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TD5 in the Desert
Does anyone have any experience of taking a 110 Td5 across the Sahara. How reliable is this engine etc. I would would be interested in your experience.
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A few people have - have a look at www.africa-overland.net as there are various trips listed there.
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I drive a Td5 110 (in the UK) and also have 1 1/2 300Tdi 90's (i'm rebuilding one!), and my old 110 was 300Tdi.
initially i much preferred the Tdi's over the Td5. although i still do, i have learned a little about the Td5, and it's not really /that/ bad. although it has the electronic ECU (which you can get extension looms for to mount it up in the roof space away from water) There are several sensors on the engine itself that can cause the it to go into "limp home" mode, with reduced power. and you'll need an electronic box of tricks to reset it. (although these are now available to the public for about £100 UKP) If i was going to go deep into the sahara, i think i would go for a 300Tdi, as they're a bit more user friendly, but if you carried say, a spare ECU and some of the sensors/wiring you may be able to cobble together enough to get it running again...... hmm.... go for a 300! :-) |
Thanks for your reply. I agree my vehicle of choice would be a 200Tdi, however I may have to choose the more modern vehicle (I use it for work and play) as funds are tight.
Ian |
Hello
I´m planning to take a td5 Defender to Mauritania this winter (I know, it´s not across Sahara). I have purchased the Rovacom Lite and try to learn to use it. I have droven it 2½ year with no problems. I have collected a list of possible problems with the engine and will take this in consideration. In the end, it do not seem to be more troublesome than others engines. Regards Grove |
FWIW, we drove our 2002 Defender 110 TD5 from the North Cape of Norway, and down to Cape Agulas in RSA for a year, without a single engine problem. A few years have now gone by, and it's still going strong here at home, and still no engine problems have occured.
www.dunia.no |
Td5
It is not the engine You should worry about, it's the fuelpump inside the tank.
Keep the interior dustfree as much as possible and the electronics should not give You to many problems. Take great care when refueling in the wind or when getting fuel from roadside container "gasstations". Good Luck |
grove what problems have you identified mate?
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Hi andyb43
I can see You are on Land Rover UK Forum too, so many of the subject´s is known to You. 1. The biggeste problem to overlanding is the fuel pump in the tank. Take a spare and fuel filters of course. The pump dont like dirt and can lose pressure gradually. 2. Oil in the engine harness and in ECU, problem up VIN XA173796, but later Vin have been reported. Gives misfire, porely performance. Solution (if no problem today) is to change fuel injector harness every 3 year (not so expensive) 3. Make sure the ECU is upgraded with the most new software(no new release in several years) 4. Flywheel disintegrate between VIN XA145775 to XA181042 5. Very early td5 had plastic dowles in the head. Must be changed for steel ones. 6. The dreaded oil pump bolt problem. Nobody knows how many engines are effected, but for peace in mind take off the engine oilsump and take off the bolt and tighten again with Loctite 243. 7. Fuelregulator can stick. Can also leak fuel. Carry a gasket and inspect. 8. On early VIN, the watersensor in the fuelfilter can be unreliable. Newer ones haven´t a sensor. Take it of and drain filter at service. 9. A td5 must newer use water. Leaks can be difficult to find. Leak can be in hoses, waterpumpgasket or worst, a small crack in the head with local overheating which can´t be seen on the tempgauge. 10. The wastegate vacuum "something" can stick (needs motion and WD40). 11. Studbolts in exhaustmanifold can shear off if getting cold suddenly (some people say so). Look af http://www.web-rover.co.uk/nav.php?p=home for more information. Many problems is relatede to early VIN and only the fuelpump and the oil in harness is common, I think. Carry a sensor for the flywheel in spare, the only sensor that can stop the viehcle, but others sensor such as MAF could be taken as spare. If You take another engine and list possible known problems, I think there will be list too. And all problems don´t come at the same time if ever. Regards Grove |
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Wow, impressive! OK, let's try beating this record. For starters, could anyone give us 12 possible known problems with the Toyota 1HD-FT engine? |
Ok Roman, I did not say how long the list will be :biggrin:
Toyota have fine engines. I had a Landcruiser HJ45 for many years, the H-engine was not that good (cracking enginehead), but the 2H-engine I put in was very reliable (one off the best old fasion diesel engines?). I too think the td5 list is too long, but I have to live with it (doesn´t scare me so much). I can´t get a Landcruiser Hj78 here. Land Rover is one of the most well described vehicle (on forums), so problems is well known, not so with other 4WD´s. cheers Grove |
TD5 is a fine engine
and the power is great to get up higher Dunes sometimes loaded TDI's just mis the power to get up on high soft sand dunes (no fun unloading the vehicle to loose 500kg of luggage to get up there :no: ) The worst nightmare on TD5 is the ECU.Just take a spare one and have it programmed at home(around 600€) bushmecanics can repair a lot but not an ECU. |
I've got some!
