Hi everyone. I'm new to this community and the Freelander world and trying to do as much research as possible but finding it all a bit overwhelming. This Saturday I'll be picking up my (new to me) 2010 Freelander 2 XS with 144,000 miles. The engine and car side of things have been very well looked after, but the expensive 4x4 side probably not so much so I know I have some maintainace to get on top of.

Firstly, can someone explain to me the anatomy of the 4 wheel drive system, in particular the serviceable items and where these different bits and pieces are located. Would I be right in saying in the middle of the rear axle you have the rear differential that needs new oil every 10 years? The Haldex is connected to that and requires servicing every 2 years and works in super simple terms like a more complicated limited slip diff in a front or rear wheel drive car? The gearbox obviously towards the centre of the car and needs an oil change every 10 years? This is where I start to get confused. At the front in the middle of the axle I'm guessing there is a front diff? If there is I never see anything about an oil change on it or much talk of it. But I also see alot of talk about a power transfer unit. Is that another way of saying front diff or are they 2 complete different things?

Secondly. when I was asking about servicing the various items I got this response regarding the front transfer unit:

Quote:

Personally i wouldnt bother doing front PTU (transferbox) oil as you cant get more than 300ml out the box anyway, plus usually the oil i see come out of these in perfect order. To be honest you front PTU is on borrowed time anyway if it hasnt already been chnaged, so better off saving up for that.

To me the first part reads as it's not worth doing because the oil is always in great condition. But the last part says to me that seeing as it's not been maintained then it's on borrowed time. Can anyone explain to me why a transfer box would die a death? Are Freeanders known for needing a new transfer box every 100,000 miles? Is it something else in the 4 wheel drive system not being maintained that causes the transfer boxes death?

Lastly. Before I pick the car up it's getting a referb new diff fitted. When I ask about getting the Haldex serviced I get told not to worry as it should be done when the rear diff is being done. Does it work using the rear diff oil or something? I was under the impression that the Haldex was it's own thing with it's own oil and it's own filter? In my head, unless they take the Haldex off it'll just be put back together with the same old oil in? Or is it a given that it HAS to come off no matter what?

Thanks for anyone that reaches the bottom of this lengthy post and replies.

Haldex is seperate and has its own oil and filter which should be changed every 30K miles also the pump screen should be cleaned .

Early transfer boxs suffered from worn splines but buy now I would have thought its already gone and been replaced? 2013 FL2 XS.
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Do you plan to DIY the oil/fluid changes yourself. If so there are a few ways of fitting drain plugs to the PTU and some
Rear Diff boxes, this makes life easier.

Rear diff is between the rear drive shafts. It's a standard open (non locking) rear diff, any locking being done via the brakes, in command from the electronic Terrain Response (TR) system.

The rear diff is connected to the propshaft (runs front to back), via the Haldex, which is bolted to the front of the rear diff.
It needs regular maintenance, issues are to be avoided.
The Haldex is locked or unlocked by commands from the TR module, and is completely automatic in operation, how it operates being controlled by the position set on the TR control.

The propshaft is driven via the Power Take Off (PTO), which is connected to the gearbox output via a splined hollow tube.

The gearbox is on the end of the engine, and being transverse (across the vehicle), drives the front wheels though its own internal front differential. The RHS front drive shaft passes right though the PTU, and through the spline tube, so it can connect to the gearbox diff. The LHS drive shaft connects to the gearbox diff in the same way as any other Front wheel drive vehicle.

It's best to ignore any BS service intervals from LR, as generally the components will fail before the fluids are changed, so it's sensible to change all fluids at 3 year intervals.  2009 Rimini Red SE TD4. Soon to be sold.
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Rommel wrote:

Early transfer boxs suffered from worn splines but buy now I would have thought its already gone and been replaced?

I Like Chips wrote:

Do you plan to DIY the oil/fluid changes yourself. If so there are a few ways of fitting drain plugs to the PTU and some
Rear Diff boxes, this makes life easier.

No DIY'ing allowed on this car is what my partner would say and she perfers a car that works to keep working.

Thanks for that great reply Nodge68. So if I've got this right it does have a diff on the front but it's inside the gearbox and is therefor maintained when the gearbox oil is changed? The PTU is on the right hand front drive shaft?

Would the Haldex oil come out when it's removed from the old rear diff or is the Haldex unit a somewhat sealed unit and the oil would only come out if it's purposely taken apart?

Yes, the front differential is lubricated with the gearbox oil/fluid.

The PTU is bolted to the RHS of the gearbox (in same place a drive shaft would connect in a conventional FWD car), taking it's drive from a splined tube linked to the gearbox diff carrier. This way the PTU is driven from the gearbox directly, but the front drive shafts are driven via the front diff. This requires the RHS drive shaft to pass through the spline tube (which is driving the PTU), through the PTU itself, then out to the wheel.
It's clever design, but not unique, a similar shaft in a splined tube system being used on the original Freelander 1 4X4 system.

