EAS - My tale of woe.

Since when was the air storage tank under the drivers seat?

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I suppose it is... just not inside the car !

domino said:

I was gonna say the same. Some voodoo BECM in my car then!

Got in this morning and it was at normal ride height almost. 2 flashes of the light and it was settled. Dropped off the other half, let it lower down for her to get out, once she was out, it came back up within 10 seconds or so.

Perhaps it's just possessed?

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If you drop the car often then you will wear the compressor out quicker than if its just replacing air after normal levelling. Get some side steps if she has trouble getting in and out.

tomcat59alan said:

If you drop the car often then you will wear the compressor out quicker than if its just replacing air after normal levelling. Get some side steps if she has trouble getting in and out.

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I don't usually - that was just for testing purposes

domino said:

I was gonna say the same. Some voodoo BECM in my car then!

Got in this morning and it was at normal ride height almost. 2 flashes of the light and it was settled. Dropped off the other half, let it lower down for her to get out, once she was out, it came back up within 10 seconds or so.

Perhaps it's just possessed?

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10 seconds is good and normal. That would have been with a full tank. Think you had better look for a leak. Compressor maybe stopping short of full pressure, overheating feeding a leak. That would be causing the slow raising you have been getting, low air pressure. Would cause all the problems you have listed. Now maybe a good time to think about refurbing valve block to eliminate another possibility. And have a really good look at all pipes connections and bags.

With regards to the pipes from the block out to the rear bags, I presume people jack up their car and put them on high axle stands to get underneath and have a proper look? Just from the location of them it looks like it's a lot easier to get it up on a ramp somehow.

Are we calling time on the idea of replacing the rear sensors completely then? Based on my original post/problem.

domino said:

With regards to the pipes from the block out to the rear bags, I presume people jack up their car and put them on high axle stands to get underneath and have a proper look? Just from the location of them it looks like it's a lot easier to get it up on a ramp somehow.

Are we calling time on the idea of replacing the rear sensors completely then? Based on my original post/problem.

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At the moment yes, problems seem air pressure related to me. Check for leaks everywhere. You said you had diag look at live height settings, actual compared to stored. Live at any height setting should be within a couple of beats of stored up or down. Check all heights see if there are any big discrepancies at any height. If there aren't any, sensors would be ok.

wammers said:

At the moment yes, problems seem air pressure related to me. Check for leaks everywhere. You said you had diag look at live height settings, actual compared to stored. Live at any height setting should be within a couple of beats of stored up or down. Check all heights see if there are any big discrepancies at any height. If there aren't any, sensors would be ok.

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Okay. I'll grab the laptop and go out for a check - stored versus actual and I'll report back

So I sat in the car there with EASUnlock taking some measurements.

I've noted them below however, with the 'low' profile, I had to take it a few times as every time I set it to go to low (from the calibrate screen) it came with with different heights.. sometimes quite a lot different. Anyway:

High profile (actual/stored)

FR - 139/134
FL - 118/122
RR - 126/126
RL - 123/122

Standard

FR - 114/109
FL - 98/99
RR - 100/107
RL - 106/104

Low

FR - 82/93
FL - 69/84
RR - 88/96
RL - 96/93

Access

FR - 68/66
FL - 57/58
RR - 69/75
RL - 71/71

As you can see, in 'low' mode, the values vary quite significantly. When I did one of the readings the rears were up in the 100's, then another down in the 60's, 70's.

Does this give any insight?

domino said:

So I sat in the car there with EASUnlock taking some measurements.

I've noted them below however, with the 'low' profile, I had to take it a few times as every time I set it to go to low (from the calibrate screen) it came with with different heights.. sometimes quite a lot different. Anyway:

High profile (actual/stored)

FR - 139/134
FL - 118/122
RR - 126/126
RL - 123/122

Standard

FR - 114/109
FL - 98/99
RR - 100/107
RL - 106/104

Low

FR - 82/93
FL - 69/84
RR - 88/96
RL - 96/93

Access

FR - 68/66
FL - 57/58
RR - 69/75
RL - 71/71

As you can see, in 'low' mode, the values vary quite significantly. When I did one of the readings the rears were up in the 100's, then another down in the 60's, 70's.

Does this give any insight?

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Was it on a level surface? The actual height can vary by about 5mm from the measured height each time you try so you will get small differences.
The readings look a bit erratic to me, have you checked the sensor connectors are clean and dry?

Admittedly the car wasn't sitting on completely flat, level ground, that is, it was parked up on a slight downward (forward facing) slope.

I haven't unplugged or messed around with any of the sensors yet either at the sensors themselves or anywhere else.

Think you better change your motor description now to - not so original and well molested.

So, tomorrows job will be to check all the sensor connectors. Contact cleaner and WD40 on the joins?

domino said:

So, tomorrows job will be to check all the sensor connectors. Contact cleaner and WD40 on the joins?

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No to the WD40, check out post 71 Domino

I saw but wasn't biting as it's still true

Quick question for the team: Are the height sensors resistive? - does anyone know the range?

domino said:

I'm not being stupid or deliberately pedantic here but if there is a stuck height sensor, i.e. when the car is rising, the sensor doesn't pick it up, then it would result in the same problem, no? i.e. the ECU isn't being told that the corner is being lifted because the sensor is still showing the same height.

That aside, where would people recommend getting the height sensors from and a refurb kit for the valve block? island/rimmers... or ebay?

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Martin
I've just PM'd you : I should have read the forum first which would have given me a better idea of your problem ! I sympathise : I just got back down from Peterhead in similar weather and will be heading for sunny Stornoway ina week or two !!
For your consolation....or not....I have replaced the airbags and replaced the piston in my pump on my own : I have also serviced my valve block : I have not had to replace a sensor . I am therefore reasonably familiar with the operation of the system. I think that I also have a spare pump which probably needs the standard piston service ( repair kit about £20).
PM Datatek right now and ask him to send you the cable : I never go out without mine and a very old very slow laptop.
PM me and we'll get something sorted out. Unfortunately my programme is knid of tight just now but I suspect we could get something arranged in the course of the coming week.......beer money unnecessary in view of the new driving limits !
TAKdriver

domino said:

I saw but wasn't biting as it's still true

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It's me again.....sorry, I really should have read the whole of the thread before I replied to you. You are getting all the info you need from the guys here who know what they're talking about. Ignore me unless I can still be of any local assistance. happy to help if I can.

domino said:

So, tomorrows job will be to check all the sensor connectors. Contact cleaner and WD40 on the joins?

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Definitely not WD40, contact cleaner and a toothbrush

Castor said:

Quick question for the team: Are the height sensors resistive? - does anyone know the range?

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Yes, with a linked double track, one rising the other falling as the wipers move so not a simple potentiometer.

Datatek said:

Definitely not WD40, contact cleaner and a toothbrush

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ahaha, sorry, I meant on the joins of the arm (elbows), not on the actual sensor itself

Datatek said:

Yes, with a linked double track, one rising the other falling as the wipers move so not a simple potentiometer.

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AHA! Thanks Datatek - that could explain a lot - double track, hmmmmmm.

<aside> Controls Engineering 101 - Stockton & Billingham Tech. 1973-ish.
"Never, never, never use resistive feedback systems anywhere where moisture, dirt, vibration and great clods of flying earth can be expected - use a non-contact system".</aside>

<another aside>In fact, never use resistive feedback at all - it fails.</another aside>