EAS problem, continued....

P38. (continued from ealier thread). This is story so far:

EAS compressor not working, car on bump stops (I'd lowered it down)
With your advice, checked fuses and worked thro the RSWsolutions checks, couldn't get compressor to work, but overtemp sensor and Pressure sensor seemed ok
Drove it round for twenty minutes, no movement, compressor still cold.
Eventually spoke to Ultimate 4x4 Dudley and they said bring it round to plug into diagnostics (£40) so i did.
On the way their (5 miles), up she comes to normal ride height!!
Plugged in, everything seemed ok only problems, compressor did seem hot and diagnostics said pressure was a bit low.
Came home and left car overnight.
Went out this morning and car had dropped about half way to stops (estimate by eye). Started it and it instantly rose to correct ride height.

I am off to Scotland next weekend so I want to make sure everything is ok but not quite sure what to do now. Two questions please:
Should the car drop overnight that much and as it instantly rose up, there can't be a leak can there?
How hot should the compressor get? It was quite hot to the touch.
I'm free today to have another look at it so any advice appreciated.
Thanks again

you could do a soapy water check(dunno if you have already) on the bags and lines. also a refurb kit for the compressor if only to buy some time on the comp to get you to scotland and back

Thanks Gav - As it came instantly back up when I started it this morning I didn't think it had a leak - but do you think it may have?

I'll do soapy water check anyway, as you advise - and also get compressor refurb kit.

Cheers, Rob

Did soapy water test as per Gav/Storey Wilson, no leaks at all. Then left car ticking over and took suspension to high position, ok. Then dropped to normal then to access. Then tried to get back to normal and it took five minutes to get there. Now back up,
Compressor runs almost continuously - 10 minutes on, 5 seconds off then continuous for another ten minutes.
Will get overhaul kit for compressor as per Gav recommendation.
One more question please. When compressor switches on and off there is a click from valve block. However I noticed a very similar intermittent clicking from the block, quite loud, (could hear it above the noise of the engine) whilst the compressor was running. Didn't seem to effect anything - Is this normal?

Thanks again

fit old man emu shocks and springs.

I'll stick with the Air Springs, thanks.

I've had my P38 for 4 years and this is the first problem with EAS.

Anybody got an answer the the valve block clicking (above)? Also the car is now knocking on 10 years old - and the springs don't look great (cracks). I wonder if they're leakin' - can't detect anything though. When should they be changed?

Cheers

Hi.

If you have done the soapy water test and you can't find any leaks, try the refurb kit and then, as i did replace the sensors which cured it.
Ultimate landrover were always very good when i lived at Dudley...but i did have one issue with the t4 diagnostics when it reported low fuel pressure aka faulty pump and was an expensive mistake.

Nick.

f1roborbob said:

I'll stick with the Air Springs, thanks.

I've had my P38 for 4 years and this is the first problem with EAS.

Anybody got an answer the the valve block clicking (above)? Also the car is now knocking on 10 years old - and the springs don't look great (cracks). I wonder if they're leakin' - can't detect anything though. When should they be changed?

Cheers

Click to expand...

If it drops as much as you say overnight then you have a leak somwhere. On level ground my does not drop more than a millimetre or two in a week. If the airbags are original, its probably a porous air bag. I reckon the clicking is normal, it's the solenoid valves operating as they try to keep the beast level when there is air leaking somewhere.

To rule out self leveling when it's parked, leave the rear hatch open if you can which freezes the suspension operation. If it still goes down it might be just one corner which will identify the leaky bag or solenoid.

My old p38 used to drop its arse overnight, now my current one drops the front overnight.
Touch wood, no problems yet.

discodreama said:

My old p38 used to drop its arse overnight, now my current one drops the front overnight.
Touch wood, no problems yet.

Click to expand...

