Roadside Troubleshooting on Your 4WD Trip

Before you hit the road for your next 4WD getaway, it’s important to be prepared for any unexpected hiccups. A breakdown far away from home is the last thing you want, so in this article, we look at some roadside troubleshooting tips to keep you going on your travels.

If you’re venturing out into the dusty areas like the great Outback and your vehicle is feeling down on power, the first thing to check is the air filter.

Clogged air filters can become a real problem in dusty areas, especially when travelling in conveys where dust is being kicked up by the car in front.

We recommend carrying a spare Ryco Air Filter on your trip so that if your existing filter clogs, you can simply swap in the new Ryco filter and continue on your way.

If you’re experiencing engine hesitation and sputtering, it’s more than likely that you’ve taken on bad fuel at some point during your trip. These symptoms are a telltale sign of a blocked fuel filter.

In case of this, we recommend bringing a spare Ryco Fuel Filter with you on your trip so that you can replace it if need be and see if the symptoms persist.

Fitting a pre-filter like the Ryco Fuel Water Separator makes it easy to see if there’s water and sediment in your fuel via a clear inspection bowl.

Or, via your smartphone if you’ve got the S102XK Sensor Kit as well.

The optional Bluetooth Sensor Indicator makes it even easier, giving you an in-cabin audio and visual alert when it’s time to check your Fuel Water Separator.

On Common Rail Diesel engines, higher fuel consumption and lack of power under heavy loads such as towing often suggests a blocked intake manifold.

This usually means a halt to your travels to see a mechanic to clean out the throttle body and intake manifold to restore power and efficiency.

Fitting a Ryco Catch Can between the crankcase ventilation tube and the intake manifold will stop this issue reoccurring and ensure a more efficient and trouble-free trip. Catch cans collect the dirty oil vapor that slowly cakes the engines intake system, so they are a good long-term investment for your 4WD.

If you’re experiencing bad smells in-cabin on your trip, the number one culprit is a cabin air filter that’s well past its service life.

Depending on your vehicle, this can be a relatively easy thing to check and if it’s time for a new one, grab yourself a Ryco N99 MicroShield Cabin Air Filter.

These cabin filters will stop pollutants from making their way inside the vehicle to protect you and your family on your travels as well as limit in cabin smells from the Air Conditioning System.