Finally got around to having a serious look at some of the Freelander's issues and I've decided it's just not worth it. Oil back-flowing into the intake. The rear cam oil seal is blown which requires specialty tools to replace. The mysterious driveline vibration in cold weather. Head gaskets are slowly leaking coolant. Timing belts need replacing. Front strut dampers are shot. Unidentified fuel leak from tank area. Unidentified exhaust gas leak. Heated windshield shorting out. Sunroof inoperable for the second time, damn glides! Drivers side mirror doesn't heat anymore. Engine taps, take your pick of either the plenum or valves...or both, and much more I'm forgetting I'm sure. I can't keep up anymore and the value of this thing is only getting lower every year. Time to cut my losses (about $30K) and let this thing go. The last of the loan will be paid off by late fall and then she's up for grabs to the highest bidder. At some point in the future there will be another Rover in my yard as even for the problems I have now I still love the damned thing, but this particular unit is a money pit. Best of luck to the other Freelander owners. Hope yours treats you better.

Cheers

 

I hear too many stories like yours, too bad, shouldn't be happening.

 

get a freelander cooling kit as a fix to prevent more headgasket issues at least it will keep it from blowing completely since the freelander engine will leak coolant in to the oil or viceseversa only (or more) when too hot, a friend of mine is working on a honda engine swap retrofit for the dozens and dozens of freelander drivers that had engine issues due to the cylinder and block different metal design flaw, hopefully one day some can buy a "engine swap kit"

 

Yeah there's actually a company by the name of Rockbound that sells redesigned and improved versions of the 2.5 V-6, but that's $8000 I'm not willing to invest. If I replace the whole engine today, the tranny will go tomorrow. I just can't win with this one. If you happen to check out Rockbound, be sure to view their Range Rover. 800bHp! I wants it

 

here is an update
Hey I get a bunch of e-mails about the kit, you can get it doing a search on e-bay

"Freelander Cooling Kit"
the freelander with the first prototype is running awesome and just passed 140k miles!
also other benefits is the oil stays crystal clear between oil changes and it does not lose it's viscosity due to the high running temps.

here is the info from ebay

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If you have a Land Rover Freelander you know about the common engine failure, usually between 50k - 90k miles, these vehicles are nice but will not forgive you when the engine overheats, it will self destroy. the engine is was designed with different metal/steel alloys that when they overheat the expand at a very different rate and engine fails.

The entire system works great but borderline hot, so any small problems with the cooling system will be lethal, the common reason is a cracked coolant reservoir, or hose rupture, again the reservoir will crack or the hoses will fail because the engine just runs a little hotter that it should, the coolant components will crack or blow due to the excessive pressure and sustained high temperature, if you look at the temp needle, it likes to be close to the middle.

So if you have a Freelander or will buy one, do yourself a favor and buy a "Freelander Engine Cooling Kit" which is a set of relays, wires and connectors that installs in minutes and reduces the operating temperature by turning the fan (s) at a different temperatures than the programmed by factory without interfering with the a/c and other components.

This is the cheapest insurance, it will help you avoid a 5,000.00 bill replacing a freelander engine.

This is a device that prevents damage, it will not fix the damage if it already ocurred, (however it will help in cases where the damage is mild)

As all electrical components, there are no refunds, only replacement if defective. all kits are tested before shipping to insure reliability

Important: even if device fails, the factory system still works as originally described



KIT INCLUDES: DEVICE AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS