Eas troubles

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juliethotel

juliethotel

Member
Posts
18
Location
South Central
Hi I'm new here and after a bit of advice.

Driving my 95 4.6hse the other day, she wouldn't rise to low profile and threw up a 30mph max and an eas fault message but didn't lower to bump stops.

When I got home I noticed the car was at a peculiar angle, the RH side was much higher than the left.

I took her for a spin to see if she would lower to the bumps. She did.
Hard fault then.

Bought eas lead and software then checked compressor, piston liner knackered, ordered repair kit and sorted that.

Put compressor back on car, it doesn't work but I can activate it manually. Tested overheat switch, showing resistance between orange and black wire when cold.

First question, that means the heat cut off switch is buggrd doesn't it?

I reset the fault and got the eas working by activating the pump manually, however the car is still at a really odd angle on all profiles, but has now swapped sides! The LH side is higher than the Right!

What are the possible causes for this?

Last question, with engine/ignition off, can the compressor be used to pump up the system? what I'm really asking is; is there a valve which stops air entering air tank when the engine/ignition is off?

Any help would be truly appreciated, I'm supposed to be taking it to Hastings on Monday but can't with it looking like the leaning tower of Piza!
 
It sound like the ecu that control the solenoids is faulty or there is crap in the valve block from the air drier unit.
where are you as there might be someone who could help you out near you.
Have you had the solenoids off and if so did you put tjem back correctly as solenoids in the wrong place are reading the wrong height sensors and will give the same fault as you have
 
ovalandrover said:
It sound like the ecu that control the solenoids is faulty or there is crap in the valve block from the air drier unit.
where are you as there might be someone who could help you out near you.
Have you had the solenoids off and if so did you put tjem back correctly as solenoids in the wrong place are reading the wrong height sensors and will give the same fault as you have
Click to expand...
The last thing it's likely to be is the ECU.
 
juliethotel said:
Hi I'm new here and after a bit of advice.

Driving my 95 4.6hse the other day, she wouldn't rise to low profile and threw up a 30mph max and an eas fault message but didn't lower to bump stops.

When I got home I noticed the car was at a peculiar angle, the RH side was much higher than the left.

I took her for a spin to see if she would lower to the bumps. She did.
Hard fault then.

Bought eas lead and software then checked compressor, piston liner knackered, ordered repair kit and sorted that.

Put compressor back on car, it doesn't work but I can activate it manually. Tested overheat switch, showing resistance between orange and black wire when cold.

First question, that means the heat cut off switch is buggrd doesn't it?

I reset the fault and got the eas working by activating the pump manually, however the car is still at a really odd angle on all profiles, but has now swapped sides! The LH side is higher than the Right!

What are the possible causes for this?

Last question, with engine/ignition off, can the compressor be used to pump up the system? what I'm really asking is; is there a valve which stops air entering air tank when the engine/ignition is off?

Any help would be truly appreciated, I'm supposed to be taking it to Hastings on Monday but can't with it looking like the leaning tower of Piza!
Click to expand...

The thermal trip is as you say buggered.
The compressor is probably knackered due to feeding leaking airbags.
It's possible that having gone to the bump stops, the height sensors have picked up crap from the part of the track that they don't usually travel over. Disconnect the arms and gently move them through their full range back and forth a few times gently.

You can operate the compressor from diagnostics to fill the air tank, with the ignition on even with the thermal trip broken.

If the airbags are original, they will need replacing, they have a design life of 7/8 years 80K miles. fix the leaks, fix the compressor and overhaul the valve block.
 
Thanks for the replies gents,

I'm in Farnham, 10 miles west of guildford.

You'll have to bear with me, I only started learning about the eas system properly a few days ago.

I havn't had the solenoids off, I'm not sure where they are! valve block?

Compressor works(manually) and has good pressure (just did the piston liner)
Although I strongly suspect the overheat switch has died.

Can the cut off switch be fixed? or can you get a new one? or is it a new compressor job?

Good point regarding the height sensors, I will check them, I read somewhere that you remove wheel arch liner to get to the front ones.

How do I access the rear height sensors? above R axle?

Air bags look in good nick, must have been replaced although that may have been a while ago. Car is at 100k. Will have a proper look at them and spray soapy water all over. It must have a leak somewhere!

If it means anything then I took a look at the height values displayed on the software, interestingly, the F right was 10 points higher than the F left, and the R left was a few points higher that the R right!

I'm not convinced that means anything though as the car used to be level and the values won't have changed.

Again; thanks for the input.
 
juliethotel said:
Thanks for the replies gents,

I'm in Farnham, 10 miles west of guildford.

You'll have to bear with me, I only started learning about the eas system properly a few days ago.

I havn't had the solenoids off, I'm not sure where they are! valve block?

on the left hand side under the bonnet is a big black box with eas on thats where the valve block and compressor are located

Can the cut off switch be fixed? or can you get a new one? or is it a new compressor job?

they are available from ebay not sure of the part number data or wammers will know
Click to expand...
 
juliethotel said:
Thanks for the replies gents,

I'm in Farnham, 10 miles west of guildford.

