Howling Mad Murdock

Got the car back this morning and it's starting perfectly now. £30 (inc P&P) for the starter solenoid and less than an hour's labour so a cheap fix. The mechanic said no need to change the starter motor as it looks fine so it's saved a few quid.

Does your model have a limp mode on it? I've seen it happen on other cars (a mate had it happen on his bike too) where the limp mode kicks in and sometimes doesn't show a warning light. If it's something in the fuel system I would try some fuel treatment and run it on something like V-Power for a while. I used to work at a petrol station and it's true any of the premium fuels do help but they don't start really cleaning out your system til the 2nd or 3rd tankful and you also need a good quality fuel treatment to kickstart the process too. I'm assuming you don't run it on supermarket fuel. That stuff is a nightmare for modern engines. It'll clog filters etc faster than putting glue in the tank lol. I'm also assuming you keep your fuel at a reasonable level so to avoid any carp getting into the engine. I'm no mechanic but no warning lights etc would suggest to me filters or a bit of gunk in the tank (which may break down with fuel treatment and some patience but the guys here will enlighten you more). If you're lucky and it's nothing more than a £5 fuel treatment and run on premium fuel for a while you'll notice better mpg once your engine is clean. Independent tests showed that premium fuel costs 8% more but you get 10% more mpg in the long term so it does pay for itself and you don't mess up fuel filters or get bad emissions results at MoT time. Incidently I don't work for petrol companies anymore but from what I learned you indeed get what you pay for.

In your experience folks how resistant is the Freelander to corrosion? I live very close to the sea and often travel on coastal routes so there's a lot of salt on the roads at times. My last two cars (both Peugeots) suffered corrosion to the areas behind the front wheels and I assume the salt around here was a factor in that. The winters here in Northumberland can be pretty harsh at times too, particularly when the weather comes in suddenly off the North Sea. The car originally came from Kent and has somehow worked it's way north and been mostly kept miles from the sea so the only salt etc it's seen will be from gritting wagons and chip butties. I'll probably fit some decent mudflaps to try and keep the wheels from spraying stuff directly onto the underneath of the car but it's still going to get salt etc in the spray off the road. I may sound a little paranoid but after the last two cars faced issues to varying degrees (and they were cheap to fix on those cars) I don't want to get caught out so prevention is my aim.

Thanks Bowie and I pray you're right. To be honest after everything it's had done in recent years and a lot of receipts for servicing as long as I have it serviced regularly there's no reason why it shouldn't last a good few years. I'll chalk this little mishap up as just a bit of bad luck and be thankful it happened close to home when I was on my own and not 200 miles away with the Mrs and her mother with me. As soon as the solenoid arrives it's straight in for fitting and back on the road again. Whilst it's up on the ramps I'll get the mechanic to have a good nosey around but after it passed the MoT at a local garage who are pretty strict this month there shouldn't be any nasty surprises.

Yeah Reb it's a whole solenoid unit and my mechanic agrees with him about that being the problem. Mr Freezer thankfully it's an easy fix as you said and once it's done that's one less thing to worry about. In a moment of paranoia last night I went through the huge stack of receipts that came with the car (dating back to 2007) and most of the issues mentioned on the forum have been done between 2013 and 2015 (including head gasket) and it's had a lot of money spent on it so fingers crossed this is purely one of those unlucky isolated issues that was bound to happen sooner or later. The main one for me was the head gasket and that was 15k miles ago so I'm quite relieved about that.

