P38 range rover

Hello
I have just bought a 1997 P38 range rover 4.6.
An excellent car.
I have a question which i hope someone can help me with, the Air suspension works on all settings as it should but in the morning it has lowered itself down.
Is this normal? it takes only a few seconds to pump up when started. ocasionally while driving i sometimes hear what i believe is the air suspension pump running for a couple of seconds it then stops.
Can anyone tell me if this is normal operation of the Air suspension? this is the first car ive had with Air suspension so it new to me.
Many thanks in advance for any help/advice.
Cheers

merlin7 said:

Hello
I have just bought a 1997 P38 range rover 4.6.
An excellent car.
I have a question which i hope someone can help me with, the Air suspension works on all settings as it should but in the morning it has lowered itself down.
Is this normal? it takes only a few seconds to pump up when started. ocasionally while driving i sometimes hear what i believe is the air suspension pump running for a couple of seconds it then stops.
Can anyone tell me if this is normal operation of the Air suspension? this is the first car ive had with Air suspension so it new to me.
Many thanks in advance for any help/advice.
Cheers

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If you park on dead level ground it would seem you have a slight air leak. Soapy water is used to find this. If you park on any sort of slope the suspension will wake up and try to level it's self especially if you have wheels on a curb. Everything else sounds normal.

merlin7 said:

Hello
I have just bought a 1997 P38 range rover 4.6.

Click to expand...

IDIOT (thats not an insult, all will become apparent over the next few months)

merlin7 said:

An excellent car.

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they are for most of the time!

merlin7 said:

I have a question which i hope someone can help me with, the Air suspension works on all settings as it should but in the morning it has lowered itself down.
Is this normal? it takes only a few seconds to pump up when started. ocasionally while driving i sometimes hear what i believe is the air suspension pump running for a couple of seconds it then stops.
Can anyone tell me if this is normal operation of the Air suspension? this is the first car ive had with Air suspension so it new to me.
Many thanks in advance for any help/advice.
Cheers

Click to expand...

this sounds 'normal' but i would get beneath the car and check the state of the airbags, if they look a bit tired then save/buy a set for when the better weather comes.

put it on the highest setting, then visually inspect them, spray with soapy water and look for any bubbles/foaming.

if you have parked on un level ground they can dance around a little over night which results in the car dropping.

good news is the pump sounds a good un if it pumps up within a few seconds. and the leaks can't be too serious if any!!


:welcome2: to the forum, its a great place to learn about these cars and have a bit of banter. put your location in your profile and it helps us direct you to the closet help or members who can help if your stuck or need a second opinion!

Never ever ever let it hear you call it excellent! It'll go straight to its head and it'll play up!

You will learn to love your rangie. In one of those Love Hate relationships.
In the main they are great, just lots of things to go wrong. Or make you think they have gone wrong.
You will also find they are magic. The fault you thought you had will repair itself. Only to manifest its self later as somthing else.

As to settling, the advice given is sound. Just check for leaks. If there is one fix it before you do damage to the pump. IF you dont find one then alls well. They do settle, epesially in cold weather. Volume / pressure thing I think.

Welcome to the weird and wonderful world of Range Rover P38 owners.

crazyjase said:

Never ever ever let it hear you call it excellent! It'll go straight to its head and it'll play up!

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:5biagree:. if you dont talk nicely to it,it will see it's arse and breakdown or something that will cost you money.

Sounds daft, but the thing never sleeps! Prove it to yourself by going out to it about an hour or so after you locked it up for the night and push down on a corner, you will hear the EAS clicking!
Now laugh if you like but I'm right, if its windy outside it will constantly try to level the car and will slowly but surely let the suspension down (and slowly flatten the battery).
Mine does it and I have spent hours underneath spraying soapy water etc to no avail!
Try the soapy water by all means, check the air bags etc, but try this as well and I'll let you decide.

Thanks to all who replied.
I have done as advised and found no leaks but i will keep a check on it.
Cheers.

The pump you can hear running from inside the car is probably the braking system pump, not the suspension pump.

Two more suggestions:
1. Once you park the car, after locking, try to hear and sound of air leak.
2. Check all the rubber hoses that go at the back of the suspension valve block to see if any of them is moving at the connection point. Especially the first one. This is a common area that you may be losing air.
I hope you enjoy the car. It is not like others, it is a live thing.