Electronics in a Expedition Land Rover

[Chucaro]

After reading so much about the possible problems with electronics I started to arrive to the conclusion that the problem is not the electronics but the luck of knowledge or information at reasonable cost that have the independent mechanics to perform the repairs or the owner/explorer
Are the software and diagnostic equipment ready available for independent mechanics at a reasonable cost and not at 5000 plus?
ref link: http://www.roverparts.com/Omitec/
Sooner or later conservative people like me will have to bite the bullet and get one vehicle (regardless of the type) which is going to be equip with electronics.
Even the mighty Unimog has electronics for a few years now (admittedly the after sales service for the Unimog is one of the best in the world)
I am looking forward for your inputs and ideas in how you will plan and equip a vehicle with electronics for a remote expedition.
Cheers

[stevenmd]

Excellent topic. I think the electronics are here to stay, unfortunately. We have broken down twice on longer camping trips in my old DI. Yeah, they were little things like a fuel pump one time and the belt tensioner the other time. But each time it really put a kink in the family fun we were having. While the failure may not have been electrical, it could very well have been.

I am lucky. Very lucky. Suzi (my wife) saw the look in my eye after driving a few 109's and friend's Camel Trophy 110. She then saw the cost of a "new" 110 (1993). I explained to her that it would be cheaper to buy a 109 and rebuild it from the ground up to the specs we want. Thus, we would have a "brand new" rover. She understands and is supportive of that endeavor, especially since neither of us are the mini-van type and we are a family of six.

[Chucaro]

I started with this topic because I am currently evaluating the type of my next "exploration rig" My current Disco Tdi300 and trailer or a Defender 130 & not trailer.
If I am going by my preferences only and not what the silly bureaucracy will impose on us regarding "green vehicles" I will go for a Defender 130 with a Isuzu 3.9 turbo diesel.
The problem is that a lot of money will be invested in this rig which I have not doubt will be better and cheaper than the new one to only be declared road unworthy in the future because of the pollution laws !
I am doing some research on the net regarding economic diagnostic systems available in the market but I do not know if they are the solution when we are in a remote area.
Some of the links are:
http://www.scantool.net/
http://www.blackbox-solutions.com/products.html
http://www.allabout4x4.com/diagnosticspage.html

[shartzer]

Well I just ordered one of these for my GM v6 Discovery conversion ( PLX Devices OBD Gauge ). The rover factory tach looks for an output from the alternator so I needed to install some type of aftermarket tachometer. This will do that and so much more. It simply plugs into the OBD and can read most of the engine signals and most imporant for me, can display a tachometer as a simple analog gauge (it doesn't have to be the silly looking 3D gauge as seen on their webpage).

So this will read trouble codes, ECM measured signals and calculated signals, and also can be set to have four different warning settings such as the engine temps gets to high, voltage to low, ect... All for $400. This product just came out and just started shipping. My buddy runs a business modifying drag Hondas and clued me in on them. When I get mine in I will try to post a review. It may not tell you exactly what is broken but it sure will help.

[Chucaro]

Thanks Sam, we will look at it with interest.
Cheers

[Mercedesrover]

Good subject.

You guys who take modern, gas-powered Land Rovers into the bush don't need to prove you courage to me in any other way!

Seriously, good obd2 scanners are pretty cheap and decent these days. A few hundred bucks should get you one that will cover most problems. Now, carrying all the spares to fix them is another story.

jim

[stevenmd]

When I had an OBDII landie I used a Davis CarChip from www.ambientweather.com for $99.00. It came with the software too. I could even reset the CEL with it. As long as I had access to the codes, I was fine.

[Chucaro]

When I had an OBDII landie I used a Davis CarChip from www.ambientweather.com for $99.00. It came with the software too. I could even reset the CEL with it. As long as I had access to the codes, I was fine.

Are you talking here about full diagnostic system ? or just a trip data logger?

[stevenmd]

Are you talking here about full diagnostic system ? or just a trip data logger?

Well... it read codes, could shut off the CEL, could log a bunch of data, etc. That's all I needed it for. I would think that you wouldn't need much more if you were somewhat mechanical. The process of elimination usually did the trick for me.

[preacherman]

shartzer,

I sent you a pm about your v6 swap. I had some questions if you don't mind. Sounds cool.