STEEP hills to descent in first gear or reverse ...

So for normal reversing you don't need to press yellow button for reverse ...

You don't have user manuals???

Yer I do hae user manuals!!!!

But I wanted to ask as I was onto the seller this moring to advise of the problems. She said that her husband had always used the yellow deacent to go into reverse and I wanted tio know if this would cause problems.

Thanks for the replie though.

Hello Apip, Cluch can be changed out without removing Gear box, You can remove the engine from the top, new clutch kit around 100 Euros, as to the strange reversing proceduce the last owner had (DONT)

Any way I have had my 1.8 for some years now and the only issue was the clutch, there not all crap, but do need watching.

Cheers Dutch RR

Stiff clutch? Spray penetrating oil where the the pushrod goes into the clutch asssy/gearbox at bottom of engine bay. Leave overnight. Mine seized up and required a blowtorch too. Check mounting bracket for slave cylinder isn't bending. Get someone to press clutch pedal while you watch the slave action. If the bracket is bending then STOP before the cylinder disintegrates.