Towing and EAS

[jerrytlr]

BSD stop posting on here and go out and hook that car up to diagnostics Then tell us the results ;-)

Personally I wouldn't bother checking the airbags until you have the fault codes.


Cheers,

Jerry

 

[Alan C]

Thanks for that, hadn't realised thats how it worked. Why would the high level light come on then drop back ? or is it just a sensor niggle ?

If you've just got in the car and started it, and the suspension has been unloaded, i.e. the last use of the car was a heavy load/full passengers which have now got out/been removed, then the suspension will be overheight, this will show with the high level light steadily lit and the normal ride height flashing, indicating the car is attempting to select this setting. Once the car has lowered to the normal ride height setting the LED will then be lit constantly, all normal behaviour.

 

[wammers]

Thanks for that, hadn't realised thats how it worked. Why would the high level light come on then drop back ? or is it just a sensor niggle ?

Highly likley to be a sensor. Initial action when engine starts is to indictate ride height system is at, then adjust to standard. If the car has dropped and is in between low and standard. Low lamp will be solid with standard flashing until system raises to standard. Same thing if a sensor shows a reading above standard height on start up, lamp will show high and standard will flash until system drops back to standard. This is all possibly down to sensor problems.

 

[wammers]

If you've just got in the car and started it, and the suspension has been unloaded, i.e. the last use of the car was a heavy load/full passengers which have now got out/been removed, then the suspension will be overheight, this will show with the high level light steadily lit and the normal ride height flashing, indicating the car is attempting to select this setting. Once the car has lowered to the normal ride height setting the LED will then be lit constantly, all normal behaviour.

The car should self level for 20 seconds when ignition is turned off and door is shut to bleed off any excess air needed to support weight when loaded. Even if the car has been grossly overloaded this should be enough time to return car to standard height.

 

[Alan C]

Mine doesn't do this often, but it does, as did my previous P38. When it levels down in this instance, it is only a small amount. I usually find the car has lost height due to parking on a diagonal sloping drive and attempting to self level though, so usually has to raise up in the morning.

 

[wammers]

Mine doesn't do this often, but it does, as did my previous P38. When it levels down in this instance, it is only a small amount. I usually find the car has lost height due to parking on a diagonal sloping drive and attempting to self level though, so usually has to raise up in the morning.

The EAS delay relay should be active for 20 seconds everytime you leave the car. If no adjustments are required from sensor readings none will take place. The car will not wake up and level to suit a sloping drive only to equalise sensor readings corner to corner. If one corner has dropped it will attempt to drop the others to suit, but only by around 5mm each time.

 

[Datatek]

Motorway height can be selected at any time by pressing inhibit button then selecting motorway. It will stay in that mode until inhibit button is cancelled. Vehicle should be locked in standard height when towing.

That's exactly what it states in the handbook, however my for little Bateson 2 axle trailer the hitch is too high on standard height, so I lock it at motorway height, a useful feature I found out about on LZ

 

[bigsmellydaddy]

Thanks for all this info, it's coming together. So from what I gather the sensors should show a smooth transition on an ohm meter from high to low, are these readings on RAVE or on here somewhere ? I will then get out the multi-meter and find out which little bug#er it is.

 

[JerryXt]

That's exactly what it states in the handbook, however my for little Bateson 2 axle trailer the hitch is too high on standard height, so I lock it at motorway height, a useful feature I found out about on LZ

DT, does your little trailer have proper sized wheels? Mine has 13" from memory and I'd like to know what to expect when I hook it up.

 

[Datatek]

DT, does your little trailer have proper sized wheels? Mine has 13" from memory and I'd like to know what to expect when I hook it up.

No, they are tiny little wheels, smaller than an original mini

 

[Datatek]

Thanks for all this info, it's coming together. So from what I gather the sensors should show a smooth transition on an ohm meter from high to low, are these readings on RAVE or on here somewhere ? I will then get out the multi-meter and find out which little bug#er it is.

