Fording issue.

PropertyGuy · May 4, 2015

Went on a bit of mild green lane ing today and got to a river crossing (ford) but as soon as the clutch got underwater I lost all drive.
Had nothing forward or reverse and could literally tick over in gear with no clutch down.
To get back out I knocked off the engine and turned the starter whilst in gear.
This pulled it out no bother and actually started up in reverse and then drove out.
But not till after soaking the inside in a lot of water.

Is this Freelander issue or do I have a problem.
drove perfect afterwards no clutch slip or nowt.

Thanks

tiddler66 · May 5, 2015

Sounds like you simply drowned the clutch. I've seen it happen on other cars before. That's why old series landrovers had a fording plug in the bell housing....to stop that from happening......Thing is you need a few holes to let all the dust out.....but if you dip the clutch when its under water, a layer of water gets between the flywheel and the friction plate, and so it then slips......should be fine now though.

PropertyGuy · May 5, 2015

Cheers for that tiddler.
I dipped it when decided it was to deep in order to come out backwards.
Will bare that in mind now.
took me half hour before working out the whole turn it over in gear idea.

Irishrover · May 5, 2015

Some years ago, I went round the LR test track in a Defender.
The instructor switched the engine off just as I was at the bottom of a dip that was filled with water which was pi**ing in through the door seals. He said to me "put it into low range 2nd gear, leave your feet off the pedals and start the engine"..the engine started, the car crept forward and climbed out of the ditch on tickover !! I have always remembered his words. Another thing he said was "Don't worry about water coming into the car, Land Rovers are designed that way as it will drain out just as quickly as it comes in"

GrumpyGel · May 5, 2015

Interesting thread

Nodge68 · May 5, 2015

A little trick is don't slip the clutch when in water. As soon as the water gets between the clutch plate and flywheel, drive can be lost. Keeping the clutch engaged helps prevent this phenomenon.

tiddler66 · May 5, 2015

Or get an Auto box! :O)

PropertyGuy · May 8, 2015

Irishrover said:
Some years ago, I went round the LR test track in a Defender.
The instructor switched the engine off just as I was at the bottom of a dip that was filled with water which was pi**ing in through the door seals. He said to me "put it into low range 2nd gear, leave your feet off the pedals and start the engine"..the engine started, the car crept forward and climbed out of the ditch on tickover !! I have always remembered his words. Another thing he said was "Don't worry about water coming into the car, Land Rovers are designed that way as it will drain out just as quickly as it comes in"

Yeah...not too sure of the water getting out since I've water vac'd it 3 times and now it stinks and still wet
gonna strip it out tomorrow and pressure wash the carpets and dry them off in the sun.

slimboy · May 8, 2015

What sun

Epicuser · May 9, 2015

Try raising the breathers for the rear diff, IRD, turbo breather and gearbox if you want to go through deeper water. I have driven mine through approx 750mm deep puddles & rivers before now. (Just under engine breather on my car)

PropertyGuy · May 9, 2015

slimboy said:
What sun

Yeah good point 😡

PropertyGuy · May 9, 2015

Epicuser said:
Try raising the breathers for the rear diff, IRD, turbo breather and gearbox if you want to go through deeper water. I have driven mine through approx 750mm deep puddles & rivers before now. (Just under engine breather on my car)

Turbo breather dont apply as irs a 1.8 petrol
But will definitely do the others
I shall add them to my To Do list
Thanks for the advice

Fording issue.

PropertyGuy

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tiddler66

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PropertyGuy

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Irishrover

Well-Known Member

GrumpyGel

Well-Known Member

Nodge68

Well-Known Member

tiddler66

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PropertyGuy

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slimboy

Active Member

Epicuser

Ex Freelander Owner

PropertyGuy

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PropertyGuy

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