Eas Problems

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GawaineT

Member
Posts
24
Hopefully I can provide enough of a description for someone to help me work out whats wrong.

Car is a '96 4.6HSE, in fact its RedRange's old car.

Yesterday, got about 5 miles from home, got the dreaded EAS Fault and 35mph max warning.
Limped home, got my laptop and RSW software on the case and found:

FR Signal Incorrect
Vehicle has moved
RR valve stuck closed.

I have for some time suspected my front right Height Sensor to be a bit weird, as it sometimes pumps that corner up to max height, then settles itself out.

I reset those codes, all seemed ok, went out last night, no odd behaviour.



I went out this morning, got 7 miles up the road, same thing, so again went home and got laptop out.

This time, I thought I'd get more accurate codes, based on the premise I wasn't sure if any were old stored ones.

This time I got,

RL Valve stuck closed
Vehicle has moved.

I've since reset those and all seems ok.

I have checked all 4 springs for leaks with soapy water, they seem ok, although I think the back ones look a bit perished at the bottoms.
I also did a leak test on the pipes where they exit the valve block.

I replaced the compressor about a year ago (probably about 9 months) with a refurb'd one, as the old one died (around 150,000 miles)
Has been fine until the cold snap of weather.

The compressor has obviously been running excessively, as it was quite warm and when I checked it, it seemed to run, stop for a few seconds and the restart. ( I do suspect a leak)

Has been getting a bit lazy in the mornings to pump up, plus its been doing the stupid self level until it hits the bump stops thing, which I've learned to live with since having the car. I should add that occasionally it will be at access height, and it will only lift, if I get out (please no fat jokes, I'm not)

I realise this isn't perhaps the most thorough diagnosis but does anyone have any experience based on these symptoms.
 
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If it is on the bump-stops in the morning then that could be a leak. Try getting it up to extended ride-height then unplug the EAS timer-relay and leave overnight. If a particular corner has gone down then that's most likely where the leak is ... unless the valve block itself is leaking.

Any idea how long it is since the air-bags were replaced?

If it is leaking and you're driving it about it is only a matter of time until the compressor goes bang.
 
As an update, i left it at normal height, it was dark so i haven't removed the relay, but have gone and checked it and its how i left it, so far. Will check in the morning. I've got a big bundle of receipts but no airbags mentioned. Will try and find out
 
I have for some time suspected my front right Height Sensor to be a bit weird, as it sometimes pumps that corner up to max height, then settles itself out.

Hi

FWIW...

Check to see if the height sensors can be swapped from side to side. Height sensors on the Classic could be swapped.

If yours can be swapped (and still work of course) you will be using a "brand new" (other side of the) height sensor potentiometer.

although I think the back ones look a bit perished at the bottoms

If they are NOT leaking and they are only a "BIT" perished, you could consider inverting the air bag.

Because most (all?) of the airbag wear occurs at the bottom of the airbag and most of the motion (extending and retracting of the airbag) happens at the bottom, the top of the airbag remains quite sound.

From my experience of changing two sets of airbags (two RR's) and seeing the tops of the airbags were "perfect" I deduce that inverting the airbag will provide several more years of life to each airbag.


The compressor has obviously been running excessively, as it was quite warm and when I checked it, it seemed to run, stop for a few seconds and the restart. ( I do suspect a leak)

The compressor does draw quite a few amps and will get "warm" very quickly. If the compressor has been running excessively, it will be too hot to TOUCH (hold).
 
Pull up a chair Ant. :tea:

Maybe it's coz our friend is from oz, upside down and all that? :behindsofa:
 
Hopefully I can provide enough of a description for someone to help me work out whats wrong.

Car is a '96 4.6HSE, in fact its RedRange's old car.

Yesterday, got about 5 miles from home, got the dreaded EAS Fault and 35mph max warning.
Limped home, got my laptop and RSW software on the case and found:

FR Signal Incorrect
Vehicle has moved
RR valve stuck closed.

I have for some time suspected my front right Height Sensor to be a bit weird, as it sometimes pumps that corner up to max height, then settles itself out.

I reset those codes, all seemed ok, went out last night, no odd behaviour.



I went out this morning, got 7 miles up the road, same thing, so again went home and got laptop out.

This time, I thought I'd get more accurate codes, based on the premise I wasn't sure if any were old stored ones.

This time I got,

RL Valve stuck closed
Vehicle has moved.

I've since reset those and all seems ok.

I have checked all 4 springs for leaks with soapy water, they seem ok, although I think the back ones look a bit perished at the bottoms.
I also did a leak test on the pipes where they exit the valve block.

I replaced the compressor about a year ago (probably about 9 months) with a refurb'd one, as the old one died (around 150,000 miles)
Has been fine until the cold snap of weather.

The compressor has obviously been running excessively, as it was quite warm and when I checked it, it seemed to run, stop for a few seconds and the restart. ( I do suspect a leak)

Has been getting a bit lazy in the mornings to pump up, plus its been doing the stupid self level until it hits the bump stops thing, which I've learned to live with since having the car. I should add that occasionally it will be at access height, and it will only lift, if I get out (please no fat jokes, I'm not)

I realise this isn't perhaps the most thorough diagnosis but does anyone have any experience based on these symptoms.
Check the connectors in the EAS box, part and remake a few times with some contact cleaner NOT WD40.
Also in the light of recent experience check the connectors behind the kick panel front LH side for corrosion, also check the OBD connector for corrosion.
Inverting an air bag even if it's possible is not a good idea. If they look perished they need replacement. Life expectancy is 7/8 years 80K miles.
 
If it is on the bump-stops in the morning then that could be a leak. Try getting it up to extended ride-height then unplug the EAS timer-relay and leave overnight. If a particular corner has gone down then that's most likely where the leak is ... unless the valve block itself is leaking.

Any idea how long it is since the air-bags were replaced?

If it is leaking and you're driving it about it is only a matter of time until the compressor goes bang.

No idea when they were replaced last if at all, trying to find out.
I have left it on extended height and pulled the relay out, so will check it again in the morning.

I don't mind it costing a few quid to fix, you have to expect it with a 50k new car, which was put together with rubbish French electrics :)

I have checked the springs, on the back and they do look a bit perished, so hopefully I'll have a lopsided car, or not, depending on your outlook.
 
Check the connectors in the EAS box, part and remake a few times with some contact cleaner NOT WD40.
Also in the light of recent experience check the connectors behind the kick panel front LH side for corrosion, also check the OBD connector for corrosion.
Inverting an air bag even if it's possible is not a good idea. If they look perished they need replacement. Life expectancy is 7/8 years 80K miles.

I do suspect they've been on there longer than that, I'm trying to find out for certain.
 
As a collective statement, thanks to all you guys for all of your help and comments so far, just one question, why can't these things ever happen when there its warm and you have the sun on your back, bloody snow GRRR!
 
No idea when they were replaced last if at all, trying to find out.
I have left it on extended height and pulled the relay out, so will check it again in the morning.

I don't mind it costing a few quid to fix, you have to expect it with a 50k new car, which was put together with rubbish French electrics :)

I have checked the springs, on the back and they do look a bit perished, so hopefully I'll have a lopsided car, or not, depending on your outlook.

How long have Lucas been French? :D:D
 
How long have Lucas been French? :D:D

Oh, my mistake, I thought the Valeo stuff was French, is it not?

Anyway, the whole P38 built to a bad spec still stands :)
My point is if they had spent a few pence more on components, maybe we wouldn't all see these issues, quite so often.

However, I do accept that on a vehicle as old as these, mines a '96 after all, you do expect a few issues.
 
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