Land and Range Rovers are pretty complicated vehicles and many drivers don’t even attempt any servicing. There are numerous service centres all over the UK that can do that job professionally, and if that’s what you prefer then fine, but if you fancy learning a little more about your vehicle why not try a few things yourself? As complicated as it seems, with some guidance it might be relatively easy and surely enjoyable. Always best to ask your service centre however to ensure that you are not invalidating your warranty by carrying out work yourself.
It’s very important to be extremely attentive to what happens to your vehicle. Only its owner knows it best. If you miss a small thing, it might lead to a big problem.
It is advisable to pay special attention in particular to the following:
Freelander:
~~ Viscous coupling problems – They may cause unusual tyre wear or IRD failure as the power between front and rear wheels is been apportioned.
~~ IRD (intermediate reduction drive) failure – That’s what supplies power to the rear wheels. It is very often caused by the viscous coupling failing.
~~ 1.8 petrol engines, cylinder head gasket failure – The very first thing to do is to check coolant tank for signs of oil contamination.
Vehicles fitted with air suspension:
~~ Small leaks, a faulty relay or timer can cause too much use of the pump.
300 TDI engines:
~~ Water pump to cylinder block gasket leak. – Usually the leak goes unnoticed as it’s very slow but can result in cylinder head overheating and failure of the head gasket. If this happens, this may mean the cylinder head is unserviceable. The quicker it is spotted, the easier and cost-effective it is going to be to repair.
