Thread: What happened to your D3/D4 today?

Originally Posted by Drafrete

Got the "low battery - Start Car" warning a couple of times when starting the Landmark this week. Looks like another starting battery has been sacrificed to the short trip deity. This one is only a couple of years old. Going to check the warranty and see if it is still covered. These cars are tough on batteries. I have a Traxide system installed, but even so, lots of 20 min or so trips especially over COVID without a few good long runs just destroys batteries. I have it on the charger to see if it can be rescued, but it is used daily and the hassle of bonnet up charging is too much.

(Probably need to get one of Tim's new units with the solar logic installed so I can charge it through the rear anderson plug. The current setup (USI-160) doesn't allow reverse charging of the main battery through the auxiliary)

You can just make a patch lead and charge through the white trailer plug…

I recently discovered the same about not charging through the rear anderson.

I wonder, if you set the USI to winch mode before turning the car off, if it then WILL charge up via the anderson?

Originally Posted by veebs

I recently discovered the same about not charging through the rear anderson.

I wonder, if you set the USI to winch mode before turning the car off, if it then WILL charge up via the anderson?

I use shared mode and it works fine, as long as the start battery is above 12v before you start it's connected and can't tell the difference.

The winch mode times out I think. That's why I use shared mode.. Of the battery is ok and your maintaining it'll do both.. If the start is really dead.. Then it won't. Or if your in IGN mode.. Then it'll only do the aux.

Originally Posted by Tombie

You can just make a patch lead and charge through the white trailer plug…

Indeed - if I hadn't got rid of the white plug for the anderson plug and caravan camera bracket...

Originally Posted by josh.huber

I use shared mode and it works fine, as long as the start battery is above 12v before you start it's connected and can't tell the difference.

The winch mode times out I think. That's why I use shared mode.. Of the battery is ok and your maintaining it'll do both.. If the start is really dead.. Then it won't. Or if your in IGN mode.. Then it'll only do the aux.

I do this on an older traxide (2012 model) and it is fine. Does not work on the newer setup I got in 2016, even in shared mode (as far as I can tell with a multimeter)

I replaced the alternator. It died suddenly at the bottom of our steep driveway right as I was hooking up the camper trailer for a weekend away! Bugger it. Anyway, I ordered a new one and followed these instructions and it went really well. I'm really pleased with myself. It's the most advanced mechanicing I've done in many years. I've changed the starter on the VW since! Go me!

Originally Posted by Discodicky

Ha!, Reminds me about last year when I was passing an old Nissan Patrol over the Hobart Bridge when I heard the horrible clicking noise coming from his car. Problem was that his car crept ahead of me in the traffic and the noise stayed with me! My Hilux gearbox decided to take a tooth off 5th gear! Have you seen the size of 5th gear on these boxes.... about the diameter of a 50c piece!

Yep - I used to have a HiAce van used as a Pilot Vehicle escorting oversize loads. I destroyed 5th gear in two gearboxes before I woke up and only ever used 4th when the "sign" was up. The 5th gear has a habit of turning into something resembling a "rolodex" card index - absolute cheap Japanese rubbish.

Originally Posted by Discodicky

Ha!, Reminds me about last year when I was passing an old Nissan Patrol over the Hobart Bridge when I heard the horrible clicking noise coming from his car. Problem was that his car crept ahead of me in the traffic and the noise stayed with me! My Hilux gearbox decided to take a tooth off 5th gear! Have you seen the size of 5th gear on these boxes.... about the diameter of a 50c piece!

Toyota 4wd boxes in general, my dad used to sell gearbox kits for LC and patrols, he'd sell 10 lc kits to 1 patrol. nissan boxes use huge roller bearings and kept the same design for years.