Thread: Disco 2 TD5 Won't Start After Cutting Out During Water Crossing

Looking for any guidance anyone can offer here. My mate is driving a Disco 2 TD5. Yesterday the engine cut out while doing a water crossing.
Was set up and towed out quickly.
No water in air intake. Tried starting, cranking but not starting. Yesterday evening the glow plug light in dash wasn't' lighting up when the ignition switched on, but it is today. Checked and have fuel and pressure. Opened up engine ECU, wasn't flooded but had slight condensation which we've let air dry for few hours today.
Cranking speed is ~280, he read this should be ~500.
We are up in far north Queensland and called NRMA to get the mechanic out but any inputs from this group are very welcome.

Yes, was ECU. It was obvious it was opened before.
We opened and there was a very small amount of condensation (obviously doesn't take much) and one or 2 chips had what looked like tiny blister on top, but who knows exactly what part of it was fried. He had device and was able to relearn code so a 30 minute job when we got back to Cairns and got replacement and fired up straight away.

Annoying thing was Mechanic turned up in pundsand, first words were "oh landrover, no wonder". Day before we crossed Nolan's. Newish 200 series land cruiser stopped also, I believe they took in water to engine so not good.

My experience having watched and plenty and worked with a few on getting through crossings, etc is that luck plays a big part. My mate bought the d2 about 4 years ago, has had to do nothing of significance, and now just had a horror couple of weeks just because of timing. Starter motor went and had to replace couple of days before leaving Sydney, front prop shaft sheared when we hit the Bloomfield track, had to go back to Cairns and wait for replacement which was routed wrong initially losing couple of days more and then this at Nolan's, lucky as at end of OTT and we were able to tow easily enough.

We could of maybe, done more in terms of waterproofing with silicon spray or dielectric grease.

I did it in my D4 and no major issues other than we went out to have a look at Frenchmans Pascoe crossing. When we we leaving I had suspension issue, said it would raise when compressor cooled. But it was sitting for couple of hours and I wasn't high enough to drive track. Though we were stuck out there and would need new compressor or recovery. Had swags setup, fire lit and others had headed back to Archer river.

Eventually figured out it was just the temp sensor which is bolted to side of compressor which was stuffed. Was able to bypass it and raise suspension and disable with Gap IID tool and got back to rest of group at Archer River at 1:30 AM.

We had plenty of challenges with it only being a 3 week trip from Sydney return, and no contingency. We've learned plenty more and will treat as a recky trip for coming back and doing 6 to 8 weeks in future.