Buying a late RRC V8 with EAS...questions?

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MikeV8SE

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I am looking at a Range Rover Classic V8, it is a soft dash model with EAS – is this the same system as in the P38? Does it have adjustable ride height like the P38, i.e. should it lower at 52mph automatically and does it have a higher ‘offroad’ setting?

I am planning to drive to Morocco in it next year, where adjustable ride height could be useful. However, from a simplicity perspective would I better with a traditional coil spring/shock conversion?

Cheers!
 
According to RAVE for the 1995 on RRC:-

ELECTRONIC AIR SUSPENSION - (EAS)
Description
The electronic air suspension is a versatile
microprocessor controlled system that exploits the
advantages of air suspension. It provides a variable
spring rate which achieves near constant ride
frequency for all load conditions, giving:
• Improved ride quality.
• Continuity of ride quality, laden or unladen.
• Constant ride height.
• Improved headlamp levelling.

The function of the system is to provide five height
modes, each of which is automatically maintained at
the given height by the system logic with the minimum
of driver involvement. Vehicle height is sensed by four
rotary potentiometer type height sensors. Vehicle
height information from each potentiometer signals
the ECU to adjust each air spring by switching the
solenoid valves to hold, add or release air. The
system provides five height settings and automatic
self levelling as follows:
Standard - standard ride height measured from
centre of wheelarch eyebrow to floor = 790mm ±
7mm.
Low profile: 20 mm below standard.
Access: 60 mm below standard.
High profile: 40 mm above standard.
Extended profile: 20 to 30 mm above high profile.

Self levelling
The system provides self levelling under varying
vehicle loads. The vehicle will self level to the lowest
corner height level for 20 seconds after switching off
engine, exiting vehicle and closing doors.

Standard
Vehicle ride height is the same as with conventional
suspension, but is maintained under all load
conditions. This also provides improved headlamp
levelling.

Low profile
This position gives improved handling and fuel
consumption at high speed. When the vehicle speed
exceeds 80 kph (50 mph) for more than 30 seconds,
with INHIBIT switch off, the vehicle will enter the low
profile position. The vehicle will return to standard
height when vehicle speed drops below 56 kph (35
mph) for more than 30 seconds, unless vehicle stops,
in which case it returns to standard when driven away.
The LOWER lamp is illuminated in this condition.

Access
This position makes passenger boarding and luggage
loading easier. With the vehicle stationary, park brake
on (manual), ’P’ selected (automatic), footbrake off,
doors closed and INHIBIT switch off, pressing the
LOWER switch will select the ACCESS position. It is
possible to select access for 15 seconds after
switching engine off. The LOWER lamp flashes until
access position is reached, when it remain constantly
illuminated
NOTE: Opening a door will freeze vehicle
position.
From access the vehicle will return to standard ride
height if:
the RAISE switch is pressed,
or the INHIBIT switched is on,
or park brake is released,
or the is vehicle driven off.

High profile
This position is used to improve approach and
departure angles and when wading. Pressing the
RAISE switch will select this position provided the
road speed is below 56 kph (35 mph) with INHIBIT off.
The vehicle will return to standard position when road
speed exceeds 56 kph (35 mph) or LOWER switch is
pressed. The RAISE lamp is illuminated in this
condition.
NOTE: When raising ride height, rear of
vehicle will raise by 70% of movement first
followed by 70% of front. Rear will raise
remaining 30% before front. Lowering will be
achieved by lowering front of vehicle first. This
will ensure that, with headlamps illuminated, there
is no inconvenience from headlamp dazzle to
other road users. BUT, lowering to access
position will be achieved by the fastest possible
means, by opening all air valves at the same time.

Extended profile
This position is achieved when vehicle is off road in
standard or high profile and the chassis is grounded
leaving wheels unsupported. Initial ECU reaction is to
deflate (lower) affected springs. After a timed period
ECU detects no height change, therefore it reinflates
springs in an attempt to regain traction. The RAISE
lamp will flash in this mode. After ten minutes system
will return to high profile, unless LOWER switch is
pressed.



Hope this helps.

Pete
 
Thanks Pete, that's brilliant. Where you can download the RAVE manual from?

Is the EAS system fairly reliable on the Classics? It sounds ideal for my usage to be honest, so I definitely want to keep it - just need to ensure it is reliable enough to last the trip.

Cheers!
 
I have a Bilstein coil conversion on my 92 LSE and I wouldn't go back to EAS.
The only problem with it is that my short wife has a difficult time getting into the car!
 
I have a Bilstein coil conversion on my 92 LSE and I wouldn't go back to EAS.
The only problem with it is that my short wife has a difficult time getting into the car!

Why do you prefer it with coils? I just think for my use EAS will be ideal:

- Tip runs - great to lower the back end to lift stuff in to the car, and raise it so it's level with the skip for unloading
- Expedition use - self-levelling suspension will keep the car level no matter what is in the boot
- Greenlaning - can increase the ride height at the touch of a buttom for improved approach/departure/breakover angles and wading depth
- Motorways - automatically lowers for increased stability at speed (i.e. driving through France/Spain to get to Morocco

The only downside I can see is potential reliability issues - but is it actually unreliable?
 
