D2 ACE breakdown

[ATLandy]

Hi all ,

Was driving my D2 on the highway when ACE amber light came on . I slowed down but continue driving . 15 mins later heavy smoke was coming out from under the bonnet with a squeaky engine . Opening the bonnet showed the source of smoke was coming from the ACE pump pulley bearing and the ACE fluid was empty . Couldn't drive it anymore and have to wait for a towtruck .

Why wasn't the ACE light red when the system have a serious issue ?

At the local LR workshop , there is another D2 with similar ACE problems which the workshop have changed the pump assembly , ACE valve block , ACE piping ( unable to bleed ) and ACE still not worky . Is this a common issue on D2 ?

Ta.

[LandyAndy]

First Ive heard of an ACE problem.Yet another feature I can lookforward to I guess!!!!!
Andrew

[Slunnie]

I reckon you just got unlucky. You barely ever, if ever hear of ACE problems. Recently I'd heard of one in the states that had some corrosion near the rear hydraulic I think it was. Thats about it.

[Graeme]

Not able to help on your problem, but just a few days ago I obtained and tested a shorter belt that bypasses the ACE pump on my TD5 for emergency use. The original belt was 7PK1870 and the shorter one is 8PK1560 cut down to 7 ribs (7PK1560 equiv).

[Pedro_The_Swift]

so it failed from lack of fluid??

or a failed bearing?

[Scouse]

so it failed from lack of fluid??

or a failed bearing?
Normally the pump fails from oil loss through a leak somewhere.
The amber light would have been a warning so it probably wasn't wise to drive on. Easy to say in hindsight I guess.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

have you seen many fail Scott?

[Scouse]

have you seen many fail Scott?I don't know if I should answer that :( .


It's not that common really. Usually a leak is noticed first & fixed before the level gets very low.
I would say that we might get 1 or 2 like that in a year. Maybe non-LR dealers see more.

[BigJon]

In the 2.5 years I have worked here we have replaced one ACE pump. A fluid line was torn out under the vehicle, then the pump failed due to running dry.

[LandyAndy]

What oil is used in these,or more so is there other compatible oils?????,mines down a bit but couldnt get the recomended stuff from supercrap,repco or Malz.
Andrew

[Graeme]

<snip>

Why wasn't the ACE light red when the system have a serious issue ?
<snip>



I assume is was due to not being able to build enough pressure but still had some pressure.

When I tested my ACE bypass belt with the ACE pump not being driven, the light flashed red and the instrument alarm sounded for a short while - perhaps 30 seconds, before changing to hard-on red but no alarm. In my test there was no pressure at all.

Perhaps your failure was the pump itself, whereby a bearing failed that caused it to loose some fluid but still supplied some pressure to the system. In which case, stopping immediately wouldn't have helped.

[MT]

Very similar thing happened to my DII. Approx 100k on the odometer. Driving along at 80kmh, amber light came on, slowed down to pull over and smelt burning oil / hydraulic fluid. Smoke now pouring out from under bonnet and horrible noise from vicinity of ACE pump. :confused: Stopped, popped bonnet and grabbed fire extinguisher, big fire near turbo. :eek:

After fire out (fluid had sprayed onto hot engine and ignited), had to be towed. Turns out ACE system had failed at a connection, spraying fluid, pump ran until failure, killing itself. Whole sequence from amber light to stopped and fighting fire about 30 seconds. Repair cost (thankfully under warranty) exceeded $2.6K.

A bit more excitement than I normally care for on the drive home. Hope it is a 'one off'.

N.B Up until that point car had only ever been serviced by stealers.

[ATLandy]

Hi all ,

The local LR workshop changed the ACE pump and managed to bleed the system . Pump got fried for running dry due to line connection failure .
D2 ready for collection which is better than the other one with ACE problem.

Thanks Graeme for the shorter belt tip to bypass ACE pump . Will get one soon and learn to install it .

Ta

[stevo]

yep I will get a short belt as well I have over 170K on mine and no problem with the ace side of things yet

[discomarsh]

Very similar thing happened to my DII. Approx 100k on the odometer. Driving along at 80kmh, amber light came on, slowed down to pull over and smelt burning oil / hydraulic fluid. Smoke now pouring out from under bonnet and horrible noise from vicinity of ACE pump. :confused: Stopped, popped bonnet and grabbed fire extinguisher, big fire near turbo. :eek:

After fire out (fluid had sprayed onto hot engine and ignited), had to be towed. Turns out ACE system had failed at a connection, spraying fluid, pump ran until failure, killing itself. Whole sequence from amber light to stopped and fighting fire about 30 seconds. Repair cost (thankfully under warranty) exceeded $2.6K.


I had a banjo hydraulic fitting come loose and dump all the ACE fluid in 30 secs. Sprayed all over the engine and underside of bonnet, but THANKFULLY no fire!

All components now appear to be working, although the ACE fluid reservoir had some metal debris in it...

[Slunnie]

I had a banjo hydraulic fitting come loose and dump all the ACE fluid in 30 secs. Sprayed all over the engine and underside of bonnet, but THANKFULLY no fire!

All components now appear to be working, although the ACE fluid reservoir had some metal debris in it...
I thought the ACE hydraulics had to be absolutely clean.