How to Replace timing belt on Land Rover Freelander 2.5 V6 AWD 2001-2007

Replacement Interval Guide

• Land Rover recommend replacement every 72,000 miles or 6 years.
• The previous use and service history of the vehicle must always be taken into account.

Check For Engine Damage

CAUTION: This engine has been identified as an INTERFERENCE engine in which the possibility of valve-to-piston damage in the event of a timing belt failure is MOST LIKELY to occur. A compression check of all cylinders should be performed before removing the cylinder head(s).

Repair Times – hrs

Remove & install

4,50

Special Tools

• Crankshaft pulley holding tool – Land Rover No.LRT-12-161.
• Crankshaft pulley holding tool handle – Land Rover No.LRT-12-199.
• Locking tools for camshafts – Land Rover No.LRT-12-196.
• Alignment plate for camshaft sprockets – Land Rover No.LRT-12-175.
• Camshaft sprocket holding tool – Land Rover No.LRT-12-195.
• Camshaft alignment pins – Land Rover No.LRT-12-198.
• Camshaft aligning tool – Land Rover No.LRT-12-197.
• Timing pin – Land Rover No.LRT-12-232.

Special Precautions

• Disconnect battery earth lead.
• DO NOT turn crankshaft or camshaft when timing belt removed.
• Remove spark plugs to ease turning engine.
• Turn engine in normal direction of rotation (unless otherwise stated).
• DO NOT turn engine via camshaft or other sprockets.
• Observe all tightening torques.

Front Timing Belt

Removal

1. Raise and support front of vehicle.
2. Remove:
   • Engine undershield.
   • RH front wheel.
   • RH splash guard.
3. Drain engine oil.
4. Support engine.
5. Remove:
   • Engine top cover.
   • RH engine mounting bracket.
   • Auxiliary drive belt.
   • Auxiliary drive belt tensioner.
   • Auxiliary drive belt guide pulley.
   • Alternator.
   • LH rear timing belt cover [1] .
6. Turn crankshaft clockwise to ‘SAFE’ position. Ensure timing marks aligned [2] .
7. Ensure timing marks on camshaft rear sprockets aligned [3] .
8. Insert timing pin into hole in crankcase to lock flywheel [25] . Tool No.LRT-12-232.NOTE: Hole for timing pin [25] is at front of engine closest to the cylinder block.
9. Remove:
   • PAS pump pulley.
   • PAS pump. DO NOT disconnect hoses.
   • Engine stabiliser bar.
   • Timing belt covers [4] & [5] .
   • Dipstick.
   • Dipstick tube.

   NOTE: Remove securing bolt. Depress dipstick tube locking collar and pull dipstick tube upwards.

10. Hold crankshaft pulley. Use tool Nos.LRT-12-161 & LRT-12-199.
11. Slacken crankshaft pulley bolt [6] .
12. Remove:
    • Crankshaft pulley bolt [6] .
    • Crankshaft pulley [7] .
    • Timing belt lower cover [8] .
    • AC compressor heat shield.
    • AC compressor. DO NOT disconnect hoses.
    • AC compressor bracket.
    • Alternator bracket.
    • Engine lifting bracket.
    • Engine front mounting plate [9] .
    • Rubber plug from around automatic tensioner unit.
13. Turn tensioner pulley away from belt. Use Allen key [10] .
14. Slowly compress pushrod into tensioner body until holes aligned [17] . Retain pushrod with 1,5 mm diameter pin through hole in tensioner body.NOTE: DO NOT slacken tensioner pulley bolt.
15. Remove:
    • Automatic tensioner unit bolts [11] .
    • Automatic tensioner unit [12] .
16. Mark direction of rotation on belt with chalk if belt is to be reused.
17. Remove timing belt.RH:  NOTE: If cylinder heads are removed, water pump replaced, new camshaft sprockets fitted or if belt has been in use for more than 48,000 miles a new belt must be fitted.LH:  NOTE: If cylinder heads are removed, water pump replaced, new camshaft sprockets fitted or if belt has been in use for more than 80.000 km a new belt must be fitted.
18. Remove front oil seals from exhaust camshafts [13] .
19. Lock camshaft sprockets [14] . Use tool No.LRT-12-196.
20. Ensure tools located correctly on end of exhaust camshafts [15] .
21. Remove bolts from camshaft sprockets [16] . DO NOT reuse bolts.WARNING: Damage to camshafts may occur if locking tools are not installed when slackening or tightening camshaft sprocket bolts.
22. Remove:
    • Locking tools [14] .
    • Camshaft sprockets with hubs.

Installation

NOTE: If using a new automatic tensioner unit and tensioner pulley, the installation procedure is different. Refer to main dealer.

