2003 Freelander Engine

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2003 Freelander Engine

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2003 Freelander Engine - 1/22/2008 4:10:28 PM

ronfri

Posts: 5
Joined: 1/22/2008
Status: offline

I have a 2003 Freelander and my 2.5 liter gas engine recently filled with coolant and hydro-locked at 61,000 miles due to a faulty engine design. It ruined the engine, bent the connecting pin from the crankshaft, and destroyed the timing belt among other things. I've been told that this is a common problem with Freelanders. I have 2 questions I'm hoping someone can answer.

1) Does anyone know where I can buy another engine?
I've had an engine ordered from Land Rover for 4 months and they still can't tell me how much longer it will take to get a new engine, even though they're making me pay for it because it's out of warranty.

2) Does anyone know if there's a class action lawsuit against Land Rover or Ford for the faulty engine design in the Freelanders?
My car's 'service engine soon' light went on 8 times and my car was losing coolant starting when it was still under warranty, but Land Rover never made the proper repairs during any of the 8 emergency repairs or during scheduled routine maintenance even though they knew that the Freelanders have a faulty engine design. I have copies of past emails sent from Land Rover to their dealers advising them about this problem.

Land Rover should have announced a recall because there are many other people who've had similar problems, and now Land Rover has an excessive backlog of orders for Freelander replacement engines. Meanwhile, I've been forced to rent a vehicle for 4 months at my expense while also making payments on my Freelander while I continue to wait for a new engine.

Post #: 1

RE: 2003 Freelander Engine - 1/23/2008 6:34:04 AM

Disco Mike

Posts: 10523
Joined: 4/27/2006
Status: offline

Here is a guaranteed used engine with 48K on it, http://www.roverlandparts.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=76
Why do you feel it is a faulty design?

_____________________________

Mike
Retired service manager. Member of the Solihull Society, NCLR club,past member of the SCLR club and Santa Barbara 4 Wheelers.
99 D2, 3" lift, lockers, H.D. axles, 4:11 gears, Custom front and rear bumpers, Warn winch, HID lights and an Engel 45.

(in reply to ronfri)

Post #: 2

RE: 2003 Freelander Engine - 1/24/2008 6:28:27 PM

sideburns

Posts: 93
Joined: 8/22/2007
Status: offline

unless you are an engineer how would you know its a faulty design?if your ses light was on 8 times was it the same code?what codes did it flag?we need more specific info to help you

(in reply to Disco Mike)

Post #: 3

RE: 2003 Freelander Engine - 2/10/2008 1:00:47 AM

ronfri

Posts: 5
Joined: 1/22/2008
Status: offline

Land Rover sent notices to dealers about air intake manifold gaskets needing to be replaced on 2003 Freelander engines. I have copies of the email notices that were sent to dealers. They're aware that the air intake manifold gaskets are deteriorating and allowing coolant into the engines. I took my Freelander 8 times to the local Land Rover dealer where I bought it (after each time the SES light went on) and they never replaced the air intake manifold gasket even though they had email notices from Land Rover that if this gasket isn't replaced in 2003 Freelanders, coolant will enter the engine.

(in reply to Disco Mike)

Post #: 4

RE: 2003 Freelander Engine - 2/10/2008 1:08:08 AM

ronfri

Posts: 5
Joined: 1/22/2008
Status: offline

The code each time indicated lean gas. I have copies of email notices sent from Land Rover to dealers about this problem with instructions on replacing the deteriorating air intake manifold gasket in 2003 Freelanders to correct this problem and prevent coolant from entering the engine.

(in reply to sideburns)

Post #: 5

RE: 2003 Freelander Engine - 2/10/2008 7:13:51 AM

Disco Mike

Posts: 10523
Joined: 4/27/2006
Status: offline

You need to deal with the local Rover District office, specifically the service rep.

_____________________________

Mike
Retired service manager. Member of the Solihull Society, NCLR club,past member of the SCLR club and Santa Barbara 4 Wheelers.
99 D2, 3" lift, lockers, H.D. axles, 4:11 gears, Custom front and rear bumpers, Warn winch, HID lights and an Engel 45.

(in reply to ronfri)

Post #: 6

RE: 2003 Freelander Engine - 2/11/2008 9:46:52 AM

ronfri

Posts: 5
Joined: 1/22/2008
Status: offline

How do I find the local Land Rover district office? When my engine failed I asked my dealership's service manager to give me the district service rep's name & phone number and he wouldn't give me the information. He told me that he'd have the district rep call me when the rep was at the dealership within the next couple of days. When the rep never called me, I asked the service mgr. again for the phone number of the local district office service rep and he refused to give me the information. This is the 4th service mgr. at this dealership since 2004, the dealership was sold 3 months ago, and nobody at this dealership has been any help.

(in reply to Disco Mike)

Post #: 7