I completely sympathise with you all as I've been having the same cold start problem. It has started every day but I'm never very confident as it doesn't sound healthy

Mine always starts to crank straight away too and is a 2007 model...but today was different. Coldest morning yet at -11C and for first time ever saw the 'cranking wiill start.....' messsage then it fired up fine.

Why it decided to do this today and not yesterday at -10C I have no idea. Its going to dealer on Friday just before warranty expires!

I feel the same way as you Jackrabbit, great to drive when all OK but I'm getting a bit fed up...a car which is designed to go through snow and ice but won't start in cold
And a car designed to wade through water, but has faulty parking sensors when it rains!

Coldest so far -10 but still starts every time after a delay as the glow plugs warm up but maybe that's because I've only had it since 30 Nov. However, my old 07 SE also atarted first time every time even in the Swiss Alps at -9.

same issues here Cate and Jackrabbit.

Had RAC out this afternoon after trying to start it all morning and gave up.

Sun was out about 1 ish so warmed up a little took a bit longer to start up, but did start.

Not looking forward to tomorrow morning to try starting it again!!!

Oh, mine is an 07 model too!!! Anyhoo off oot on me mobike.....

Has everyone with dodgy starters checked their glow plugs? sounds a bit suss to me that there are people (me included) who have no problems and a small bunch of you who cant start at all??? Freelander 2 TD4 Auto, SE, Narvik Black, Alpaca full leather, Rear Headrest Entertainment System, 6 CD, 18 HSE Wheels, Privicy tints

Cant get anything checked, all LR dealers in the area are busy til near the new year.

Heading up north, so might give team valley LR a call, see if they can take a look......  Anyhoo off oot on me mobike.....

Have had no problems @ minus 14 DegC starting Mrs Dave's FL2, could be some dodgy glow plugs out there  ______________________
2011 Full Fat RR 4.4 TDV8
2012 FL2 SD4 Auto HSE
2013 Kawasaki Versys 650

Three and bit year old td4 - used every day - starts first time - though get the crank delay when really cold. Coldest start has been -16 - it did die later on when temp fell to -19 - went into reduced engine performance mode - most bets on the diesel waxing as was fine when temp rose to -15.

I've always just put the key in and pushed the button - the glow plugs come on if required




Grumpy Grumpy

It's starting to sound like the early FL2s have dodgy glow plugs.

The wifes 07 plate struggled on Monday morning (parked 8.30pm the previous night showing -13). It took about a minute of cranking (in four bursts since it only seems to crank for about 15 seconds and then give up). I did the thing recommended elsewhere on here with pressing the start button first without the clutch and waiting for the glow plug light to go out prior to each start attempt.

I reckon that it's the glow plugs and that there is only one left working; it seemed like it was trying to fire on one cylinder and that that wasn't enough to spin it two complete revolutions. You could pretty much feel this as it tried to start.

We had this problem a few weeks back as well and I'd left it on charge the night before, fortunately it seemed to struggle through the cranking and fire up.

A bit of googling shows that the engine type code is dw12bted4 (shared with Mitsubishi, Peugeot, Citroen and undoubtably others as well) and the NGK equivalent glow plugs are YE08 and seem to be fairly widely available for £10-£15 each.

Also have a read around elsewhere on these forums as it seems like there was a software issue with the early models not running the glow plugs correctly.

Here's one related thread (there seem to be quite a few!): http://www.freel2.com/forum/topic5576.html

Looking at the posted info, the glow plugs are not a trivial thing to change and as far as I can tell, there is no easy way to check them prior to pulling the inlet system apart


FWIW, my 10 year old / 215k miles Passat seems to have lost it's first glow plug this cold snap but is still easier to start than the 3 year old FL2

minus 5 this morning and it started straight off


Had issues every other morning when it was from - 8 to minus 12.


Nearly spring..........  Anyhoo off oot on me mobike.....

Hi everyone, tried to start the FL2 this morning and it was a no go, even with booster pack clipped on it turned over but kept giving the HDC message, got it on trickle charger now, temperatures fell to -13 here last night, also had been out for 40 mile trip yesterday, with no blowers, demisters or lights on. I can hear the relays coming the glow plug only stays on for a few seconds, batteries been tested and is charging ok. I have noticed on this site also there are several threads under different headings, all pertaining to the same problem, and it seems to be centring around 07 FL2s not starting, starting to get really fd off with the FL2, especially as my Freeby '06 started and drove out of a snow drift, anyone out there with any ideas  WAMMG

It's really good to hear i'm not the only FL2 owner suffering at the moment with the bad starting.

-13 this mrining just about flattened the battery again before se eventually coughed into life!!

I have a feeling it has to be glow plug related.

Does anyone out there know how much a garage would typically charge to change glow plugs?

I think if it's going to be big bucks then I might be better off investing the money in to a Japanese or Korean equivalent car/

The FL2 is a great looking car, but a bit like most things in life that are super good looking - very, very high maintainance!!

Hi Wammg,

Im at a loss and also frustrated, once the FL@ starts, there is no stopping her, but it would be nice of here to start!

It does seem to be around the 07 plates, I have just spoke to team valley land rover, and they stated they have had no FL2's in with starting issues!

Not sure where to go now, mind you mine started at -5 or 4 this morning, any colder and its a non started until the midday heat kicks in !!

More help needed please, but a known fix would be fantastic.

I did query glow plugs, which came in at around £11 pounds, but didnt get the labour cost, or sure if this would be the fix really  Anyhoo off oot on me mobike.....

Just spoke to team valley land rover, they quoted £11 for a glow plug, didn't have time to query the labour cost, as was rabbiting on/moaning about this issue.

They did state they have no FL2's in so far with starting issues!!!

Looks as though it is early 07's with the issue though. Anyhoo off oot on me mobike.....

Hi geordiedancer71

Land Rover here say they have not heard of this either, my brother in law has put me in touch with a landy mechanic nearby, but he has had no one with this problem either and he can't look near my car until 11th next year!

Usually my FL2 starts no probs, so as you say has to be something to do with the plugs or preheat timer.

Hopefully someone will come up with a solution soon.

On a brighter note what type of bike do you have? WAMMG

Last edited by wammg on 22nd Dec 2010 3:36 pm. Edited 1 time in total

-17C here this morning. A little bit grumpy, but the car started after a few seconds.
And after a few minutes, all windows were clear. The heating-threads in the front & rear-window works fine.  2008 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Automatic, Caspian Blue, Alpaca, Moon roof, Exclusive pack.