P38 EAS sluggish / intermittent

Buttas · Feb 17, 2011

Ok, I have a couple of issues on the EAS if anyone can suggest anything

Firstly, its normally very sluggish first thing in the morning. I can feel it starting to raise, but never seems to settle in normal ride height, and the light keeps flashing and will keep doing that, for as long as im driving round town. If however i go out onto the carriageway, it will swap into motorway mode relatively easily, and once it has done that, it will swap between modes perfectly?

Secondly, I've had the Hard Fault mode twice in 6weeks, both of which were particularly cold mornings (around -7), but as soon as I get the computer connected onto it and clear the faults, its back to normal again. could it just be the cold getting at a valve/sensor?

Thanks in advance

wammers · Feb 17, 2011

Buttas said:
Ok, I have a couple of issues on the EAS if anyone can suggest anything

Firstly, its normally very sluggish first thing in the morning. I can feel it starting to raise, but never seems to settle in normal ride height, and the light keeps flashing and will keep doing that, for as long as im driving round town. If however i go out onto the carriageway, it will swap into motorway mode relatively easily, and once it has done that, it will swap between modes perfectly?

Secondly, I've had the Hard Fault mode twice in 6weeks, both of which were particularly cold mornings (around -7), but as soon as I get the computer connected onto it and clear the faults, its back to normal again. could it just be the cold getting at a valve/sensor?
Thanks in advance

First of all if it's dropping over night you have leaks. Second if it takes a long time to rise you may also have a storage system leak. Thirdly you almost certainly have a weak compressor.
Probably caused by the leaks. What were the fault codes?

Buttas · Feb 17, 2011

The first time, i think it was a soft fault, and the fault codes were F801 fl signal incorrect, and F910 air supply fault
The second time was def a hard fault, and they didnt tell me the code but said it was a "rear valve permanently closed"
Both times clearing the faults it went back to normal, and once it settles on motorway mode it works 100%

I normally would drop it to the loading height when parking up, and to be honest yea it does sometimes feel that its on the bump stops in the morning

wammers · Feb 17, 2011

Buttas said:
The first time, i think it was a soft fault, and the fault codes were F801 fl signal incorrect, and F910 air supply fault
The second time was def a hard fault, and they didnt tell me the code but said it was a "rear valve permanently closed"
Both times clearing the faults it went back to normal, and once it settles on motorway mode it works 100%

I normally would drop it to the loading height when parking up, and to be honest yea it does sometimes feel that its on the bump stops in the morning

Get yourself a new compressor or repair the one you have if it's duff. You can check it by taking off the blue pipe and putting your finger over outlet, whilst it's running you should not be able to seal it. Air should be forced past your finger. If that's ok, check the exhaust port when compressor is running, if any air is coming out, fit a new diaphragm valve. Find the leaks, they kill compressors.

Datatek · Feb 17, 2011

I would bet the airbags are shot and leaking leading to a worn compressor.

Buttas · Feb 17, 2011

Thanks, will get a look probably at the weekend and let you know.

Have also purchased an OBD-II lead. If any of the faults youve mentioned are there, would they show up in the free software available on the site?

wammers · Feb 17, 2011

Buttas said:
Thanks, will get a look probably at the weekend and let you know.

Have also purchased an OBD-II lead. If any of the faults youve mentioned are there, would they show up in the free software available on the site?

Unless the lead is attached to the EASunlock software which you need a special lead for anyway. It's as useful as tits on a Mars bar. OBD-II software won't communicate with the system.

Datatek · Feb 17, 2011

Buttas said:
Thanks, will get a look probably at the weekend and let you know.

Have also purchased an OBD-II lead. If any of the faults youve mentioned are there, would they show up in the free software available on the site?

If it's the right lead for the EAS software then yes you should be able to read the faults if there are any there

Buttas · Feb 17, 2011

Sorry that's what I meant, I have the EASunlock, and bought the OBD lead to modify to use with it

tony1973 · Mar 19, 2011

hi i got the same trouble some time it stays up for days and then nothing

dogsbody · Mar 19, 2011

tony1973 said:
hi i got the same trouble some time it stays up for days and then nothing

Once you've done the leak tests and checked your compressor yours might be one of the rare occassions when I would suggest that you consider servicing the valve block, new O rings etc. Whilst you're at it you might want to check the drier.

drewsp38 · Mar 19, 2011

Ive had all of the above problems in the past with verious P38's ive owned.. i agree the first thing you need to be doing is getting a new compressor, ebay the best but i use a breakers in nottingham that are good that should sort the problems with the lazy mornings, Unless its you being lazy then try a new alram... lol secondly if there is a bit of damp in the valve block, when we have a cold snap this can freeze causing problems with them sticking, with regards to it going down over night, check the airbags, best thing to do is get some fairy in a bottle of water, put the suspension up and get under and spray the water all of the airbags, this will show you if there are any leaks

P38 EAS sluggish / intermittent

Buttas

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wammers

No longer with us, RIP

Buttas

New Member

wammers

No longer with us, RIP

Datatek

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Buttas

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wammers

No longer with us, RIP

Datatek

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Buttas

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tony1973

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dogsbody

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drewsp38

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