P38A EAS - what else ?

[Pression de Gonflage]

Is common for mid exhaust box to leak causing problems with the nearby EAS pipe that runs to the rears. I know this isn’t very helpful given your mobility but bare it in mind

Thank you RangeRoller. That is certainly something I shall ask "Monsieur Renault" to look for, although I shall probably be under the lift with him. Is the average garage likely to have this sort of pipe and connectors/joint as a stock item ? I think I read of them being 8mm but not sure. Seems that half the cars out there now have pneumatic suspension in one form or another. I believe that Citroen pioneered the idea. Ah, now we know who to blame.

 

[Grrrrrr]

Thanks for your response Brian. You mention the rear air bags and as you say, I can't get at them, but doesn't that apply to the front ones as well or am I missing something ?

I have been splashing about with my soapy water squirter and found very little topside except for a tiny bit of bubbling around the top of the air dryer, which stopped as soon as I pressed the pipe in lightly. So it looks as if I am off to the local village (Renault) garage and their lift. Are all of the pipes just a push-in fit ?

I have been reading the link you gave for the late Mr Whammers for which, thank you. He must have known far more about our cars than JLR ever did. Sounds like it was a full-time enterprise for him. I would have liked to have thanked him myself but perhaps he's listening.

I won't have time to buy and install the emergency air valves that you speak of although have certainly heard of such things. However I am wondering about the long-term value of fitting them. Is there a link you can point me to or can you briefly tell me how they are used in practice ? Would there be five of them, four corners + direct to the reservoir ? Presumably just pumping up the reservoir would provide the lift to the corners. Can these only be activated by a garage compressor or can one use a portable type ? How are they actually fitted ? Tee-fittings somewhere in the plastic plumbing ? Do they need some sort of bracketry or support and if so, where to put it ?
Speaking of plastic plumbing I had been warned by someone to be careful not to break the fragile pipes. Are they that fragile ? Are they easy to replace ? I have just seen them for sale on the Bay in 15 metre lengths and wondered i they should be kept, just in case.

Unlike the car, I am now under pressure to get this sorted out as I am already overdue for the biennial contrôle technique (= MOT). Thanks to the car being kitted out with LPG I have to go to a specialised MOT-shop an hour away. Do LPG cars need to go to a particular MOT shop in the UK ? (I haven't been there in about 12 years.).

In the hope of returning a little of the kindness and help I am receiving on here, I would like to offer the facility of among other things my EASUnlock to any folk travelling near me in S W France and who might get caught out without any pressure or who need directions to more support than my efforts. Is there somewhere on these forums to park such an offer ? All of which of course depends on my getting the P38 operational before British holidaying motorists start coming this way again. I suppose if we weren't optimists we wouldn't be driving (or not) Range Rovers would we ? I would also extend offers of advice to any folks mad enough to be planning to come and live here.

Thanks again to all.

Tony.

I never had much luck with soapy water. When searching for leaks I run the engine until she's at ride-height and then open a door, switch off, pull the EAS delay relay from under the passenger seat (RHD cars) and then shut-up and see which corner has dropped in the morning.

The EAS pipes are not that fragile but the brake lines might be. As RR DT has said, exhaust blows have been known to melt pinholes.

Bags are the usual suspect, especially if over 7 years old. I wouldn't bother with Arnott 2 but their Gen 3 are the dogs danglies if you're feeling flush. Otherwise Dunlop are cheap in the UK and decent enough.

Rarely, the air reservoir leaks. If you T in a pressure guage on that pipe (no need to cut, just add a T and guage with a bit of line before it goes in the EAS valve block) and check it in the morning the pressure shouldn't have dropped more than maybe 5 psi.

Valve block has been known to fail, usually down to NRVs or the rubber ends on the solenoids going hard and letting by air. Talk to @kurtjohnson10 on here for spares.

Air-dryer is also known to leak but sounds like you fixed that.

There isn't a lot else that can go wrong other than the connectors (usually behind the A-post) or the tracks on the height sensors wearing or the compressor needing a refurbed piston os occasionally a new thermal switch.

