new to EAS, help please?

ok so im new to EAS. my P38 has some suspension issues. ill break them down:

• if you start car and use rocker switch, suspension comes up fine.
• if you just drive off and allow auto level, front takes forever to come up, but not as in slow raise, can take 2-3 mins then will just shoot up (usually when stopped)
• when driving front consistently drops down for a while and then returns (slowly)
• pump is almost constantly running, has a 10-20 second break max every few minutes.
• pump is hot to the touch also.
• some days car rides smooth as silk, some days rides like a go kart.

im ready and have my bottle of leak detector, but can anyone offer some pointers based on the faults ive listed? i have an idea of how the system works, but advice would be appreciated.

sounds to me like the compresser might be at fault or the air springs.
the compresser can be tested by taking one of the pipes off blue one i thiink but not 100% and see if you can stop the air flow with your finger.

to test the air springs put the range up in to extended and cover the airsprings in soapy water. old school but it works.

Fully test the compressor as detailed in the how to section of this forum. Check air springs with soapy water spray at all heights, leaks can be at any height due to folds in the rubber. If older than 8 yrs they are probably shot. Come back and let us know now you get on.

Compressor working overtime feeding leaking airsprings, they have a life of 7/8 years 80K miles, if they are original they WILL be leaking. Compressor may also be knackered due to overwork.

cstack1298 said:

ok so im new to EAS. my P38 has some suspension issues. ill break them down:

• if you start car and use rocker switch, suspension comes up fine.
• if you just drive off and allow auto level, front takes forever to come up, but not as in slow raise, can take 2-3 mins then will just shoot up (usually when stopped) - As the car moves the Suspension physicaly moves to the undulations in the road, as the car is trying to raise to a set point as indicated by the height sensor, but the height sensor reading keeps changing (due to the road bumps) it can take a while until it finds a stable reading.
• when driving front consistently drops down for a while and then returns (slowly) - The EAS is trying to fight a leak I suspect in the Front Bags
• pump is almost constantly running, has a 10-20 second break max every few minutes. - Do the Wammers Pump check as Stufer Mentions - I suspect a Leak somewhere and the poor little pump is struggling to keep up with the pressure loss
• pump is hot to the touch also. - As above
• some days car rides smooth as silk, some days rides like a go kart. - As Above

im ready and have my bottle of leak detector, but can anyone offer some pointers based on the faults ive listed? i have an idea of how the system works, but advice would be appreciated.

Click to expand...

.

You have a leak in one of the front bags. Car will rise to a certain level then leak will be uncovered, if the tank was at full pressure it would overcome the leak and rise to proper height. If compressor is weak as it will be if it's been fighting this leak for any time, and there is not full pressure in tank it will take time to overcome the leak driving on road will cover and uncover leak. When car speed drops to below 1mph both front valves open to equalise pressure across axle. Car will drop slightly if you have a leaking bag maybe covering the leak, then because you now maybe have full tank pressure car will shoot up past leak because of volume of pressurised air available.

right, thanks for the help. ill have a look over the weekend. when i bought the car it had receipts for genuine nags that were replaced 2 years ago but i do respect the fact that this means nothing and will check regardless.

one thing i forgot to mention as well, when suspension does come up, there is like a clunking through the travel, almost like trying to operate a dry pneumatic cylinder, moves eventually but with a juddery/non linear motion.

cstack1298 said:

right, thanks for the help. ill have a look over the weekend. when i bought the car it had receipts for genuine nags that were replaced 2 years ago but i do respect the fact that this means nothing and will check regardless.

one thing i forgot to mention as well, when suspension does come up, there is like a clunking through the travel, almost like trying to operate a dry pneumatic cylinder, moves eventually but with a juddery/non linear motion.

Click to expand...

Can only be a sticky shocker.