The Land Rover Freelander was something of a hit for the company when it first appeared, and that success brought a fair amount of pressure when it came time to replace it. Thankfully, Land Rover took all that was good about the original car, and enhanced it for the replacement, while addressing any shortcomings.
The second-generation car hit the nail on the head, with more ability, more space and more luxury than the first car, but nevertheless it had more issues than perhaps might have been ideal. Several common problems have cropped up on the Freelander Mk2, but Haynes is here to help you diagnose the glitches that your car is suffering from, and will be able to show you how to repair it cheaply, too. No more garage labour costs – that has to be worth exploring.
What recalls has the Land Rover Freelander been subject to?
The Land Rover Freelander has been recalled on a few occasions, but perhaps not as many as the Land Rover reputation might have you believe.
Firstly, a faulty positive temperature coefficient heater could fail, and cause a fire. This was replaced.
Just as seriously, it was found that the right-hand rear suspension arm and knuckle fixings could fail, causing a potential loss of control. This whole set of components was removed and upgraded ones fitted.
Then dodgy fuel rail return pipes could leak fuel, so were replaced.
Incorrectly tightened rear brake caliper bolts forced another recall because of the potential for brake failure, and a sunroof glass panel that could come adrift entailed a trip back to dealers.
What common problems does the Land Rover Freelander Mk2 have?
The Land Rover Freelander with the 2.2-litre diesel engine can be prone to a leak of coolant from the EGR cooler.
And noise from the front suspension is usually a pretty simple fix, because it’s a loose nut on the stabiliser link.
A puddle of oil underneath your Freelander is often the sign of a leak from the Haldex coupling, and a new seal is required.
The Freelander Mk2 can also suddenly lose power, which is often accompanied by a warning message in the instrument cluster.
Does the Land Rover Freelander leak coolant?
Several owners of the Land Rover Freelander Mk2 have reported an issue that becomes obvious when a ‘Low coolant level’ message appears on the instrument display.
The issue is that the EGR cooler can be slightly fragile and can become fractured through vibrations. The only solution is to replace the EGR cooler with an upgraded component (part number: LR057662).
Thereafter, the Haynes Freelander manual is your friend, because we’ve already done the job and can show you exactly the steps you need to take. Simply gather together the correct parts, get the required tools out, and set to work, starting with draining the rest of the cooling system. You’ll have a leak-free cooling system before long.
Why is the Land Rover Freelander Mk2 suspension rattling?
The Land Rover Freelander is deigned to be a rough n tough vehicle that can take pretty much anything that the great outdoors can throw at it. And the great inner city for that matter.
Nevertheless, your faith in its abilities is going to be shaken if there’s a clunk or rattle from somewhere up ahead every single time you go over bump. But that’s what happen to the Freelander Mk2.
However, the problem isn’t usually too serious, because the nuts that hold the stabiliser link bar in place have a tendency to work their way loose over time.
So, you’ll need to raise the vehicle, remove the front wheels, and remove the old nuts, before replacing them with new ones (part number: FX110056). Of course, you must ensure then nuts are done up to the correct torque, which you’ll find in your Haynes Freelander manual.
Where is that puddle under your Land Rover Freelander coming from?
A puddle of fluid underneath your Land Rover Freelander is always going to be annoying. Not only is your car literally dropping money, it’ll also be leaving marks on the road or driveway wherever it’s parked. Best to sort it as quickly as you can.
The issue can often be a failure of the oil seals for the Haldex coupling.
The repair procedure will entail removing the Haldex coupling, then replacing the seals (part number: LR076676), before reinstalling the coupling in the vehicle.
As ever, we’ve covered how to do this in your Haynes Freelander manual, so just study the procedures involved before you get started, then crack on.
If you want to know how to change the oil and oil filter in your Land Rover Freelander Mk2, then watch our FREE video below.
Why has your Land Rover Freelander lost power?
Driving along in your Freelander Mk2, only for the car to suddenly become lethargic in its responses to your throttle inputs is a worry. Especially if the instrument display also starts to show a warning message.
First thing to do is to plug in a fault-code reader to see what comes up. If the reader displays the code P244A, then the cause is a faulty exhaust gas pressure sensor.
So, it’s simply a case of using your Haynes Freelander manual to locate the faulty sensor, then removing it and replacing it with a new item. Easy peasy.
Why does your Land Rover Freelander keep stalling?
You tend to press the accelerator when you want to get away from where you are, or to get out of the way of oncoming vehicles, or simply to climb a hill. So, it would be somewhat inconvenient if your second-generation Land Rover Freelander chose that exact more to lose power and then stall completely. But that can happen on occasion.
Again, your first port of call should be a fault-code reader, which will give you an idea of where the problem lies.
If this displays the codes P0087 or P2290, then you’ll know the fault lies in the fuel system, and is being caused by there being not enough pressure in it.
The most likely cause is that the fuel filter has become clogged, so you’ll need to remove the engine top cover before replacing the fuel filter, then priming the system once more. All of this is covered in the Haynes Freelander manual, so don’t hesitate – or your engine will!
