Thread: DNQ - Dumb Newbie Questions (you've been warned!)

Originally Posted by Leo109

Hi All,

I've been a DIIA owner for just a few months and a Nanocom owner somewhat less time, so apologies if I ask some DNQs or things that I should have found by better searching.

1. Td5 Auto Trans section - Inputs - General - page 4 - Line 5 "Engine Temp (c)": Is this actually transmission oil temp near the converter outlet to the cooler? Seemed to be substantially lower than Coolant Temp in the Engine section. If so, has any asked BBS Guy if this could be added to the Instrument Mode displays. As a caravan tower, I'd find this of far more use than Engine rpm or Road Speed on the first page, which are already very adequately displayed. Even more helpful would be if it had an alarm function like Coolant Temp.

2. Td5 Auto Trans section - Utility- "Reset Adaptive Val.": Is this something I want to do? Or best left alone. I kind of like the idea of the auto learning my preferences but don't want to risk stuffing up what already seems pretty good behaviour.

3. Instrument Mode - Page 3 - displays a number for each of the 5 cylinders. What is this telling me and why would I want to be watching these numbers as I drive the highways and byways of this wide brown land??

4. Can Nanocom (with appropriate unlock code) talk to a 300Tdi ABS, and/or other systems (door open chimes etc.). I know how to do it 'manually' but it would be good to be able to reset the ABS faults if I even have another brake pedal switch disintegrate etc.

Can't answer, but gan give a warning. D2 temp gauges are the worst thing about the car. They sit resolutely at half way and do not represent what is actually going on at all. If, as you say, you tow, a temperature and low coolant alarm are a MUST.

Your 4th question: I am not sure that D1s had the OBDII port.

D1s can have an OBD port.
I know that the later models do.

So reckon that on a V8 you can use them via the OBD protocol.. but I've yet to successfully connect any device to the OBD port of my 99 300 Tdi D1.
I've tried Nanocom to see if it even recognised anything .. didn't expect it too, and it didn't let me down in that respect.
Neither does my OBD dongle.
OBD dongle successfully connects to my D2 V8 tho(and other cars before it) .. so no issues with the OBD dongle.
Just won't connect to the 300 Tdi D1(that I know of).

I've read that the diagnostic tool that does connect is the Land Rover specific TestBook thingie.

Originally Posted by Leo109

Hi All,

I've been a DIIA owner for just a few months and a Nanocom owner somewhat less time, so apologies if I ask some DNQs or things that I should have found by better searching.

1. Td5 Auto Trans section - Inputs - General - page 4 - Line 5 "Engine Temp (c)": Is this actually transmission oil temp near the converter outlet to the cooler? Seemed to be substantially lower than Coolant Temp in the Engine section. If so, has any asked BBS Guy if this could be added to the Instrument Mode displays. As a caravan tower, I'd find this of far more use than Engine rpm or Road Speed on the first page, which are already very adequately displayed. Even more helpful would be if it had an alarm function like Coolant Temp.

Have already asked Colin BBSGuy, and no, won't be any fiddling with the menus/submenus, especially in instrument mode.

I tow a heavy van (3T+), but would not dream of doing it without excellent vehicle brakes in addition to the van brakes, EGT and ATF temp gauges, along with the essential coolant temp on page 1 on the nanocom. I just read in RAVE the other day that the original gauge moves into hot at 121 degrees Celsius - too late to be of any use.
TPMS is also highly recommended, especially with tandem axles

Originally Posted by AK83

D1s can have an OBD port.
I know that the later models do.

So reckon that on a V8 you can use them via the OBD protocol.. but I've yet to successfully connect any device to the OBD port of my 99 300 Tdi D1.
I've tried Nanocom to see if it even recognised anything .. didn't expect it too, and it didn't let me down in that respect.
Neither does my OBD dongle.
OBD dongle successfully connects to my D2 V8 tho(and other cars before it) .. so no issues with the OBD dongle.
Just won't connect to the 300 Tdi D1(that I know of).

I've read that the diagnostic tool that does connect is the Land Rover specific TestBook thingie.

I thought D1s had the OBD1 port. No OBDII scan tool is going to work with it, unless I'm mistaken.

