Freel2 readers,

My LR2 is 17 years old and about 150,000 miles and I’ve owned her since new and I am very glad that I got her all those years ago. Where I come from we would say that she is fully depreciated or that she doesn’t owe me anything.

The LR2 is at the University with my daughter. She was very young 17 years ago but she remembers going to the Land Rover dealer and getting the LR2.


She called me to let me know that something was binding and making a strange noise when she was turning around.

Over the phone I walked her through the steps to pull the Fuse for the Haldex and I had her test drive it.

The sound was gone.

It felt great to be able to implement a field expedient repair by phone. Thanks to FREEL2. I took all the credit and I gave all of you none of it. But in fairness you didn’t answer the phone.


Has anyone disabled the Haldex and used the vehicle that way for an extended period?



My plan

- when I see the LR2 in a few weeks I will replace the filter for the Haldex and see if that fixes the problem. I did replace the filter around the 50,000 mile mark but I didn’t do it again above 100K because of the bad things I read about poorly made filters. I bought a Borg Warner filter this time.

- if that fixes the issue I will send my daughter back to school and tell her to remove the fuse if the problem ever happens again

- if the filter doesn’t fix the problem then we will have a front wheel drive LR2 unit I can get the problem solved


Thanks for reading this

Let me know your thoughts

Paul

PS for anyone that reads this and doesn’t know Borg Warner bought the Haldex technology that is used in our vehicles.

Sounds like the Haldex needs a good service, apart from changing the filter have you cleaned the screen filter on the pump? as this get very clogged specially after 50k miles. do not think??? you will do any harm in 2wd but may get error messages on the dash. 2013 FL2 XS.
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1944 Willys MB "Jeep" with bullet holes. (gone)
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Mahatma Gandhi said if there is an Idiot in power those who elected him are well represented. The Enemy is our own corrupt Government.

100k miles since it was serviced? 😬
An oil change and filter resolves many haldex issues, make sure to take the pump out and clean the screen. Landrover - turning owners into mechanics since 1948

2014 Orkney grey Freelander SD4 GS.
2004 Zambezi silver Discovery 2 Td5 (Gone)
1963 Surf blue Morris Mini Minor Super de Luxe (my little toy)

Excellent advice

Thanks

Unfortunately I have an early LR2 with the 3rd generation of the Haldex and removing the pump requires removing the exhaust, prop shaft, and the front flange. I believe that the 4th generation can be easily removed.

I won’t have the vehicle long enough to remove the pump and if I do go that far I may just keep going and refurbish the entire Haldex.

We don’t have an Austin at Bell Engineering near me unfortunately.

And I am about to move to a new house about 500 miles away from my current location (at the end of the month)


So I need a short term solution.

I will post here if the filter and a top up of fluid is enough.

Take care

Paul

Last edited by p_gill on 14th Apr 2025 4:16 am. Edited 1 time in total

I checked my maintenance records and I replaced the Haldex filter and fluid at 84,000 miles (my memory though it was closer to 50K)

And I think the recommendation from LAND ROVER is to do the service every 150K

So I am right on track to do the second change if I am cutting the recommended service interval in half.


Unfortunately as we all know the service interval is based on warranty claims and minimizing the cost of maintenance and not based on keeping the LAND ROVER running as long as possible.


Based on this I submit to FREEL2 that the fluid and filter should be replaced every 50,000 miles


If anyone has data that it should be more frequent then please reply to this post


Thanks

Paul

I’d ignore the Land Rover service recommendations. They always err on the side of not bothering. Look at other manufacturers who use Haldex and service intervals are much shorter and surprisingly their users have fewer problems.
That mesh on the pump being blocked is likely to be the cause of the Haldex problems so not clearing it means you’re wasting your time doing the fluid and filter change.

Something to consider in this 'elf 'n safety world that we live in is any insurance implications there could potentially be while driving with the Haldex fuse out. I've no idea what it's like in the great US of A, but I feel like over here in blighty, it could give a reason for an insurer not to pay out seeing as not only is the car not in 4 wheel drive, but a number of safety aids are also turned off along with it.

It's just food-for-thought anyway . https://www.youtube.com/@scottandalana4x4

My first haldex problem arose at 70k miles and was the pump screen blocked. Since then I service it at 30 - 40k mile intervals. Needed a new pump this year around 130k miles. Landrover - turning owners into mechanics since 1948

2014 Orkney grey Freelander SD4 GS.
2004 Zambezi silver Discovery 2 Td5 (Gone)
1963 Surf blue Morris Mini Minor Super de Luxe (my little toy)

Double post 😖 Landrover - turning owners into mechanics since 1948

2014 Orkney grey Freelander SD4 GS.
2004 Zambezi silver Discovery 2 Td5 (Gone)
1963 Surf blue Morris Mini Minor Super de Luxe (my little toy)

Thanks everyone for sharing their experience.

Right now the LR2 is at the University in the parking lot (I mean car park)
It won't be driven much.


I will change the filter and I might attempt to backflush the motor to free up the screen.


All of this won't happen for a couple of weeks.
I will share with the team what I find here on this thread.


Take care

Paul

The only possible negative I can see is all the torque to the front drive wheel but it's not a torquey desiel nor a turbo, a beautiful straight 6!

The Tambora Flame will never be extinguished!!!




I did a little research and I found that the GEN 3 and earlier Haldex have a built in mechanical pump and that the 4th generation only has the electrical pump.

The mechanical pump only build pressure when there is a difference in rotational speed between the input and output.

Based on that I am thinking that I may disconnect the electrical pump.

Quote:

HALDEX THIRD GENERATION
The chief complaint about performance on the first and second generation systems was the reaction time required to trigger the torque transfer to the rear axles. Haldex third generation is the first proactive AWD system by Volvo. As soon as the engine is started, an electric pump pre-pressurizes the AWD transfer clutch. When the traction control computer senses wheel slip, the pre-pressurized clutch pack is engaged instantaneously and torque is transferred to the rear axles.

Once engine torque is transmitted through the Haldex unit, the mechanical oil pump takes over from the electric pump and continues to supply pressure to the hydraulic clutch pack. Haldex claims a reaction time of 15 degrees of wheel slip. This AWD system is marketed as “Instant Traction” by Volvo.

HALDEX FOURTH GENERATION
Haldex fourth generation is virtually identical to the third generation system, but does away with the mechanical hydraulic pump. Instead of relying on the electronic pump to just pre-charge the AWD system, the fourth iteration of Haldex’s AWD coupler uses the electric pump to supply hydraulic pressure for the entire operation of the torque transfer from the front to rear axles. Haldex fourth generation is also a “proactive” AWD system. Volvo continues to market the fourth generation system as “Instant Traction.”

Good info and piece of mind there Paul!

Dean1234 wrote:

Something to consider in this 'elf 'n safety world that we live in is any insurance implications there could potentially be while driving with the Haldex fuse out. I've no idea what it's like in the great US of A, but I feel like over here in blighty, it could give a reason for an insurer not to pay out seeing as not only is the car not in 4 wheel drive, but a number of safety aids are also turned off along with it.

It's just food-for-thought anyway .

I really appreciate anyone that takes the time out of their day to watch our stuff as we know that some of the stuff can be a tough and boring watch . I think I need a holiday to your part of the world and experience life without half as much red tape . I'll just make sure not to emit any more flatulence than my allotted allowance . https://www.youtube.com/@scottandalana4x4