Prado 120 Problems with DAC and Traction

[Jdreyer77 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Jdreyer77]

Hi there,



I need some advice please. Yesterday we did a trip to De Wildt (South Africa) and my Prado struggled a lot (120 series 4.0 V6)! It was overheating on the first obstacle! Is also seemed that the DAC is not working at all - the light just keeps on flashing and if I leave the brake on any downhill it is not stopping like in the past. I switch the VSC off as normal but the car felt underpowered and had no traction unless I made use of a lot of momentum.

Just some history, the car is fully equipped, suspension, bumpers etc and very capable, we did De Wildt last year as well and did all the obstacles without breaking a sweat. We also did a trip in December on a course that was a level 4-5 and also the car was fine, DAC worked etc.

The overheating was due to the trip in December, we did a lot of playing in a turf mud pool and the radiator which I though was clean, was not - this when the car had to work hard on the obstacles yesterday caused it to overheat almost immediately - although driving open road was fine!? The only other thing that changed from our last trip is I fitted a winch, so disconnected the battery whilst connecting it.

My questions:

• Can if be that due to the over heat the car is going in a "safe mode"
• Could the disconnecting of the battery have something to do with it?
• If the DAC is switch on - should the light be permanently on? (can't remember) What can cause this not to work?
• I switch the VCS off as usual (to engage the centre diff) - how do I test if it is actually working or not? The light stays on but like I mentioned I had NO traction at all?

Any advice will be welcome!



Thanks

[Jdreyer77 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Jdreyer77]

Is there anyone that can help?

[kav Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close kav]

I would be checking your caliper Pistons . They have a history of seizing on 120s that visit water or mud , this will affect your traction control and your DAC which is a total waste of time engaging . The v6 and deep mud pools don't mix . They ruin the belt pulley bearings with monotonous regularity . Don't do deep mud pools ,period . They f*#k everything.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

• Can if be that due to the over heat the car is going in a "safe mode"
  

We had a Pajero in the desert going in limp mode due to overheating, had trucks do the same thing so I would think the Prado would do the same.

Cheers Andrew