Is it just me or does anyone find these "one thread wonders", as in the people that register, post a thread sayhing "help my cars broken", get some tech support from us, and disappear off into the ether, being polite, annoying? As I'm getting older and more cynical, I find myself reading the opening posters post count and using a factor in making a concious decision to contribute the thread or not. There has been a few times I've put considerable effort into replies to threads from one thread wonders, and as they have disappeared off into the ether, I'm not sure if they have even read the posts or not? Sometimes I'll ignore the new member status and chime in if I'm feeling charitable, other times I'm like - "Nah! call the AA or go to a garage you chancers!"
Perhaps we need a standard response pointing one post wonders to https://lmgtfy.com/?q=freelander+workshop+manual&pp=1
I know what you are sating about FL1 - L314's and FL2 - L359's being so disparate as to warrant separate groups, but Disco and Rangie owners are all lumped together whether 200 Series / 300 Series / Disco 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 & RR owners are all together whether they are discussing an original 1970's 2 door or a 2019 L405 - so I guess its best we just use the tags lest we all end up in little sub-sub-sub-forums with about 8 participants in each
I know what you are sating about FL1 - L314's and FL2 - L359's being so disparate as to warrant separate groups, but Disco and Rangie owners are all lumped together whether 200 Series / 300 Series / Disco 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 & RR owners are all together whether they are discussing an original 1970's 2 door or a 2019 L405 - so I guess its best we just use the tags lest we all end up in little sub-sub-sub-forums with about 8 participants in each
I don't mind sharing and expanding my knowledge to support fellow enthusiasts, but I find it oh so irksome (dancing around profanity filters) when it appears we are being exploited to support others attempts at "bangernomics". There was a case in here recently where a guy with about 6 posts in total started looking for "whats wrong with my car?" the usual heavy hitters chimmed in, then the OP was like "Ah well, thats too much money / work - does anyone want to buy my freelander with 4 good tyres", and I was struck with the sentiment of what a genital wart, I was genuinely too disgusted to even reply to the thread. AND we are getting more of these things creaping in as the cars get older.
kernowsvenski
Well-Known Member
not a bad shout there freelance. @GrumpyGel shows perpetual patience posting the "freelander tests" thread and @Nodge68 always helps despite commments about pedentry etc. I just read most thinking thank goodness they contribute for the good of all.
I don't know enough to be useful (merely, dangerous) but even I have noticed the increase of "can anyone come and Fix My Car for me" threads popping up in the "Intro" section, and it makes me smile at the audacity of it.
But then I remind myself that I do not know their situation, and whether their life & finances for their family are hanging on a thread and they are living hand-to-mouth and I calm down and try to point them towards the right sub-forum.
But then I remind myself that I do not know their situation, and whether their life & finances for their family are hanging on a thread and they are living hand-to-mouth and I calm down and try to point them towards the right sub-forum.
GrumpyGel
Well-Known Member
I get a bit ****ed off when people ask questions with no intention of even lifting the bonnet - like they can press Control-Alt-Delete and all will be fixed - or more likely someone on the forum to come round and lift the bonnet for them.
The flip side though is that its great when people come on, say they know nothing, can't fix it themselves and just want advice so a garage doesn't rip them off - but then go and fix it themselves with the advice they're given. That's right cool that is
The flip side though is that its great when people come on, say they know nothing, can't fix it themselves and just want advice so a garage doesn't rip them off - but then go and fix it themselves with the advice they're given. That's right cool that is
Snaggapuss
Active Member
Understand the sentiment, for me the annoying thing is the repeated tire questions, or questions that can be answered by looking in the owners manual. Youtube is a vast archive of information, I also enjoy reading the posts that do explain solutions to various problems and as a DIY mechanic (forced to be as I Iive so far from a Land Rover authorised garage) and thinking back to when I first joined those repeated questions that we are so annoyed about they helped build my knowledge. So please swallow that annoyance and keep on answering cause there are those of us that appreciate it.
GrumpyGel
Well-Known Member
I point people in the direction of that thread because not knowing about it is what bought me on here in the first place. Will save them all the expense of a failed transmission, and possibly end up in a life sentence with you mongrels
I also point as equally to the Rave manual link - as most topics are above my pay grade
I tend to get involved in threads about stuff I've been through on my motor and variants on other threads about faults that I've found interesting and have taken a keen interest in.
TSR2
Active Member
There is indeed a vast amount of information available out there, however I very much use this place as my primary point of reference as basically I trust the views on here much more than elsewhere. I think also over time things change and what was considered correct or the right part then isn't the case any more. I guess I'm saying don't underestimate how much of a valued resource this is compared to other on-line sites.
GrumpyGel
Well-Known Member
I'd concur with that. When I was looking around at forums for info/help on Freelanders this was by far the best, haven't been to others since as no need to the support on here is great. We are lacking, and to dependent on a few, for F2 knowledge though.
The original Facebook groups for Freelander were outright dangerous! I wouldn't trust my worst enemy's Freelander to advice from those. The newer ones are better, but there's still a lot of shonky stuff out there!
Samuel Mowle
New Member
Its a tricky one, if people have a problem and do some google searches they quickly end up here. I did. If people are new to forums they will most likely post a question rather than using the search function and trawling multiple old threads that have lots of chat but rarely contain confirmation of a problem being solved by a specific course of action.
The sticky threads help but it might be worth editing these down to just the problem definition, proposed investigation and confirmation of resolution comments to make it more streamlined?
All IMO of course.
The sticky threads help but it might be worth editing these down to just the problem definition, proposed investigation and confirmation of resolution comments to make it more streamlined?
All IMO of course.
andyfreelandy
Well-Known Member
A bit of structure on the 'post thread' form would help here.
Vehicle
Problem Inc under what conditions it shows
What work has been done recently to the vehicle
What codes are displayed
What has been done to try to rectify
Then a note to ask for 'solved' to be added when solved!!
Vehicle
Problem Inc under what conditions it shows
What work has been done recently to the vehicle
What codes are displayed
What has been done to try to rectify
Then a note to ask for 'solved' to be added when solved!!
GrumpyGel
Well-Known Member
Its a bit of a 2 edged sword that one. There's not many that contribute to the forum just to answer problems that people have, its a 'community' of chat. The threads will likely 'wander' and that can hide solutions in the depths of other stuff. So yeh, its not the best for finding solutions sometimes, especially for noobs, and I often find that a Google search of LZ is actually better than the inbuilt LZ one.
I see mentioned cutting the sticky (and technical archive) threads down to just relevant info. My thought is a type of index thread with listed faults and links to solutions.
Alibro
Well-Known Member
I think one of the problems with Freelander, especially FL1 is they have now reached banger status so many of the folk coming here have very little invested in them and not much interest in fixing them.
However we were all been newbies at one time so we need to have a little patience.
For me this site has been very cathartic as when I first came here I was struggling a bit after loosing a good friend and I found many like minded folk here who although I've never met them in person I still count as friends.
I've really enjoyed being able to help some folk too.
I guess we have to take the dodgers to find the gems.
However we were all been newbies at one time so we need to have a little patience.
For me this site has been very cathartic as when I first came here I was struggling a bit after loosing a good friend and I found many like minded folk here who although I've never met them in person I still count as friends.
I've really enjoyed being able to help some folk too.
I guess we have to take the dodgers to find the gems.
