My poor Freelander has been a bit of a pig and have been really fed up with it untill a few weeks ago.
I have already posted about all the faults its had and how I had to fix a very poor earth myself and now all its foibles have gone away ! But going back to when it all started I was towing my caravan back from the south of France and had just filled up with fuel and at a roundabout went to kick it down and it went very flat and the gearbox wouldnt change down !. I originally put it down to bad tank of fuel, however i wasnt sure if it ever righted itself, it was difficult as it was new with just 1000 miles done in a week prior to taking it on holiday.
Never been brilliant on performance and fuel consumption has always been low. However when I found the bad earth I also cleared all the fault codes logged including two for the turbo about voltage low ! Now bearing in mind thats its had two services since and have reported numerous issues obvioulsy the dealers have never cleared the fault codes as it absoulutley flies now. It goes like a rocket and just been away towing for a week and it stonks along effortless. I reckon when the faults codes were flagged the transient overboost wasnt working ! ( some form of limp mode ) but why was this never picked up on a service ? 2.5 years its been like this and I have been so fed up with it I have only done 2500 miles in the last year ! Its flying like I have never known ! its brilliant and a joy to drive. Fuel consumption is well improved. I returned 28.5 towing yesterday, used to be 19-21 mpg and solo over 160 miles I got 42.2 unbelivable as it would always be around 33 best. I actually finally find its brilliant but now wonder what I am paying nearly £500 per service at a dealer when A they could never fix the original issues and B why was this logged fault never checked and cleared ?
Anyone know whether officially the ECU should be checked for logged faults on a service ?

Hi, I dont know for sure but when your car is in for service their reset tool is conected to reset the service period.
At this point it takes only seconds to scan the ECU for both perminent and temp codes, ie untill rest by tool after fault rectified and temp codes ie low washer content which would clear when you topted up.
Although fault codes can be deleated from the ECU the ECU will still hold a record of the last time any fault codes were deleated which you could then check with landrover if the actualy reset them in the first place.
It should be a standard practice to scan the ECU if not only to check every thing is running smoothly.

thanks superspark, what I am looking for is comfirmation that it should be checked on a service.
I am aware of the history log and I know when the fault occured and its been flagged but not cleared for 2 years ! having been service twice apart from the time when it spent two weeks in addition trying to sort the other issues out.
This last couple of months the car is now driving like it has never driven before and is a pleasure and its brilliant but why has this issue never been flagged on a service ?

That's almost unbelievable. You should name and shame the garage so that others can avoid it. Sounds like they just changed oil and checked brakes.

Colin 1982 RR Classic-converted to 200TDi-gone
1992 RR VogueSE- converted to autogas-gone
2000 FL1 3dr (wife's)
1996 Disco 1 300 Tdi(gone)
2007 FL2 TD4 GS auto (gone)
MY 2011 SD4 HSE Automatic

The service book "should" say what is done at every service and the service report "should" say what has been done. I suspect that checking ECU fault codes doesn't come within the normal service specification.
You can always insist this is done at the time of service but an extra charge may be added to the final bill

Realspeed Ex 2010 Freelander2 GS-e Diesel manual Silver owner

Indeed, the service/workshop is required to do what says on the MAINTENANCE CHECK SHEET.
For anything else may be a specific fee.

thats what I am hoping is that someone will have a maintance sheet ? I have never seen or been offered one by iether dealership.
I suspect that an ECU check is part of the service as it is on most vehicles ( but usually doesnt get done )
I wont name and shame the Dealers but am hoping they will be more attentive on the next visit and finally do what I have asked to be done.

oldgeezer wrote:

thats what I am hoping is that someone will have a maintance sheet ? I have never seen or been offered one by iether dealership.

Ok thats great thank you, so unless the EML is on, they dont check, but you would think that when they road tested they would have realised that is was seriously under powered. I had also mentioned that " engine reduced power " kept comming up on the display.

Well i can reveal now that when one of the service was carried out it took 57 mins from the time it was driven onto the ramp to when it was road tested and parked up ! The discussion about my faults reported between the mechanics wasnt very complimentary but the road test driving was OK
How do i know this ? well I had a hidden camera fitted ! a real eye opener !!!!!!!!!

I would go straight to the garage manager with the proof of the conversation between the mechanics and ask at least for an explaination as to their conduct.

Realspeed Ex 2010 Freelander2 GS-e Diesel manual Silver owner

a hidden camera are you that bloke off rouge traders or watchdog or something  Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

yeah thanks realspeed. i so wanted to confront them but they were miles away and just decided i wouldnt go back. I have to say i was really dissapointed. I was also charged for oil flush but the bonnet was never lifted until the car was parked on the ramp and then they put the car straight up in the air and worked on it from underneath !

Camera was fitted after I was involved in an accident whilst stationary but the woman driver told a totally different story and the insurance company insisted on a 50/50 claim! after months of arguing I just had to accept it but she hit me at 40+ when i was stationary and she continued to skid for about 100 feet past me !
The camera just happens to be very usefull of quite a few occassions including spooky footage when its left in a car park at night near a resturant and someone walks up to it trying the doors ! all 4 ! recorded on Audio and recorded on a sensor graph !
So watch out you never know whos's about !

maybe a thread on the camera setup might be useful to others

I seen a few threads about these types of things on other forums and often wonder what they are like  Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

Oldgeezer,
Where was this bad earth? Another member of the failed FL2 clutch/DMF club, twice.

http://www.freel2.com/forum/post98456.html#98456
Battery to gearbox earth by the starter