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2. It's in a big ugly Toyota 3. It's in a big ugly Toyota 4. It's in a.... |
I must disagree with FreeCaRveR. The Ecu is very reliable and will not give trouble, it´s dirty fuel that is the enemy (dying fuelpumpe in fueltank). The ECU have reported being drowned, dried, put back, and everything working again.
Today I spoke with af colleague. He have had two Toyota Avensis (the outgoing model and the present) both with problems with injectors and ECU. The cars drives, but do have som misfire/unbalance be´tween cylinders. ECU was changed on the first one, problem not solved on the latest. Where can I read about this on a forum?:smile3: Grove |
drowned ECU on TD5 is 7 times out of 10 for the garbage.>> own experience
take a spare one as you will not find that easy someone who can program it in the bush. |
Huh ?!
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(Propably on a Toyota Avensis fanclub website, near the mockup-sport-exhaust-extension thread) I think it's not the question who makes the best ECU, but if there is a ECU managing the engine and how to deal/coop with it. Ian Dennis: If you own a Td5 (or whatever model/make LandRover/Landcruiser) you better know what can cause what kind of problem, a computer in limp-mode or even telling you to call your dealer, is not what you like somewhere remote. But if it's just a matter of taking along a spare ECU, some instructions or a software program (which again runs on a ...ahum...computer) I won't see why not taking the Td5 for a nice ride in the countryside... Maybe it's not the most suitable but it's the one you own and know. |
Td5 in the desert...
My previous Defender had the Td5 engine which I thought was great and never had any ECU problems.
It performed very nicely in such places as Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco etc. The last major trip was London-Timbuktu-London - jolly hot work and no ECU problems. No problems with the Electronic Traction Control (ETC) in sand either Plently of water wading done in the UK with snorkle and still no ECU problems. Indeed, having an ECU may prevent more problems than it can cause..! (discuss) as it will keep things better adjusted..? On the Timbuktu trip, the Toyota Land Cruiser I was with over-heated in the desert - no ECU there. The only problems I have had have been shock absorbers (my mistake in purchase) and a loose electrical connection solved in 10 minutes - all problems not specific to a Td5 engine... These days I am running with a 300Tdi engine, but would happily have a Td5 again... Maybe for a remote trip a spare ECU would be on the list of spares to be carried - I would make sure: 1/ It is pre-programmed the same as the ECU you are running satisfactorily 2/ You know how to fit the spare ECU ! 3/ Check if you need to take any earthing precautions to avoid any damage to the ECU when fitting due to static..? Good luck James Stephenson Land Rover Defender 130 camper - 'Mr Custard' www.JamesUK.net |
James tell me about your shock choice we are curently rumming OME and thinking of changing to a twin shock on the rear of the Discovery?
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Suspension etc...
Hi,
I originally ran the Defender 110 Td5 on standard suspension in places like Algeria and Morocco with no problems, but thinking about it these destinations were not particularly heavy on corrugations... Then back in 2001 prior to a trip London/Timbuktu/London I thought the rear could do with stiffening up a bit. I was foolish and didn't seek out much advice and saw these dinky looking (I think Spax) shock absorbers with built in helper springs. I tested these out on an off-roading trip to southern Spain and all seemed well..! Anyway, it didn't take long for the African piste to wreck them, what with the extra weight being carried on standard springs and the heat etc... I spent a day and a half crossing from Mauritania to Mali driving with no rear shocks and it was no fun at all - thought having been recently fitted I didn't need to carry spare shocks which would have avoided a lot of problems..! Anyway, upon returning, I got new OME springs and shocks all round - it felt very together and nice quality - at a price...Many say OME are over-hyped and expensive, but I was happy with them, as are many others who swear by them... On my current Defender 130 I have Heavy Duty rear springs with inner helper coils and twin rear shocks which seems fine, but not yet tested in the extreme...Foley who built the vehicle feel OME are over-hyped and that standard is far cheaper and just carry spares - but they are keen on twin shocks on the rear for heavy loads on the piste... Having gone through all the above, and advice from Foleys, my take on it is: 1/ Get sufficiently heavy duty rated rear springs for the load as this reduces nasty body sway and takes some effort of the shocks... 2/ Fit twin rear shocks... 3/ Either go original springs and shocks or OME etc - a personal budget choice... 4/ Similarly rate the front springs right according to load (winch fitted ?), but front shocks don't seem to get the same hammering as the rears..(?) 5/ Increase tyre pressures (within spec) for heavy loads. Tyres that have nice flexy tall side walls which are good for airing down for sand crossings do not support heavy loads well when cornering at road speeds unless properly inflated for the load. It seems obvious now, but by doing this I achieved much better road handling without the need to uprate the rear anti-sway bar which would have decreased off-road articulation... 6/ Carry spare shocks - front and rear may be different fittings... Good luck, James Stephenson Defender 130 Foley camper - 'Mr Custard' www.JamesUK.net |
most made mistake are overloaded overland vehicles.
