Second battery position on TD5 Disco II

[medusan]

Does anybody know where i can usefully fit a second battery on a 2000 TD5 Disco II GS. I previously had a Disco 1 200 TDI and it fitted nicely behind the 2nd headlight - paralleling the original - after i removed the old jack and crap that was there. However on the TD5 there is no room behind the other headlight.

Cheers, medusan

[rmuller]

I'm not sure how the TD5 is setup.. but on the V8s, the factory jack is located in the same box as the battery.. you can remove this and fab up a tray to put them both in there (www.aedofab.com sells a tray) ...

Here's the only pic I have handy (got new better terminal fittings to put on soon):



You can kinda see a corner of it here:

[medusan]

Interesting - firstly as i move to the US in June with work for 3 years, secondly as i was going to undertake this work in preparation for shipping my TD5 disco out with me. Do you know of any stockists in the UK of this sort of accessory - although i could wait as with the exchange rate at $2 to the pound - it may be cheaper - the optima batteries are that is for sure.

Cheers, medusan

[rmuller]

Not sure of any distributors in the UK that have this.. I know aedofab custom makes it... Do you think that you'll be able to get the TD5 out here w/o any issues for 3 years?

[Disco Mike]

Here is my dual battery set up from my 99 D2. Made using 1" angle iron for the battery box and bolted into the four factory holes left after removing the jack holder and factory battery box.
Mike

[medusan]

Hmm!,

when i look at the current set up I also have a large aluminum electrical item (flat oblong shape) that is strapped down the side of the jack compartment - what is this for and where would i move it too ?

On the subject of bringing a TD5 to the US - I am hopeful with some careful love and attention, preventive maintenance that it should be ok for three years. (saying that i do have a brother who is a prefessional mechanic and will be visiting and i dare say he won't be coming out empty handed every time).

I am making an assumption (without much research at the moment) that most of the service items (oil filter X 2, fuel filter, air filter, axle oil, diesel engine oil, antifreeze) will be available in the states or should i stock up on the Diesel orientated stuff like oil filters before hand ? - I contacted the local LR dealer in Maryland where i will be living - i think they may be still wondering what a TD5 is ? as they have not got back to me yet with more than a holding message. Are TD5's so rare in the US ?

Cheers, Medusan

[medusan]

Originally Posted by Disco Mike

Here is my dual battery set up from my 99 D2. Made using 1" angle iron for the battery box and bolted into the four factory holes left after removing the jack holder and factory battery box.
Mike

Disco Mike - I have to say that is an impressive set up and what i am looking to duplicate - can i ask what split charge relay system you are using ?

I guess the DIY route for a battery holder might be a cheaper alternative.

Cheers, Medusan

[Disco Mike]

Actually I decided not to split the batterys, they are tied together for the benefit of my winch, giving it more to draw against when being used hard. I have run this like this for 4 years with no problem, both battreys test equal still with no unusual problems.
Some people would split them, I didn't want to, I am also running 3 HID's and a large Engle.
Mike

[p76rangie]

medusan, the electrical box is your ECU. I am not sure where you can mount it on a left hand drive. On the right hand drive they mount it in front of the firewall on the passenger's side hard up against the fender. Just try and keep it away from the turbo as the heat will kill most batteries.

[p76rangie]

Here are some pictures of the battery mounted with a tray made by ARB.

[rmuller]

Originally Posted by medusan

Hmm!,

when i look at the current set up I also have a large aluminum electrical item (flat oblong shape) that is strapped down the side of the jack compartment - what is this for and where would i move it too ?

On the subject of bringing a TD5 to the US - I am hopeful with some careful love and attention, preventive maintenance that it should be ok for three years. (saying that i do have a brother who is a prefessional mechanic and will be visiting and i dare say he won't be coming out empty handed every time).

I am making an assumption (without much research at the moment) that most of the service items (oil filter X 2, fuel filter, air filter, axle oil, diesel engine oil, antifreeze) will be available in the states or should i stock up on the Diesel orientated stuff like oil filters before hand ? - I contacted the local LR dealer in Maryland where i will be living - i think they may be still wondering what a TD5 is ? as they have not got back to me yet with more than a holding message. Are TD5's so rare in the US ?

Cheers, Medusan

That long metal thing, if its the same thing I'm thinking of, is a ground bar...

As for bringing the TD5 in... i wasn't talking so much about maintenance, more of legality of it... LR never brought ANY diesel disco's (or rrcs/defenders) into this country so therefore they are not legal unless they are more than 25 years old.

[Jupiter Rover]

Originally Posted by Disco Mike

Here is my dual battery set up from my 99 D2. Made using 1" angle iron for the battery box and bolted into the four factory holes left after removing the jack holder and factory battery box.
Mike

that underhood looks REALLY clean. and its a 99 how you do it?!

[Disco Mike]

I power scrub my truck after every trail run, top and bottom, makes it alot easier to see if anything is going wrong.
Mike

[rmuller]

Originally Posted by Disco Mike

I power scrub my truck after every trail run, top and bottom, makes it alot easier to see if anything is going wrong.
Mike

...but the mud keeps the oil from leaking

[Disco Mike]

YEH, but with a clean engine you can tell when you are out of oil with out looking at the dip stick cause the leaks don't show up.
Mike