Why is my camshaft broken? '07 FL2 Diesel

[neilbott]

My first post to the forum, I'm a Brit living in Norway. 2007 FL2 HSE, Diesel, Auto, 100k Kms

Advice please - The other morning I was pulling out from a T-junction when the engine cut out, the 'Reduced Power' warning came on (like it used to when the DPF needed cleaning) the engine cut out completely & it wouldn't start again, though the it turns over fine. The fuel tank is a third full after being filled last week. There was no mechanical noise or rattle & no stutter from the engine, it just cut out.

The local LR dealer has removed the high pressure pump & says he can see inside the the end of the cylinder head that the camshaft driving the pump is broken off near the end. His explanation being that a small piece of dirt had got through the fuel filter causing the pump to stall momentarily. This would have tried to stop everythign else turning that it was connected to & the end of the camshaft (being thinner cross-sectional area) had snapped off.

He says all parts linked to the pump should be changed - fuel pump, both camshafts, timng belt, water pump, timing chain & tensioner) this comes to £5000 plus labour!! He doesn't list the fuel filter for some reason.

I have 3 questions:

1 - Does this sound like a plausible scenario given that the 'reduced power warning came on for a few seconds & there was no 'bang' or rattle when it happened?

2 - If that's what happened, is it really necessary to replace all those other parts that probably look OK.

3 - What's to stop another piece of dirt blocking the pump again the week after I get ti repaired?

I appreciate any advice & suggestions. My current plan is to move the car to a private mechanic (not LR specialist) recommended by a friend & try to source whatever parts are really needed from the UK. Thanks guys!

[ejparrott]

Its either incredibly expensive to import parts in to Norway, or he's having you on. I'd be looking for a second opinion. I don't buy that explanation at all, otherwise I think we'd have heard of it a lot more!

[tim_roberts]

I'm afraid I have no knowledge of this engine, but it seems unlikely that a 'speck' of something in the fuel pump would cause a camshaft to break. I've heard of camshafts breaking in other engines, but it's always as a result of major internal seizure.

Many of us on these forums avoid LR dealers like the plague, and tend to trust our local mechanic much more, so I think your plan to have someone recommended by a friend look at it is the most sensible. At the end of the day, it may just have been bad luck, and a simple replacement is all that's required

[neilbott]

Thanks for the replies so far & I'm still interested to hear any other theories on what caused this. I'll update when I get the camshaft pieces to look at.

Everything's expensive in Norway and anything to do with cars or alcohol is very expensive. A 2012 model FL2 TD4 150S is £55,600, last year's Disco' TDV6 S is £110,000 (new) & a pint of Carlsberg in a normal bar is £11. I priced the pump & camshafts online from the UK & yes, they are about 30% of the Norway LR dealer, so that's the route I'll take. I'm towing the car over to the local mechanic for him to get in & tell me just what I do need to replace. The true cause might be more clear when everything's off. I'll still replace the cheaper parts whilst it's stripped down such as timing belt etc.

[ejparrott]

Doing the belt would be a good plan in any case. When you get the old camshaft out, you may find that there was a crack in it before hand, an inspection of the break will tell you, if its light grey colour its new. Be interesting to know where it's broken too.

[neilbott]

With the pump off, I can stick my finger in about an inch & feel the jagged edges of the shaft. I just hope we find the missing bit in the sump!

[FridgeFreezer]

Photos are very helpful at times like this.

[neilbott]

Will get photos tomorrow I hope. Meanwhile, there's lots of photos of exactly the same problem at http://www.freel2.com/forum/topic10702.html & other guys with the same problem at

http://forum.landrovernet.com/showthread.php/232405-Freelander-TD4-Engine-failure-can-t-revive-at-all and at http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f9/freelander-2-engine-failure-write-off-153199-2.html

It seems like the camshaft design was quietly changed in 2010; page 2 of the first link above has a good explanation of what's happening, though of course I'm in 'civilised Norway & not using Russian/Eastern europe fuel.

I'm now trying to figure out if the beefed-up camshafts would fit my cylinder head or if I'd need to change that too.

[tim_roberts]

That's very depressing reading - it's rather put me off buying an FL2! Good luck.

[PoppyT]

Morning All!

Reading your post is as if I am reading my own story Neil. I was driving along at normal speed on Sunday when the car (Freelander 2 TD4 HSE '07 Diesel) just stopped with a warning of 'reduced engine power'. Fuel gauge reading just under half, no stutter, no noise just stopped!

I called the Land Rover Assist team who came out and tried pumping fuel through the engine but couldn't get it through the filter so I was towed to my local garage. They have changed the fuel filter - still won't work, they took the fuel tank out and changed the fuel pump - still won't work so now they have found that the high pressure pump on the engine has sheared off the camshaft and that needs replacing. They are quoting in the region of £2000!!!

I understand from the garage that there is a known problem with Freelander's camshaft and that they now use a modified camshaft. I'm worried that they replace the pump and then something else won't work..................................................... how long will it go on for???

[Landy-Novice]

i sure passat B6's run the fuel pump off the camshaft cause them to snap for a pass time?