The Freelander is considered one of the most popular makes of SUV ever made. There are two models under the Freelander. The first generation was first released in 1997 and produced until 2006 while the second generation, also referred to as the LR2 in the US, was first made available in 2006 and is still being produced to this day. Its pricing and availability make it a top choice among consumers looking for second hand vehicles. When looking at the various models of the Land Rover Freelander for sale in car dealerships and other ads, there are important factors to look into before jumping into a seemingly good deal.
The Freelander is produced by India based company Tata Motors. It has been more than a decade since the first model was made available to the public yet its popularity has not waned much over the years. In both the US and Europe, the Land Rover Freelander has remained in style to this day, even with the arrival of other brands from Japan such as Toyota, Nissan and Honda.
Reading through ads of used land rover freelander for sale is not enough, especially with older or used vehicles. There are some aspects that interested buyers should look into personally. Vehicles become more susceptible to damages over time. The Freelander may be a popular and wise choice in terms of reliability but it is no exception to the rule. There are three areas that need to be checked: the engine, the drive train and the body itself.
When it comes to looking into a Land Rover Freelander for sale, one of the key areas to check is the engine. The head gasket in particular can be a problem, especially with engines under the 1.8 liter petrol make. Originally, the earlier vehicles were fitted with a single layer type head gasket. However, these were renowned to fail by the 70,000 mile mark at most. Check whether the gasket has been replaced with a multi layer type. If not, make sure to have it replaced. A routine replacement will cost around four hundred pounds, a cheaper and wiser choice than waiting for it to blow.
With the Land Rover Freelander engine for sale, another factor which can cause the head gasket to malfunction is a leakage within the engine’s cooling system. Ideally, the coolant should look red while the water inside the reservoir bottle should appear closer to pink in hue. This will cost at least another 500 pounds or more for the replacement, depending on the condition of the parts used to replace the defective areas.
The cam belt is another area worth looking into when it comes to checking ads of second hand Land Rover Freelanders for sale. Regardless of the type of engine and fuel used, all Freelander vehicles have cam belts that need to be replaced by 72,000 mile mark. A cam belt that snaps can destroy the entire engine which can be more expensive than having the belt replaced. Depending on the type of vehicle, this can cost around £200 to £450.
Under the Freelander Drive Train, one area worth checking is the Viscous Coupling Unit. This is evident in all 2002 land rover freelander for sale and Series 1 vehicles and should be replaced by 70,000 mile mark. Purchase and replacement of the parts will cost around £300.
Although slightly cheaper but all the more important are the doors, windows and sunroof of the vehicle. Try the buttons, especially the ones which control the sunroof. If there is no sound coming from the motor, check the fuses before spending for any checkup.