Scary downhill experience with TD5 traction control

**gobrood** · 12th February 2006, 07:28 PM

I have had my Defender 90 for over a year, and up until now had nothing but praise for its great (slow) engine breaking downhill--including all the extreme stuff I could throw at it. But yesterday I suffered the same scary experiences that I can remember Series II Disco owners having when that vehicle first came out. I was going down, slowly already in first gear low, down a heavily rutted incline. Suddenly the vehicle took off, almost as if the car was not in gear. Fortunately only a relatively short hill (more like into a creek bed etc. It happened to me a second time, and friends saw that at times due to the ruts I has at least one wheel in the air. I tried it a third time on a different hill and nealrly came a cropper, just when I wanted to be going really slowly first gear no pedals, the vehicle took off and nearly spilled. Is this the traction control at work? I have never had this experience before, but even on steep inclines mostly had four or nearly four wheels on the ground. If this is the traction control computer at work, what is the answer? Is it to get a disabling switch fitted? My apologies if this is an old topic, but I am still pulling my underware off the seat! cheers, Rob G

**Slunnie** · 12th February 2006, 08:32 PM

It sounds like the CDL wasn't locked. Thats the basis of the Disco2 problem also.

**Maggot4x4** · 12th February 2006, 09:22 PM

Originally posted by Slunnie
It sounds like the CDL wasn't locked. Thats the basis of the Disco2 problem also.

My thoughts exactly

**gobrood** · 12th February 2006, 10:10 PM

yup, good call, makes sense, but we were up and down those hills incessantly, and I doubt that I would be getting the centre diff unlocked on the way down and then locked again for climbing. I don't think I would have made the climbs unlocked, but you never know! Buggar, will have to try again. thanks guys!

**101RRS** · 12th February 2006, 10:14 PM

If CDL was locked and you are in low 1 or 2 and the car takes off - it ain't the traction control.

As the others have said, most likely the CDL not locked - if it was then I would be looking at engine management.

Gazzz

**Slunnie** · 12th February 2006, 10:49 PM

TC will still let you climb without the CDL locked. As the wheel spins, the TC controls it maintaining drive to the other 3 wheels. On the other hand it may have just been totally crossed up.

On the way down it wont work quickly enough to control the vehicle.

**gobrood** · 13th February 2006, 06:22 AM

Yup, makes sense. I must have been doing the whole thing unlocked. That makes the traction control pretty good uphill. I'll have to pay more attetnon next time!

**Captain_Rightfoot** · 13th February 2006, 07:05 AM

Originally posted by gobrood
Yup, makes sense. I must have been doing the whole thing unlocked. That makes the traction control pretty good uphill. I'll have to pay more attetnon next time!

Yes, the traction control doesn't work for braking. It only works when you have your foot on the brake when it's traction control in reverse (ABS). And yes, in my experience I'd definately rather have the traction control system than not

**DiscoDan** · 13th February 2006, 09:18 AM

A mate of mine had a 98 Disco and even though hid CDL light was on the CDL was not locked, he didn't have the help of traction control.

Turns out there was an adjustment fault.

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