Really hoping someone can help me!

For the last 5 months the freelander has been cutting out momentarily while driving and as long as your going fast enough it will start up again with a prod of the accelerator.sometimes an error shows saying "engine system fault " and sometimes nothing will show.

It's a buggar to start when cold and I've had the "steering rack locked " error come up also along with the HDC fault.


Browsing the forum I thought a new crankshaft sensor and additional earth strap would sort it but sadly it hasn't.

It is at its worst after it's been raining.

Anyone have any ideas ?

If it's worse after rain I would say a bad connection somewhere.

Certainly seems like an intermittent electrical fault (the worst kind to have) which will only be found by a process of elimination. The ECU will throw out all sorts of odd error messages if there is only a slight variation in power and as SYFL2 says the fact that it is worse when damp could indicate a poor connection or failing component which the damp shorts out.
Start with the obvious - HT circuits - clean and check all connections - have the battery and alternator professionally tested.
Once you eliminate the main features as the cause start on the LT circuits.
You may find it helpful to note each area you are looking at and elimination ( I'm sure there will be a checklist somewhere on the web) and my TOP TIP - identify those circuits that it is not - sounds obvious but will save you hours of wasted tracking and keep you focussed on potential sources.

This is one approach I have used on a problem car (sorry can't remember where I nicked it from!) I had a Chrysler Voyager that occasionally would not start - using this approach I established it was always when on an incline facing downwards and less than half a tank of fuel - problem solved :

So work through these and hopefully you will get some insight into what is happening

1. How often does the fault occur?
2. How are you operating the vehicle or machine when it occurs?
3. What is turned ON and what is OFF?
4. What gear is it in?
5. Where is the engine speed?
6. How much engine load?
7. Does it always occur under a given set of conditions or is it completely erratic?
8. Did it start all of a sudden or did it slowly get worse over time?
9. What is the ambient temperature when it occurs?
10. What is the engine temperature when it occurs?
11. What is the weather like when it occurs? Rain, snow, wind, humidity, dust, etc.
12. How long after start-up does the problem begin happening?
13. Are there any other problems with the vehicle or machine?
14. When was the vehicle or machine last worked on and what was done?
15. How is the vehicle or machine oriented when the fault occurs? Are you heading uphill, downhill, slope to the left or right?
16. What time of day does it generally occur? Morning, night?
17. Any other information about conditions during the fault.

Thanks for your help both gives me something to work with !

worked out today that I think the cut out occurs either at a certain temperature or a set amount of time running as it always seems to do it at the same place. Also after it done it today I pulled over , turned off , locked and unlocked doors and then restarted and it didn't happen again.

So for the last 2 days I have started it on the drive and left it running. At exactly 3 min and 30 seconds on both days it cut out. I restarted and drove away and it was fine for the rest of the journey.

anyone know what could cause that as it makes me think it's not down to something shorting anymore ?

Hi
Well done - evidence at last - now we know when it happens the next problem is what is it?

My first reaction to your news was that it could be an ECU fault, my thinking being that the start up programmes are working OK - the car gets going and then after precisely 3mins 30 seconds the cut out happens - is it something shutting down after the start sequence?

The fact that when you re-start you do not get a recurrence points to the problem "clearing" itself once it has happened, which to me seems like software.

BUT that was just a reaction - I'm afraid I can't offer you a more precise opinion  No Longer the owner of a 2013MY Fuji White GS

"Fiat Lux" a philosophy not a car

Without sounding too obvious, get it read for any fault codes, at least it will give you a good indication where to start.