Air suspension problem

Hi all just joined here and am in need of advice.
Partner has just bought a 54 plate discovery 3 TDV6 that has been converted to springs. He wants to put it back to air suspension as it would be better for his work but is a little stuck.
He has checked all the components and found things like the compressor, height sensors etc are there but as it has been changed previous to us getting the vehicle we have no idea if anything would have been disconnected prior to the swap.
Can anyone help with advice on this and maybe checking out the components before we get to involved with putting it back on air suspension.
Any help would be great.
Thanks

Hi and welcome to the asylum

may i ask is it a 5 or 7 x seater plse and does ur centre panel look the same as in the picture

hope that helps as just wish to check a few things first

Hi. its a 7 seater model and yes that is the centre control unit that is in the car. As i have said it was changed to springs before we got i so not sure if anything would have been disconnected or altered because of that. we do know that the compressor seems to be working (well you can hear it running) so we are hoping its just a matter of refitting the air suspension units.

Kimsie said:

Hi. its a 7 seater model and yes that is the centre control unit that is in the car. As i have said it was changed to springs before we got i so not sure if anything would have been disconnected or altered because of that. we do know that the compressor seems to be working (well you can hear it running) so we are hoping its just a matter of refitting the air suspension units.

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cheers as some models were different so wished to ensure the bones were there

Strange u can hear the compressor unless it wasn’t disabled properly , does the lever on the left alter the suspension height in any way or warning symbols on the dashboard

it can be done that’s for sure and also depends how much has been disconnected , would have been bypassed if the coil suspension had been done properly

No the car has had a coil spring conversion so no air assistance at all. if you turn the ignition on and then press the left switch when you start the car the compressor will power up and then switch off ( i assume because of there being no pressure the system thinks there is a leak and stops running) this will then put a suspension fault light up on the dash.

Kimsie said:

No the car has had a coil spring conversion so no air assistance at all. if you turn the ignition on and then press the left switch when you start the car the compressor will power up and then switch off ( i assume because of there being no pressure the system thinks there is a leak and stops running) this will then put a suspension fault light up on the dash.

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would u mind taking a picture of ur front and rear suspension struts please

something isn’t right there , thks

well its a little awkward. Have just spoken to my partner and its had the normal spring and strut conversion (like a normal macphearson strut on a normal car). This has been done on both the front and the back. Am sure it is the standard conversion.
This is the type it has on it now.

I think I would stick with what you have.
Air strutts x 4 even 2nd hand are not peanuts, yes the compressor is running but can it make the required 250psi?
Is there another fault (wiring) that caused the previous owner to go to coils as it was a cheaper fix?

Maybe get the codes read and see what comes up, ie if the code reader can read the air suspension system and all the sensors (pressure/heights) you might be good to go.

I think you will struggle to find any make of vehicle with air suspension that does not have issues at one point or another, it is lovely when working, but a royal pita when it goes wrong.

Kimsie said:

well its a little awkward. Have just spoken to my partner and its had the normal spring and strut conversion (like a normal macphearson strut on a normal car). This has been done on both the front and the back. Am sure it is the standard conversion.
This is the type it has on it now.

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many thks

indeed agree with @lynall , unless u know what ur walking into , as if it means all new struts, maybe the compressor is shot, or there’s wiring issues

don’t get me wrong the ride quality of air suspension is extremely nice and there’s plenty here to help if u wish to go forward with reverting it back , just be prepared for the what IFs in advance

is best to buy new struts otherwise u could fit second hand ones and ride might be terrible , old units leaking etc, ur looking around £700 for 4 x new Dunlop’s struts

May i ask will u be doing all ur own work , as will save a fortune if ur handy spannering and good with electronics

plus on top of reading the codes , ur also need diagnostics to calibrate everything

hope that helps

lynall said:

I think I would stick with what you have.
Air strutts x 4 even 2nd hand are not peanuts, yes the compressor is running but can it make the required 250psi?
Is there another fault (wiring) that caused the previous owner to go to coils as it was a cheaper fix?

Maybe get the codes read and see what comes up, ie if the code reader can read the air suspension system and all the sensors (pressure/heights) you might be good to go.

I think you will struggle to find any make of vehicle with air suspension that does not have issues at one point or another, it is lovely when working, but a royal pita when it goes wrong.

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hi mate

indeed and like everything depends on why it was done , as I know when I had to sort out one fault after another on my suspension it was a royal pain , searching one wire at a time

But must admit don’t regret it seeing it gives such a lovely ride quality

hope ur keeping well buddy

Well my partner is an engineer on a country estate and i worked in the motor industry for some 20 years so the knowledge is not the issue. like i said the compressor seems to be running and also the ability to lift the suspension would work better for what my partner does. We have good air suspension struts its just a matter of getting them off.
We will have a full set of good springs and shocks after too for anyone that wants to do the conversion lol

Kimsie said:

Well my partner is an engineer on a country estate and i worked in the motor industry for some 20 years so the knowledge is not the issue. like i said the compressor seems to be running and also the ability to lift the suspension would work better for what my partner does. We have good air suspension struts its just a matter of getting them off.
We will have a full set of good springs and shocks after too for anyone that wants to do the conversion lol

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brilliant , that’s extremely handy with both of u having that knowledge

with that compressor constantly running on and off when it’s not supposed to be might be on the way out, u can rebuild the old units with a limited success

Hope it all goes well

Ps, ur need 50 x posts before u can sell anything which doesn’t take long here

Well the air units we have are in good condition (just need a clean lol) and as i said if you press the suspension switch in the car the compressor operates for about 30 seconds and then switches off. so at least the signals are getting through to the pump so hopefully if there are any problems it may be just sensors.
thanks for advice anyway.

gstuart said:

hi mate

indeed and like everything depends on why it was done , as I know when I had to sort out one fault after another on my suspension it was a royal pain , searching one wire at a time

But must admit don’t regret it seeing it gives such a lovely ride quality

hope ur keeping well buddy

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Yes keeping fine, wife driving me muts.
It is as if my car knows I am talking about it, as my suspension light has just come on!

lynall said:

Yes keeping fine, wife driving me muts.
It is as if my car knows I am talking about it, as my suspension light has just come on!

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Attention-seeking

kermit_rr said:

Attention-seeking

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Attention it gets enough of that, I gave it an oil change yesterday, what more does it want

Kimsie said:

Well the air units we have are in good condition (just need a clean lol) and as i said if you press the suspension switch in the car the compressor operates for about 30 seconds and then switches off. so at least the signals are getting through to the pump so hopefully if there are any problems it may be just sensors.
thanks for advice anyway.

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ur very welcome and always happy to help, many of us here know our discos very well, lol

Had landies 30 x years and the D3 is my favourite so far

indeed sounds like the signal is getting through , have u got any diagnostics plse as u will really need it , want one that has live data, ur be able to then test ur compressor , sensors etc and then finally calibration

then of course there’s the traction control system , hopefully that’s all been left alone

if u get stuck, if u take some piccies please as then it just makes life easier seeing what ur dealing with

hope that helps and plse let us know how u get on

ps, plse don’t forget the timing belts and oil pump

lynall said:

Attention it gets enough of that, I gave it an oil change yesterday, what more does it want

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maybe it wants full wash and set, snigger

lynall said:

Yes keeping fine, wife driving me muts.
It is as if my car knows I am talking about it, as my suspension light has just come on!

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What swmbo driving u nuts , never , who would think such a thing, lmao

just talk to it very nicely ,

kermit_rr said:

Attention-seeking

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Or better known as , attention seeking madonna, lol