bethgray90

New Member
Hey,

I'm pretty rubbish when it comes to problems with my Freelander (or any vehicle if I'm honest)

Basically I have a problem with my Freelander TD4 2002.

its been over a week now and two garages are unable to diagnose the problem :(

When I'm driving after 30 mph there seems to be no what I call 'pull', it does gain speed but very slowly and if feels as if it is struggling. it randomly started doing this. so being a complete novice when it comes to pretty much anything like this I took it to the garage on the way there (its not even a mile from my house) it cut out and my engine management light came on, I was towed the rest of the way, and it was started up again. at this point the engine management light didn't come on and it is now not showing any fault.

I know that this info is probably vague but if any one could help it would be greatly appreciated, because like I said Im a complete novice when it comes to vehicles and I really don't want to be ripped off!

Thank you
x
 
what's the history of the vehicle? Has it been used for lots of town driving, short journeys and have you been putting cooking diesel in it?

If you can answer yes to 2 of these questions then the chances are your fuel/air system is clagged up.

remove the fuel filter, look at inside, if it is full of brown snotty stuff then replace it. The snot is bacteria and it is rife in short journey diesel engines with cooking diesel in the tank (the only major difference between cooking diesel (ie sainsburies city etc) and the expensive stuff is detergent. The posh stuff has cleaners in it to inhibit this stuff and to keep everything nice and clean.

Next thing, remove the throttle body form the inlet manifold and stick a finger in the manifold - you will probably feel thick deposits of really nasty smelly tar like soot that smells horrible. remove and check the EGR valve and you will see the same...

Remedy - do NOT take it to a dealer, they will merely replace injectors and common rail injectors are VERY expensive.

you will need to replace:
fuel filter
fuel
I would change the O2 sensor and the exhaust sensor as well as well as the crankcase sensor because all of these can get fouled

remove and thoroughly clean the inlet manifold and throttle body if the inlet manifold is steel (I don;t know the engine specifically but I do know common rail injection engines) then you can burn it out with a blow torch (remove it from the car first) If plastic then budget around 8 cans of carb cleaner and at least 3 milk bottle brushes and DONT do it indoors or wear any clothes you want to keep.

Exhaust gas re-circulation valve - (EGR) - clean it up and blank it off.

remember, if you mess with the injectors you will need to re programme the car ECU

also when refitting the inlet manifold, ensure you use a new gasket and a torque wrench to tighten the bolts.

Then, sell the freelander and go and buy an old disco with a 200 or 300tdi, Turbo diesels are MUCH easier to fix and don't suffer from blocked sinuses in the way that CDI cars do.

or better still an old series with a petrol engine - no computers then! ;-)
 
note, after carrying out this repair it will take the ECU a while to relearn that it's sinuses are now clear and it can breath normally so you won't notice it immediately
 
Hey,

I'm pretty rubbish when it comes to problems with my Freelander (or any vehicle if I'm honest)

Basically I have a problem with my Freelander TD4 2002.

its been over a week now and two garages are unable to diagnose the problem :(

When I'm driving after 30 mph there seems to be no what I call 'pull', it does gain speed but very slowly and if feels as if it is struggling. it randomly started doing this. so being a complete novice when it comes to pretty much anything like this I took it to the garage on the way there (its not even a mile from my house) it cut out and my engine management light came on, I was towed the rest of the way, and it was started up again. at this point the engine management light didn't come on and it is now not showing any fault.

I know that this info is probably vague but if any one could help it would be greatly appreciated, because like I said Im a complete novice when it comes to vehicles and I really don't want to be ripped off!

Thank you
x

I'm not a TD4-ist but I'd suggest double checking before you follow Abercorn's instructions.

I haven't read the replies fully but [I've just learned ctrl U], but, have a look around, there is summat not quite reyt in AC's replies ..."[Then, sell the freelander the way that CDI cars do. or better still an old series with a petrol engine - no computers then! ;-)and go and buy an old disco with a 200 or 300tdi, Turbo diesels are MUCH easier to fix and don't suffer from blocked sinuses in "] :scratching_chin::scratching_chin::scratching_chin:

This isn't a get at Abercorn but the OP's symptoms sound a bit less drastic. I'm thinking EGR bypass mysen...
 
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I do agree that the fault will almost certainly be EGR related, my approach is belt and braces really and likely overkill but it does improve performance etc, especially changing the fuel filter and cleaning out the manifold. I saw one on a Mondeo recently that was 70% clogged! :eek::D
 

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