Thread: TD5 cutting out

Originally Posted by Graz

The TD5 gremlins have struck me big time.

Changed the injector harness on the weekend as oil has made its way to the ECU. Bit of a mess of oil under the seat around the ECU as well.

This morning when I tried to drive to work it kept cutting out. After stopping it would restart after a few moments. It did this dozens of times. At one stage I thought I heard some sort of arcing or clicking that seemed to be coming from under the seat.

After coaching it back home I gave up in disgust and rode the bike to work

Each time as it cut out I noted that the amber check engine and amber fuel filter lights had come on in the annunciator.

Is this a symtom of oil in the ECU or do I have another issue?
Its a 99 Defender 130.
Thanks

I've had this clicking and cutting out problem, it happened after the engine was cleaned (hosed out) the water caused the communcation faults (LAN) and the clicking was all the circuit breakers going off and re-setting themselves.

Yours maybe the oil causing this problem, did you clean up all the oil in the other loom, not the one to the ECU.

Baz.

Originally Posted by Redback

I've had this clicking and cutting out problem, it happened after the engine was cleaned (hosed out) the water caused the communcation faults (LAN) and the clicking was all the circuit breakers going off and re-setting themselves.

Yours maybe the oil causing this problem, did you clean up all the oil in the other loom, not the one to the ECU.

Baz.

No I havent cleaned out the loom. Is there a way of doing it?

Originally Posted by Graz

No I havent cleaned out the loom. Is there a way of doing it?

Yes there is, from what i've read most use metho or a contact/carby cleaner, something that drys quickly and doesn't leave a residue.

Do the ECU as well.

Others on here have done this, i'm sure they will respond soon.

Baz.

to clean the main loom, the best method Ive worked out is to carefully oil the outside of the head side connector jamb it up into a wide mouth plastic bottle and then sealastic it in place (the oil on the plug stops the sealastic from gluing itself to the plug letting you cut it away later easily). then cut the bottom off of the bottle and put a hole in the side of it so you can suspend it from the top of the bonnet prop. once its all hanging nicely tip in a liter or so of metho and put a couple of rags on top to help prevent evaporation.

While thats happening take out the ECU (dont worry the metho takes about 20 minutes at least to get to the ECU) and then wash that off with metho. if you think it got inside open it up and wash out in there But PLEASE be carefull to do this in a proper static safe and clean environment

once youve gotten that done set to cleaning out the compartment where the ECU lived and checking everywhere else for loose electrical connections and eart h leads.

keep topping the metho up untill clear metho is dripping out of the plug. Be prepared to spend a weekend on this... Once its clear let the harness sit for a couple of hours exposed to let the metho all evaporate out and you should be set to plug it all back in again after you clean the sealastic off of the plug.

Check any spray on cleaner that your going to use to make sure its plastics friendly....

best of luck

Thanks for the reply's, I guess I know what I am doing this weekend.
Regarding the new harness I fitted, is it likely to do the same thing again or did landrover modify them.
The one I removed looked the same as the new one.

Did anyone have the same symptoms as I did?

Thanks

some harnesses are modded post delivery by the suppliers they might show sealastic on the wires coming out of the injctor connectors and the head port connector (the one the main harness hooks into)

BUT imho given the nature of the fault this is not the absolute solution and will only prolong the time to fail. (which since if supplied done then it costs nothing for more run time so is a good thing either way) theres 4 or 5 differnt theories being bandied around ATM and when I get a dead TD5 to play with I'll do some more experimentations.

Hi Graz
I did mine with metho.
Used a 500ml coke bottle with a 4mm reticulation riser screwed into the lid,cut the riser to a suitable length.
Poured heaps thru,100ml or so at a time then forced it with compressed air each time.
There is a sensor on the intake manifold,undo it and pour it in thru there too.
The metho works well,goodluck.
There is a chance the oil has got to your electronic throttle,so check there too.
Goodluck
Andrew

Just as well you havent sold the Tdi yet!