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View Full Version : Warning! don't Ghostie your D3.


Gillie
13th June 2010, 09:06 PM
Well all things considering it was cold last night up at Wandiligong. -4 degrees and very frosty this morning. Not the kind of night you want to Ghostie your D3 forcing you to stay out all night.

Disclaimer, I wasn't there so this is second hand info. I hope it is no one on the forum but please fill in the blanks if you are.

What is that behind the steer? (Note the frost still on the ground)

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/06/1418.jpg

Now to fill you in, there 50 metres behind the photographer is a fence and a road. It might be about 7 metres above the height of the ground level you are seeing now. Therefore a moderate slope, not steep by any means.

The gentleman walked into the neighbours place this morning asking for a hand to get his car out. The inlaws went to help with the winch on the 98 Disco TDI.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/06/1419.jpg

So what happened? Apparently the driver (who was by himself) was looking for a camping spot last night around 7pm. he pulled up and got out the car for whatever reason. He reached into the car for something and accidently knocked the handbrake button. The result was that it Ghostied maybe 70 metres resting near the creek in the trees. It snapped off a concrete fence post on its way through the fence.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/06/1420.jpg

Apparently he spent the night with a handsaw cutting branches and trying to recover his car. At this time of night, we had a roast venison in the oven and were about 2km away, easy walk if you knew where we were.
apparently the D3 had something stuck under the front wheels which may not of been obvious in the dark but making a self recovery very difficult.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/06/1421.jpg

There is damage to the bonnet, the windscreen, the roof the front of the grill. Missing passenger mirror and a branch also pushed the radiator into the fan so it no longer holds water.

I assume the car must of been in neutral for this to happen.

I love the D3's but to accidently knock the handbrake release button and this to happen could of ended up alot worse. I thought you would have to have your foot on the brake to release it or some other safety feature.

Would appreciate comments on this matter from D3 or D4 owners.

The car was a V6 Petrol from Melbourne I believe. It is currently in the neigbours shed after trying to pull the radiator out of the fan. The poor bloke had a mate come up and get him. We left the inlaws around 11pm last night and it was already -2 degrees at that stage and I would bet it would of been colder where this bloke was............ And the Roast was sensational!
Jamo
13th June 2010, 09:49 PM
You're right! You can't accidentally knock the park brake. Your foot has to be on the foot brake to release it. (except in the case of automatic release when driving off)

So, either he left it in neutral (EPB not on) or D and got out; or... he was driving looking for a camping spot and went the wrong way. (or he was not sober which is why he left it until the morning to seek assistance)
ADMIRAL
13th June 2010, 10:37 PM
I agree. Being a new owner, I can attest to how easy it is to actually move to get out of the vehicle with it still in gear and no handbrake on. The handbrake process is semi automatic, or fully automatic if you forget to take it off, and hit the throttle. Does make it very easy to forget what mode you are in. A lot different to pulling up a lever.
oldsalt
14th June 2010, 06:23 PM
I agree. Being a new owner, I can attest to how easy it is to actually move to get out of the vehicle with it still in gear and no handbrake on. The handbrake process is semi automatic, or fully automatic if you forget to take it off, and hit the throttle. Does make it very easy to forget what mode you are in. A lot different to pulling up a lever.

I don't see what you mean by this statement - the D3/D4 is no different to any other car on the road....if it's in P it's in Park....if it's in D it's in Drive....no different to a Rolls Royce or a Commodore....
ADMIRAL
14th June 2010, 09:27 PM
I don't see what you mean by this statement - the D3/D4 is no different to any other car on the road....if it's in P it's in Park....if it's in D it's in Drive....no different to a Rolls Royce or a Commodore....
It's the overt physical action ....pulling up a handbrake, rather than effectively flicking a switch in the D4. The handbrake lever has to be released, again a deliberate physical action. The D4 you can just drive off if you choose. Easy to get the sequence out of order, while learning a new vehicle.
hoadie72
14th June 2010, 10:08 PM
I think the point is - why would you get out of the car while it's in gear??
oldsalt
15th June 2010, 08:18 AM
I think the point is - why would you get out of the car while it's in gear??

Yep....my thoughts exactly....who gets out of a car that's still "in gear". ???

As to the "handbrake" - you pull it "up" to apply the brake (albeit with one finger) and push it "down" to release the brake....sure it's a switch but the basic principle is identical I would have thought.
Anyway... good luck with your new machine. :)
Watpub
15th June 2010, 11:08 AM
I'm finding with my (new) D4 that I check and double-check before I get out, especially with the new EPB - it just doesn't feel like a "real" handbrake at the moment.

Sounds to me like he's left it in Drive and stepped out for a look - more intent on looking for a camping spot than checking the vitals in the car - and the car's done a runner on him.
oldsalt
15th June 2010, 03:49 PM
I have to agree with you "Watpub" - it's not a real handbrake.....I'm damned if I know why LR went down this route on a serious 4WD vehicle....but they have and we'll just have to learn to live with all it's little foibles (and squeals)
Watpub
15th June 2010, 05:10 PM
I have to agree with you "Watpub" - it's not a real handbrake.....I'm damned if I know why LR went down this route on a serious 4WD vehicle....but they have and we'll just have to learn to live with all it's little foibles (and squeals)

I remember in my younger days hearing drivers with automatics say that you didn't really need the handbrake if you left the car in Park.

At work I park on a pretty steep incline and I've never been game to test this theory to its max. Indeed, I often tried to ratchet the handbrake up an extra notch in my previous cars - I still feel a bit nervous about the D4's EPB.

I wonder also what happens as they get older - does the EPB self adjust??? Might have to pack an extra brick or two as backup. ;)
Graeme
15th June 2010, 07:38 PM
I wonder also what happens as they get older - does the EPB self adjust?
If the vehicle starts to move, more tension is put on the cables.
Jamo
16th June 2010, 12:42 PM
I remember in my younger days hearing drivers with automatics say that you didn't really need the handbrake if you left the car in Park.


This can put excessive strain on the pawl, which can eventually fail. It's always best to put the park brake on as well, unless you're on a totally level surface.
Jamo
16th June 2010, 12:45 PM
I wonder also what happens as they get older - does the EPB self adjust??? . ;)


Well, mine used to self-unadjust!:eek:

And when it needs adjustment, the vehicle automatically sounds a warning scream!:p
Celtoid
16th June 2010, 12:51 PM
I remember in my younger days hearing drivers with automatics say that you didn't really need the handbrake if you left the car in Park.

At work I park on a pretty steep incline and I've never been game to test this theory to its max. Indeed, I often tried to ratchet the handbrake up an extra notch in my previous cars - I still feel a bit nervous about the D4's EPB.

I wonder also what happens as they get older - does the EPB self adjust??? Might have to pack an extra brick or two as backup. ;)

Now that I'm used to it, I like it. I love the way that on a seriously steep hill, you just leave it on and drive over the top of it...seemless transaction.