New to the forum and range rovers

[whereufromnosecity]

Hi all

Just thought i would say hi and ask a couple of questions as you lot seem to know your stuff

Had my P38 for a few a months now and well happy with it even if it's not the quickest being a diesel, (bmw engine) there are a couple of problems

The first is that the air bags have been replaced with springs, and i would like to convert back to bags, i've had a nose round the motor and on the net to get some info together, so far i seem to have everything other than the air bags and a relay thats missing out of the box by the battery, the air pipes seem to have been cut
What's involved in converting back, i'm fine with doing it myself but could do some guidance

My other problem is with the fan belt? tensioner (belt drives the cooling fan, alternator etc), on a couple of occasions the belt has become loose with the tensioner releasing the tension, there seems to be a mini shock type thing attached to it that looks seized, is this likely to be the problem

Cheers Stu

 

[wammers]

Hi all

Just thought i would say hi and ask a couple of questions as you lot seem to know your stuff

Had my P38 for a few a months now and well happy with it even if it's not the quickest being a diesel, (bmw engine) there are a couple of problems

The first is that the air bags have been replaced with springs, and i would like to convert back to bags, i've had a nose round the motor and on the net to get some info together, so far i seem to have everything other than the air bags and a relay thats missing out of the box by the battery, the air pipes seem to have been cut
What's involved in converting back, i'm fine with doing it myself but could do some guidance

My other problem is with the fan belt? tensioner (belt drives the cooling fan, alternator etc), on a couple of occasions the belt has become loose with the tensioner releasing the tension, there seems to be a mini shock type thing attached to it that looks seized, is this likely to be the problem

Cheers Stu

Reference fan belt. The piston tensioners bushings wear at both ends, this causes it to lose tension and be flipped over centre by the pressure on the power steering pump when you turn the wheel. Fit a new one.

 

[Irishrover]

The relay is easy enough to get hold of. Regarding the pipework, you need a length of
6mm O/D Nylon tubing which is capable of coping with a safe working pressure of around 160 p.s.i. (11 bar)
you have two options....Use 6mm push in connectors to extend the existing pipework or run complete new lines.
Personally, I would go for the second option because the fewer joits in a system, the less chance of leaks developing.
You can get the tubing and fittings from any pneumatics supplier and it will be a lot cheaper than buying from Ebay. A 100ft roll of nylon tube will cost around £20 and would be more than enough.
Chances are that you have a small box fitted under the drivers seat which fools the EAS into thinking that the air suspension is working correctly, you will have to remove this when you remove the coils and fit the air springs.

 

[whereufromnosecity]

Cheers Irishrover

Yeah i think renewing all the pipes is the way to go

The new air bags came today so slowly getting the bits together
Is their a way to test the system with now air bags fitted and when i come to fit the bags should i do 1 corner at a time or would i be better doing all 4 in 1 hit then pressurise the system

 

[Irishrover]

I would do one at a time and put a charge of air in it to settle the bag in. It helps to partially inflate the new spring anyway as it makes fitting the new clips easier.
Datatek did a good write up sometime ago on replacing the air springs, well worth doing a search for it.

 

[whereufromnosecity]

i will have a nose for the write up

Would i have to cap off the other pipes to charge the new bags as i go

 

[Irishrover]

i will have a nose for the write up

Would i have to cap off the other pipes to charge the new bags as i go

If you have a compressor and blowgun with a removable end nozzle, just connect a length of 6mm pipe to it and put it in the connector on the air spring. Give it a few short puffs to inflate it, I would think around 20 psi would be sufficient. Fit the new clips, top & bottom then release the air pressure.

 

[Datatek]

i will have a nose for the write up

Would i have to cap off the other pipes to charge the new bags as i go

PM me if you want a copy of the guide. Make sure you have the EAS software to hand in case it has a hard fault

 

[tomcat59alan]

you could have done a deal with linzie,she wants to go on to springs

 

[whereufromnosecity]

Datatek i have sent you a pm thanks for the offer

Regarding the springs i will be putting them up for sale if anyone wants them

 

[gtland]

Since the previous owner went onto steel springs, you`ll most likely find some other of the existing components are duds. It wouldn`t have been changed if pristine. Prepare for a long slog. The EAS is good when working, but you will probably need lots of patience.
I`d suggest getting the pump checked/reconned for starters, and maybe strip/clean valve block & air-dryer before thinking about putting air springs into place.
Good Luck.

 

[whereufromnosecity]

First part of the change back to air bags is done
I have fitted the rears but have know found another problem there are no height sensors on the back so that's something else to order

Had a nose on the net and some sites say they are handed and others say there not
So are there or aren't they?

 

[Datatek]

First part of the change back to air bags is done
I have fitted the rears but have know found another problem there are no height sensors on the back so that's something else to order

Had a nose on the net and some sites say they are handed and others say there not
So are there or aren't they?

Depends on the year, some are and some are not

 

[whereufromnosecity]

Got the rear sensors today, all fitted and the back is now on it's arse
Hopefully get the front end done tomorrow and that just leaves the problem solving for the weekend

 

[whereufromnosecity]

A quick update

Just finished fitting the front bags and height sensors, started her up snd she slow rose

Everything seems ok but showing ans eas fault on the dash which isn't s suprise to be honest, also have all the lights on the height selector button lit and the rangerover with an arrow below it lit on the dash

I got the software and data lead of datatek just to install on to the lap then i can go fault finding

Just a quick questionwWill the system require resetting first and then read the faults or does it reset it's self as faultly parts are placed?

 

[Datatek]

A quick update

Just finished fitting the front bags and height sensors, started her up snd she slow rose

Everything seems ok but showing ans eas fault on the dash which isn't s suprise to be honest, also have all the lights on the height selector button lit and the rangerover with an arrow below it lit on the dash

I got the software and data lead of datatek just to install on to the lap then i can go fault finding

Just a quick questionwWill the system require resetting first and then read the faults or does it reset it's self as faultly parts are placed?

Read the faults, note them down, probably a full house Clear the faults and read again which should then give you sensible readings. If you have the UP arrow on the dash, that usually means a height sensor fault, could just be a bad connection

 

[whereufromnosecity]

Got the lap top out today and after messing around with comm ports i managed to get the EAS unlock suite working, after clearing all the stored faults, i had just 1 fault which was the left front height sensor giving a incorrect reading, so i cleaned up the connector and bingo no EAS faults and the suspension works a treat and the drive is so much better now compared to the springs

 

[Datatek]

Got the lap top out today and after messing around with comm ports i managed to get the EAS unlock suite working, after clearing all the stored faults, i had just 1 fault which was the left front height sensor giving a incorrect reading, so i cleaned up the connector and bingo no EAS faults and the suspension works a treat and the drive is so much better now compared to the springs

RESULT! Just goes to show that the EAS is not so difficult to fix