Just talked to the guy selling the solenoids (thankfully he's available til 9pm) and he said to check it out with the mechanic but he said from the sound of it the solenoid has failed. In fairness he could have sold me a full starter motor unit for £50 more so he seems genuine in that respect. He said if the car fires up instantly then the issue is with the solenoid and/or connections. He said a bad starter motor would have similar symptoms to a dying battery most likely but as she's fired up instantly on all occasions prior to this suddenly happening it's unlikely that there would be a starter motor issue without any warning signs at all. When the mechanic responds to my email I'll know for sure what I'm looking at but I've come across reconditioned starter motors with 12 months guarantee at very reasonable prices so I'll get one as a matter of course when the rest of my insurance money comes through. I actually feel quite reassured on the reliability now

Thanks Pat. I saw this online but I'm not going to buy it until I check it out with my mechanic http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FREELANDER-1-8-16v-PETROL-NEW-SOLENOID-FOR-STARTER-MOTOR-NAD101420-228000-6120-/292047519591?epid=1542383560&hash=item43ff637f67:m:mX9mWuYxF0HSfTZ1-Vv--tw It does seem likely that when the guy tapped it and explained that it releases the contacts in the solenoid that it's potentially the problem. If the mechanic says that solenoid will do the trick along with cleaning up the electrical connectors then I'm not going to complain at £25 plus a bit of labour charge. If it's going to mean a whole start motor I'll go to Fleabay for a temporary unit and shop around for a refurbished one to go on when I get a good deal. As said, the starter motor itself does seem fine, there was no sign of "tiredness" after he gave it a tap, it fired up right away. To be honest I think the booster pack he hooked up wasn't really needed either, just a precaution. From what I've been able to Google it seems a common problem that the carbon bushes suddenly give up without warning due to wear and tear and I'm hoping that's the case. If it is then I'll find out from Tony exactly what he did to sort it and pass it on in case it may help others in future

In the few days I've had the Freelander she's run like a dream. Went to get fuel today, filled up, backed her up the the jet wash, went to start her up again and nothing. Just a click from the ignition but not turning over at all. Phoned the breakdown folks, the guy comes out, hooks up a booster pack, still nothing. Then he starts tapping the back of the starter motor and she fires up right away. He explained it's the solenoid that was probably frozen and the contacts in it have packed up working properly, a cheap fix he said and not surprising it's gone considering it's probably been on the car since new. Drove her home and she was fine. Parked up and tried to start her again and nothing. Is it a big job to fit a new solenoid and is it worth getting a used starter motor while I'm at it or just replace said solenoid? The starter motor itself seems fine and fires her up no problem but obviously I'm a little wary now as I don't relish finding myself stranded or caught out at the last minute.

To be honest I'll only be changing the wheels twice a year when the horrible weather comes in. Unless I decide to go party a little lol. Mr Freezer it seems ok on petrol so far and as for doing 90+ the insurance is enough as it is without me getting points lol. And to be honest the other half loves how quiet that petrol engine is. The road tax isn't too bad, only a tenner more a month than the 206. Under advisement from several sources I'm going to have the oil changed religiously and watch the water levels closely. Just been for a quote for a few scratches sorting out and it'll be £150 to make the paintwork perfect (mates rates as he's a good pal of my boss). Can't grumble at that. The guy at the bodyshop also said Bodyline texture spray is brilliant on the faded plastics, he said that's not cheap but it's a simple spray it on with excellent results. Anyone used it? Engine bay is to be cleaned up and the bulkhead painted so it'll look mint. To be honest once on top of the cosmetics it'll be a mint car. My boss has a mobile valet do his BMW X5 for £20 each month and I don't mind that, he does a cracking job inside and out. I was advised to avoid using the sunroof excessively but when the boot window opens and put the front windows down a touch there's no need for the sunroof to be open. It's like a wind tunnel ha ha ha. I'll only ever use the air con if the dog looks a bit warm. I'll have to check out the legality of a metal A-bar on the front. Some sources say they can be used on vehicles up to 09 reg, some say 02 reg. There's a Vitara on my street with a an A-bar on it and that's a 53 plate and with her being a school teacher I can't see it being a problem but I'm going to check it out properly. I'm aiming for the rugged but tasteful look. Nothing too OTT, it'll just have that X-factor that makes people look twice. To be fair to the Mrs she didn't want a 4x4 originally but she loves it so the least I can do it make it look special for her since she gave in to me

