Winter observations

[CrazyOldMan]

The only issue I have had is the two rear parking sensors sticking on when it rains. Spraying WD40 into sensors clears them. It repels the water that causes the sensors to play up. Until the next time water gets in them. I have seen several others report this issue.

Maybe they could come out with tiny wipers for the sensors. ;o). I need to see Owl come out with that. @Jean Mercier could figure out how to wire them up.

 

[Zimm]

My observations:


2. Heated seats are very hot on max setting, too hot after a while. Brilliant

My truck takes a bit to blow warm, but the three settings on the seats are boiling water, molten steel and vesuvius. Well, to start. it seems they back off after leaving them alone. It must have an ass sweat detector or something.

 

[bikesandguitars]

C

Copied from google search!

But real issue is only salt water - and sometimes. Tests for this go both ways and without ion transfer will not an issue in most situations. Especially as the doors are (coated). So, we are told anyway!

Not really. I read a study a while ago and searched Google to confirm that I remembered it correctly. But if you want a cut and paste, here’s one from Wikipedia.

“It is also corrosive to aluminium in the presence of moisture. For this reason, the US Air Force banned its use as a lubricant in aluminium aircraft,[33] and discouraged its use in aluminium-containing automatic weapons.[34] Even graphite pencil marks on aluminium parts may facilitate corrosion.”

 

[Tom D]

We've had a week of snow and sub-zero temperatures here in Scotland and the truck has been brilliant: Very planted and confidence inspiring.

Only gripe is that the upright windscreen and slab sides are salt magnets, keeping the glass clean enough to see out properly is a bit of a challenge. In particular, when you use the washers to clean the salt off the front windscreen, it just slinks off round the corner and dries on the front driver/passenger windows instead. I find that I have to regularly clean the side windows to be able to use the wing mirrors, which is important as you can't see jack sh1t through the rear windows and rear view camera once there's a sniff of salt on the roads

Yup, so much salt on the roads here, I have been looking at a lot of Aussie 4x4 Chanel’s on YouTube and it’s amazing how many old 80 series cruisers and patrols are still out there. There’s hardly any left here, all eaten by the road salt. I’m hoping that the Lanoguard will keep the grenadier going for a long time.
So many Aussie videos talking about the importance of washing your car after you drive on the beach… imagine doing it every day 6 months of the year…

 

[Zimm]

Not really. I read a study a while ago and searched Google to confirm that I remembered it correctly. But if you want a cut and paste, here’s one from Wikipedia.

“It is also corrosive to aluminium in the presence of moisture. For this reason, the US Air Force banned its use as a lubricant in aluminium aircraft,[33] and discouraged its use in aluminium-containing automatic weapons.[34] Even graphite pencil marks on aluminium parts may facilitate corrosion.”

That’s nice, but aluminum like steel is never used in a pure form. It’s always an alloy, and an alloy always has different properties. Without knowing what they are discussing, or, let’s say because they are not discussing alloys, one can easily read the military was covering its ass because it’s easier to tell a crayon eating marine “this always bad” than to tell him this lubricant is good on aluminum part “X” in machine “y” and to always refer to the maintenance manual.

 

[grnamin]

My truck takes a bit to blow warm, but the three settings on the seats are boiling water, molten steel and vesuvius. Well, to start. it seems they back off after leaving them alone. It must have an ass sweat detector or something.

It would make a great anti-carjacking feature. Press seat heater button as you quickly exit vehicle. Perp gets in, drives away, derriere starts to disintegrate. Perp jumps out in agony a few feet away.

 

[vtgrenadier]

Where I live, in northern Vermont, ownership of an automobile feels disproportionately expensive to the rest of the world... you definitely NEED snow tires. 17" Nokians are affordable, but for every inch in diameter, they seem to double. My wife's 20" Audi Q5s were shockingly expensive.

Then, add the cost of constant salt-related repairs. As I've recently said on a forum elsewhere, the worst example so far was my 2015 Chevy Silverado 1500. I bought the truck the last day of the month of November, thinking I was all smart with the lease rates. By the 1st of February - with about 2,000 miles on the odometer - the front end started to shake. I took it in to find that both front calipers had seized and warped the rotors. Rotors were covered under warranty; caliper rebuilds were not. $450.00. Similarly, both kids have Foresters and both have had complete brake jobs (one got new brake lines, too) after just 2 and 3 years of ownership. The more expensive of the two was $3,200.00.

Then, add to the cost the corrosion that makes many vehicles like the Silverado a 'disposable item.' According to a buddy who owns a repair shop, my era of Silverado (2015/2016) that have lived in Vermont since new are now uninspectable. That's a $45,000.00 truck that's virtually worthless in just 7-8 years.

Add the cost of storage for those of us with cars we want to keep (for me, classic Land Rovers and an old Saab). They go into storage by mid-October and don't come out until mid-to-late April. That means I get to enjoy them for less than 1/2 of the year.

Then... add mud season. This is the local school bus. It has a 14" lift and 4WD. Swallowed whole. I just love working underneath my cars.

Let's not forget the rodents! Mice are regular visitors to all of our cars. Even though we don't eat and leave bags of snacks, they are attracted to the warmth. And they like to chew wiring harnesses. +$$$ for the number of tows and damage. This is one of the reasons why I love the proper handbrake of a Grenadier... you don't have to have your Audi Q5 dragged out of the garage by a tow truck to have the electronic emergency brake switch actuator harness replaced. I wonder what's so tasty about wiring??

I'm jealous of those that enjoy their vehicles year-round. My Grenadier has 323 miles and one week of use under my belt before putting it away because I want to enjoy it for a while - and at least see how others fare after a winter season or two. If the overall corrosion resistance looks anything like the windscreen surround hardware (all of the black bolt heads were rusty on the dealer lot last February), I have doubts.