The glowplugs doesn't store any error codes if that is the problem. FL2, TD4 HSE
The flaming Orange!

Hi Gals,Guys
I am newly registered on this site but I have been checking this thread for quite sometime. Thank you guys for all the info and also feeling that you are not alone with your problems.
Also apologies in advance for any "typos" I am not an english native speaker / writer.

Ha! Freelander 2 TD4 cold start. Not the strong point of that car.
Last year (2011) I started experimenting problems to start around -2 / - 5c. It would crank an crank and crank but not start. In the beginning they thought about the glow plugs (they said anyway they would change only 3 as the 4th one is so difficult to access - they also say that the new LR2 have only 3 for that reason ?!!!). Well it was not the glow plugs. They changed the software: it fixed it but it also completely changed the feeling of the driving as for example the car kind of like "move by itself" (if you stop applying pressure to the accelarator, it does not deccelarate as much as it used to prior to software update, so that if you want to deccelerate enough you have to clutch and/or brake). Also for example if when stopped you slowly release the clutch when in 1st or 2nd gear you just start moving,you don't stall (as it did before update)? They say it's normal, it's new engine management to save fuel as it reduces motor brake and so on ? at least for cold starts it's ok
This year (2011) at the first 0 / -2 c I laso had problems with cold start : strange blinks / erratic lighting of dashbord lights / starts - does not start / start quite randomly (but as soon as it began cranking it would fire up ok).
They changed the battery. That fixed it.
If that can be of use.
One of these days I will also told you about "collateral damage" of the checks they performed in 2011, before fixing the problem. But that's another story.
Cheers!

I have had no problems starting the car deep frozen in -25C. It actually amazed me how easy it started in that temperature. Several times and every time.

Have now had my FL2 for 4 years and still love it. A couple of weeks ago up in the mounatins at my cabin it would not start at only -7C. Had to call road assistance. He could not start it either because the glow plugs were not working properly.
Just by luck, as he was about to give up getting the car started, it started. He instructed me to keep the engine warm and to change the glowplugs.

Well, now I have changed all 4 glowplugs, but it hasn't been cold enough (only around +4C to -4C) to test them out properly. So a lifetime for glowplugs for four years in a country with winter-conditions? How long are they supposed to last? 2008 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Automatic, Caspian Blue, Alpaca, Moon roof, Exclusive pack.

savethewhales wrote:

Hi Gals,Guys
I am newly registered on this site but I have been checking this thread for quite sometime. ok .....
This year (2011) at the first 0 / -2 c I laso had problems with cold start : strange blinks / erratic lighting of dashbord lights / starts - does not start / start quite randomly (but as soon as it began cranking it would fire up ok).
They changed the battery. That fixed it. ....

Hi and Happy New Year DG!
Long time no hear...

alex_pescaru wrote:

Hi and Happy New Year DG!
Long time no hear...

Hi Alex and the same to you and family!

I have been quiet on this forum, as I have been very busy with some developments on the D1 and D3 front.

I have designed a permanent fix for the perennial problem with the leaking vacuum pump on the 300Tdi and also a modification to the turbo on the D3, which effectively prevents the turbo bearings and the stepper motor to fail due to to much heat exposure.  With kind regards
DiscoGeorge
1998 Disco1 ES 300Tdi with twin TrueTracs
2005 Disco3 TDV6 S
And some more serious stuff

Bit of an update. My FL2 was having starting problems in temps of less then -5. Took it to dealership who said there was an error code on the glowplugs so it had those changed at the end of last winter, then the weather warmed up and I never really got the opportunity to test them out.
This morning we had -9, so I pressed the start engine button twice, without the clutch down, to give the glow plugs chance to properly do their job, then asked it to start with the clutch down and it was very keen indeed. So they have made a huge improvement to the cold starting with my FL.

Hope that helps someone . . .

cate wrote:

Bit of an update. My FL2 was having starting problems in temps of less then -5. Took it to dealership who said there was an error code on the glowplugs so it had those changed at the end of last winter, then the weather warmed up and I never really got the opportunity to test them out.
This morning we had -9, so I pressed the start engine button twice, without the clutch down, to give the glow plugs chance to properly do their job, then asked it to start with the clutch down and it was very keen indeed. So they have made a huge improvement to the cold starting with my FL.

Hope that helps someone . . .

redlabel wrote:

cate wrote:

Bit of an update. My FL2 was having starting problems in temps of less then -5. Took it to dealership who said there was an error code on the glowplugs so it had those changed at the end of last winter, then the weather warmed up and I never really got the opportunity to test them out.
This morning we had -9, so I pressed the start engine button twice, without the clutch down, to give the glow plugs chance to properly do their job, then asked it to start with the clutch down and it was very keen indeed. So they have made a huge improvement to the cold starting with my FL.

Hope that helps someone . . .

Same problem and solution for me.

This being my first diesel since the 80s, I had the impression that they were virtually indestructible.... anyway this morning (-13) it became pretty impossible to start it up.. chug-chug chug.... wro... chug chug chug wro..... Anyway, with a bit of starter gas, I succeded in finally start, and now I have parked it in a warm garage until next week when it's time to change glow plugs... at a cost of about 450 €,,, the plugs themselves are not that expensive, but the work is hell!
GAAAHHH!
Oh well. Hoping for a good remedy now... It's never too late to learn something new...

Was -9 showing on my temp. gauge this morning.

There was a slight pause (2-3secs.) then it started up without a problem.

minus 8 fri morning started no problem, is it me or are most problems with cold starting with 07/08 models may be glow plus should be changed at 3yr intervals after all they do carry on working while the engine is warming up  rainy-city
xs

Only had my 07 reg freelander for a few days now and it struggled to start this morning to the point that i nearly gave up it was -7 out which shouldnt cause a problem if all is working right

I have booked it in for a service on tuesday as this is well overdue and a diagnostic check £25, and a possible glow plug change as it has 64k miles and i dont believe they have been changed yet, hopefully this will sort her out

Fingers crossed Black FL2
L200 Warrior

have been out pigeon shooting this morning -9 and the car had not been started scince last sunday,3second wait and away it went (07 SE )

My Freelander 2 GS TD4 (07 reg, 75k miles) started playing up as soon as we hit zero temps. I took it into a official LR Deutschland dealer/workshop and discovered 3 glow plugs not working (it took them 8 days and 667 euros to diagnose the problem - specialists!! hahaha). Had all four replaced, but cold starting is still a problem - especially as we now have minus 18-20. However, my car is not running well at all. I started getting "reduced engine performance" warning messages more and more frequently, and it will now only run at just above tickover. Accelerate and it gets noisy before all comes to a stop. I noticed a lot of oil and a missing bolt between the engine and bulkhead (drivers side for a RHD model). There's a large black plastic tubular part with 4 perpendicular tubes of increasing length running across the back of the engine (what is this, can any one tell me?) going to what possibly is an air filter housing (?). The oil is blowing out from a connector, located below this plastic tube, where another metal-sheathed tube comes off the engine. Seems the German LR specialists are only specialists by name and not nature, as it would appear they may have forgotten to refit this bolt when they took my car apart, and has blown some gasket or another. I do not intend to use them in the future, but finding a good LR workshop in souther Germany where my car's located is a problem.

Anyone know what could be the problem here, what may have blown or if this could be my overall running problem w.r.t. the warning messages and the engine cutting out? Also, apart from the two top securing bolts securing the plastic engine cover, is there another securing bolt - as It still appears held by something? It was too cold trying to investigate myself this morning at -18. I don't have a Haynes manual here to look up anything.

And yes, I did check, and the engine oil level is within limits.....

Any help would be much appreciated.

S