I've just been donated a genuine Landrover dog guard tailored for the FL1 and some newish AT tyres for free. A mate contacted me and said they're just sat in his garage gathering dust so can take them away this week. The dog guards are 2 parts I'm told, fit just behind the rear seats, full height, and a grille for the rear window so Riggs can have fresh air. Remains to be seen what I actually get lol but no complaints at all on a freebie. We were up at my other half's aunt's today in was used to be a heavy mining area (stunning now) so the roads are very uneven due to subsidence and where my beloved old 206 would have rattled your teeth out at 20mph the Freelander flew through that mile at twice the speed and barely felt a thing. A friend who sold me my puppy 8 years ago is the owner of the area's biggest scrappy (his pack of guard dogs are where my Riggs came from) so I'll be able to get a set of rims for the AT's at some point this summer. Question on AT's.... How much bigger are they than normal road tyres? To the naked eye they look huge but is that just an illusion? Car crime is rare here but I have to love the little security feature on the boot window which means it can't be opened without the key (apparently). I love the little lockable compartment for the toolbox in the boot too, space for anything valuable to be hidden away. My one and only gripe so far has been when changing to 2nd or 4th gear I sometimes hit the box behind my elbow but I'll get used to that. But it's a handy box to have, handy for drinks and stuff. Now this might seem a very minor thing but one of the things I love is that tiny little recess on the dash beside the driver's door pillar, the little triangular one with the rubber mat in it. We use the Tyne Tunnel a lot when driving down to my native Yorkshire to see family and it's perfect for tunnel money, very handy indeed. I love the little pockets all over the dash area too. Brilliant for hiding a phone as the stereo does it all, just pop the phone out of view and forget it. Not that I ever use it whilst driving, as a former truck driver it's my pet hate. Milky is yours a FL2? Your dash looks very different to mine. And yeah I have loads of places like that around here, it's gotta be done mate And Garry I love that big A-bar on the front of yours. I think they're still legal on the age of my car in the UK. Where can I get one? I don't mind paying shipping costs

Hi Sally It sounds to me like you've got them bang to rights. I would use the threat of court action and if they try wriggle off the hook I'd start court proceedings (about £100 I believe) and watch them have a nasty accident in their pants. Worst case scenario is it would get to court and on the day their solicitor decides to settle out of court a few minutes before the hearing (very common) but again that gives you even more ammunition for compensation. Let us know how you get on. Idiots like that need to be stopped from ripping people off. Good on you for standing your ground

Murdock (Matt)..... Northumberland (03 1.8 Kalahari 5dr)

I'm now the proud owner of my first Freelander (and my first 4x4). What can I say, she exceeds expectations by a mile. Took her out for a quick spin and ended up doing 65 miles lol. What a lovely car to drive. So comfortable and the engine is so quiet I can't hear it even stood beside the bonnet. I'm very surprised at the performance too. I was pootling about getting used to it but got it on the local bypass and gave it a good boot, it sure can shift a bit when it wants to. Being a petrol I won't make a habit of that though, it'd cost me a fortune but having said that 65 miles and the fuel gauge didn't move that much so it's not bad at all going steady. I found out by chance whilst buying it the guy selling it is the partner of my best mate's cousin. He said the seller is a genuine Landrover enthusiast and really looks after his cars. I've got stacks of receipts, all the official Landrover paperwork etc. 5 new tyres on it, propshaft bearings done in May, expensive Pioneer head unit and professionally fitted hands free kit with the mic in the ceiling etc. Inside is spotless. Outside the paint is good, a few minor scratches that can be sorted easily, the plastics are faded but that can be sorted easy enough, The only visible rust I can find is on the rear brake drums and the front towing hook, a bit of rust treatment will sort that out. Bit of flaky paint on the front alloys but that's no big issue either at that age. Once the cosmetics are done and it's nicely polished up she'll get some side bars, spot lamps, a discreet lightbar put in the recess below the bumper, Already got a proper dog guard lined up as well as a folding ramp for my huge Akita. Speaking of which, that electric window in the boot will be a Godsend for him in summer. Overall I have to say I'm very impressed with the Freelander. It does what it says on the tin only better. In this condition I'm happy to throw a few quid at her and keep her for a long time. Here's the ultimate praise for the car. My girlfriend hates big cars and 4x4's. She was grumbling "Look at the size of that thing" as the seller arrived. She asked me to give her a lift to the local shopping centre as soon as the insurance was done and in literally 1.5 miles she was saying "I love this car!". If it can impress her it can impress anyone. I've also just been offered a set of brand new off road tyres ridiculously cheap ( a garage clearance) so I'll have those and buy a spare set of rims to put them on. Could come in handy for the treacherous snowy roads I'll be using in winter and for when I save up to get my alloys refurbed. Guys if you're not bored of reading by now may I ask what is the best way to properly blacken up the plastics? I don't want to paint them if I can avoid it. Suggestions please. Once again, thanks for all the previous feedback. I'm a very happy boy tonight

