Oil where the headlight lives???

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meego

meego

Well-Known Member
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Caledonia
Has anyone came across oil in the space under the offside headlight on a 01 TD5.

Cleaning car to day and noticed oil in offside front inner wheel arch. Traced it up into engine bay and it seems to be finding its way under battery tray and forward into headlamp space. At a bit of a loss where its coming from.
 
how much oil is it? shot in the dark, but the ecu wiring loom is just behind battery box, noted for leaking oil if your injector harness is faulty, might be worth having a look.
 
thanks to all.

it looks like engine oil to me. goin to have a look at injector harness. any ideas on the possible senarios if thats the problem.
 
Check the oil coolers, they are between the radiator and air con radiator but their push-on connectors are just behind the radiator and above the steering box.
 
Just been out and unplugged ecu harness from engine and pins are wet with oil. Don't see any oil coming through into loom though. Weird!!! Unless it's some sort of star treky kind of oil that can travel through copper wire. Seriously though, i don't like this and want it sorted. Read some old threads about flushing out loom. Anyone got an idiots guide on this.
 
The Mad Hat Man said:
Thats exactly what it appears to do.
Actually, it wicks down between the strands of the wire by capillary action. Unfortunately there is no known cure.
Click to expand...

Don't like the sound of that "no known cure" bit Mad Hat. There must be a seal at the injector harness thats failed or they would all do this eventually. If thats fixed and i find some way to flush out oil from wiring, fingers crossed it should be ok. I am not getting any issues with the ECU and car is running a treat.
 
meego said:
Don't like the sound of that "no known cure" bit Mad Hat. There must be a seal at the injector harness thats failed or they would all do this eventually. If thats fixed and i find some way to flush out oil from wiring, fingers crossed it should be ok. I am not getting any issues with the ECU and car is running a treat.
Click to expand...

There are two blue 'o'-rings in the socket which joins the injector harness to the engine harness -it's these that fail and can be bought from LR series @ £1 apiece.

After replacement there will still be some oil in the engine harness but after two or three cleanings it will stop coming through.
 
Cheers Big Lad. Are the blue o rings inside or outside the rocker cover. And what is involved in cleaning harness.
Don't mean to sound like handless **** here, i'm no, but if i go to bed with an idea of what i'm doin i might just get some sleep. I'm picturing Undoing harness at engine and ECU and flushing through with degreaser or spirit of some sort.
 
meego said:
Cheers Big Lad. Are the blue o rings inside or outside the rocker cover. And what is involved in cleaning harness.
Don't mean to sound like handless **** here, i'm no, but if i go to bed with an idea of what i'm doin i might just get some sleep. I'm picturing Undoing harness at engine and ECU and flushing through with degreaser or spirit of some sort.
Click to expand...

The is a plug and socket arrangement between the injector harness and the main engine harness. This is located at the front lhs of the head and partially visible once you take the engine cover off.

To get at the injector harness plug to change the 'o'-rings you need to remove the camshaft/rocker cover, then it is clearly visible.

This will stop any new oil getting through, but there will be some residue left which will track through to the ECU over the next few months. Just clean the plugs once a month with switch cleaner. I stand the ECU upright (on it's sockets) on some kitchen and allow to drain for a while, then clean.

Cheers
Dave
 
thebiglad said:
The is a plug and socket arrangement between the injector harness and the main engine harness. This is located at the front lhs of the head and partially visible once you take the engine cover off.

To get at the injector harness plug to change the 'o'-rings you need to remove the camshaft/rocker cover, then it is clearly visible.

This will stop any new oil getting through, but there will be some residue left which will track through to the ECU over the next few months. Just clean the plugs once a month with switch cleaner. I stand the ECU upright (on it's sockets) on some kitchen and allow to drain for a while, then clean.

Cheers
Dave
Click to expand...
Sounds like a good plan to me Dave. Thanks again
 
Just in the door from cleaning loom ends at ECU and Engine. Got ECU out and stood it for a while on its sockets as suggested. Not much oil to talk about came out but shocked at how much has travelled along loom and on bottom of ECU housing and worked its way forward to cavity below headlight. This will have to do for now as i'm goin away in caravan for a few days. I'm goin to get a new Injector harness and seals, new rocker cover gasket when i get back and do it all then.
I think it would be wise for all Disco TD5 owners to check this every couple of months. Prevention is better than cure as they say.
 
foss said:
Get a new loom...it will eventually cause you big probs...the new looms are modified.
Click to expand...

Whats involved in a new loom Foss? Is it from ECU to Engine only or more? Any idea of cost? As i said, want this fixed for piece of mind. Or until the next drama.
 
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