Huh ?!
(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.

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bart & sophie

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

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Best regards,
James Stephenson
Land Rover Defender 130 camper
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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www.landroveradventure.co.uk
Land Rover Discovery 2, Yamaha Super Tenere

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

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Best regards,
James Stephenson
Land Rover Defender 130 camper
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

Like all that torque happily fries the clutch in deep sand?

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/

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Ollie

www.jollyfollies.com

Land's End to Sydney 2009

Another solution:
http://www.dachzelte-und-mehr.de/TD5...d5_filter.html
Grove

An ugly Toyota? What are you on? I'm with Roman on this and waiting for the real list...

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pigapitcha

http://www.jljphotography.co.uk

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

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1990 Landcruiser H60. Full rebuild completed 2014

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.

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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1990 Landcruiser H60. Full rebuild completed 2014

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

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?