Don't worry about the absolute resistance, it never goes to zero, just as it goes smoothly from low to high. You wont see much using a DVM unless they are very bad, the DVM response is too slow. I stick them in series with an LED an put a scope on it.
Still think your problem is a leak though

 

[wammers]

That's exactly what it states in the handbook, however my for little Bateson 2 axle trailer the hitch is too high on standard height, so I lock it at motorway height, a useful feature I found out about on LZ

OK for a small trailer i suppose, but not a lot of good would be done if you towed at that height with a trailer on max nose weight. Axle is far too near bump stops.

 

[Datatek]

OK for a small trailer i suppose, but not a lot of good would be done if you towed at that height with a trailer on max nose weight. Axle is far too near bump stops.

Absolutely, but 50Kg nose weight is next to nothing and the car still lowers to motorway height when it has 300Kg in the boot (no trailer)so there must be some leeway

 

[L66SHU]

I towed a caravan 300 miles round trip and my suspension went up and down as it should of I didn't no u had to lock the eas into a mode.

 

[wammers]

I towed a caravan 300 miles round trip and my suspension went up and down as it should of I didn't no u had to lock the eas into a mode.

Well i suppose you don't have to if you don't want to. It's just that Landrover recommend you do.

 

[TCubed]

I towed a caravan 300 miles round trip and my suspension went up and down as it should of I didn't no u had to lock the eas into a mode.

Is it perhaps in case the change had some adverse effect (don't know why that would happen though), which could cause a suspension fault/failure at 50mph - not good?

 

[JerryXt]

No, they are tiny little wheels, smaller than an original mini

ah, my current bike trailer has those little things. The new one has proper big tyres. I think they're 13".

When you lock the height, does the car retain the height even if it's restarted or parked? The override stops the car self-leveling while it's parked?

 

[Datatek]

ah, my current bike trailer has those little things. The new one has proper big tyres. I think they're 13".

When you lock the height, does the car retain the height even if it's restarted or parked? The override stops the car self-leveling while it's parked?

The self leveling when parked is due to loss of pressure, so if your car sinks it will continue to self level downwards. Mine maintains it's height to within a few mm for a week so no problem. Not sure if the inhibit stops it rising to normal height on a re-start.

 

[Datatek]

Is it perhaps in case the change had some adverse effect (don't know why that would happen though), which could cause a suspension fault/failure at 50mph - not good?

A change of height at speed affects trailer nose weight and can induce snaking

 

[sas1810]

looked in rave handbook and found this. sorry if it was covered alreadym had no net for 2 days.
TOWING WITH YOUR VEHICLE
The torque ranges of Land Rover engines
allow maximum-weight loads to be pulled
smoothly from standstill, and reduce gear
changing on hills or rough terrain. The
suspension is designed to cope with a heavy
trailer load without upsetting the balance or
feel of the vehicle.
Towing weights are listed in ’General data’.
Trailer hitch
Range Rovers are equipped with a trailer hitch
receiver as standard equipment. When
selecting a drawbar, do not exceed a drop in
height of 1/2 inch (12 mm) or a rise in height
of 43/4 inches (120 mm) from the centre of the
drawbar to the centre of the ball, nor exceed a
hitch length of 101/2 inches (266 mm).
An equalizing or other form of weight
distributing hitch should not be used with a
Range Rover.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Ensure that the gross vehicle weight and
maximum rear axle weight are not
exceeded.
When preparing your vehicle for towing,
always pay careful attention to the trailer
manufacturer’s recommendations and the
following guidelines.
• Set the electronic air suspension to
’INHIBIT’, select STANDARD ride height
and maintain that setting whilst towing.
• Ensure that the vehicle and trailer tyre
pressures are as recommended by the
trailer manufacturer.
• Check the operation of trailer brakes and
lights.
• For maximum stability, ensure that loads
are properly positioned and secured to
eliminate shifting during transit. Trailer
loads should be positioned so that most of
the weight is placed as low as possible
and close to/over the trailer axle(s).
• After loading the trailer check that the
weight on the hitch point (this is called the
draw-bar loading weight, or tongue
weight), is in accordance with the
manufacturer’s recommendations.
• Trailers should never be towed when the
tongue/draw bar rises up on its own
when disconnected from the tow vehicle