Could be time to change the airbags before it shags the compressor and lets you down:doh:

not sure on the clicking but i do hear mine from time to time when its levelling off!

the refurb kit is prolly gonna fix it and its worth doing just to be confident in the comp.

see how it goes after that. if it fixes it then just keep an eye on it.

the bags on the front of mine were to the threads inside. replaced em with new s/hand and its sat perfect ever since!

gavbriggs said:

not sure on the clicking but i do hear mine from time to time when its levelling off!

the refurb kit is prolly gonna fix it and its worth doing just to be confident in the comp.

see how it goes after that. if it fixes it then just keep an eye on it.

the bags on the front of mine were to the threads inside. replaced em with new s/hand and its sat perfect ever since!

Click to expand...

i agree with gav.the front airbags on my p38 were worn down to the threads as well.

my knuckes were too!!! blood evrywhere.





well ok it was a scratch!!!

gavbriggs said:

my knuckes were too!!! blood evrywhere.





well ok it was a scratch!!!

Click to expand...

:doh::Cry::Cry:

f1roborbob said:

Also the car is now knocking on 10 years old - and the springs don't look great (cracks). I wonder if they're leakin' - can't detect anything though. When should they be changed?

Cheers

Click to expand...

I believe Land Rover recommend changing the airbags every 7 years or 70,000 mls?

As for your compressor you can purchase an overhaul kit (cylinder/piston/seal) for about 80.00, I wouldn't bother with just a new piston seal after 10 years of use the cylinder wall will be worn.

Also you discribe you airbags as cracked but appear to be airtight, the problem could be that as the suspension raises and lowers itself small cracks could open and close, allowing intermitant leaks. Unless the vehicle is parked on a perfectly level surface the suspension will try to level the vehicle every 3 hours ( I believe ) so it may drop at anytime overnight depending on airbag condition.

New Airbags can be purchased for about 240.00 and can be fitted DIY, the compressor is reported to take about an hour to overhaul (haven't done one yet myself), one last thing has your air tank ever been drained? I'II bet most people have never tried draining the vehicles airtank of water.

I know I haven't as yet, one 5 minute job I must do before winter sets in....:doh:

zzr

I was going to drain the air tank when I replaced the airbags on mine but I was unable to find a drain hole? Short of removing the whole tank with it's rusted bolts there appeared no way of draining it???

Car hardly dropped at all last night and instantly was up to correct height. Later happened to park on a bit of a slope and went into a shop for about two minutes. When I came back it took about 20 seconds before the height light stopped flashing. Puzzling me. Anyway doing as Gav advised and ordered refurb kit for compressor.

Thanks for advice chaps.

f1roborbob said:

Car hardly dropped at all last night and instantly was up to correct height. Later happened to park on a bit of a slope and went into a shop for about two minutes. When I came back it took about 20 seconds before the height light stopped flashing. Puzzling me. Anyway doing as Gav advised and ordered refurb kit for compressor.

Thanks for advice chaps.

Click to expand...

Can't see it's the compressor as it seems to get it back up to height OK, I still reckon you have one or more porous air bags

Datatek said:

Can't see it's the compressor as it seems to get it back up to height OK, I still reckon you have one or more porous air bags

Click to expand...

Doesn't the speed at which it rises depend on the amount/pressure of the air in the tank which is just topped up by the compressor? Even a completely knackered compressor would at least partially fill the tank eventually surely?

Or have I got it wrong? I thought the solenoids took their air supply from the tank and the pump just filled the tank?

Guy

kooky_guy said:

Doesn't the speed at which it rises depend on the amount/pressure of the air in the tank which is just topped up by the compressor? Even a completely knackered compressor would at least partially fill the tank eventually surely?

Or have I got it wrong? I thought the solenoids took their air supply from the tank and the pump just filled the tank?

Guy

Click to expand...

The tank is not very large, the volume of compressed air in it is not sufficient to reflate 4 airbags. It's function is a that of a reservoir to provide an instant supply of air when needed. As soon as the pressure drops, the compressor will run. So when the car drops to the stops overnight, even if the self leveling has not exhausted the tank supply, the compressor will run to regain height.

If the compressor pumps the car up to height in a short time it indicates to me that the compressor can't be too bad.

Porous airbags leak intermittantly. Small splits open and close as the bottom of the airbag folds under, so as the car drops, the airbag may leak more or less but in any case the leak may be small enough for the compressor to be able to maintain pressure if it runs continuously or almost continuously