Make sure you get your dimple the right way round. I came across a vehicle where the captive 'dot' had been filed off to make it fit the wrong way around!!
 
can you buy the part separately? I might still have one if u can`t

Hopefully, I'm on the case now. I'll let you know if I have a problem. Thanks Ian.

Make sure you get your dimple the right way round. I came across a vehicle where the captive 'dot' had been filed off to make it fit the wrong way around!!

Thanks Andy. I had it all spot on when I changed the VCU a couple of years ago. I think the issue has arisen because I got a garage to do the front prop gaiter last year. They may have done something like you've witnessed as they said the usual "we recommend leaving the prop off" kind of stuff. What I'm wondering at the moment is will I be able to get the prop to vcu bolt all the way out - with the prop as it is - so that I can get a new locking washer on as well as the plate or am I going to have to dismantle further...

*edit* - Looks like both parts that I need are available
 
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The bolt just fits through the gap and will come out OK. I know this because when I slide my prop end in with the loose bolt and lock washer on, the washer got pushed up inside the uj and got stuck!! I had to remove the bolt and hook it out and start again.
 
I fixed mine until it was broken. :(
Changed the vacuum lines for the turbo and EGR, now it won't start. I think it isn't fuelling. Meh. I wanted an automatic anyway. ;)
Well, I finally got the diagnostics on, and a bit of charge in the battery. Then it just fixed itself as mysteriously as it broke itself. I did stick it on an injector re-code, and cranked seven bells out of it. I was about to stop and charge the battery some more and just then I noticed the engine trying to catch as I released the key. A couple more long cranks and it fired. It had high and low pressure pump codes, injector codes, fuel rail pressure sensor and an unknown code before I tried the injector re-code. I had also given the ECU connectors a quick blast with contact cleaner. No real clue as to what had gone wrong, except that I had tried cleaning the ports a bit while the air inlet manifold was off. Maybe some greasey old carbon chunks were causing my havoc? Well the dog is happy that she is getting taken out for walks again now. :D
 
What do you guys think about aftermarket gear knobs? Waste of time? I've always though the low gearstick in a FL1 could be improved on...

I've found a couple on eBay...
 

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Sat in it. Haven't done that since a month ago. Haven't even been outdoors for that long, still haven't left my house... I'm sure that ought to be a highscore in some capacity.

Anyway decided to take some pictures to show off my mighty steed only to find the rear right window has locked up. Boo! Off to find a fresh regulator.
 
Probably doesn't qualify for the "what have you done to your Freelander today" board, 'cause I'm only thinking of doing it, but I ought to use this enforced period of inactivity to take the back bumper off and try to fix the damaged rear quarter panel behind it. I cut the same bit off a scrapper months ago, but never got round to doing the job...

On the plus side, I have changed the VCA bearings recently! On the not-so-plus side, I noticed that when I fired it up the other day for the first time in a while, the fuel burning heater came on, and it must have been a good 15 degrees outside, so maybe I'd be better off taking the FRONT bumper off and doing that instead (and the aircon has lost its gas, so maybe a new condenser too....) The list never ends....
 
Well, a day of positives and negatives for me today.

I managed to fit a new spacer in place of the missing one on the front prop to vcu joint. Success!

Another positive whilst we're on the bumper removal subject was that I discovered that the front washer motor can be replaced reasonably easily without removing the front bumper. Joy of joys! Although I did get a wet arm.

The negative. My newly fitted washer motor has not cured the asthmatic front washers at all! I was so disappointed to find that when I tested them the performance was as rubbish as ever. I was doubly disappointed to see that the washer hose disappears into the tape covered wiring loom along the offside wing. No chance of finding a pinched section along that!
 
My newly fitted washer motor has not cured the asthmatic front washers at all! I was so disappointed to find that when I tested them the performance was as rubbish as ever. I was doubly disappointed to see that the washer hose disappears into the tape covered wiring loom along the offside wing. No chance of finding a pinched section along that!

Not saying it is your issue, but mine was a very poor spray, when I disconnected the pipe from the jets the spray wasn't bad. The spray nozzles were blocked with black perished rubber from the pipes and as fast as I cleaned them from the outside they blocked again!

Removed and replaced all visible pipes (under bonnet), sprayed a few litres through the loomed pipe to clean it, cleaned jets in solvent and all has been good for a long while now.
 
Not saying it is your issue, but mine was a very poor spray, when I disconnected the pipe from the jets the spray wasn't bad. The spray nozzles were blocked with black perished rubber from the pipes and as fast as I cleaned them from the outside they blocked again!

Removed and replaced all visible pipes (under bonnet), sprayed a few litres through the loomed pipe to clean it, cleaned jets in solvent and all has been good for a long while now.

I may well replace all the pipes that I can get to as I have some new hose sitting around which I was saving for a possible vac hose circuit refurb, but that can wait. I might get some new mist nozzles too whilst I'm at it.
 
this morning totally rewired the tailgate lock

last year had the tail-window regulator replaced
techie fergot to secure the lock wiring out of the widow's way
result .. after one full down window and subsequent scraping noise
the lock refused to un-lock ..
at the time i only managed to fix one broken wire
so as the door would unlock .. but the window refused to stay down

door opening procedure required a quik latch operation
and opening the door before the window went up again
closing the door meant operating the latch .. and holding it until the door was closed
then releasing the latch to let the window go fully back up

on monday had reason to open the tail window fully down
heard a scraping noise :-( .. was locked out again ..
thankfully the window worked ok ..
'n i managed to hit the emergency unlock button ..

today took it all apart .. i.e. the tailgate lock
got out the trusty soldering iron ..
'n sorted it all out .. making sure all wiring was secured out of the window's way

now window 'n door operate as they should :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

hope yer all doing well ..

~ S ~
 
Washer jets sorted. Took the union off between the section of pipe within the loom and the link to the L-piece under the bonnet. It was well crudded up! A good clean out and I now have proper pressure again. Oh what joy. I also have a spare washer motor at the ready now too!
 
Does anyone know of a decent mist nozzle set to use as an upgrade? Or is it just buy what you can and make it fit?
 

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