Thread: New Chum's Expensive Cape Trip

Originally Posted by slug_burner

It is dissapointing that a vehicle that would be expected to go through water like a Defender does not have provisions for the ECU to keep working even if water gets in the cab. I can understand that a Disco or Rangie with carpets and better seals on the doors is not expected to have water sloshing around the foot well but a Defender! Could do better if they want to keep the reputation of a go anywhere vehicle.

Sorry, that just slipped out. Mine doesn't seal dust, so I doubt it would seal water. I still love my little beauty though.

In standard form the ECU is set about 5mm or so above (on 205 r16 tyres) the maximum wading depth stated by LR. This wading depth has been 500mm for ever pretty much and the car is set to be able to be left running consistently in the max depth supposedly without issues.

I agree however that its positioning is woeful, even more so when they made a little plate to lift it up past the 500mm height, but it is ok upto the max wading depth.

The ECU on the Pumas I believe is on the firewall......

ETA Beaten by Tombie!

from memory the hilux, mazda etc are 700mm

cheers

So they may be but TDI and TD5 Defenders are 500mm. Pretty sure D3'S L322 and RRS are all 700 too

Originally Posted by slug_burner

It is dissapointing that a vehicle that would be expected to go through water like a Defender does not have provisions for the ECU to keep working even if water gets in the cab.

Originally Posted by miky

I think it is a bit unfair to expect a vehicle to be able to go through deep water

Originally Posted by Tombie2

IMHO, I believe we the public, generally have too high an expectation of vehicles capabilities in production form.

Promoted by Land Rover advertising!



I tend to agree with slug_burner. Land Rover sell optional snorkle (yes I know, water isn't the only reason to install snorkle). Then the main risk is then getting the ECU wet and the multi-pin throttle connection. Waterproof those 2 items and you are good for 1m depth - easy.

I find it funny - 600mm wading depth and no recovery points - maybe they really don't want you to go offroad.

P.S. I have dunked the bonnet on a td5 Defender a few times - no problems with a snorkle and don't stop

Throttle doesnt actually appear to be an issue in my experience

Originally Posted by Psimpson7

Throttle doesnt actually appear to be an issue in my experience

Yes I haven't got mine wet yet, but would hate to submerge it.

This is all very interesting. my experience is a bit different...

Following someone I shouldn't have, I got stuck in a boghole. Muddy water inside the car. Long recovery, but it started up & we drove on.

It ran for another 3 days before stopping. The NRMA was not impressed to see under the seat full of water - everything submerged. But that's how it ran. The high tide mark is still there.

The fuel relay was the culprit, but all were replaced as a precaution.

The ECU in Tusker is totally sealed. We cracked it on the workshop bench, no water inside at all. So we resealed it & reinstalled it. Everything else cleaned down individually.

No problems since. I was impressed in a weird way that it would run at all totally under water. But it did.

Regards
Max P