SLS ? ACE ? Battery ?

Hi, Im not new to LRs' but am to LR's with electronics.

I upgraded my 1987 v8 RR to a Disco II two years ago (ACE SLS ABS) and... no worries till now.

Now, all of a sudden, rear left of car keeps emptying its AirSpring and the battery is dead after 4hrs or so.

No, its not punctured.

This ONLY occurs when I park the car on a slope... and dont lock it.

As I exit the car, shut my door, open the rear door... click -- psssssst - click. A valve opens under the drivers door (LHD), lets some air out, then closes. This happens a few times until the left rear is on its bump-stop. Locking the car seems to prevent further "venting".

Park the car on the flat - its OK. Lock the car. Its ok. Leave it unlocked... the battery drains.

All this started in December... damp, cold ? Loose connector - there are so many I dont know where to start and as the car remembers each relay/fuse/plug you change ... I dont want to just unplug everything on the off chance that... I have cleaned the Hight Sensor plugs... but have not opened the Compressor to clean the Blue and Black plugs there in.

All fuses are ok (engine and drivers). I note that the ACE relay (E-R14) keeps clicking in and out for a while after removing the key. I also note that the ABS thing (spider) hums all the time. When working to find the cause IT NEVER HAPPENS ! Bl**dy typical ! ... Risidual current is 0.005 Amps at this point - humming and clicking included.

So...appart from an expensive trip to an LR Dealer to plug in TestBook... does anyone have any suggestions...?

Thanks for reading this,

Simon

Hi Simon,
I'm not even going to attempt to diagnose your cars problem. All I can tell you is that the SLABS unit is active for up to 30 minutes after switch off with certain conditions applied. The slabs will lower the suspension, supposedly as an aid to unloading. This particular ecu also controls the ABS, so that is also "live" after switch off. Do you have any warning lights show? Do you have the RAVE manual for the series 2? There is a lengthy and very interesting description on how it all works. Unfortunately, it doesn't tell you what happens when it doesn't work. All errors are stored in the SLABS and would be found by Testbook if any. The height sensors have to be re-calibrated if removed or replaced, I don't know if unplugging will make any difference. Please let us know when and how you cleared the fault and sorry I can't be of anymore help.
Regards
RichardG

Hi Richard,

Thanks for the reply.

Yes, I have the NAS Rave Manual and appart from not having the TD5 engine in it, its got everything else !

A very interesting read it is too. I'm wondering if I just need the SLABS reconfiguring... the car has not been in any serious off roading (just hardcore) and there are no warning lights on.

I did have the "tres amigos" for about a year but after replacing the rear hub (leak through the bearings - grease everywhere) and a visit to an LR shop two months later (3hr drive there, 3 more back) its was fine. That was in September last year. The first time I remember the rear "dropping" was in December - first cold spell.

I replace the battery with a spare one yesterday - the car still drops its rear left, but now I also get loud clicking from the SLS Compressor after I close my car door.

Looks to me like I'm in for a day trip to Paris (the LR shop with test book).

cheers

Simon