Brake lights permanently on and suspenstion won't go down

*Kelly* · Sep 17, 2009

Hi, I've only just registered but have been using this forum for a few months. I haven't made a post before as this site is excellent, I've always found what I needed but..............

Unfortunately I haven't found anyone with this promblem.

My air suspension on my Range Rover P38 (R) if left over night drops to its bump stops so there's obviously a leak somewhere. It take 4 minute for the car to raise to ride height and when driving, it will automatically lower to motorway setting. I can also manually raise to the highest, ride height and motorway setting but it will not lower to the bump stops. The only way it will lower is when it is left overnight and the air has leaked out.
Now, I've checked the air bags and they all look good and I've also checked the compressor (it's not on constantly and it's not hot)

The other thing is I've just noticed that when the car is running the brake lights are permanently on. The actually brakes are not on as the car still drives as normal.

Does anyone have any suggestions

kooky_guy · Sep 17, 2009

I think that the air suspension will not move when the brakes are applied. I assume it detects this from the brake light switch so it sounds like the problems may be related.

Are your brake lights ALWAYS on or are they intermittently on because of a badly adjusted switch or a didgy connection?

That could well be the cause of the strange operation, although if it drops overnight then there's a leak somewhere, but that's almost certainly a different problem.

Guy

mmaddock · Sep 17, 2009

Definitely related. The EAS won't move whilst the brakes are applied - unless the vehicle is moving (same goes for an open door) over a certain speed (not sure what!) to ensure the vehicle is at least level when driving.

Sort out what is causing the brake lights problem - probably a faulty switch - and you'll most likely sort out the EAS problem.

Car dropping to the bump stops isn't necessarily a problem with the EAS (though a sign that something could be). Depending on where you park, it could just be the system trying to self-level. It is not a very intelligent system and if it can't manage to self-level in one go, it eventually lowers itself to the bump stops at all four corners before giving up!

Sometime I come back to mine on the bump stops after 30 mins, sometimes it stays at the normal ride high for days between use, just depends where I park.

Matt

mk1astramad · Sep 17, 2009

sounds dumb, but is the eas meant to adjustable whilst driving??? mines only adjustable when parked or in neutral and the hand brake applied.

it raises its self when driving to the upper most setting which is a pain in the arse.

sorry for the hi-jack

fanatic · Sep 17, 2009

brake light switch has a ratchet, push pedal down and gently pull switch pin.
Then release pedal and brake lights should go out.
if not replace switch.

If your eas goes to access mode when driving it could be height sensors from memory.

Datatek · Sep 18, 2009

mk1astramad said:
sounds dumb, but is the eas meant to adjustable whilst driving??? mines only adjustable when parked or in neutral and the hand brake applied.

it raises its self when driving to the upper most setting which is a pain in the arse.

sorry for the hi-jack

No the EAS is not adjustable whilst driving, it will go down to cruising height when you are at 50mph for a short time (can't remember the exact time) and you can raise the height from normal at very low speed, but you cannot lower the height from normal whilst moving

You can also use the lock button to the right of the height indicator to hold the car at normal height.

kooky_guy · Sep 18, 2009

Datatek said:
No the EAS is not adjustable whilst driving, it will go down to cruising height when you are at 50mph for a short time (can't remember the exact time) and you can raise the height from normal at very low speed, but you cannot lower the height from normal whilst moving
You can also use the lock button to the right of the height indicator to hold the car at normal height.

Yes it is! Even in automatic mode, you can select off road height when moving (although you're supposed to be going below 35mph).

In manual mode (as I call it - using the lock button), you can change from motorway height, to normal, to off road all while you're moving (and back again).

Well I can anyway!

*Kelly* · Sep 18, 2009

kooky_guy said:
I think that the air suspension will not move when the brakes are applied. I assume it detects this from the brake light switch so it sounds like the problems may be related.

Are your brake lights ALWAYS on or are they intermittently on because of a badly adjusted switch or a didgy connection?

Hi, I took the brake switch out last night. Everything looks ok so I put it back.

Brake lights have now gone out and the suspension is back to normal.

New switch on it's way

Thank you. I never would have put the two together.

I'll have to post some pictures of my Rangie when I work out how. I've just completed the L322 light conversion ssssssssso happy with it. A lot of hard work but well worth the effort.

Datatek · Sep 18, 2009

kooky_guy said:
Yes it is! Even in automatic mode, you can select off road height when moving (although you're supposed to be going below 35mph).

In manual mode (as I call it - using the lock button), you can change from motorway height, to normal, to off road all while you're moving (and back again).

Well I can anyway!

No the EAS is not adjustable whilst driving, it will go down to cruising height when you are at 50mph for a short time (can't remember the exact time) and you can raise the height from normal at very low speed, but you cannot lower the height from normal whilst moving

You can also use the lock button to the right of the height indicator to hold the car at normal height.

As I said, and you confirm, it will go up to extended height at low speed.

On mine it is not possible to select motorway height manually or lock it at motorway height, nor is it possible to select access mode whilst moving, so the only adjustment possible while moving is from normal height to extended height and then only at low speed, which is what I said.

If yours is different, then maybe it's to do with model year?
Mines a late 2000 DHSE

kooky_guy · Sep 18, 2009

Datatek said:
No the EAS is not adjustable whilst driving, it will go down to cruising height when you are at 50mph for a short time (can't remember the exact time) and you can raise the height from normal at very low speed, but you cannot lower the height from normal whilst moving
You can also use the lock button to the right of the height indicator to hold the car at normal height.

As I said, and you confirm, it will go up to extended height at low speed.

On mine it is not possible to select motorway height manually or lock it at motorway height, nor is it possible to select access mode whilst moving, so the only adjustment possible while moving is from normal height to extended height and then only at low speed, which is what I said.

If yours is different, then maybe it's to do with model year?
Mines a late 2000 DHSE

I can't select access height when I'm moving, but that's the only one. I can go up and down as much as I like to while away the hours on a trip!!

Reading the owners manual, it should be possible to manually select or at least lock it at motorway height - this is a feature to make towing easier apparently to save having to have an adjustable height towbar (although it doesn't actually say that this can be done while moving - but I definitely can on mine).

I can't see that they would remove such a useful 'feature' on later cars especially as it would actually cost them money to remove it!

Guy

Rangey-V8 · Sep 19, 2009

Mines an early 2001 on an X.

2 switches that control the suspension.
1. The rocker that selects ride height.
2. The inhibitor, that when illuminated, stops the car choosing what ride height to use, basically stops it going up and down from 30 - 50, 50 - 30, which I find annoying and unnecessary.

When we first got our car, we left the inhibitor switch off and let the car do what it wanted, up and down at 30 - 50mph. But eventually found this annoying and we now keep the inhibitor switch on and have the car stay on motorway constantly while normal driving.

We use the rocker to go to normal height if on a bumpy road, high setting if off road and access if we need that.

With the inhibitor switch on, we can change the height moving or still.

Brake lights permanently on and suspenstion won't go down

Kelly

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kooky_guy

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mmaddock

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mk1astramad

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fanatic

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Datatek

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kooky_guy

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Kelly

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kooky_guy

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Rangey-V8

Formerly known as Simon1975

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