Unbolting the Haldex from the front of the rear diff, allows a large amount of the fluid to drain, however an amount remains inside the Haldex passages, filter and other areas, which ideally need cleaning or blowing through. 2009 Rimini Red SE TD4. Soon to be sold.
Hyundai Ionic 5 Ultimate on order.
Gone. 2006 Tonga Green i6 HSE.

surprised nobody has mentioned Bell Engineering yet.

https://www.bellengineering.co.uk/freelander-2-products-post-2008

that link shows pictures of the drivetrain components that they supply and fit, and by looking at them you should be able to identify them underneath your FL2 when you get it.

also Austen at Bell Engineering is more than happy to answer calls and give advice, although your not a million miles away from him (hes near Kidderminster) so a visit to him to check/service everything wouldnt be too much of a trek for you.

Nodge68 wrote:

Yes, the front differential is lubricated with the gearbox oil/fluid.

The PTU is bolted to the RHS of the gearbox (in same place a drive shaft would connect in a conventional FWD car), taking it's drive from a splined tube linked to the gearbox diff carrier. This way the PTU is driven from the gearbox directly, but the front drive shafts are driven via the front diff. This requires the RHS drive shaft to pass through the spline tube (which is driving the PTU), through the PTU itself, then out to the wheel.
It's clever design, but not unique, a similar shaft in a splined tube system being used on the original Freelander 1 4X4 system.

Unbolting the Haldex from the front of the rear diff, allows a large amount of the fluid to drain, however an amount remains inside the Haldex passages, filter and other areas, which ideally need cleaning or blowing through.

Super post Nodge. I look forward to getting under the car and seeing it all in reality because it does sound super complex but it must work for the Freelander and other cars to be so successful.

Thanks for the link RogB. I'm quite lucky in that I have Bell one side and FreelanderSpecialist.com the other.

Dam beat me to it rog,
I would second Austin at Bell engineering,
just west of Bewdly, approximately 80 miles from you,
and you can watch your bits being service and get to see the
filters etc. DAVE.
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Hi and welcome,

I dont think you have said Manual or Auto gearbox

if manual its a simple oil change for about £15 for the gearbox and front diff combined

and second what has been said about the Haldex if taking off to replace the rear diff strip it while out replace the filter and CLEAN the small screen and correct fresh oil in.

 .
my first ever FL2 and I did keep it longer than most other cars!
But its now gone way up Norf

Link to Forum Haldex Info

https://www.freel2.com/forum/topic33791.html?highlight=haldex

and Forum search results for Haldex

https://www.freel2.com/forum/search.php?se...rch_time=0 FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2010 2012-2017 (21k - 91k miles) (MY2011)
FL2 Metropolis SD4 Auto 2014 2017- (16k - 76k+ miles) (MY2015)

@ Dean
1) Download the freebie JLR workshop manual pdf from this forum - its full of really useful info inc good pics and explanations of how things work. Just search "workshop manual"

2) The JLR servicing schedule is inadequate and is the cause of many premature driveline components failures IMO. I changed the lubricants for autobox, PTU, haldex (plus filters) and rear diff at 30K miles.
I used a Pela pump to suck the oil out of the PTU and rear diff and removed the haldex to service that. Jules

riverblanche wrote:

Hi and welcome,

I dont think you have said Manual or Auto gearbox

if manual its a simple oil change for about £15 for the gearbox and front diff combined

and second what has been said about the Haldex if taking off to replace the rear diff strip it while out replace the filter and CLEAN the small screen and correct fresh oil in.

Hi Riverblanche *waves*. It's a manual box. My partner has organised to have the Haldex serviced while the diff is off for £169.

Thanks IanMetro for those links.

jules wrote:

@ Dean
1) Download the freebie JLR workshop manual pdf from this forum - its full of really useful info inc good pics and explanations of how things work. Just search "workshop manual"

2) The JLR servicing schedule is inadequate and is the cause of many premature driveline components failures IMO. I changed the lubricants for autobox, PTU, haldex (plus filters) and rear diff at 30K miles.
I used a Pela pump to suck the oil out of the PTU and rear diff and removed the haldex to service that.

I will go on the hunt for the pdf now. I was very shocked when reading about how much maintenance there was to do that wasn't on the service schedule. I can see why so many Freelanders are in a bad way that are being sold. Hopefully I'll be able to eventually get on top of all the work that needs catching up on.

Every other car manufacturer that uses haldex (eg VAG and Volvo) have regular haldex servicing on their schedules, but not JLR.
The other lubrication servicing is not very difficult - just awkward if you dont have access to ramps. Jules

Hi,

just looking at Audi TT quattro mk1's that have a Haldex system (similar but not the same) and oil change at 20K and oil + filter at 40K,

£169 seems a bit £££ if the diff is coming out anyway

 .
my first ever FL2 and I did keep it longer than most other cars!
But its now gone way up Norf