EAS on P38

Oh dear, and it was all going so well.

They say third time lucky, but what about trouble in three's.

First time was my own silly fault went to collect wife from airport, didn't get back home til past 1 a.m and when I got up at 5 a.m to catch a plane found headlamps still on and not enough juice in battery to start engine. Solved when I returned by starting up the old Lightweight (which hadn't been touched for 3 months) and jump starting.

Second time cruising along the autostrada again to the airport when sterring went heavy, battery light went on, and temp guage went red. So one new fan belt later all well, except the very next day the EAS gave out.

As I bought the RR (1999 P38 DSE Auto) with a warranty it is currently sitting in a LR dealer waiting for agreement of estimate from company funding warranty.

Question is whats up.

1) all error messages cleared

2) Good pressure from compressor, which attempts to pressurise system but is not running continuously.

3) No obvious leaks from air bags

4) When put on 4 point jack and lifted to equivalent of all four ride heights correct lights come on.

Mechanics are trying to tell me its either a valve problem or main computer malfunction.

Any thoughts/suggestions.

5) No major errors showing up on diagnostic computer.

When you say "EAS gave out" what happened? How many miles has car done since new that might give clue as to what to start looking at? How come dealer seems less then inspired? Does he know RR's or is it a general car dealer and not a specialist?

1.Did car down on to bumpstops whilst on move...display all flashing height lights and beep with dashboard message "35 mph max"
or
2.Stay up but display flashing height lights and beep...but no dashboard warning.

If any above happened most likely a fault will register when put through diagnostic but the system is not so sophisticated that it will always give exact fault problem when interrogated by diagnostic software.

3. Has dealer given any clue other than mentioned valve block or computer (ECU) malfunction?? ECU packing-in is very unusual

4. Did EAS do anything when fault was dialled out by dealer? Are fault lights still showing.

5. If EAS is still screwed I'd go to valve block and consider route of stripping and replacing O rings, if it isn't cause then at least you are in good shape for future at a "nothing" price ( cost: if you can do it yourself £25.00 for O-ring kit plus another £20 if change valve block diaphragm, if dealer/specialist does it ..a fair bit more, but he will not be enthusiastic about it). If dealer will/is standing cost get a new valve block; period. (£550 +)

There are other components that can be renewed in EAS valve block such as Drive unit (£140 ish) Pressure switch £40 (ish) compressor £250 ( or pump repair kit £25 or piston replacement £65)....solernoid at £40 ish... the parts are all out there with a bit of internet searching.

...but it is all guess work if actual fault not identified ( dealer calls it "eliminating possible causes"..how come a garage can get paid for NOT sorting a problem out???).

Get airsprings thoroughly checked they can leak in certain heights and not others, but it probably means they are on the way out.

In answer to questions:
has done 150,000 kms from new, bought from Alfa Romeo dealer, but currently with Landrover authorised garage, running on bump stops showing defective air suspension and all height lights flashing, but no mention of speed limit.
When put through diagnostic computer all faults cleared, and when put of jacks and raised lights on dashboard come on in correct relation to height of car, and compressor runs but not continuously, air bags OK on visual check.
as you say more likely to be valve block.
I was just concerned that as I am dealing with all this in Italy in Italian, I wanted some reassurance that my thoughts that it was valve block not ECU.

I suspect compressor if air springs are OK and height indicators show OK when body jacked up. Possible that by taking pressure off the airsprings the compressor can then cope with pushing air into system as there is no load. Before that though do go over the whole system with a spray bottle of soapy water to check for leaking airline, particularly at connections into airsprings, the valve block, air drier, and air tank.

Try the EAS section on Rangerovers.net ( problem, & fixes section) it is a goldmine of information that I have used to good effect.


As soon as load is applied compressor will run until thermal cut out operates, but will not pump up EAS if the piston assembly is worn out. i.e the harder the pump tries to work the more it is likely to cut out without doing anything and the car stays down on bumpstops and it will usually go back to fault mode. It may appear to be pumping air but it is not at a sufficient pressure if piston seal is worn, or if it is trying to cope with a leak somewhere in the system.
If air springs are OK, and do check them thoroughly, I'd check pump next as its potentially the cheapest fix. ( see original note ref piston repair Kit, piston replacement, or new compressor.)

As I said it becomes a process of checking and going through the system assembly a part at a time but a dealer is going to charge for it.

good luck.

Thanks, as I say I'm hoping that the work will be covered by the warranty I got when I bought the car.

Thinking back over the last few months the compressor seemed to be working a lot when I was driving; i.e. I could hear it running every couple of minutes if stationary in traffic, so it sounds like the compressor piston rings may have been leaking and have now given out.