Hand Throttle on MY12 Defender?

[Nicholas]

Is it possible to fit a hand throttle to a new Defender? Will it act as a quasi cruise control?

May be a less precise but way cheaper alternative to an aftermarket electronic control.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[TimNZ]

The TDCi is "drive by wire", (so unless you want to connect something directly to your accelerator pedal :eek: ), no.

Cheers,

[justinc]

the flybywire vehicles make it easier sometimes, there are a few vehicles that use the throttle pedal and link to a pull cable with graduated stops for this application, toyota for one.

jc

[vnx205]

A simple system like that probably doesn't automatically disengage when you touch the brake. Could be dangerous.

I can tell you that when I was a passenger in a friend's Series II and he decided to use the hand throttle as a cruise control somewhere out near Broken Hill, things got pretty interesting when we came over the crest of a slight rise and found a mob of sheep blocking the road.

[justinc]

A simple system like that probably doesn't automatically disengage when you touch the brake. Could be dangerous.

I can tell you that when I was a passenger in a friend's Series II and he decided to use the hand throttle as a cruise control somewhere out near Broken Hill, things got pretty interesting when we came over the crest of a slight rise and found a mob of sheep blocking the road.

:eek: sorry just reread the OP, no! do not use it for a cruise control!!:mad::mad:

JC

[Chops]

I want a "hand" throttle for when I'm using the winch, or wanting a very steady low speed, for arguments sake, say going up a rocky section of track, would using like an old mower type throttle cable be ok do you reckon?
I had a wind out hand throttle on my old 75 series toyo, (fitted from new at the factory) and yes, a as cruise control, was a nightmare,, :eek:

Chops

[MR LR]

There are hand throttles on the veteran cars, absolutely ****** dangerous to use as a cruise control, don't do it. I'd hate to see what the insurance company would have to say when you become unconscious after running up the back of an L plater, bouncing off the steering wheel and taking out the opposite two lanes when travelling down a dual carriage way, sure for small offroad applications to be able to bring the revs up ~ 250 rpm is good, but cruise control is a big NO NO. Needs to cancel on the brakes. Just fit one of the aftermarket systems, maybe you could do a little hotwiring to make it work at low speeds (low revs) and in neutral, then it could be used offroad and also safely on the road.

Cheers
Will

[goingbush]

Actually a hand throttle would be handy in low range crawling.

The cruise control won't work in low range.

I really would like hand throttle on my TD5 for winching, also would be handy to have a pot in the engine bay to give the engine a rev when listening to noises.

Thinking of running a pot in parallel with the pedal pot and see what happens.

[MR LR]

Why does it not work in low range, is there some kind of switch?, otherwise i can't see any reason a sytem couldn't be adapted to work in low or as you say just put a pot in parallel, you could have one in the cab on a screw like in a cruiser, would be really good offroad.

cheers
Will

[goingbush]

I don't know why but as far as I know, no cruise control will work below 30kph.

The more I think about it a pot on the dash with a missile switch to isolate it seems very useful.

[DeanoH]

........................................The more I think about it a pot on the dash with a missile switch to isolate it seems very useful.

Shouldnt be too hard to have the additional pot connected via a latched relay which is 'un latched' by the brake pedal switch.

What's a 'missile switch' ?:confused:

Deano:)

[Chops]

This is whats commonly known as a Missile Switch..

Missile Switch Protective Cover - Jaycar Electronics (http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=ST0578)

What I want to know though, what is it your reffering to as a "pot"?

[DeanoH]

Pot is short for potentiometer, a variable resistor, a rheostat (very old high current version).
Typical use is volume/tone controls back in the days when you had a rotary dial to adjust them or in a vehicle the dash light dimmer.
In a 'fly by wire' system the obvious way to signal from the accelerator pedal to the ECU? would be with a variable resistor. Depending on its configuration it should be relatively simple to have a second dash mounted 'pot' that emulates the original.
For safety reasons this could be connected via an operated relays contacts with the relay configured to disconnect on a signal from the brake pedal switch.(latched relay). Could be done electronically but I'm old and think in terms of relays.:D

Deano:)

[Nera Donna]

I seen this and thought the same thing. Why couldn’t they incorporate a hand throttle arrangement with this cruise control?
http://nakatanenga-tours.de/shop/article_TEMPDEFTD4/Tempomat-E-Cruise-II-f%C3%BCr-Land-Rover-Defender-TD4-2.4.html'shop_param=cid%3D24%26aid%3DTEMPDEFTD4%26 (http://nakatanenga-tours.de/shop/article_TEMPDEFTD4/Tempomat-E-Cruise-II-f%C3%BCr-Land-Rover-Defender-TD4-2.4.html'shop_param=cid%3D24%26aid%3DTEMPDEFTD4%26 )
The interface with the fly-by-wire system is there and so are all the fail safes, so why not add a ‘hand throttle’ to the system?
By the by, it is a bit on the expensive side and why do they fit it on the Left hand side of the steering column? Why not the Right side, it’s less congested.

[MR LR]

Surely something could be changed to allow electronic cruise to work at low speeds, maybe 2 systems would be needs, 1 calibrated fro offroad and one for on, but then things get a bit expensive and complicated. But i know why you would have it, on mums car which is a td5 manual you get the lurching offroad in low range when it idles, one of the only reasons i prefer my automatic, but then it sucks on descents.

Cheers
Will

[camel_landy]

Don't forget that the anti-stall will work for low speed crawling on the TDCi (& TD5). ;)

M

[Chops]

Thanks Deano for the info,, but it all seems like more electrickery for me,,, I just want to up the revs when I'm winching or jump starting someone, or sometimes when your going up a steep incline, you just want a few more revs, (keeping it nice and smooth) to get up.
I think if I wanted cruise, there's a few items on the market, but I'd get someone else to fit it ;)

Chops

[harlie]

Is any-one going to consider legalities? Cruise control MUST disengage when brake pedal is pressed, good luck with insurance if something goes wrong. A lot of systems now will not function if the brake light fuse is blown.

Many vehicles have a High Idle (hand throttle if you like) that is suitable for winching ect but under law it can only function when the park brake is active – all that I’ve seen use the Engine ECU to control it. I know the older vehicles all had them but changes in regulations make it a specialised function.

Cruise Control would be hopeless in Low range – it wants to keep a constant speed so it would vary throttle input quite aggressively, I’m not sure if there are any legal requirements around minimum speeds but technically it could place ridiculous jolting loads on the driveline especially in a manual operating at slow speeds in low gears.

[Nicholas]

Well then gentlemen, good advice as always.....now that my dream of a $25 cruise control is in tatters what is the 'duck's nuts' of electronic cruise controls?

Maybe something I can buy online and take to my very reliable local auto electrician.

Also, does this create a warranty issue with the vehicle?

[Marty110]

Hi, I have the Autron cruise in my 2010 Defender - I had it fitted through the local 4x4 shop who actually got in a specialist auto electrician......... Very happy with it and it's mounted on the RH side of the column. But of course it's no good as a hand throttle replacement. Generally I have found the new Defender not really needing a hand throttle - as Camel Landy said the anti stall works a treat on steep up hill take offs and if you are sitting in the cab winching you have your foot on the throttle? I mainly used to use a hand throttle for constant revs crossing a creek or river with a rocky bottom - this is the only place I have missed a hand throttle option.