Originally Posted by gavinwibrow

too late to be of any use.

Indeed. Ask me how I know...

Originally Posted by Leo109

Hi All,

I've been a DIIA owner for just a few months and a Nanocom owner somewhat less time, so apologies if I ask some DNQs or things that I should have found by better searching.

1. Td5 Auto Trans section - Inputs - General - page 4 - Line 5 "Engine Temp (c)": Is this actually transmission oil temp near the converter outlet to the cooler? Seemed to be substantially lower than Coolant Temp in the Engine section. If so, has any asked BBS Guy if this could be added to the Instrument Mode displays. As a caravan tower, I'd find this of far more use than Engine rpm or Road Speed on the first page, which are already very adequately displayed. Even more helpful would be if it had an alarm function like Coolant Temp.

2. Td5 Auto Trans section - Utility- "Reset Adaptive Val.": Is this something I want to do? Or best left alone. I kind of like the idea of the auto learning my preferences but don't want to risk stuffing up what already seems pretty good behaviour.

3. Instrument Mode - Page 3 - displays a number for each of the 5 cylinders. What is this telling me and why would I want to be watching these numbers as I drive the highways and byways of this wide brown land??

4. Can Nanocom (with appropriate unlock code) talk to a 300Tdi ABS, and/or other systems (door open chimes etc.). I know how to do it 'manually' but it would be good to be able to reset the ABS faults if I even have another brake pedal switch disintegrate etc.

My answers:
1. it's engine coolant temp transmitted through CAN from the engine ECU, it should match the engine temp shown in intrument or inputs fuelling, the transmission temp sensor is connected only to the warning lamp not to the management, if the values are very different give contact spray in both engine ECU and autobox ECU plugs, oil in the red plug can affect this

2. yes, it's good to reset the addaptive values if you never had

3. the cylinder balances are relevant only at idle with warm engine and as long as they work between +/- 4 all it's perfect the closest to each other the better ... above +/- 8 it's time to start worrying

4. in a nutshell: NO

Originally Posted by sierrafery

My answers:
1. it's engine coolant temp transmitted through CAN from the engine ECU, it should match the engine temp shown in intrument or inputs fuelling, the transmission temp sensor is connected only to the warning lamp not to the management, if the values are very different give contact spray in both engine ECU and autobox ECU plugs, oil in the red plug can affect this
2. yes, it's good to reset the addaptive values if you never had
3. the cylinder balances are relevant only at idle with warm engine and as long as they work between +/- 4 all it's perfect the closest to each other the better ... above +/- 8 it's time to start worrying
4. in a nutshell: NO

Many thanks sierrafery. My further comments/questions:

1. That's frustrating. They build an auto transmission with enough computing power to run the Apollo moon landing project and don't connect a critical input such a trans oil temp to it! What were they thinking?

2. Thanks. Good to know it will do no harm - and I still like the idea of training it to do things my way (or am I dreaming?)

3. I thought something like this. Some of the BBS choices and groupings of parameters to put in Instrument Mode are quite bewildering. By the way, what do figures >+/-8 indicate? Just general wear or can it indicate things like failing washers/o-rings etc.?

4. Bugga! Is there anything apart from a genuine Testbook that will talk to D1A ABS etc.?

Originally Posted by johntins

Can't answer, but gan give a warning. D2 temp gauges are the worst thing about the car. They sit resolutely at half way and do not represent what is actually going on at all. If, as you say, you tow, a temperature and low coolant alarm are a MUST.

Hi John,

Yes, I believe you have first hand experience of this 'feature'? If it's any consolation, the 300Tdi gauge behaves the same way.

When Daphne I's head gasket went while pulling the caravan up the range west of Biggenden (SE Qld) on 36 C day, the first indication was a sudden very unexpected drop in EGT. (Thinking about it afterwards, this was probably due to a massive release of coolant into the exhaust system.) Then the coolant gauge shot up into the red. But as the cause was a failed head gasket, I doubt a low coolant alarm or an accurate coolant temp gauge would have saved the head - it all happened too fast and we couldn't stop until cresting the rise as there was no room to get off the road at all.