[feyniriel]

Hi guys, we were on our way to drive 2000km across Europe this morning when the old persistent EAS fault that comes on when the car is driving on a straight flat road made the rear suspension drop to bump stops instead of the car going to wade height as it usually does.

Fault codes are front left height sensor out of range (which I suspect causes the car to get the EAS fault as it tries to balance itself on flat ground) and valve stuck, didn't get to see which valve cos the code went away by itself.

We tapped the solenoids to unstuck them, wiggled the connection and are contemplating how to proceed. We have done an overhaul for the valve body 12 months ago. After tapping the solenoids it seems to behave normal again. Wondering if it really needs another valve body overhaul or if this is something we can fix without having to get spare parts from UK. Any ideas? Thanks!

 

[marjon]

If it seems to be working ok, then just get some of those emergency valves so if it does have a hissy fit in europe you can at least fit them and get you home.

J

 

[Rubberknees]

4 shraeder valves . I keep a set in a little tin in the boot for just such an emergency. Never had to use them since I bought them YET

 

[pwood999]

Check the connector underneath the valve block. The connector body may appear tight, but the socket contacts open up slightly over time due to heat & cold cycles in the engine bay. Intermittent connections will cause "valve stuck" faults when there's nothing wrong with the valves.

Sensor out of range is either worn part of the sensor resistive track, or also can be bad contacts in the sensor plug.

 

[Datatek]

Those faults could also be due to an electrolytic in the driver pack failing.

 

[feyniriel]

If it seems to be working ok, then just get some of those emergency valves so if it does have a hissy fit in europe you can at least fit them and get you home.

J

Good idea! Where to get them from?

 

[Datatek]

Good idea! Where to get them from?

Ebay.

 

[feyniriel]

Those faults could also be due to an electrolytic in the driver pack failing.

What is the driver pack?

 

[Rubberknees]

What is the driver pack?

The black electrical rectangular thing bolted to side of valve block

 

[Datatek]

What is the driver pack?

It converts the logic level signals from the ECU to levels that drive the solenoids.

 

[feyniriel]

Ebay.

Do you have a link to what they look like so I could look them up online? Thanks

 

[brianp38dse]

Here you go https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274891528271?_skw=p38+air+valves&itmmeta=01JZA3ZNPFTA4EJFXM51ET9XNJ&hash=item4000cfd84f:g:-JwAAOSwENhZchTS&itmprp=enc:AQAKAAAA8FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1c2el7A83+TVeolyxb7eVDAfh51CeCBwxNt9wtz5JdQ7On9A3aw2AscYSGzvjJY5MPwZKs277AoCvrUGPphmqAbMhrH5HOR1R0ncrl109YNEtkokgxtTgqetOxLDOCiqAJyBLOwpqnCkZ6qcuymrsGSCF5q+TLNgsrbMt4ocJZp+Z9KzKPWCA4uVBs5skb0M1FZCOVabDSaZgfrnsDwLYi1pM8tKoxrBRzpdocRnaTu/2mdNN783ynw0xky54x6NNOzceeQ1emT0ZxJNSg71C9MYTL5V8QX0DCqOKhy7jxJzA==|tkp:Bk9SR9Db_sP6ZQ

 

[Grrrrrr]

Check the connector underneath the valve block. The connector body may appear tight, but the socket contacts open up slightly over time due to heat & cold cycles in the engine bay. Intermittent connections will cause "valve stuck" faults when there's nothing wrong with the valves.

Sensor out of range is either worn part of the sensor resistive track, or also can be bad contacts in the sensor plug.

+1

 

[FEI]

The valve stuck closed fault can be two possible faults.
Its either that the valve is actually stuck closed.
Or its a faulty height sensor. If the EAS controller reads a certain height that is too low and its tries to pump up the coresponding airbag but it doesnt see a change on the sensor value there is no way for the EAS controller to know if its the valve that didnt react or if its a faulty value from the sensor. So the controller just gives the valvee stuck open fault.