EAS - How long to repressurise?

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Valiante

Valiante

New Member
Posts
175
Location
Essex
Hi all,

I've had a slight leak in the EAS for some time, always seemed to sag on the front off-side corner, eventually hitting the bump stops after 24-48 hours. However I was always able to get the system back up to height after running the engine for a short while, less than a minute.

A couple of weeks ago the entire system seemed to lose all pressure and wouldn't raise above motorway height, which it had been in since driving above 50mph. The next day it was on bump stops and hasn't budged an inch since, despite leaving it ticking over for some considerable time.

I put it down to the front off-side spring finally going, as it looked fairly out of shape and old. So today I replaced both front springs with Arnott Gen III's. Unfortunately, with the chassis on jack stands and the front axle supported by the jack, even after having the engine running for some 20-30 mins now, there still seems to be no pressure in the system - I'm able to squeeze the airspring and there's plenty of give.

My question is, how long should it take to repressurize the system? And what do I do now? I've read that I'm not supposed to put the weight of the car on the new springs until they have pressure in them. So I guess I'll have to leave it supported by stands and jack?

I'm no mechanic and only relatively competant at replacing these things. When it comes to troubleshooting the system I'm a little lost.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

V.
 
Go to the how to in this forum and do the how to check your air compressor guide start there! More than likely you have a week one or a bad leak putting new bags in .
 
Valiante said:
Hi all,

I've had a slight leak in the EAS for some time, always seemed to sag on the front off-side corner, eventually hitting the bump stops after 24-48 hours. However I was always able to get the system back up to height after running the engine for a short while, less than a minute.

A couple of weeks ago the entire system seemed to lose all pressure and wouldn't raise above motorway height, which it had been in since driving above 50mph. The next day it was on bump stops and hasn't budged an inch since, despite leaving it ticking over for some considerable time.

I put it down to the front off-side spring finally going, as it looked fairly out of shape and old. So today I replaced both front springs with Arnott Gen III's. Unfortunately, with the chassis on jack stands and the front axle supported by the jack, even after having the engine running for some 20-30 mins now, there still seems to be no pressure in the system - I'm able to squeeze the airspring and there's plenty of give.

My question is, how long should it take to repressurize the system? And what do I do now? I've read that I'm not supposed to put the weight of the car on the new springs until they have pressure in them. So I guess I'll have to leave it supported by stands and jack?

I'm no mechanic and only relatively competant at replacing these things. When it comes to troubleshooting the system I'm a little lost.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

V.
Click to expand...


Running with an EAS leak for "some time" = shagged compressor. Never leave a leak on the EAS it will ALWAYS lead to compressor failure.
Run the engine with the door open for 20 minutes, shut the door and the car should rise, this is after you have repaired/replaced the compressor.
 
Thanks for your replies guys. After coming indoors, starting this thread, getting a drink and going back outside (having left the car running the whole time) the new airsprings had inflated, I could no longer squeeze them. So I set about re-fitting the inner wheel arches and wheels, and let it sit on all fours. Before too long it had raised to normal height, and at the press of a button it raised to "high". So it seems the compressor, though probably knackered, is still working to a degree.

Took it for a test run and the front feels lovely over speed bumps, which it never used to, but the rear feels even crashier than before - perhaps because it's been on bump stops for a couple of weeks, I don't know.

Looks like I still have some more work to do, but I guess new compressor is next.

Cheers.
 
Sadly I still seem to have a serious problem. Went out in it a few hours later and it had sunk to access height again, and wouldn't raise for the entire journey, regularly hitting the bump stops if the road got a little uneven, or if I went over a speed hump. /sigh

This is where I fear my lack of skill / knowledge will let me down. I'll replace the compressor and see where I am after that. Hopefully sitting on the bump stops (as it probably will be by morning) won't knacker the new Arnotts. :S
 
Valiante said:
Sadly I still seem to have a serious problem. Went out in it a few hours later and it had sunk to access height again, and wouldn't raise for the entire journey, regularly hitting the bump stops if the road got a little uneven, or if I went over a speed hump. /sigh

This is where I fear my lack of skill / knowledge will let me down. I'll replace the compressor and see where I am after that. Hopefully sitting on the bump stops (as it probably will be by morning) won't knacker the new Arnotts. :S
Click to expand...

I'd say that if it is on the bumps after being left for only a short while the bags are no doubt shagged, replacing the compressor will only knacker the compressor again as it is struggling to fill a leaking system.

Check all bags, pipes and connections first, if the bags are original they will be shot by now - estimated life is 7-8 years or about 80k miles.

You will no doubt need a new compressor or at least a re-seal if the poor thing has been fighting against a leak for a while. But sort the leak first!!!
 
The fronts are brand new Arnott Gen III's but the rears I don't know. I guess I thought the front was the issue as it's always slowly sagged at the front, but perhaps this more recent failure is another bag going at the rear - not impossible by any stretch. The car's 17 years old and has done 120k miles. Not knowing when the rears we last changed (if ever) these could certainly be the culprit. Looks like another £300 then! :eek:

It had better ride nice after all this! :D
 
Valiante said:
The fronts are brand new Arnott Gen III's but the rears I don't know. I guess I thought the front was the issue as it's always slowly sagged at the front, but perhaps this more recent failure is another bag going at the rear - not impossible by any stretch. The car's 17 years old and has done 120k miles. Not knowing when the rears we last changed (if ever) these could certainly be the culprit. Looks like another £300 then! :eek:

It had better ride nice after all this! :D
Click to expand...

£300 for 2 airbags? I paid less than that for 4 Arnott Gen 2's. False economy to replace 2, all four will need to be done, just like tyres you don't get one wear out on it's own.
 
I read on rangerovers.net that the Gen 3's were redeveloped from the Gen 2 to be more like the L322 in terms of ride; Softer at normal height and stiffer at motorway, with the older revisions having opposite characteristics. Bit late now anyway, I've already bought & fitted the fronts. Might as well match the rears. And I'll most likely take it off-roading once I've bought another car to use on the road, so it's all good.
 
Yeah, all is definitely not well then - took a lot longer than that. Good to know for future reference, thanks. Have ordered the rears - will hopefully get them fitted some time during the week, or next weekend.
 
Grrrrrr said:
OMG. Are they that much better than the Dunlops at Island 4x4 (£200 for all 4)?
Click to expand...
Gen3's are more robust, have a longer travel, slightly better 'feel' and come with a lifetime guarantee....

Gen3's are really for the more serious off roader - Gen2's are more than adequate for the part time mud plugger - and they too come with a lifetime guarantee for defects.
 
Saint.V8 said:
Gen3's are more robust, have a longer travel, slightly better 'feel' and come with a lifetime guarantee....

Gen3's are really for the more serious off roader - Gen2's are more than adequate for the part time mud plugger - and they too come with a lifetime guarantee for defects.
Click to expand...

I've never really understood this guarantee. Does it mean if I die the guarantee expires with me? Is it Mr Arnott's life? It could be the car's life but what happens if Wammer's unacknowledged love child finds it in a barn near Poitiers in 2065? He could have it running in 15 minutes. Does it mean the bags themselves? A big hole in the bag would be the end of its life, so does that mean that it has reached the end of its life and the guarantee ceases? In that case, it's not a strong selling point.

G~
 
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