Cheers guys. I've taken the advice given previously on here and for £550 it's a bargain. It looks the part, I know it's been looked after as the guy likes his Freelanders and my mechanic is going to check it over properly for me. It's got a year's test on it so if all else fails I'll keep it a year and get rid, if I like it as much as I think I will it'll be done up very nicely. It gets delivered in the morning and one quick spin around the block will tell me how much I like it. Fair dues, £550 for a 4x4 with a year's MoT is not to be sniffed at. I'll see how it goes at first before I throw my money at it but in reality I can't see any real problems with it after the advice I have been given. Once I've had it cleaned and valeted I'll post some pics. And I'll post some before and after pics when I get it done up. Thanks again guys

First of all thanks to everyone who helped with pointing me in the right direction in my other post. I have a Freelander 1 lined up, 53 plate, 120k on the clock, 1.8 petrol, 5 door, priced at £550 for quick sale. He's local and my boss knows him well so he's not a rip off merchant. I know the "propshaft bearings" have been done recently and it says in the add "4wd is now as it should be along with hill descent" (he says he has receipts). New tyres fitted 5k ago. Not sure of the exact model (waiting to hear from him and haven't viewed it closely yet). From the pics the engine bay is pretty clean apart from some flaky paint on the bulkhead. Interior looks ok but some wear to the leather. If the Mrs gets really fussy I'll just buy seats for £150 on eBay. He says I can test drive it as I please, he says nothing to hide. He's selling as he has bought a FL2. It has some minor scratches on the passenger side but I can have them sorted with the money I will save on trade price, otherwise the paintwork is a very deep gleaming black and you can see your face in it. I will have around £1k to play with after purchase so some questions... Paintwork gets priority due to much salt in the sea air here but am I looking for specific corrosion spots on the FL1? (My 206 has 2 notorious ones). Do FL2 alloys go straight on the FL1? I have seen a set cheap that are very nice and will store the other set. Regarding the flaky paint on the bulkhead (just being fussy), would you say sand it off and replace with heat resistant paint? Faded plastic trim going grey. Would you try something like bottled plastic treatment of have it painted? Where do I find a bar that goes between the factory fitted roof bars that I can mount lights on? Side steps, I've seen them starting at around £130. This is a must as my Mrs and her mother are midgets and without them I will have to carry step ladders for them.Do they cost much to fit? Light guards front and rear, any ideas on where to shop for them? Chunky mudflaps. Good or bad idea? The Peugeots suffer bad from salt sprayed up from the front wheels so I'm looking at avoiding corrosion. Factory fitted speakers. Can they cope with a 200w stereo at full chat? I am a Motorhead fan and guitarist so pretty deaf hence play it very loud. HID headlights. Good or bad idea bearing in mind I will be using a lot of unlit roads in the middle of nowhere? I've seen the rubber nudge bars. Are they worth fitting? The switches on the driver console, where can I get some to trigger auxiliary lights? At the end of the day £550 seems a good deal. I have also been offered a TD4 that's a year older and same mileage for £995 from a local garage but the MoT length etc is the same so why pay £445 more for an older car just for a valet that I can done myself? Unless you guys can justify the extra money on the TD4 I'll go with the £550