Howdy all I have been stalking the forum for some time now.

Bought me a Disco a month back. I have crawled all around this thing and it looks pretty good. Just changed the TB heater thingy, and checked tranny fluid. This truck is too good to be true until today....

Lots of rain overnight here in TN. I hit a BIG water puddle on the way to work. Drove about 1 mile to the interstate and as I was getting off the on ramp BAM blinking service engine soon light. "oh crap" i said to myself! I pulled over immediatly. Engine was running rough like not fireing on all cylinders. I gave it a little juice and RPM's went up but loss of power. Sat there for a second and light stopped blinking. I attempted to get back out on the interstate and head for home to save a tow bill. I figured it was in "limp mode" and home was only 2 miles away.

Before I started I shut it down and let it set for 15 seconds. Fired it up and away I went. Light started blinking again. Got up to 50MPH and light went steady. I thought what the hell if its gonna break I want it to break... put it in sport mode and pegged it! Yea I know not the brightest idea.

Make a long story short after pegging it is now running as normal as ever. Purrs like a kitten but light is still on.

Question is: Possible for the water puddle to splash in engine bay and water log the electricals? Is this common? If it fixed itself does the light stay on?

 

It should eventually reset. Something like 20 or 40 drive cycles iirc.

 

Would help to know codes, an auto parts store can read them for free. You need to post the numbers, not just what their reader thinks that means in Roverspeak.

 

Never rev up an engine when you have a flashing service engine light unless you plan on buying a new motor.
If this ever happens, go get the codes read and get back to us with the fault code numbers.
I just went back and read your thread again and I have to tell you that you and your truck won't last long when "PEGGING" it in sport mode. You don't know the first thing about a vehicle much less that truck.
Are you aware that 03's have bad oil pumps/ engine failures? Your engine is way out from a major service and is probably in dire need of a major service.

 

Something got wet and you had several random misfires, once it all dried out it cleared up.
The light will go out in a week or so as long as there is no underlying problem.

 

Disco mike no need to say I "don't know the first thing about a vehicle"...... Really? I consider my self to be a pretty decent mechanic.


movement." I needed a damn response! Don't assume I don't know what I was doing. Has anyone ever driven on the interstate at 45mph in rush hour traffic? Now add a blinking SEL that finally goes steady.... I needed to move!

Also how do you know it is in dire need of a major service.... Sound like a stealership answer. Just sayin....

I have worked on aircraft for the past 10 years to include 3 years as an aircraft quality assurance inspector. I have owned everything from a BJ44 Land Cruiser to a Miata. I never went to a dealership except for warranty work. I ACTUALLY TROUBLESHOOT AND TURN WRENCHES.

Let me rephrase my original question: Is it common for Disco's electrical systems under the hood to act a little haywire if you run through a big puddle. I plan on hooking up a scanner tomorrow. Just wondering if water could be the culprit.

 

Thanks spike thats more along the lines of the reply i was expecting.

Thanks again

 

Oh yea forgot to add one more thing....

Who said I was reving the engine while the light was blinking? I increased the RPM's. Remember I'm on the side of the interstate during rush hour. Little bit noisy and my disco is a little bit quite. Although I'm pretty sure it was multiple misfires it idled almost normal until throttle was applied then it was very noticeable. I would rather listen to the motor before I make the decision to call a tow truck.

Not that I owe anyone an explanation...

K I'm off my soap box now

 

The type of codes logged may point to the location of areas needing some help with sealing against moisture. Spike and others are correct that some codes clear after a number of drive cycles. Some other codes will clear, then come back in two or four drive cycles. The tranny has a bunch of codes of its own, which report, make you drive in limp home mode, and in many cases turn on the M & S lights, but not always.

One place that is not on the engine that does not like to get wet is the XYZ switch on the side of the tranny, if gasket has a problem.

 

With nearly 30 years in the business, I can safely say no one with any mechanical knowledge would tackle a problem that you described on a vehicle they didn't know a thing about like you described.


"Before I started I shut it down and let it set for 15 seconds. Fired it up and away I went. Light started blinking again. Got up to 50MPH and light went steady. I thought what the hell if its gonna break I want it to break... put it in sport mode and pegged it! Yea I know not the brightest idea."


Much less ask a question like,"Question is: Possible for the water puddle to splash in engine bay and water log the electricals? Is this common? If it fixed itself does the light stay on?"

If you don't want to go broke, you might want to start all over and ask question first then deal with the problem.