2001 SII Discovery TD5 Auto

[lizard322]

Hi Folks,

I'll start by saying please excuse me if I've posted in the wrong area. I've just bought my first 4WD so I am learning as I go. I'm new to this forum, new to Land Rovers, new to all things 4WD, in fact I'm new to pretty much all of this so I appreciate your patience. In fact I'm not even sure how I will re-locate this question and any answers!

But here goes....

I've bought this Series II TD5 auto (not deliberately, I just asked a mate in the car trade to find me a 4WD and this is it) with 90ks on the clock and full service history to take the wife and kids and van on a trip around West Oz, not full on off-roading, more having a vehicle to tow with some expanded daytrip options. The Land Rover is rated to tow 3.5T and is regarded as a very good to excellent tow vehicle. My windup van is 1.1T (about 1.4T full load) which is well within the LR capacity, on paper. Hence my expectations of a comfortable towing trip?

However, I have found that my Series II while towing my van is unable to hold top gear (Drive) on flat roads, no wind, not using cruise control. To complete a recent short trip I needed to drive in 3rd gear (slowing to 85-90 kph to keep the revs down a bit).

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/07/1222.jpg Have my dreams of cruising up through the top end at 100 kph in top gear just gone up in smoke? Have my expectations of performance of the TD5 been too high or am I underpowered for some reason?

I realise this question maybe a bit open-ended considering there could be numerous variables included but I have to start somewhere. Any clarity on this situation is appreciated. Cheers. https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/12/13.jpg

[Blknight.aus]

How are you driving it and how was it driven prior also what mode do you have the auto in?

the electrickery has a slight capability of picking up on your driving style and adapting to it and if your driving is sports mode then it will kick down earlier and rev harder.

IF it was driven by a thrash monkey before you got it it needs to unlearn thrash monkey and learn sedate grey nomad. This process is greatly aided by unhooking all the batteries for a while but make sure you have all the codes for everything before you start.

[lizard322]

Dave,
To answer your question on my driving style, I am a little fuel consumption conscious and drive more like a grey nomad with a sore foot than a sports driver. Thus sports mode selection on the transmission is not required for me.

Interesting to hear that the Td5 can maintain some "memory" of the previous driver and his habits. Thanks and I will look into it further.

The other thing I might ask, does anyone know of a place or a business (in Melb or Geelong) that is capable of conducting relevant tests/checks on applicable componentry that may be causing issues and any necessary adjustments to correct them?

[Blknight.aus]

just a thought...

are you sure its not making it into 4th or is it making it into 4th but not achieving torque converter lockup.....

from memory (and autos are not my specialty area) the auto behind a td5 needs to hit and hold 100 for it to lock up in 4th.

[Slunnie]

The auto in the TD5 doesn't adapt to the driver, but it does react to the temps and conditions that the auto is experiencing. The lockup in 4th wont happen until you get to 80km/h.

It sounds like the trailer is producing a lot of drag, but something isn't quite right. I can get the torque converter to lockup with with a car and car trailer on the back at about 3 additional tons.

I would start by checking the ATF levels ***as per the handbook!*** as one of the first signs is to drop 4th gears lockup.

[harlie]

Hi - there is definitely something wrong if you can't hold 100 in the conditions described above (flat & no wind) - I have a 99 TD5 auto and it would (admittedly pushing hard) hold top gear on the flat with over 2.5t of boat (admittedly much better through the air than a van) on the towbar. I Now have one of Tombie/BAS stage2 map upgrade and it now holds easily.

I’m not a mechanical expert but I would be looking at simple things first like fuel system (injectors clean?), boost pressure at the manifold, A cr*appy fuel map – is there any smoke?? (if you’ve got a programmable engine ECU), the dreaded “oil in harness”, MAF sensor (within expected parameters), EGR valve (just get rid of it) and I’m sure guys like Tombie and Blknight can list some more. You will however need someone with a diognostic kit to get a lot of these readings.

It’s my experience that your dreams as mentioned above here should still be ok once all is good. If you’ve got a NNN*** ECU get an upgrade once all is good, I’ve got a relative (currently at Eyre Bird Ob) who has travelled around the country twice and across it many times towing a “Aussie Swag” that weighs around the 1.2 to 1.4 range with a ’03 TD5 auto and it’s still standard and he doesn’t know anything under 100...

[harlie]

just a thought...

are you sure its not making it into 4th or is it making it into 4th but not achieving torque converter lockup.....

from memory (and autos are not my specialty area) the auto behind a td5 needs to hit and hold 100 for it to lock up in 4th.
Slunnie's right its 80k for lock up - but this is an excellent point, lockup or the absence of it will give the feeling of dropping back - I've seen this in TD5 owned by a co-worker.

[Tombie]

The auto in the TD5 doesn't adapt to the driver, but it does react to the temps and conditions that the auto is experiencing. The lockup in 4th wont happen until you get to 80km/h.

It sounds like the trailer is producing a lot of drag, but something isn't quite right. I can get the torque converter to lockup with with a car and car trailer on the back at about 3 additional tons.

I would start by checking the ATF levels ***as per the handbook!*** as one of the first signs is to drop 4th gears lockup.

Guess again my friend ;)

D2 Auto does have adaptive shifting in its brain!!!

And you can reset it baseline with a Rovacom.

[Slunnie]

Guess again my friend ;)

D2 Auto does have adaptive shifting in its brain!!!

And you can reset it baseline with a Rovacom.

Is it active though. :D

[Tombie]

Is it active though. :D

Yes.... Makes a noticeable difference when reset

[Slunnie]

Yes.... Makes a noticeable difference when reset
Oh nice! Will have to check this out one day.


Dave, my sincerest apologies!

[Skellz]

I travelled from darwin to brisbane and back to darwin at christmas towing a camper trailer and a loaded disco 02 td5 would have had as much wait as you if not more. Had no problems get to 100 and more had it up around 140 passing road trains there has to be something not wright even in the hills on the way back i was not being past should slip in to 4 at around 80 to 85 kms and with that wait on the highway should get 13 to 14 lts per 100 depending on the right foot.

Unload on highway should get between 9 to 9.5 lts per 100 if you sit on between 100 and 120 that what i got traveling from melbourne to darwin in jan 08

good luck:o:o:o:)

[Stuart250S]

Your towing weight should be quite easy for a TD5 auto. I tow horses with our 2001 TD5 - 3 tonnes all-up weght and the auto goes into 4th, with converter lock-up at 80 kph on an open road. However, I use 3rd for general purpose work - lockup at 70 kph this is most usefull for frequent slow stages. Could be worth checking the trans fluid levels, when I bought mine at 98k I did the full service jobs - ALL fluids/oils etc changed and a replacement trans filter kit. The Disco had a full service history from a LR stealership, funny thing was that when I drained the trans, 2.5 litres came out but when I refilled as per the book (with the engine running and making sure the clutch/brake packs are filled) it took 4 litres to hit the Full mark. Hmmm...

[discodancer]

Hi, my Td5auto used to "hunt" between 3rd and 4th when towing at around 80 kph.
Having the ECU rechipped has increased the torque ( and power) noticably and now on highways it flys over hills in top gear and holds 4th for much longer on the steep stuff. Now a great tow vehicle!!!

Even on gravel roads where the conditions dictate a slower (eg 80kph )vehicle speed .....which is right on the 3rd kickdown speed of the box..I can often hold 4th with a light throttle setting.

Still, it could be good to reset/lower the original kickdown point on the box to say, 70 -75 kph road speed ..given the extra grunt in 4th.

Cheers
Bob