Freelander "2wd to save fuel" / "prop removed to save fuel"
Freelander "2wd to save fuel" / "prop removed to save fuel"
Author
Discussion

Toaster Pilot

Original Poster:

14,864 posts

187 months

Tuesday 5th August 2014
quotequote all
When did this fkwittery start? See no end of cheap MK1 Freelanders with "2WD to save petrol" or "prop removed to save fuel" in the advert - does anyone really fall for that and not know that it's because the couplings are shagged? One of the most common Freelander problems is it not?!

ranting

kambites

71,474 posts

250 months

Tuesday 5th August 2014
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Does the Freelander not have a 2wd mode anyway?

Six Fiend

6,067 posts

244 months

Tuesday 5th August 2014
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We bought one like that for work in our fields. Prop was included and the dealer said we could have our money back if it wasn't 100% with the prop refitted.

It's ace and cost about £800 smile

Clivey

5,683 posts

233 months

Tuesday 5th August 2014
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kambites said:
Does the Freelander not have a 2wd mode anyway?
It uses Haldex AWD.

From what I read when I was considering one, it's the coupling that often fails (IIRC at around 70k miles), leading to the destruction of the rear diff. Servicing the coupling (replacing the fluid) is the "correct" answer and costs about £300.

Toaster Pilot

Original Poster:

14,864 posts

187 months

Tuesday 5th August 2014
quotequote all
Haven't seen many dealers trotting out this, mostly private/dodgy private not private innit types

Doubt the parts are included with many either (sounds like you got a result!)

andy43

13,200 posts

283 months

Tuesday 5th August 2014
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Problem comes when it's been 'converted' to 2wd and the buyer hasn't been informed.
Likewise XC90 Volvos - I think they can 'lose' some driven wheels if poorly.
I do know someone who boasted he'd got a really good deal on a Rav 4 winter runabout just before the snow came, which quickly became not so good a deal when he realised it was the 2wd model smile

TLandCruiser

2,877 posts

227 months

Tuesday 5th August 2014
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Converted to 2wd because its fked.

Spare tyre

12,559 posts

159 months

Tuesday 5th August 2014
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9/10 it means its buggered

shoehorn

686 posts

172 months

Tuesday 5th August 2014
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To be fair and balanced I have driven a couple with no prop fitted and they do tend to drive in a nicer manner.
One of those was a 2.5 V6 auto which I was assured was now doing >20% better fuel consumption with the prop removed,but as it was a short drive I cant verify that.
And at least if you pull up and turn off with the front wheels steered more than 10 degrees in a manual one with no prop you can get the bd out of gear.

What shags the props in the first place is poorly matched tyres,I suspect the horrible transmission wind-up on tight turns don`t help either.

Any variation in rolling radius,like different brands,different wear rates front to rear and across axle i.e.two brand new fronts and a pair of half worn rears,all have a detrimental affect on the coupling,rear diff mounts(which are first to suffer),rear diff and transfer box.

We are starting to see lots of Haldex rear diff units on F/L 2`s,bearing failure is common as is the coupling it`s self failing which is now built into the rear diff.

McWigglebum4th

32,414 posts

233 months

Tuesday 5th August 2014
quotequote all
Spare tyre said:
9/10 it means its buggered
9/10 you don't need 4wd

Mr2Mike

20,143 posts

284 months

Tuesday 5th August 2014
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Clivey said:
It uses Haldex AWD.

From what I read when I was considering one, it's the coupling that often fails (IIRC at around 70k miles), leading to the destruction of the rear diff. Servicing the coupling (replacing the fluid) is the "correct" answer and costs about £300.
It's not Haldex, it's just a basic viscous coupling. There are no electronic control systems of any kind in the transmission.

It's also not really a user serviceable part, you can't just drain and replace the fluid. You can buy reconditioned couplings however, and they aren't ridiculously priced (~£200 for coupling and bearings).

shoehorn

686 posts

172 months

Tuesday 5th August 2014
quotequote all
Mr2Mike said:
It's not Haldex, it's just a basic viscous coupling. There are no electronic control systems of any kind in the transmission.

It's also not really a user serviceable part, you can't just drain and replace the fluid. You can buy reconditioned couplings however, and they aren't ridiculously priced (~£200 for coupling and bearings).
I think he has confused mk1 and 2 the mk2 has a Haldex/Ford rear diff.
The `service` is actually £40 worth of Haldex fluid sold in a standard 9 inch cartridge.

Clivey

5,683 posts

233 months

Tuesday 5th August 2014
quotequote all
shoehorn said:
Mr2Mike said:
It's not Haldex, it's just a basic viscous coupling. There are no electronic control systems of any kind in the transmission.

It's also not really a user serviceable part, you can't just drain and replace the fluid. You can buy reconditioned couplings however, and they aren't ridiculously priced (~£200 for coupling and bearings).
I think he has confused mk1 and 2 the mk2 has a Haldex/Ford rear diff.
The `service` is actually £40 worth of Haldex fluid sold in a standard 9 inch cartridge.
I did confuse it with the Freelander 2. - Sorry! The £300 figure I remember was apparently for sending the coupling away to be reconditioned / serviced.

Disco_Biscuit

837 posts

223 months

Tuesday 5th August 2014
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I've removed a few for at customers request due to having shagged transfer box, they do seem to drive smoother with it removed.

anonymous-user

83 months

Tuesday 5th August 2014
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Better make sure you remove the halfshafts as well as the prop to actually save any fuel......


(otherwise the rear diff is still being driven by the rear wheels rather than the engine)

StuntmanMike

15,065 posts

180 months

Tuesday 5th August 2014
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TLandCruiser said:
Converted to 2wd because its fked.
This, its common to do this to freelancers when the rear diff gives up, you have got to hand it to them though.