1. Thoroughly clean camshaft sprockets and hubs.
2. Install hubs to camshaft sprockets. Then install both assemblies to camshafts.
3. Fit new bolts [16] . Tighten finger tight.
4. Ensure camshaft sprockets can turn freely without tilting.
5. Temporarily fit timing belt to camshaft sprockets.
6. Install locking tools to camshaft sprockets [14] . Tool No.LRT-12-196.
7. Ensure tools located correctly on end of exhaust camshafts [15] .
8. Turn camshaft sprockets fully clockwise as viewed from front of engine.
9. Ensure timing pin located correctly [25] .
10. Ensure timing marks on camshaft rear sprockets aligned [3] .
11. Fit timing belt in anti-clockwise direction, starting at crankshaft sprocket. Ensure belt is taut between sprockets.
12. Use suitable wedge to hold belt in position at crankshaft sprocket.NOTE: Turn each camshaft sprocket anti-clockwise just enough to allow belt teeth to engage in sprocket.
13. Turn tensioner pulley against belt. Use Allen key [10] .
14. Install automatic tensioner unit [12] . Tighten bolts [11] . Tightening torque: 25 Nm. Use new bolts.
15. Remove Allen key from tensioner pulley [10] .
16. Remove pin from tensioner body to release pushrod [17] .
17. Fit rubber plug to automatic tensioner unit.
18. Tighten camshaft sprocket bolts [16] . Tightening torque: 27 Nm + 90°.
19. Remove locking tools from camshaft sprockets [14] .
20. Remove any wedges used to hold belt in position.
21. Remove timing pin [25] .
22. Install new oil seals on exhaust camshafts [13] .
23. Turn crankshaft slowly two turns clockwise. Ensure timing marks aligned [3] .
24. Ensure timing pin can be inserted easily [25] .
25. Remove timing pin [25] .
26. Install components in reverse order of removal.
27. Tighten crankshaft pulley bolt [6] . Tightening torque: 160 Nm.
28. Tighten sump plug. Tightening torque: 25 Nm.
29. Refill engine oil. Capacity: 5,2 litres (includes filter).
30. Tighten wheel nuts. Tightening torque: 115 Nm.

Rear Timing Belts

Removal

NOTE: The following instructions apply to both RH and LH rear timing belts. Removal and installation should only be carried out on ONE timing belt at a time.

1. Raise and support front of vehicle.
2. Remove:
   • Engine upper cover.
   • Engine undershield.
   • RH front wheel.
   • RH splash guard.
   • Timing belt rear cover [1] .
   • Inlet manifold.
3. Turn crankshaft clockwise to ‘SAFE’ position. Ensure timing marks aligned [2] .
4. Ensure timing marks on camshaft rear sprockets aligned [3] .
5. Remove and discard front oil seal from exhaust camshaft of cylinder bank being worked on (i.e. RH or LH bank) [13] .
6. Fit alignment plate to camshaft rear sprockets [18] . Tool No.LRT-12-175.
7. Remove bolts [19] .
8. Remove camshaft sprockets, timing belt and alignment plate as an assembly [20] .
9. Remove:
   • Alignment plate [18] .
   • Timing belt.

   RH:  NOTE: Mark direction of rotation on belt with chalk if belt is to be reused. If belt has been in use for more than 48,000 miles: Fit new belt.

   LH:  NOTE: Mark direction of rotation on belt with chalk if belt is to be reused. If belt has been in use for more than 80.000 km: Fit new belt.

Installation

1. Thoroughly clean camshaft sprockets.
2. Place sprockets on a flat surface.
3. Ensure timing marks on camshaft sprockets aligned [3] . Ensure lugs pointing towards each other [21] .
4. Fit timing belt to sprockets. Ensure timing marks aligned [3] .
5. Fit special tool between sprockets [22] . Tool No.LRT-12-195.
6. Turn centre screw to separate sprockets until alignment plate can be fitted to camshaft sprockets [18] . Tool No.LRT-12-175.
7. Remove special tool [22] . Tool No.LRT-12-195.
8. Install alignment pins to camshafts [23] . Tool No.LRT-12-198.
9. Ensure timing marks aligned [2] .
10. Install camshaft sprockets, timing belt and alignment plate as an assembly [20] .
11. Fit aligning tool to exhaust camshaft [24] . Tool No.LRT-12-197.
12. Turn exhaust camshaft and align locating slots to sprockets. Use 30 mm socket and tool No.LRT-12-197.
13. Remove alignment pins [23] . Tool No.LRT-12-198.
14. Tighten camshaft sprocket bolts [19] . Tightening torque: 27 Nm + 90°. Use new bolts.
15. Remove alignment plate [18] . Tool No.LRT-12-175.
16. Remove aligning tool [24] . Tool No.LRT-12-197.
17. Fit new oil seal [13] .
18. Turn crankshaft two turns clockwise. Ensure timing marks aligned [2] & [3] .
19. Install components in reverse order of removal.
20. Tighten wheel nuts. Tightening torque: 115 Nm.