Thread: TD 5 cutting out during water crossings

Check for damage to the wiring loom to the throttle pedal or crank position sensor loom.

I had a very similar issue that took 2 years to solve. One of the screws holding the dash in was screwed through the wiring loom to the throttle. When you drove through water, it got sprayed up by the wheels, soaked the back of the footwell etc and the water shorted out the damaged wiring, immediately killing the throttle. The engine didn't stop though.

The only time I have had it actually stop was when I filled the ECU with water.

In all likeleyhood, IMO something will have been unintentionally damaged during the work that was completed.

Have you had the codes read? They may not help. It didnt on mine but it would be worth doing.

You could do a test by having the car running and start spraying areas with a hose & try to isolate the problem area that way.
I'd start by pouring water on the crank angle sensor, on the bell housing behind the fuel regulator. its hard to see under a bunch of hoses and pipes so rarely gets checked

My guess is crank sensor also.
You stated that the fuel pressure regulator had been changed and the crank sensor is down behind it on the top of the bell housing. I'd pull the plug to the crank sensor and give it a clean before putting it back on. It's not easy to get to though ...
This doesn't explain the horn's behavior though. Was it the horn that is on the firewall? This is the one for the security system (I think ...)

Another vote for CPS. But damage to the loom is a real possibility. Particularly since the gearbox has been out. Leaking Fuel regs drip onto the CPS loom and plug making the wires brittle. If this has been ongoing, just unplugging the CPS (as in a gearbox removal) is more than enought to break the insulation and allow any moisture to wreak havoc. The horn going off indicates water further into the system and maybe even getting into the ECU area. Ensure all Earth points have been correctly secured.

cheers

I had a TD5 in my D2 Auto.

On one trip, I had 5 water crossings to go through up in the high country.

In the 3rd water crossing it stalled exactly as you described but without the horn issue. Just kept turning the ignition on to creep forward and stall again until I managed to get my self out.

Talk a few hours and it eventually rectified itself. (Dried itself out)

It was water in the ECU.

Basically, once the motor revved above 1500, it would cut out.

The cure, I sold it... as I never trusted it in a water crossing again.

The TD5 was a good car, but this is one of it's failings. There may be a mod you can do to overcome this?

Thanks for the replies.
I dropped off the ute at MR Automotive I hope they have a definitive answer to this issue.
I really love my 130 but if you cant trust it ??
The thing that is annoying me the most is I just started to trust modern motors that have ECU's etc. This has really shaken me, for the first time in my life I felt absolutely helpless, not being able to diagnose the issue.
My first instinct is to dump the TD5 for a 4bd1 turbo conversion and sell the TD5 motor.
Maybe I should just have a Bex and a lie down and wait to see what MR automotive have to say.

[QUOTE=wayne;1711864]

[B]My first instinct is to dump the TD5 for a 4bd1 turbo conversion and sell the TD5 motor

A great idea

FWIW

C H T

Got A call from MR Automotive and they are unable to replicate the fault. They have done exhaustive checks on the vehicle. Hopefully they will call me tomorrow and tell me they have found the issue.