Water Spray affecting sensors - ever heard of it

[Mungus]

So a mate at work said he has heard the guy on the Fraser Island ferry talking on his radio saying 'yeah we got three RR and 2 discos'. When he asked, the guy told him they were in need of a tow truck and that it happened all the time with those vehicles; some sensor gets water sprayed in it when they drive along the beach in shallow water and it shuts them down. Don't know how long ago this was and all i can think of is the height sensor plug/socket or the couple of plugs near the gearbox. Considering these would be submerged through water crossings, it must be the force/direction of the spray off the wheels.

Anybody heard of this happening?

[Graeme]

Height sensors and their connectors are well sealed and such a failure wouldn't stop the vehicle anyway.

[IndusD4]

There is a connector to the transfer box under the vehicle but that wouldn’t stop the vehicle either, just stops it from using “special programs” with a host of errors triggered. Mine got disconnected by a stick - never had this disconnected in water crossings.

Ron

[cripesamighty]

Early D3's and RRS had the ECU and Transfer case module in a crappy spot under the bonnet (behind the battery with no bottom cover) so if water got in, the car said good-night. Gordon (GGHAGGIS) discusses this in his seminars and it is mentioned in his booklet. This also happened when one of the 4WD magazines (4WD Action??) first took a D3 out and it stopped on them for this very reason. There are work-arounds and a fix though.

[SeanC]

Had a water in fuel warning after going through Eli Creek but cleared by cycling the ignition. Didn’t come back. But yes water spray can affect sensors.

[ozscott]

Mate i was with in Cape York with the last of the D3's had problems after a particularly deep.crossing. seemed to throw the centre diff lock on when it should not have. No indication on binnacle to let him know though. Couldn't fix at the top end so back on the barge to Cairns then car carrier to MR. Gearbox toast because of it...he had them swap the fluid and he traded it.

Cheers

[Mungus]

Thought the connectors mentioned looked pretty well sealed. Must have been a few early models I suspect.
Thanks!