Power steering problem? Freelander2

[Deleted User]

Hi there

I will start off by saying that I am by no stretch of the imagination a car expert, so thought I would ask here for any advice / words of wisdom. My Freelander2 is 6 years old (07). 29K mileage. Diesel, manual.

About 6 weeks ago my car developed a strange "whining" noise particularly noticeable in low gears. I can't explain it too well other than when accelerating and then changing gear, it sounds like the revs keep going up even when I don't have my foot on the accelerator, but am changing gear. Also the steering did get very stiff at times, particularly noticeable when parking.

I took the car to my local garage where they immediately said it sounded like the power steering pump had gone, they checked the car over and called me back saying that if was definitely the pump that had failed and replaced the pump - £450 later.....

FYi a few weeks before it had had a full service (29K on the clock).

I don't drive the car every day, in fact it often isn't driven for a week at a time, so when we drove it again about a week later, the noise is back, I thought I would see how it went for a few days and when here was no improvement, I rang the garage (the car was due it's MOT as well, so I booked it in to check the pump and do the MOT).

I was told that the pump was fine, "the levels were fine" and it was probably just settling in, and to call him again if it did not improve. It hasn't, the noise is there every time I drive the car and I am really worried that a) I have spent a lot of money on a pump that didn't need replacing and/or b) there is something else more fundamentally wrong and my car is going to break down on me.

The garage owner said that the part is guaranteed for 12 months so just bring it back if there is a problem, but I have once and nothing has changed.

Before I call him again and book the car back in does anyone have any ideas what the problem could be, between the service, MOT and pump I have spent circa £700. I really don't want to send it to the dealership (Stratstone) and spend a fortune to find out what the problem is, I have used this garage for around 6 years and never had any problems before.

Any ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks
Goochie

s_b

get an indie to look at it
its probably the transfer box

[Deleted User]

Thanks s b. I looked that up online but it says that the F2 doesn't have a transfer box?

I will call the garage again and book it back in, but does anyone else have any similar experience that can shed some light on what might be the problem?

Goochie

verityboo

goochie wrote: »

Thanks s b. I looked that up online but it says that the F2 doesn't have a transfer box?

I will call the garage again and book it back in, but does anyone else have any similar experience that can shed some light on what might be the problem?

Goochie

Might not have a transfer box but could be another part of the 4 wheen drive system - ird, viscous coupling, diff? If the viscous coupling is duff then the wheels can't turn at different speeds which they need to when turning - hence the heavy steering.