 

[RangeRoller dt]

should be repairable

 

[brianp38dse]

The main pipes are 6mm all the fittings are push fit apart from the blue pipe from compressor to valve block
the 8mm one goes from valve block to tank
you can tee in the inflation valves or pull the air bag pipes from the valve block and put them straight on the pipes that way you will know if the leak is pipe or bag
if you can get the connectors and there is a friendly bike shop near get some punctured inner tubes and rob the valves out clean um up and you have a set of valves

that may well get you mobile again put in about 60psi you can use any pump that fits but maybe not a hand pump unless you need the exercise
most just keep a set in glove box to use as required rather than have more joints to possibly leak

 

[Rubberknees]

Think there are a few videos on you tube showing guys who have fitted valves.
Are you too far away from @MarkPiercy He lives in SW France

 

[oakey]

I strongly suspect the exhaust.
The car always rises at the back first and if that is leaking then the fronts wont go up either

 

[kurtjohnson10]

I do hope that is your finger

Thats what you always say big boy

 

[RangeRoller dt]

Evening Kurt

 

[kurtjohnson10]

Evening Kurt

Good evening gents, just thought I would drop in !!

 

[RangeRoller dt]

My god that fingers throbbing

On a school night
Always handy have an EAS wizard on board

 

[oakey]

Ha ha ha The voice of experience

 

[kurtjohnson10]

On a school night
Always handy have an EAS wizard on board

Been called a few things on here but never a wizard, though i have a tendency to make people disappear when i am around

 

[RangeRoller dt]

Not i my fine fellow. But I was never at the meet

 

[Mark Piercy]

Here's a thoughtfor you @Pression de Gonflage, behind the kick panels in the footwell there are little white connector blocks. This is a important modification for many reasons, the blocks need to be removed and the wires soldered together. They can create havoc with the stereo and the eas to name but two. My son's car would jump up and down and waste air from the réservoir and the stereo would buzz. Recently another.... Leak made the eas system have a ghost fault which never gave a problem or a code and would disappear when the white connector was blown dry with a compressor.
Food for thought... Once those blocks are done, turn your attention to the Filtre habitacle, or the two of them. The source of the leak.... If your lucky will be from there... If your not lucky... Under the strip above the screen the sealer between the out shell and the roof will have cracked but this does give a wet headlining in most cases..... ...

 

[Mark Piercy]

Been called a few things on here but never a wizard, though i have a tendency to make people disappear when i am around

Coat..... I think your quite funny mate and @Broke Again

 

[tomcat59alan]

Just a note of caution, with a well maintained/repaired EAS system I can't see the point of adding T pieces, gauges etc just extra joints for potential leaks.IMO.

 

[Mark Piercy]

Just a note of caution, with a well maintained/repaired EAS system I can't see the point of adding T pieces, gauges etc just extra joints for potential leaks.IMO.

I clonclure...

 

[pwood999]

Also examine the airline ends carefully. Any small scratches can cause the o-rings not to seal properly and leak.

To access the rear airbag airlines, simply put the car into extended mode, and then grab the soapy water. It's also easier to see wear on the airbag folds this way.
The soapy mix needs to have a reasonable amount of washing up liquid to bubble properly.

 

[Pression de Gonflage]

Just because the compressor is running doesn't mean its actually supplying air. I had a similar issue recently. After a compressor rebuild and some new bags it failed after about 2 weeks. The compressor was running and no leaks found but on checking there was very little coming from the compressor so out it came again and I found that the new piston ring I had fitted had disintegrated so replaced it again also with a new barrel and its been fine since. So I would just check its putting out some air first before getting any garage involved. And after having my car fixed once in the Pyrenees it aint cheap.

Thank you Gunner.

I had checked suction at the inlet but I hadn't thought to check t'other end. I was really really hoping that I bought a new but duff compressor. Sadly, no - lots of warm air pushing out. So on to the next stage. I forget what it is but someone on here mention a litlle white thingie on the pump. I have got it off but will have to go back and find out what it should or should not do.

 

[Pression de Gonflage]

Also examine the airline ends carefully. Any small scratches can cause the o-rings not to seal properly and leak.

To access the rear airbag airlines, simply put the car into extended mode, and then grab the soapy water. It's also easier to see wear on the airbag folds this way.
The soapy mix needs to have a reasonable amount of washing up liquid to bubble properly.

Thank you Pete. I am reassured. I thought I might have overdone la Liquide de Fairy.