Wet Defender TD5 and non-stop horn

slomofo said:

....we would never say such a thing.

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I must admit to thinking it though

Can't blame you Especially for someone who knows the river!

kurt-ldn said:

Thanks all - the water should not really be salty as quite far upstream at Richmond. The very highest point was basically on the photo, but the car was also at an angle, so may not be quite as bad in terms of engine getting totally wet. Here's the blow of a photo taken from distance, so not very clear.... I shall dry thoroughly and then see what I can do!

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I sense that you are in denial. Heed my warning that trying to start the engine without purging water from the cylinders could prove fatal for the engine. Most of the stuff you must do is basically routine maintenance (just earlier than you maybe have planned). And do expect to be replacing a lot of electrical stuff over a period of time.
From my knowledge (and I know the Thames well) it is tidal and brackish all the way up to Teddington. So there is salt in it.

kurt-ldn said:

Hi

My TD5 got 'slightly' wet yesterday......The car will NOT start, though windshield wipers etc. seem to work.

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Wimblowdriver said:

I sense that you are in denial. Heed my warning that trying to start the engine without purging water from the cylinders could prove fatal for the engine.

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I sense the OP has already tried the starting part....

Yes, I am most definitely in denial - but also take comfort from your words and those of others. Thanks for the inputs, I guess I will get a mate to tow me to a nearby garage of choice for them to perform some checks. I HAD tried to start it yesterday, but luckily, thanks to the immobiliser (?) it would not crank.....

Like @Wimblowdriver I know it quite well too, and think I may well have parked there once to shorten a bike ride with the kids... Yes, definitely brackish.

You're probably going to have to replace some electronics, but for the future, the first thing to do is disconnect the battery to stop electrolysis occurring in the circuit boards. Next rinse it, or even soak it if you can't get into bits, with fresh water. Warm water detergent wash, rinse again. Then rinse again with distilled water because when it dries out there's nothing left behind (calcium carbonate is conductive, not helpful in delicate electronics).

Looks like you've only been to deep wading depth as far as the mechanicals are concerned, so you maybe OK. An all oils service would be a good idea, and obviously a really good under body wash, including a spray up into the bell housing (because you won't have had the wading plug in) to get the salt out of the clutch. Probably too late for the latter as it will almost have dried out.

boguing said:

(because you won't have had the wading plug in)

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It is a TD5, so he probably does, but chances are the water will have got in through the leak groove.

Cheers

The Security System is not part of the ECU but is in a small box behind the instrument panel. Doesn't look as if the water got that high but if it did that might be the issue - from recollection I don't think it is in a bomb proof case like the ECU. What does the diagnostic kit (Hawkeye?) tell you?. I'm sure TD5's have come back from much worse than this - good luck - looks like a beautiful machine

Thanks a lot - finally towing it to a nearby garage today - electronics now seem to work again btw after some good drying and some contact spray. Battery recharging, albeit possibly ruined.....
Will keep you posted on "Project P**s Poor Parking Progress".

You might be lucky with the battery if it is a sealed unit. I don't know if this applies to a TD5, but does to later models - did you follow the battery disconnect procedure before you charged it and resynchronise the fob after reconnecting it? Otherwise it could be immobilised and cause lots of head scratching when trying to start it.