ECU upgrades for manual TD5

[94disco]

A couple of days ago I had the Disco booked in for an ECU upgrade by a reputable Landy service centre here in WA, but when they started work they called me to say that they can't do the upgrade as mine is a manual.

So my question is, "is this true?" I mean, I do believe the advice received, but in all my investigation into having it done I don't think that I've seen published anywhere that manuals can't be done.

Terry.

[septimus]

Maybe it is because no one in their shop knows how to drive a manual :?

As you know from this forum lots of manual TD5 Defenders have been done. I suggest you give Bruce Davis a ring. When I called him he was more than happy to answer any questions I had and I am sure he will be able to give you a definitive answer.

[disconut]

Mine is a Manual. It has a Bruce Davis chip. The Manual's and Auto's are different upgrades apparently, but both are upgradeable as far as I know.
style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

Trev.

[LandyAndy]

Hi Terry
Was that REPUTABLE company in Wangara?????? 8O 8O 8O 8O 8O
If so there are other LOTS MORE REPUTABLE people in Perth.Try Rover-tech or Britparts.Either one should be able to point you in the right direction.
Im unsure if mine has been chipped,but it fair goes,others hear have suggested it is on other posts,its manual.
Goodluck
Andrew

[Piddler]

Hi Terry,
mine is a manual TD5 Bruce Davis did the upgrade and it is awesome.
I would not have one without it.

Regards

[ATH]

I hope that's not true as I'll be getting mine done and have certainly never seen it mentioned before.
There again, if it was that disreputable company in Wangara anything's possible.

Definitely give Kevin at Rovertech in Bentley a call.
I don't know too much about Britparts but most of those calling themselves LR experts seem to employ oafs that would rather be servicing Toyosans and couldn't care less about LR's!
And that includes a well known 4 x 4 parts supplier in Osbourne Park.

[MickG]

Originally posted by 94disco
they called me to say that they can't do the upgrade as mine is a manual.

Hi Terry

They're fobbing you off big time. My TD5 is a manual and has the Bruce Davis upgrade. It is different from the auto upgrade but Bruce is the man to talk to and is very helpfull - 02 9679 1179.

Mine actually had an upgraded auto ECU fitted accidentally to begin with......still ran but was a bit jumpy. Then they realised that they had fitted the wrong one. It seems to you have to remind people every time you speak to them that it is a manual you drive as most people have autos.

Great bit of kit and you will wonder how you did without it!!

Aye, Mick

[94disco]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all the info.

To fill you all in a bit more, it was Rover Tech who I am dealing with, and after reading some of your posts I have been back and had a further chat with Kevin. He has again told me that the reason for them not currently doing the ECU upgrade for the manual Disco TD5 is that it makes them far too jerky or overresponsive at low revs. They do go like the preverbial on the road ect, but are far too hard to control in the rough. The Defender TD5 is available as it has a different engine management system, and of course the Disco auto as the ecu ect are able to control the jerkiness. He has said that they are currently negotiating with someone in the UK for a manual upgrade who has stated that the new solution has solved the problem, but these will probably be about 6 months away.

I must also state that I'm not unhappy with the power from the current setup, it mainly came up as Kevin thought that I may need to replace the ECU due to the good old landy oil leek into the ecu unit but luckily it didn't need to be replaced when they got down to bussiness. It will have to go on hold now as we leave next Tue for 3 months touring around the north of WA.

Cheers.

Terry.

[MickG]

Originally posted by 94disco
He has again told me that the reason for them not currently doing the ECU upgrade for the manual Disco TD5 is that it makes them far too jerky or overresponsive at low revs. They do go like the preverbial on the road ect, but are far too hard to control in the rough.

Not sure if he is refering to the Bruce Davis unit, but if he is, he is incorrect. Mine is as smooth as at low revs - much better than standard. The power does kick in pretty quick in 1st and 2nd though and you are quickly into 3rd. See if you can have a drive of someone's with a Bruce Davis unit to give you a better idea - you will take out the cheque book straight away!! Bruce also does the full intercooler upgrade which Slunnie has done on this forum and I think is pretty happy with.
There are many units around which claim to do the same thing but when doing my research into more power, the feedback from this and other forums was all about Bruce Davis being the way to go. You should give Bruce a call as he knows his stuff and will be able to answer your questions.

Good luck, Mick

[Captain_Rightfoot]

Originally posted by MickG+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(MickG)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-94disco
He has again told me that the reason for them not currently doing the ECU upgrade for the manual Disco TD5 is that it makes them far too jerky or overresponsive at low revs. They do go like the preverbial on the road ect, but are far too hard to control in the rough.

Not sure if he is refering to the Bruce Davis unit, but if he is, he is incorrect. Mine is as smooth as at low revs - much better than standard. The power does kick in pretty quick in 1st and 2nd though and you are quickly into 3rd. See if you can have a drive of someone's with a Bruce Davis unit to give you a better idea - you will take out the cheque book straight away!! Bruce also does the full intercooler upgrade which Slunnie has done on this forum and I think is pretty happy with.
There are many units around which claim to do the same thing but when doing my research into more power, the feedback from this and other forums was all about Bruce Davis being the way to go. You should give Bruce a call as he knows his stuff and will be able to answer your questions.

Good luck, Mick[/b][/quote]
Does anyone know if it's the Bruce Davis upgrade that MR Automotive here in Redcliffe sell?

[septimus]

Originally posted by Captain_Rightfoot

Does anyone know if it's the Bruce Davis upgrade that MR Automotive here in Redcliffe sell?

Don't know but you can do it by mail. I sent mine from Kuranda to Bruce and had it back in a week - I am sure if you sent it express post on Monday you would have it back by Friday. Anyway, just ring him and ask him who the local agent is.

And I can support all the comments about Bruce's work. I go up and down the hill from Cairns to Kuranda each day - about 8kms of reasonably steep winding hill. Before the upgrade it was a pain - always down to third then second and takes ages to wind up then down a cog again. Now I fly up the hill! Mostly in fourth gear but drop down to third for the 40kph recommended curves. Accelerates like a demon and was great fun yesterday when I passed a troopie in the short passing lane and lost him in the distance!

The Defender drives like a car now, not a truck. I really thought long and hard before spending that much money but I don't regret it at all now. And I still get my 10.5litres per 100k. Filled today and used 64 litres having done 585 km.

[DEFENDERZOOK]

[b]<span style="color:blue">now try it with the switch on the clutch master disconnected.....


and anyone else that hasnt done this should try it......
you dont need a chip to do this......
just pop the bonnet and unplug it....</span>

[MickG]

[quote=DEFENDERZOOK][b]<span style="color:blue">now try it with the switch on the clutch master disconnected.....


and anyone else that hasnt done this should try it......
you dont need a chip to do this......
just pop the bonnet and unplug it....</span>

Is this the switch that would help throttle response also? I came across this in another post but didn't get round to trying it, where is the switch again?

[Jimmy]

dissconnect the what and it'll do what ??? what did it do??

[Captain_Rightfoot]

I admint I didn't notice a huge difference when I disconnected it. I might try it again this weekend. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[Redback]

I don't know what chip/ECU upgrade that they are talking about, but when investigating chips when i was looking the Bruce Davis upgrade was the only non plug in upgrade available, he just remaps your ECU, and at $850 half the price of the others, gotta be the best way to go.

Mine goes like E'GAD 8O 8O style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif