Defender 130 oil and temp sensors/alarms?

[jamieluck]

Hi I am wanting to install some warning alarms/gauges etc that will alert me if there are changes in my defenders oil pressure, water temp etc. I have the 300tdi motor. Can anyone offer some advice or point me in the right direction on where to buy good quality gear for the job? I am keen to install it myself. Cheers jamie

[mike_ie]

WEll, you can put a gage on pretty much anything the engine has to offer if you wish - I recommend VDO gauges, and a list of gauges and matched senders can be found here:
vdo gauge 300 tdi - Defender Forum - LR4x4 - The Land Rover Forum (http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php'showtopic=14902)

Alternatively, and this is something I want to do myself, you can pick up a Madman EMSII engine monitoring unit (http://www.madman.co.za) or similar, which will monitor the following for you:

Battery voltage with high and low alarm
Engine running hours with service timer
Inclinometer and artificial horizon - Only on special order
Oil pressure loss warning (from OEM oil pressure switch)
Coolant level alarm
Ambient temperature (via unused EGT wires)
Coolant temperature with high and low alarms
Oil temperature with high and low alarms
Oil/Boost/Fuel/Aux pressure with high and low alarms
Exhaust gas temperature with high alarm

I'm not sure where they are available in Australia though, but I've heard them mentioned here before.

[Benz]

I have the ems madman 2 and I'm very happy with how it goes.

Biggest plus for me is it only takes up one dashboard slot.
The defenders don't have much space for extra gauges.

It did cost quite a lot at $500ish, but individual gauges can cost $100 each anyway so they add up quickly.

also installed the gauge myself and it is quite easy.
I would recommender the long wiring harness that is a optional extra as this makes wiring it so much easier as it gives you colour coded wires.

[jamieluck]

Cheers fellas, was looking at research into the madman sit-ups and campe across a madman ems1 for sale in the classifieds, brand new for $150!! Have already paid for it, and it is on its way! Do you know if I will be need to drill and tap and holes...especially in the exhaust manifold on my 300tdi motor? Cheers

[clintox]

No drill or tapping I installed mine this time last year, already saved my bacon when my coolant bottle cracked towing a campertrailer out of broome in 35c heat. That alone worth the $500

[mools]

Yes, I'm pretty sure you'll have to drill and tap the manifold for the EGT sensor.

Ian.

[zwitter]

The Madman has an agent here in sydney and on AULRO.

Jan, I think his id here is The Entertainer ?

I have EMS1 on a TDi300 Defender 130.

I bought mine from him and have to say the unit is very good and the support truly amazing.

Just today returned from 5000km down and around Tassie from Sydney and it saved me again. On NYE it flagged low voltage and sure enough the alternator was shagged. Survived by charging battery each day until a new one arrived and fitted by Justin in Hobart.

It does keep flagging high EGTs when pushing up hills though and forces me to lift off a bit.

I put coolant sensor for level and temp in the top rad hose. Oil pressure and TC temperature.

Regards

James