The only downside I can see is potential reliability issues - but is it actually unreliable?

Mine was. Punctured bags on two corners of the car. Plus, have you seen what happens when you loose the system off road? Your Rangie will be dragging its belly all the way home.

Plus, I like the look of the car sitting up tall on the coils and off road the coils are outstanding.
 
Thanks Pete, that's brilliant. Where you can download the RAVE manual from? Cheers!

I think I got mine from Matt Stevenson from this forum - it can be downloaded from his site here land rover rave technical system

This is a .iso file which has to be burned as a disk image to CD - this is different from burning a file to CD and you need the right software to burn .iso images.

Or use a program like DAEMON Tools Lite :: Products :: DAEMON-Tools.cc to 'mount' the .iso file as a virtual CD on your pc.

Pete
 
Mine was. Punctured bags on two corners of the car. Plus, have you seen what happens when you loose the system off road? Your Rangie will be dragging its belly all the way home.

Plus, I like the look of the car sitting up tall on the coils and off road the coils are outstanding.

But surely 2 new airbags and all would've been well? Cheaper than a conversion I'm sure! What caused them to puncture - did they perish or were they actually punctured by an object?
 
But surely 2 new airbags and all would've been well? Cheaper than a conversion I'm sure! What caused them to puncture - did they perish or were they actually punctured by an object?

Bet they failed due to age or neglect. If you go with EAS make sure you replace the airbags and overhaul the compressor and valve block, then it should be reliable.:)
 
The fellow that I bought the car from did the conversion before I bought it, so I don't know if he was jumping it. He claimed that to replace the problem bags would cost $1000 each (at the dealer shop, I presume) so he coiled it up before selling it.

I'm very new to Landies, so I've not much personal experience with EAS failure off-road but I've watched videos that show folks having a bad day after the system goes south and they are well into the boonies.

The coil performance off-road is outstanding, and the 125 miles a day I drive on pavement seems fine. I can live with the lack of up and down and another electric and air thingy to fritz out when I need it.
 
Are RRC airbag springs as easy to change over as those on a P38? If so, I might just carry some spares :)
 
Are RRC airbag springs as easy to change over as those on a P38? If so, I might just carry some spares :)

No reason why they should be much more difficult than the P38 unless the fixings are radically different. I reckon you could probably use my guide for changing the P38 airbags.:) Carry spare height sensors perhaps?
 
The EAS was introduced in late Classics to see if they would use the system in the all new upcoming P38. Obviously they liked it well enough to keep. If coils were as good I bet they would have stayed on coils because its gotta be cheaper to build in the factory. Instead most luxury SUVs are now on air or a hybrid system. Also worth bearing in mind that commercial vehicles and public transport buses have air-suspension, particularly the ones that kneel at every stop. Doubt that would have been the case if they were unreliable. Last point: when most people complain about the RR's EAS they are usually having issues of wear and tear, not lack of reliability. Think about it for a sec and tell me I'm wrong. Like anything else in a Rangie, take care of it and it will take care of you.
 
I agree with James, for expedition use I`d stick with coils. I converted my LSE to coils when two of the airbags went, it was undoubtedly less comfortable but my reasoning was that it would be stupid to replace just two airbags since the others were the same age ( new in 1993) and already showing signs of wear, plus the compressor, the pipework , and all the electrics were the same age. Replacing the airbags and refurbing the rest was way more than expensive than converting to coils, though maybe the relativity changes if you just buy the parts
I drove my LSE to the garage from home when the airbags failed overnight, so the car was down on the bumpstops - the garage is ten miles away mostly on A roads - I wouldn`t want to do it again in a hurry.
I`m also surprised to hear the comment about five ride heights, mine had three, standard, high and low. Low was brilliant for loading and unloading, high wasn`t as high as I thought it was going to be, and I wasn`t leaking air at that point so it wasn`t that.
 
I`m also surprised to hear the comment about five ride heights, mine had three, standard, high and low. Low was brilliant for loading and unloading, high wasn`t as high as I thought it was going to be, and I wasn`t leaking air at that point so it wasn`t that.


Well I bought the car (see other thread) but with regards to the five ride heights you have:

Access mode (selectable)
Highway mode (automatically engaged over 55mph)
Standard mode (selectable)
Offroad mode (selectable)
Extra clearance when the car senses the chassis has grounded out (automatically sense and extends the springs, cannot be done manually)

Hope that helps!
 
Yeah, my daily drive HAD EAS, but the former owner spent a fortune having a coil conversion installed :( . Everything else about the RRC is smooth, so I kinda wish EAS was still there to make is smoooooth.
I think maybe the parts and installation prices plus the fear factor saw many EAS taken out of the late classics back in the day. Where-as today now the knowledge is accessable and parts prices aren't bad at all now.
 
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