before taking of,wheigh your stuff and leave all the stuff home you will not use(and believe me 40% will not be used) I know it's tempting to stuff every spare place in the car and on the roofrack.but keep in mind,every 100kilo extra will punish you suspension even more on bad roads. this advice and a good set of springs and dampers will do the job. |
I am taking my TD5 to mauretania this october too, and I was wondering where i could get some kind of filter to filter the diesel BEFORE i put it in the tank?
What specs does the filter have to be? I just need a sheet of fine sturdy filter material i suppose, and then i can fix something. thx G |
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Mr Funnel
Geoff,
I've not used it, so it's not a personal recommendation, but someone once mentioned it to me ....... Don't know if anyone else has got any experience of it http://www.mrfunnel.com/ |
Filter td5
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Ugly?
An ugly Toyota? What are you on? I'm with Roman on this and waiting for the real list...
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just found this thread while surfing. my mums brought a TD5 disco and I have driven it quite a bit and I would have to say it is the worse car I have ever driven. I advised her to take it back to the dealer to get the throttle mapping checked but it is no better. the lag has to be felt to be believed, below 2500rpm it pulls worse than my morris minor!! try to pull off at walking speed and it will cough and splutter, do it in second and it will probably stall. The thought of towing a trailer with it is, frankly, just a joke. It would struggle to pull the skin off a rice pudding!! if anyone can tell me if this is normal or shagged I would be interested to hear, in the meantime, if someone gave me a one as a present I would regard it as an insult!!
TLC H60 Landy 101 Ambie 1968 Morris minor Traveller http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Captain-Mog...3aFQ3aSTQQtZkm |
I've had a TD5 Disc for about 5 yrs now and whilst its no ball of fire it's nothing like you describe. I regularly tow 1 or 2 motorcycles on a trailer and you (more or less) don't notice them. My first guess would be the turbo not pulling its weight. Check the hoses that go from it to the intercooler are not split. Second guess would be the oil in the injector wiring harness problem causing the misfiring - a known TD5 prob.
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theres no missfire, once its up and running at over 2500 rpm it's fine. below that it's worse than a 21/4 landrover diesel!!!
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I have a MY04 Defender TD5: two trips down to Lybia and Tunisia without any problem. Before last trip to Tunisia I've reprogrammed the ECU with an improved vrsion of 170CV. Better performance, no problem at all, but the rumurs admit an higer Exhaust gas temperature (EGT).
As known, the real issue is the fuel pump which seems to be working well until 80/100K than broken. Keep with you a new one as a spare, doesn't cost too much, about 220 euros. Another problem with MY04 is oil contamination with fuel. LR replaces the head of the engine w/o effective results. Probelm was the o-ring of fuel injectors replaced with Iveco ones. Charlie |
Happy with a TD5
I too drive a MY03 D2 and have not had any problems with it, yet, granted I have not been on any overland trips yet but just for general driving and green laning it has performed faultlessly and can also hold it's own off-road.
It is interesting to read the comments about the fuel pump, filters and ECU as I am preparing for a trip to WA and not once did I consider these things, will have to look into those. Does anyone know where these ECU relocating cables can be bought? |
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not cheap though, about £200. i've got the part numbers for the plug and sockets somewhere should you want to make your own. |
ECU relocation
Yes please! I think I'm going to have to make my own, £200 sound like quite alot of money for a few plugs and cables or is there more to it than that.
Either way, part numbers would be very good:thumbup1: |
seems to be more difficult then it seems.
wrong impulses will mislead the ECU |
Taken from an email that a chap sent me from devon4x4 forum:
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I don't think there are any inherrrant problems with doing this.... the ECU extentions you can buy off the shelf are just made fomr length of wire, no other electronics involved. just make sure that the solder connections are 100% |
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within one year TWO v8 engines had to be replaced under warranty!!! they had defenders before with same people driving, no NEW engines in them Toyota is not so reliable as people really think , I know a toyota mechanic here, they never admit problems, they just get your vechile in for a service and wiill say come back later we are busy, and replace the head on the engine and not tell you!!!or whatever they need to do |
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plus valve prblems and no coils and drum brakes but airlockers are good |
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one of many toyota have troubles also, just not so honst about telling you!!! Toyota Recall - Australian 4WD Action Online Forums - the 4WD, 4x4 and offroad truck community. Get the latest tips, news, reviews, images and video clips. |
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