Faultmate EAS ECU Not Responding

Hello again Ladies / Gents
Brief Story. 1998 P38 developed an audible air leak on the offside rear. On the way to the garage to investigate, it went into hard fault with the usual EAS Fault on the dash, flashing height indicator lights and the usual beeps. On holiday in Dunoon at the moment and no garages this side of the water with diagnostics that will work on RR’s. Bit the bullet and bought a Faultmate MSV-2 Extreme.
Initial vehicle scan showed the EAS ECU not responding. All others OK. Software codes obtained from Black Box and further investigations carried out. Trying to interrogate the EAS ECU brought up the Faultmate error codes VSE-12/13/16 which meant no communication/errors/unexpected problem. It is doing something though as, when the EAS ECU is being interrogated, the height lights stop flashing leaving just the top one on and the EAS Fault on the dash disappears. The beeps also stop. When another ECU is then interrogated, the fault indications resume
The Faultmate communicates with all other ECUs OK.
Anyone have any similar experiences, either with Faultmate or the EAS ECU?
Blackbox have suggested trying the Faultmate on another RR (Vehicle Scan only). Other option of course is to have another diagnostic check done but it ain’t going anywhere until I sort out the leak (new bags being fitted this afternoon hopefully).
Thanks and regards
Derek Ward

Check the contacts are clean on the OBDII connector. Corroded contacts are a common problem. Also check that the wires at the back of the connector are not corroded off.

The eas ecu uses it's own pin in the obd connector, so it's not unknown for you to have access to the other systems but not the eas. It is more than likely that you have a corrosion issue or wire off as mentioned.

I have the same problem with both of my P38s. So far I have removed the larger of the 2 white connectors in the passenger footwell and soldered the wires, but to no avail. I plan to cut and solder the other smaller connector soon then try it again. If this doesnt work, I shall look at the diagnostic conector itself and see if the wires need soldering due to corrosion.

Hi Datatek / Rewmer / Nidjet

Thanks for the quick replies. Managed to get the airbags done yesterday and blew them up with a manual inflation kit bought ages ago but never previously used (air leak was a burst bag). Hoped to get into the OBD2 connector today but other events precluded this. Travelling home tomorrow so maybe get a chance on Monday. Otherwise it'll be 6 weeks time before I can play with it again (work offshore Brazil).
I fitted Arnott gen 2 bags by the way. First impressions are very good. Ride seems much improved.
I'll post again when I have more info. Thanks again for the pointers.
Cheers
Derek

do you have a copy of rave? if so you can look in the circuit diagrams/connectors section and trace the wires to check for continuity.

have a look at the becm plugs make sure they are all pushed in. also the eas ecu under passenger seat.

its probably a loose connection or could be eas ecu thats gone.

Hi Gav
I have a copy of Rave but only had it at home so unable to use it up in Dunoon. I've checked the EAS ECU connector but nothing amiss there. Have now run out of time this leave as back offshore tomorrow for 6 weeks so it'll have to wait until I return.

I found one strange anomoly though. I pumped it all up with a manual inflation kit and, provided I didn't stop/restart the engine or sit too long with the handbrake on (with the engine on), it would stay at height. When I brought it back from Dunoon down to Blackburn like this, I found the suspension to be behaving exactly as it should - ie lowering on the motorway / raising when off etc. When I arrived home, I switched the engine off to unload. On restarting, the suspension moved to the offroad height. I then moved the car back a few yards, switched off and the suspension went down to the normal level ie NOT on the bumpstops. All rather odd. I could also hear the compressor cutting in and out on the journey down. So it would appear that, if everything is OK, even with an EAS fauly in the system, it will still work. Curiouser and curiouser.

Hopefully I'll be able to give it the time it needs when I get back in March. I'll keep you updated then.

Cheers
Derek