preparing a 03 TD5 Discovery for water crossings

[chook]

Resently while out and about I had an issue with a water crossing which resulted in the engine cutting out (softer bottom and pot whole in area driven). I winched my D2 out popped the hood checked every thing and went nuts with the CRC. No signs of water around the ECU. D2 started again no dramas other than when the revs dropped off the engine cut out.

The car was driven home (approx 80 kms) and then taken in for its 80,000 kms service. While there is asked the Mech to look into why the engine had cut out. All was good engine not cutting out any more (dont know why it was occuring, something must have dried out) and I'm a happy D2 driver again.

With plans to drive around Australia in the next couple of years I am after advice and or expreince in regards to preping the D2 for water crossing if and when required.

[Slunnie]

Water in the ECU does that.

I stop at the edge of the water now.... and then drive in and as long as you dont stop it should be ok. If you go in too fast the fan will hit the radiator and thats a pain.

You may also want to check the seal on your airbox (Duckbill from under the guard) as it will probably leak despite the snorkel.

[Redback]

Use a blind for deep crossings, and do as Slunnie said, slow in not too slow, then create a bow wave, i use 2nd low range.

Baz.

[Psimpson7]

There aren't that many sensors that will stop the engine.

Water inside the ecu will do this. There are a few drain holes in the base which it can fill up through. It does normally take a reasonable amount of water in it to actually stop the engine.

smaller amounts can cause other issues. no throttle response etc.

The crank position sensor has the ability to stop the engine dead, but is 100% waterproof.

The throttle pedal also seems to be completley submersible without issue.

Most of the other sensors, eg MAP and AFM, can be unplugged with the engine running and it will not stop.

Bad signalls to the injectors could also cause it to stop. I think this is part of the reason it stops the throttle if it thinks there is an issue, as the engine will keep running.

As has been said a sensible speed, and a tarp should be all you need. We saw a D2 TD5 up the cape just with a snorkle and mud tyres and he had driven through all the creeks without any prep work.

Rgds
Pete.

[Urban Panzer]

Hi,

well I had a couple of little swims recently in my TD5. The only prep was a snorkel (day before i went lol) and ALL breathers go up into the snorkel now. 3 of the 4 are already high up in the engine bay, but the rear axle just sits up in the rear wheel arch, that now joins the others at the bulkhead and goes up the snorkel to.

I don't know whether you guys would consider this a "deep" wade, but have a look anway...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvRwLcnQk58

[Slunnie]

I don't know whether you guys would consider this a "deep" wade, but have a look anway...

If its touching the bonnet then I consider it deep.

This was a pic at Cape York near the start of the OTL. It was just before a hole put water up the windscreen. It was the deepest water I'd driven in.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/08/1017.jpg

ok, just uploaded the vid, sorry for the delay at the start.

The tide line is on the snorkel as I came out.

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=9Bu1Whh6oVo

[scarry]

what about the ecu under the passengers seat if it is an auto ?

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/9848/1141467wh2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


you wouldnt want to go much deeper than this without a snorkle:(

there was water in the airbox after this crossing but...luckily.... it kept going


cheers

[scarry]

[QUOTE=Slunnie;791026]If its touching the bonnet then I consider it deep.
It was just before a hole put water up the windscreen.

lucky i missed that deep hole.....didnt realise it was same spot til after i posted

i'd like to know if anyone has drowned that ecu under the pasengers seat


cheers

[Zute]

Warning, Check that your snorkle is water tight. where it comes though the side to the air box those joints may leak. I have placed a clip on the drain under the air box as well.

[Urban Panzer]

[QUOTE=Slunnie;791026]If its touching the bonnet then I consider it deep.
It was just before a hole put water up the windscreen.

lucky i missed that deep hole.....didnt realise it was same spot til after i posted

i'd like to know if anyone has drowned that ecu under the pasengers seat


cheers

Nice Piccy ;)

What ECU under the passenger seat ?? On my TD5 all thats under there is the Factory Hi-fi amplifier.....

[Tombie]

[quote=scarry;791084]

Nice Piccy ;)

What ECU under the passenger seat ?? On my TD5 all thats under there is the Factory Hi-fi amplifier.....