You'll have to bear with me, I only started learning about the eas system properly a few days ago.

I havn't had the solenoids off, I'm not sure where they are! valve block?

Compressor works(manually) and has good pressure (just did the piston liner)
Although I strongly suspect the overheat switch has died.

Can the cut off switch be fixed? or can you get a new one? or is it a new compressor job?

Good point regarding the height sensors, I will check them, I read somewhere that you remove wheel arch liner to get to the front ones.

How do I access the rear height sensors? above R axle?

Air bags look in good nick, must have been replaced although that may have been a while ago. Car is at 100k. Will have a proper look at them and spray soapy water all over. It must have a leak somewhere!

If it means anything then I took a look at the height values displayed on the software, interestingly, the F right was 10 points higher than the F left, and the R left was a few points higher that the R right!

I'm not convinced that means anything though as the car used to be level and the values won't have changed.

Again; thanks for the input.
Click to expand...
No need to move wheel arch liners, the sensors are easily accesible from under the car, clean the connectors while you are under there but not with WD40.

Thermal switch can be replaced if you can solder, Farnel or RS components do them but I can't remember the part number, Wammers will know it or check in the How To section, if that fails do a search.

The sensor readings are not accurate so there will be differences, one of mine is 10 points different at normal height, less at motorway height and the same as the other side at wading height. All that matters is that the physical heights are correct.
 
CPC used to do them at around two quid apiece. But they now only stock up to AIRPAX 67L110 and you need 67L120. Farnell have them at £3.80 but the delivery cost for one is over £15.00, so Ebay is the best option around £8.50 including post is the cheapest i have seen. Some ripoff bastards are charging £15.00 plus for them.
 
Last edited:
Thanks,

I've ordered the heat switch and my old man is very handy with a soldering iron so that should be job jobbed soon. Still haven't checked the height sensors, will be getting round to that on tuesday.

The thing is I'd be very surprised if it is them, I've frequently had the car at it's bumps and it's never leaned before. It was leaning before it lowered itself to the bumps anyway.

Anyone got any other theories about this? has it happened to others before?
(O/S is around 4 - 6 cm lower than the N/S)
 
ovalandrover said:
It sound like the ecu that control the solenoids is faulty or there is crap in the valve block from the air drier unit.
where are you as there might be someone who could help you out near you.
Have you had the solenoids off and if so did you put tjem back correctly as solenoids in the wrong place are reading the wrong height sensors and will give the same fault as you have
Click to expand...

Solenoids don't read height sensors. They just open and close valves, if they are in the wrong place they open and close the wrong valves when the ECU, that does read height sensors, activates them. :)
 
juliethotel said:
Thanks,

I've ordered the heat switch and my old man is very handy with a soldering iron so that should be job jobbed soon. Still haven't checked the height sensors, will be getting round to that on tuesday.

The thing is I'd be very surprised if it is them, I've frequently had the car at it's bumps and it's never leaned before. It was leaning before it lowered itself to the bumps anyway.

Anyone got any other theories about this? has it happened to others before?
(O/S is around 4 - 6 cm lower than the N/S)
Click to expand...

Why would you be surprised if it's a height sensor? Nothing lasts forever and the sensor wiper can pick up crap on the track at any time when it's old and give a duff reading.
 
After a bit of measuring between the tyre and the arch today I've noticed that it is just the front right that is lower than the rest of the car.

I had a play with the front height sensors and noticed that the front right is different to the F left. The FR has a conical cover on it and the LH looks like a replacement.

To my mind it seems the RH sensor is the original sensor and could well be knackered. Surprise Surprise :)

I've moved the arms through their travel gently a few times but is has made no difference to the height on all profiles (except access) the FR is still an inch or so lower than the rest.

Is there any way I can check if it is definately knackered before ordering another one?

Thanks
 
Forget that last post gents,

I've put the fully re-conned compressor in her with the new heat cut off switch, and she is now sitting level. Very peculiar but I'm not knocking it!

I now have a near fully working p38 again, for the time being anyway.

Thanks for the help.
 
juliethotel said:
Forget that last post gents,

I've put the fully re-conned compressor in her with the new heat cut off switch, and she is now sitting level. Very peculiar but I'm not knocking it!

I now have a near fully working p38 again, for the time being anyway.

Thanks for the help.
Click to expand...
In that case I would suspect that the suspension airbag on the corner that was low is leaking, that has shagged your old pump and will shag your new one.
 
I suspected this as well, I'll try finding the leak soon, I reckon silicone sealant may do it.

I'll be selling it soon so don't really want to fork out for a pair of new bags.
Anyone found a reliable way to bodge an airbag leak?


It's still randomly sitting at odd angles sometimes so I may have another play with the height sensors.
 
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