I have had my Td4 GS for about a month now and am generally very happy but...

The stereo regualrly freezes whereby all functionality is lost along with the clock and the rear park tone.
I have read on this forum (very helpful thanks) that this has happened to others between January and now.
Landrover have been telling me that they are awaiting a software update as they have told other owners.

Question 1: Has anyone who was getting this problem received a software update (and did it fix it) or is it a myth?

Question 2: Does anyone know if the premium stereo can be retro-fitted or any other stereo fitted?

Any help appreciated

Jez,

I have experienced the 'freeze' from time to time but not on a regular basis, when it happens a complete shut down (key out) and restart has cured it; while this is an effective cure it should not happen in the first place and stopping can be very inconvenient. On one occasion when my system has frozen I was listening at particularly high volume, that made life quite difficult trying to find somewhere to stop and shut down.

As for the upgrade, first I'm not sure that the freezing issue is related to the level of the sound system. What I've been told is that there is no Land Rover upgrade path for the audio. I too have a GS and the only feature I would change is the sound system. I would very much have preferred a premium sound system but was told the only way to achieve that was to choose an XS model, I couldn't justify the cost difference for the sound system, which was all I wanted in the XS spec.

The question of upgrading the GS sound system has been raised before but there seems to be no easy answer. Apparently behind the fascia panel lies a standard double DIN bay, but without a matching LR fascia panel this would not look right.

HiAvtur
I have the SE and have had the radio freeze, removed the key fob, restarted and system ok but I agree with you this shouldnt happen!. One other thing I can get all progs very clear except one, I have it set to auto tune so should tune all progs!!!, any thoughts? Just out of interest what are they quoting for upgrade to the system in the SE?
David David

I've had the radio lock up once , this happened during startup (I didn't realise until I was under way)
Has anyone had this occur after startup , i.e randomly during driving?
If we've only seen it during startup , then I would guess that it's some sort of 'race' condition such that the radio is vunerable to electrical noise caused by engine cranking during it's self test power on mode.

I picked up my Freelander 2 TD4 GS on 10th March. It suffered from the radio regularly freezing (stopping park sensors working) and often failing to start. Land Rover Assistance gave it it's first software update on the 17th March. It went in to dealer 11th April, they played with it for 2 days. It went in again and had the latest software update on 21st May. Land Rover assistance came out again on 25th May. None of which have solve the problems. It went in to dealer again today. I don't know when I will see it again. In addition to the above problems it has unlocked, opened it's own windows twice, the rubber seal round the drivers door frame it de-bonding, the interior trim on the 'B' posts is wearing where the seat belts rub, the onboard computor and tripometer often reset to zero on startup and if you open the windows with Global unlocking on remote not all of them will close with Global locking on the remote.

kmh wrote:

I picked up my Freelander 2 TD4 GS on 10th March. It suffered from the radio regularly freezing (stopping park sensors working) and often failing to start. Land Rover Assistance gave it it's first software update on the 17th March. It went in to dealer 11th April, they played with it for 2 days. It went in again and had the latest software update on 21st May. Land Rover assistance came out again on 25th May. None of which have solve the problems. It went in to dealer again today. I don't know when I will see it again. In addition to the above problems it has unlocked, opened it's own windows twice, the rubber seal round the drivers door frame it de-bonding, the interior trim on the 'B' posts is wearing where the seat belts rub, the onboard computor and tripometer often reset to zero on startup and if you open the windows with Global unlocking on remote not all of them will close with Global locking on the remote.

Mines done it today, going in Tuesday for the non starting issue for the 3rd time and also the parking sensors being inaudible.

I will be printing off this thread and taking it with me.

Sorry for the delay in response, life just takes over sometimes!
Thanks for the replies; it's good to get the general story rather than just Landrovers!

Mine is being collected today to have the stereo replaced and the latest software installed.
I can't say I believe this will work but LR probably have procedures to follow.

I'll post again when it's back and let you know if it freezes again (in which case the gloves are off with LR!)

Just in reply to questions:

Yes I have had it freeze on startup, reversing, on motorway and when engine not started!. Yesterday I locked the car and was about to walk away when I just heard the stereo. resinserted key and restart fixes but it's a constant pain!

I had my first window close failure as well yesterday. Picked up friends who left a window half down. I said it's ok I can close them all from the remote (slightly showing off) and the car closed all the windows and then reopened the one back to 1/2 way several times. Comments of 'nice car' soon changed to 'the old freelander was unreliable you know'!

Lets hope LR can fix as generally I think the car is great!

The update does seem to cure a few bits ,my rear sensor volume is now very loud!!
but the wipers are just the same,dont really think the dealers know what the update is going to cure themselves?

Landrover had my car for two seperate weeks and pshyically replaced the head unit twiceand several software updates. After the last visit it would appear that the stereo freeze has been eliminated as I have now run for a week without probelms.

The radio reception is still extreemly poor (get better reception with my £4.99 battery shower radio!) so I plan to look into getting an external aerial put in instead of the standard fit one which is in the rear side window.

Incidentally my local ICE specialist also suggested that as it is a standard twin stereo bay so I could replace with any twin shop bought head unit. There is then a facia available (about £25) which fills the ugly gap which would be left.

Jez wrote:

The radio reception is still extreemly poor (get better reception with my £4.99 battery shower radio!) so I plan to look into getting an external aerial put in instead of the standard fit one which is in the rear side window.

Incidentally my local ICE specialist also suggested that as it is a standard twin stereo bay so I could replace with any twin shop bought head unit. There is then a facia available (about £25) which fills the ugly gap which would be left.

Reading these threads about the radio issues really does highlight the problem about the complexities of modern cars. The manufacturers / dealers really do have us by the short and curlies - there is nothing that we can fix; inconvenient when under warranty, but expensive thereafter. A Philips scrwdriver and a mole wrench (oh and a hammer of course!) just aren't enough these days.