The Freelander only has brakes on the front axle. Given the kerb weight of the TD4 (~1,600kg before you get in it) it’s no surprise that the brake pads need replacing regularly, especially with an automatic gearbox – pulling away involves gradually releasing the brakes which results in wear on the pads, as opposed to that wear being absorbed by the clutch of a manual transmission, which is not only designed for that purpose but also has a much longer life.
Tag: TD4
Freelander TD4: Dealing with the EGR
The EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) valve is intended to reduce overall exhaust emissions by recycling exhaust gases back into the engine through the intake manifold. While it’s essentially a great idea, the downside is that EGR is generally an afterthought by car manufacturers simply to reduce emissions – there’s often little or nothing by way of protection for the engine against the thick oily residue introduced into the intake manifold by the EGR’s exhaust gases. The TD4 is a prime example of this.
Freelander TD4: MAF sensor
The MAF (Mass Air Flow) sensor is a sensor on the engine which simply measures the mass of the air being delivered into the engine. The mass (and therefore density) of the air can be affected by temperature, altitude, and rate of induction, and the ECU needs a MAF reading to balance and deliver the correct amount of fuel to the engine.
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Freelander TD4: Upgrading the air filter
This maintenance task is one of the simplest (though not necessarily easiest, see below) tasks to carry out on the TD4 engine and yields an impressive increase in the liveliness of the engine. I don’t have numerical data to support this, and my findings are entirely subjective, but the engine seemed to rev more eagerly and more freely than with the stock air filter.
