P38A Unrepairable EAS fault after side steps fitted?

Hi All
Please help if you can. I am at a total loss with this now.
1996 P38. Owned in since approx 2010.

It went into an independent specialist for an MOT and passed back in November. Then they fitted Terrafirma side steps. As I picked it up an EAS fault appeared and they have not been able to fix it since despite lots of time fault finding. All was perfectly ok before.
They have checked all the airlines, and nothing is damaged from fitting the steps. The problem seems to be around the BECM talking to the ABS and EAS modules. I cannot understand this, it's all been fine for many years.

Has anyone got any thoughts on what may be causing this so strangely and suddenly after the work carried out?

My problem is the car is now 150 miles from me so to go do anything myself means planning it carefully. I can run the diags I have, but I am sure it will not report anything more than they are getting, which is modules not talking to each other. I have not tried EASunlock on it yet. It always used to work for me for the EAS module. But I am worried about this comms problem to the BEM and ABS.

Any advice welcome.
Thanks

Do you want to just get it home so you can do the fault finding and fix yourself?
I dont think its as big a problem as they make out. Look in the tech section there is a very good guide to help you through the system. I would say have they actually checked all the connectors, do they even know where they are?

If you get an emergency valve kit you could get it up and level and drive home.
But it really needs diagnostics so you can read/clear the fault and it may just spring back into life.

And oh it far from "unrepairable" .

J

It almost certainly has nothing to do the BECM or ABS. What is the actual problem with the EAS ? None of the EAS is "unrepairable" !!

Presumably they used a two-post lift ? Normally the LR shocks should prevent over extending the airbags & sensors, but if extended shocks are fitted it's likely. This can cause height sensors to reach dirty sections of the tracks.

If you are a member of a breakdown organisation, why not get it recovered home?
If you are not a member then why not join, wait three days and then get it recovered home?

Also what "diagnostics" have the MOT centre done. Most of them will not have P38 suitable diags, or the knowledge to sort the system. As a first step dig out your EASunlock & clear any faults. You might find it starts working again.

+1 on getting an "emergency bypass kit". £30 on eBay, but make sure you get 6mm version. Then get the car away from that garage & work through the trouble shooting guides.

pwood999 said:

It almost certainly has nothing to do the BECM or ABS. What is the actual problem with the EAS ? None of the EAS is "unrepairable" !!

Presumably they used a two-post lift ? Normally the LR shocks should prevent over extending the airbags & sensors, but if extended shocks are fitted it's likely. This can cause height sensors to reach dirty sections of the tracks.

Click to expand...

Hi
They replaced the 2 rear height sensors saying they were at fault. Strange both of them after years of being fine. Immediately after the work was carried out.
I have not seen the car for 6-8 weeks due to the distance I am from it. But from memory, it just said EAS Fault and the EAS lights are all flashing constantly.
I thought we would leave a door open and let the compressor pump up the tank pressure. No luck.
I do not think I remember the compressor running.

pwood999 said:

Also what "diagnostics" have the MOT centre done. Most of them will not have P38 suitable diags, or the knowledge to sort the system. As a first step dig out your EASunlock & clear any faults. You might find it starts working again.

+1 on getting an "emergency bypass kit". £30 on eBay, but make sure you get 6mm version. Then get the car away from that garage & work through the trouble shooting guides.

Click to expand...

Just what I was going to say, unless it is an actual garage that works on P38s that is basically what their diagnostics will say because they won't be able to read the P38's EAS stuff.
+1 on bypass kit but probably EASUnlock will reset the faults. If it is what happened on mine a few years ago it was because the car was lifted with the axles hanging by the bags and the height sensors faulted. I have also had one where it was lifted on access and one of the bags came off of its cap, the EAS faulted obviously because it was just blowing air straight out.

pwood999 said:

Also what "diagnostics" have the MOT centre done. Most of them will not have P38 suitable diags, or the knowledge to sort the system. As a first step dig out your EASunlock & clear any faults. You might find it starts working again.

+1 on getting an "emergency bypass kit". £30 on eBay, but make sure you get 6mm version. Then get the car away from that garage & work through the trouble shooting guides.

Click to expand...

what needs to be done to fit that kit so I can get it where I can work on it?

I have the first kit which can be left in place with a working system. But second is probably cheaper but cant be left in place with a working system



Go armed with a set (of either) fit in 5mins no tools needed.
But plug in your diagnostics and clear codes it may spring into life but if they fitted new Ht sensors then it will need calibrating.

J

If the lights are flashing, then a simple reset should help. If they still have the original height sensors grab them as they could be perfectly ok.

JamesBB said:

what needs to be done to fit that kit so I can get it where I can work on it?

Click to expand...

To fit the emergency inflation kit you pop the four air bag pipes out of the valve block by pushing the pipe in a little bit then push and hold the collers in and pull the pipes out and the kit just pushes on the end of the pipes then inflate each to about 60psiand you should be good to drive you may get the odd beep or two just ignore.

Diagram to show which pipes to pull out

brianp38dse said:

To fit the emergency inflation kit you pop the four air bag pipes out of the valve block by pushing the pipe in a little bit then push and hold the collers in and pull the pipes out and the kit just pushes on the end of the pipes then inflate each to about 60psiand you should be good to drive you may get the odd beep or two just ignore.

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Remove the relay under the seat and its peace. Also it would stop the compressor running.

J

JamesBB said:

Hi
They replaced the 2 rear height sensors saying they were at fault. Strange both of them after years of being fine. Immediately after the work was carried out.
I have not seen the car for 6-8 weeks due to the distance I am from it. But from memory, it just said EAS Fault and the EAS lights are all flashing constantly.
I thought we would leave a door open and let the compressor pump up the tank pressure. No luck.
I do not think I remember the compressor running.

Click to expand...

If they had the wheels hanging (which they shouldn't have done so if they did they are at fault) the sensors could have moved beyong their normal range and picked up dirt on the tracks. Or then again maybe the connector behind the passe ger kick panel is corroded.

Grrrrrr said:

If they had the wheels hanging (which they shouldn't have done so if they did they are at fault) the sensors could have moved beyong their normal range and picked up dirt on the tracks. Or then again maybe the connector behind the passe ger kick panel is corroded.

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Sorry, but how do you change a wheel?

J

marjon said:

Sorry, but how do you change a wheel?

J

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Jack it under the axle, so it doesn't dangle. Correct point is in the owners handbook !!

marjon said:

Sorry, but how do you change a wheel?

J

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The jack goes under the axle on the P38 so the axle does not hang when changing a wheel.. however hanging the axle should not cause problems.

Grrrrrr said:

If they had the wheels hanging (which they shouldn't have done so if they did they are at fault) the sensors could have moved beyong their normal range and picked up dirt on the tracks. Or then again maybe the connector behind the passe ger kick panel is corroded.

Click to expand...

There should be no problem hanging the axle, off roading there may be occasions when full articulation is reached.

pwood999 said:

Jack it under the axle, so it doesn't dangle. Correct point is in the owners handbook !!

Click to expand...

Point taken, But

J

Grrrrrr said:

If they had the wheels hanging (which they shouldn't have done so if they did they are at fault) the sensors could have moved beyong their normal range and picked up dirt on the tracks. Or then again maybe the connector behind the passe ger kick panel is corroded.

Click to expand...

I don't d'accord there my mate, both mine and Elliott's have had there wheels hang everytime when on the ramp and never an issue due to this. It may well a coincidence in our mates case.
It's not nice to see how mechanics are the first to blame sometimes