Wakey, wakey, EAS!

I'll try and make this brief, Saturday night telly and all that (not)!

Went away, didn't start the old thing for about two to three weeks - anyway battery flat as in the clock stopped flat. This isn't the first time this has happened (keep meaning to systematically pull fuses etc) so out with the batt charger, trickle charge, fire it up no probs but this time the EAS fails.

Never done this number before but had the car and up arrow symbol to the right and all ride height lights on, max 35 mph blah, blah. Left engine run up to temp, still zero from the suspension department.

As I had recently refurbed the compressor, I wondered if that was the problem so I jumped pins 87 - 30 on the relay, comp ran, left it running for ten minutes or so to build up some pressure.

Fired up the engine, all the lights went out apart from the flashing standard height and the steady access one and that one too went out when the old crate got up off its knees.

Stopped engine, ign key to off, removed jumper, put relay back, quick test drive, now all is well again.

Admittedly, I didn't have EAS fault come up but why didn't it sort itself out.

Hopefully one of the enlightened will be along shortly and advise

Would appreciate it so as I know if there is something which needs attention, ta.

Oh, it's a '98 4.6.

Think you should have left the motor running for 10 min's with the door open, this would have built up the pressure in the tank.

Compressor won't run with all the lights on and the 35 mph message. That is a hard fault and the system is shut down. Happens on mine first thing in the morning now and again, but i just drive and it sorts itself after a few yards. Have not yet found the cause but i suspect a corner sensor fault.

Yup, the system was dormant and I forgot to mention that I took it for a (bouncy) drive round the block and nada.

Just reread your post, guess you cleared the 35mph limit by running the compressor with a link. have you got the lead and software to sort the EAS ? if not I would get them

Fergie46 said:

Yup, the system was dormant and I forgot to mention that I took it for a (bouncy) drive round the block and nada.

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Depends where the suspension was, down on the stops with no air in the tank from where the ECU thinks it should be causes a bit of confusion in the little electricery circuits.

tomcat59alan said:

Just reread your post, guess you cleared the 35mph limit by running the compressor with a link. have you got the lead and software to sort the EAS ? if not I would get them

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Yes, have got software and lead but haven't used it yet. To be honest as it hadn't happened before, I was concerned that the compressor was OK after the rebuild and it only takes moments comparatively to link the relay and when it was running just fine decided to let it get some pressure up. I was quite surprised when it fixed itself, hence the post.

I thought that maybe of use to others in the same situation.

The car was fully on the 'stops all the way round.

Fergie46 said:

Yes, have got software and lead but haven't used it yet. To be honest as it hadn't happened before, I was concerned that the compressor was OK after the rebuild and it only takes moments comparatively to link the relay and when it was running just fine decided to let it get some pressure up. I was quite surprised when it fixed itself, hence the post.

I thought that maybe of use to others in the same situation.

The car was fully on the 'stops all the way round.

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Think you had better get some leak detector (soapy water) squirted around everything. You have a problem. No air in tank is a storage leak at least. But that would not send it to the bump stops just make it slow to rise.

wammers said:

Think you had better get some leak detector (soapy water) squirted around everything. You have a problem. No air in tank is a storage leak at least. But that would not send it to the bump stops just make it slow to rise.

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Did wonder that but supposing that there was very little or no pressure left in the entire system inc storage tank, how long would it take for it to recharge enough for it to fully lift? My compressor could only have been running for around I'd say 10 mins or so.

It doesn't usually settle onto the stops but then I've never left the car for as long as that while I've had it, around five months now. I only use it at weekends normally and week to week it's settled a little but not entirely.

It does need a sort out, though. The ride heights are all to cock (too high at the rear and slightly lopsided and I'm wondering if the software that I've got from Storey Wilson will enable me to sort that?

I've bought another Rangie from a friend of a friend with a blown engine exactly the same year and spec as mine. Am going to strip it of a load of parts including all the expensive sensors, EAS valve block and compressor and a whole load of other electronic gizmos from the vehicle. It was fully OK, 'til he trashed the mill so the ride height sensors should be usable etc,etc I know that if you change the sensors the EAS has to be recalibrated.

Should take five to six minutes to fill the tank if the compressor is good. Be careful forcing compressor for any length of time you could blow the thermo switch. Car will self level every six hours of so left unattended. A 15 mm drop in 24 hrs is acceptable according to Land rover. If you have a leak and leave the car for any long length of time it will drop to the stops over an extended period. Because the other bags will try to drop to the lowest one. You need to find your leak.

wammers said:

Compressor won't run with all the lights on and the 35 mph message. That is a hard fault and the system is shut down. Happens on mine first thing in the morning now and again, but i just drive and it sorts itself after a few yards. Have not yet found the cause but i suspect a corner sensor fault.

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That's odd, a hard fault should not clear itself. Doubt it's a corner sensor though, more likely a bad connection as the message is generated by the message centre and only commanded from the EAS ECU, so a bad connection may force the message and then clear it as the connection dried out or moved with vibration.

Datatek said:

That's odd, a hard fault should not clear itself. Doubt it's a corner sensor though, more likely a bad connection as the message is generated by the message centre and only commanded from the EAS ECU, so a bad connection may force the message and then clear it as the connection dried out or moved with vibration.

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Odd yes, but it happens. Other than invalid fault nothing ever shows on diag. So that is why it takes some finding. Happens very rarely but never the less does happen.

Would it not be due to the flat battery and low battery voltage? Causes all sorts of odd things on P38's.

If its gone away I wouldnt worry to much about it! The old girl will always get you home!

Fine again today, I'll add the soapy water number to the jobs list.

Thanks for the replies.

Have had mine do the same once, turned it around on the driveway (facing uphill) and left it wondering what to do about it. Next time I started it everything was ok and the 35 mph message went! I still get, quite often, the EAS switch light all four lights (flashing) and get a EAS fault message, it shows as if it goes to the top position on the dash board orange light. Plugged in software and it shows front and back height sensor fault, still need to have a look but hoping just bad/corroding connections.