eas playing up again!

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danrange4

New Member
Posts
58
Hi, having problems with my air suspension on my p38. It's played up like this before but fixed itself. It's letting all of the air out and dropping to the floor when parked. It has 4 new airbags and there is no leaks as I took out the fuse last night and it didn't drop at all over night. However, when I have the eas enabled and it drops down low it takes a long time to reach its normal drive level. Like I said though I have had a problem like this before but it did fix itself, and usually doesn't drop low like it is now when parked. Any ideas?
 
You're parking on an uneven spot. Or your height sensors are shagged. In both cases, the EAS brain is trying to level the car based on what each height sensor is telling it. If it finds one lower than the rest, as the car is switched off it can't pump it back up so it lowers the other 3 instead. This continues as a loop till the car is on bumps or battery is dead! Slow to rise .. well I'll sidestep the obvious answer involving little blue pills! You're compressor is weak and not pressurising the reservoir tank enough. Its not leaking yet but is in need of some quick TLC. Look on ebay for refurb kits from Holland.
 
If it's slow to raise it means you're loosing pressure in the tank. When you start the car the compressor not only has to raise your suspension as it also needs to fill the tank. Check if you're leaking air from the silencer port (easier if you remove the silencer) when the ignition is off.

EDIT:
Also, if you have a leaking air bag the system will self-level to the lowest spring. If it's leaking it will eventually consume all the air in the tank.
Time to grab the soapy water :)
 
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Slow rise = shagged compressor or filter blocked. If it stays up when the EAS is disabled it would suggest as Rashead said a height sensor is a possibility. Get the faults read before you end up on the bump stops.
 
Data,
The air used to raise the vehicle comes from the tank and the compressor, if the 2nd is running at the time. If the tank is low, there's no way for the compressor to raise the vehicle immediately as it needs to build the same pressure in the tank as in the springs, as there's no way for the compressor to pump up the springs without the air going into the tank at the same time.
If the compressor is shagged it will take a longer time to fill the tank. Once the tank is up to pressure the compressor's condition doesn't influence the time to raise the vehicle (as the air comes from the tank). Compressor condition will make a difference if you raise and lower the vehicle several times in a short span of time though.
 
Data,
The air used to raise the vehicle comes from the tank and the compressor, if the 2nd is running at the time. If the tank is low, there's no way for the compressor to raise the vehicle immediately as it needs to build the same pressure in the tank as in the springs, as there's no way for the compressor to pump up the springs without the air going into the tank at the same time.
If the compressor is shagged it will take a longer time to fill the tank. Once the tank is up to pressure the compressor's condition doesn't influence the time to raise the vehicle (as the air comes from the tank). Compressor condition will make a difference if you raise and lower the vehicle several times in a short span of time though.

I agree that if the tank is empty after it has exhausted itself leveling overnight that it will take longer to rise, however how long is "a long time"? Doesn't take more than a couple of minutes on mine.
As I said, first step is to get the fault codes read as it could be as simple as a height sensor:D
 
Where would this filter be? I left it at work all day and did not drop at all then pop in a shop for 2 mins and it was on bump stops! It then took 10 minutes to go back up!

Thing is its not coming up as a fault on dash
 
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dan - bear in mind that just because it doesn't drop when the fuse is out doesn't mean there's no leak. it just means there's no leak in the airbags, the pneumatic lines to the bags and the 4 valves (in the valve block) that deal with the bags. You've still the 5th valve to the tank, the exhaust silencer, input filter, line to and from air-dryer and the tank itself to check.
 
sometimes it is just a bad connection from the airline and (mainly) the rear airsprings. The connection of these rear airsprings is pretty tight and when it is not connected properly, you will loose a lot of air.

And, indeed, when the car takes a long time to rise, your compressor needs to be repaired.

regards,
Goswin
 
Thanks for the replies guys.

Think i can rule out a leak, as its just when it does drop down it takes about 10 mins to raise to drive height! So think the problem with this issue is a very slow raise

Would replacing the piston ring seals help do you think? It costs me about £50 to get the faults read and i can replace them for only £26?? Or am i just wasting money and best to buy a new compressor?
 
Thanks for the replies guys.

Think i can rule out a leak, as its just when it does drop down it takes about 10 mins to raise to drive height! So think the problem with this issue is a very slow raise

Would replacing the piston ring seals help do you think? It costs me about £50 to get the faults read and i can replace them for only £26?? Or am i just wasting money and best to buy a new compressor?

Sounds like you have a weak compressor my friend. You can try a new seal and cylinder. Get the free software from RSW solutions and a lead off eBay you can read your own faults and do the EAS setup with a laptop for less than £25.00.
 
Thanks for the replies guys.

Think i can rule out a leak, as its just when it does drop down it takes about 10 mins to raise to drive height! So think the problem with this issue is a very slow raise

Would replacing the piston ring seals help do you think? It costs me about £50 to get the faults read and i can replace them for only £26?? Or am i just wasting money and best to buy a new compressor?


Either download the free EAS software from www.rswsolutions.com of buy a fault code reader from Blackbox Solutions.
Most people seem to find overhauling the pump is a good option if that is the problem.
I still think that you have a leak if it goes down that quickly or a valve block problem, or just possibly a height sensor problem.
Without looking at the fault codes you are just making it harder than it needs to be.
 
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