An adjustable foot-rest for the tyre to rest on to avoid having to get the holes onto the studs in 1 go might be enough of an improvement.Quote:
Originally Posted by ScottLS
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An adjustable foot-rest for the tyre to rest on to avoid having to get the holes onto the studs in 1 go might be enough of an improvement.Quote:
Originally Posted by ScottLS
Early clunkers like Shane’s do.Quote:
Originally Posted by DiscoJeffster
Not a pleasant job on an older vehicle from what my indi said when he did mine.Quote:
Originally Posted by shanegtr
A few reasons for being like that (counting 1-5 as the 1 is the most common one):Quote:
Originally Posted by rocket rod
1- Not good position of the GPS sensor (the best location is on top of the dashboard and exposing to the sunlight, or on the front windscreen. However, with some strong GPS system such as the one we are using, we always install our GPS sensor behind the A-pillar cover and instantly get almost 90% -100% satellite's signal)
2- Not good GPS sensor (bad sensor is a bad sensor chip inside the plastic case)
3- Not good locked GPS sensor mechanism. Normally the GPS sensor for Android headunit has a round rotation ring to lock the GPS cable touching the GPS antenna pole on the headunit side. This ring if not tightly locked, or if its pin inside is just a little too short then even if you locked it then the signal still could be almost zero.
4- Not good GPS chip on the motherboard
5- Not good GPS navigation software. There are some versions of the SAT NAV map that would make it harder to lock positions.
I have a HEMA unit in my D4. It was originally mounted via a suction cup & bracket to the windscreen and, in this position, always found satellites pretty quickly. However, it was getting very hot in this position, so I bought a "Kuda" mount and re-located the HEMA to just above the standard in-dash screen.Quote:
Originally Posted by maxperformance
Attachment 181331
In this position, the HEMA took ridiculously long time to find and link to satellite signals - I often arrived at my destination before the HEMA could find it.
So - I purchased an external GPS antenna & signal repeater from eBay and installed it. The "antenna" is small and unobtrusive, has a magnetic base, and I have placed it on top of the Front Runner roofrack in a position where it is out of the way, but unobstructed. The cable from the antenna runs down behind the "A" pillar cover and into the cabin through the firewall. The signal repeater is hard-wired for power (they come standard with a cigarette lighter plug) and is tucked up under the dash.
The HEMA now links to multiple satellites virtually instantly when I turn on the ignition - the street directory map is working virtually before I drive out the back gate. The other advantage to this is that any other device inside the car which can link to satellites for navigation (mobile phones / iPad etc) also receive the "repeated" GPS signal from this device and work much better than they did without it. These repeaters are a bargain at about $30 and I have never had a problem since installing one.
GPS Antenna Signal Repeater Amplifier for Phone/Car Navigation | eBay
Have just returned from a sort of shakedown trip for our Tvan. We bought it over a year ago, but for various reasons this was its first off road trip and just second road trip.
But first things first. Just before leaving two weeks ago, I gave the D4 a service including new rear discs and pads F&R. I had planned on replacing the EPB shoes on the basis that they must be worn after 130,000km but they looked clean and evenly worn. In fact, the shoes measured up the same thickness as the new ones! So, a simple clean and a bit of dry silicone spray on the moving parts was all that was needed.
Camping with friends was at the Moonambel Recreation Reserve, but the child bride and I took the D4 into the Pyrenees to look for a cave. Some tricky 4WD’ing in spots but the D4 handled it all as expected.
We had intended heading into the Little Desert, but found a great spot on the Wimmera River just west of Horsham to spend a few very pleasant days. The only issue was a bog hole that was formed by recent floodwaters. The Tvan acted as an anchor and the 19” Pirelli AT+ (still at 38/40psi) just couldn’t get enough grip to pull us through, so the winch was used for the very first time in anger (although it’s had a bit of use with farm work over the years). It did mean I had to strip to my undies which the child bride found funny enough to share with friends and now possibly half the world! The pic shows the first position we winched to. The D4 rear wheels were where the Tvan wheels now are. We had to winch forwards a further car length or so to gain traction.
The car and van were covered in mud which the rains today didn’t completely wash off, so that’s a Karcher job for tomorrow, along with another clean out of the EPB.
Had I fitted the 18" Compomotives with their Kuhmo MT51s and let the pressures down to 25/28, it's possible we would have made it through, but I doubt it.
The river rose by two feet last night from rains in the Grampians over the previous week. We were never in danger, but the bog hole flooded over and although we could have winched through (the other two ways out were impassable) it was easier to walk to an adjoining farm and seek permission to drive out through their property.
None of them are under the bonnet, even the early non spin filters are close to where the later types are.Quote:
Originally Posted by PerthDisco
Quote:
Originally Posted by DieselLSE
Nice looking camping spot.
It was really pleasant. Warm, sunny weather and plenty of firewood. Mind you, with all this rain the river will still be rising and I reckon it will be up near the door handles by early next week!Quote:
Originally Posted by loanrangie
Well today the D3 took the bride and me touring a few spots in SW WA , wine tasting at several wineries , a nice lunch at Augusta pub and a leisurely cruise back to Busselton. A 200 odd km jaunt on our wedding anniversary.
The Disco is not my daily driver so when I do drive it on days like today I get to realise how good it really is. We encountered, rain , sun , the very twisty caves road and the main highway back and the disco just took it all in it's stride. Amazing to think it's a 14 yr old car.
Cheers Bulletman