If its Auto then theres a small black ECU under there.

[Urban Panzer]

Hi,

:eek: yes your right, even after all the messing / mods I have done with my car, and because I have not "yet" had any issues with the Auto box, never even crossed my mind LOL.....

I would think the Gearbox ECU would not enjoy to much of a swim lol, but tbh your door seals would have to be very bad to let it fill up that much, or you would have to be stuck in deep water for a long time........

[Redback]

Remember it can all go pear shaped, like what happened to me while attepting the return crossing of the Wollindilly River.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v293/bazzar/?action=view&current=W0105e013.flv)

Baz.

[scarry]

Hi,

:eek: yes your right, even after all the messing / mods I have done with my car, and because I have not "yet" had any issues with the Auto box, never even crossed my mind LOL.....

I would think the Gearbox ECU would not enjoy to much of a swim lol, but tbh your door seals would have to be very bad to let it fill up that much, or you would have to be stuck in deep water for a long time........

here are the exact words out of the owners hand book that came with my disco 2 "severe electrical damage may occur if the vehicle remains stationary for any lenght of time when water is above the door sills"

wading depth at .5 m as per hand book on a standard disco2 is around door sill height anyway




as said by baz,it doesnt take much for things to go pear shaped.

i got stuck in a creek which was shallow,around door sill level,on our last cape trip(will have to find the pics).by the time we had winched the car out,the carpet was soaked,but the water had not reached the auto ecu as it is mounted about an inch above the carpet,luckily.


most of the creeks up there on the old tele track are around half way up the doors or deeper,so if you stopped in any of those for whatever reason,& had an auto it might be all over.

surely it could have been mounted somewhere else.




cheers

[Slunnie]

[quote=Urban Panzer;791226]

If its Auto then theres a small black ECU under there.
Yep, there is also about 3 behind the PS kick panel also.

[Urban Panzer]

Remember it can all go pear shaped, like what happened to me while attepting the return crossing of the Wollindilly River.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v293/bazzar/?action=view&current=W0105e013.flv)

Baz.

Thats because you was not in a Land Rover :p

[jvdk41]

Some nice pic's + video's off deep wadings;)

But is was wondering if you guys have wading kits on your Disco 2?
Is it necesarry or just trowing away your money?????

Have already fitted a Airtec snorkel but want to know what else to fit before coming to Australia and do several water crossings.

Hope to hear from you.

[Blknight.aus]

technically...

Deep wading is anything over 500mm deep.


IMHO you dont generally start to get problems till you clear the 750mm mark and thats only if you stop... from 500-750mm you should be considering your breather locations for the axles and the wading plugs for the engine and bellhousing

snorkles arent needed untill you go to about 1m but a blind is required for anything in the 750mm-1m range and you should also be considering the breathers for the gearbox and tcase. (waterproofing ECUs for the electronic engines)

from 1m-1.2m you are at the limit for without snorkles and its also time to be considering the crank case breathing by this stage you will also be starting to encounter "landrover boyancy" so its also time to calibrate the plimsol marking.

[jvdk41]

Thanks for the usefull information.

Is this information for all sort off Discovery models like v8's/ td5 manuals/td5 auto etc.

I'm driving a td5 manual myself.

Hope to hear from you.


Jeroen

[cucinadio]

Remember it can all go pear shaped, like what happened to me while attepting the return crossing of the Wollindilly River.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v293/bazzar/?action=view&current=W0105e013.flv)

Baz.


bummer baz...but cool calm and collected as l for some reason would have expected :D mate give the swmbo a big congrats from me...my swmbo would have been freaking out in that situation :angel:

cheers


could be worse is this you slunnie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zVXu_Xhers

[Scouse]

snorkles arent needed untill you go to about 1m Unless you go through about 250mm of water & the one splash that gets into the engine bay goes straight into the air filter & then into the engine :(.
Don't ask me how I know but I now have a 2 piece conrod for display purposes.

[BigJon]

I now have a 2 piece conrod for display purposes.

Ahh, light weight racing version :p.