I

Ian Lucas

New Member
Hi I have a V reg P38. The suspension takes ages to go up, then if I park some times it goes down in a matter of minutes and takes ages to go up again or it stays up for ages the next time and I can drive off straight away. I have been told 1 "You need a new compressor" 2 " You have an air leak in one of your bags"
I don't mmind changing the compressor, easy job, bur £180 ish
I am considering a set of Arnott air springs, does any one have any experience of these, alternativly my mate with a classic says forget it and do a spring conversion.
Any advice?
 
id go with changing the air springs first.
forget the coil springs p38 was ment to run with air springs.
 
Check the 'How To' section at the top of the Range Rover Forum, and carry out the simple 'Wammers Compressor Check' test....this will indicate if the compressor is dead or on its way out.

If it is lowering on its own, in a matter of minutes, sounds like busted air bags, Datatek has many times indicated that they have a life of around 80k miles or 7-8 years so if they are the originals, it is about time they are replaced.

Almost certainly the compressor will be shagged out, as it is struggling to fill the system and also to try and keep up with any leaks, so do the Wammers test and check it.

Also PM Datatek and ask kindly for the EAS Unlock lead and software (only a few sheckles £11 plus P&P - but check first) as this will be handy should any faults show up due to a prolonged leak.

And don't be a one post wonder, keep coming back and helping others, it is how a forum works.
 
Thanks guys.
Yes I do a little off roading but not too serious, Andys BEAST [a much modified classic] is far more fun. I'll do the compressor check today. I am quite happy to change the air bags. Found the Arnott web site, not being a great believer in advertising shpiel wondered if any one had used them.
 
Ian Lucas said:
Thanks guys.
Yes I do a little off roading but not too serious, Andys BEAST [a much modified classic] is far more fun. I'll do the compressor check today. I am quite happy to change the air bags. Found the Arnott web site, not being a great believer in advertising shpiel wondered if any one had used them.
Click to expand...

Island 4x4 do a replacement compressor for about £160.00. Also worth pointing out that comes with new mounting rubbers and a new filter, still dearer than a rebuild but still good value in my book.

As has been said new air springs are required. Standard springs are the cheapest and do the job fine. Arnotts are dearer but come with a life time guarantee but new originals will probably out last the car so are the Arnotts worth the extra. And then you have the choice between Arnott Gen 2 and 3.

Most people will say only go for gen 3's if you want the extra articulation when off roading, whilst over looking how the different design improves the handling. I ran Gen 3's on our last P38 for 35000 miles and whilst I've only covered 3000 miles in our new P38 fitted with factory original springs the Gen 3's definitely make the handling less rolly poly whilst not compromising the comfort. But we don't really buy a lumbering 4x4 for its handling qualities do we!!!

I got the Gen 3's nearly new for the same price as originals and probably wouldn't have paid the premium (nearly twice the price) if they hadn't been available at that price. But just to confirm, they do make a difference, just not shore its worth twice the price.
 
A good number of people on here run Arnotts with good reports, whether Gen II's or III's I couldn't justify the cost of III's for the softcore off roading I do, if I was building a trails vehicle I would spend out on III's but for a part time plugger, II's are very good, or even OEM.
 
Ian Lucas said:
Thanks guys.
Yes I do a little off roading but not too serious, Andys BEAST [a much modified classic] is far more fun. I'll do the compressor check today. I am quite happy to change the air bags. Found the Arnott web site, not being a great believer in advertising shpiel wondered if any one had used them.
Click to expand...

P38 spares do Arnott Gen 2's for not much more than standard Dunlop airsprings. I have Gen 2's and am happy with them. Gen 3's are really only for serious off roading and you would need to fit longer travel shocks at the same time:D
 
Thanks Guys. I have done the Warmers check. There is air coming out but I am not impressed with the pressure . While I was playing there was a complete loss of pressure in the sytem and a drop at the back to the stops, accompanied by a lot of flashing lights and an EAS warnig of no more than 35 mph. Luckily I was only 400 yards from home but what a bouncy ride.
So Island 4x4 for a compressor, relay and fitting kit, and P38 for an Arnott set, I know its £70-00 more but I figure it should be worth it.
I'll update after I've played spanners. Will I need Datatec's cable and CD to reset everything afterwards?
If so give us a phone number please.
 
Ian Lucas said:
Thanks Guys. I have done the Warmers check. There is air coming out but I am not impressed with the pressure . While I was playing there was a complete loss of pressure in the sytem and a drop at the back to the stops, accompanied by a lot of flashing lights and an EAS warnig of no more than 35 mph. Luckily I was only 400 yards from home but what a bouncy ride.
So Island 4x4 for a compressor, relay and fitting kit, and P38 for an Arnott set, I know its £70-00 more but I figure it should be worth it.
I'll update after I've played spanners. Will I need Datatec's cable and CD to reset everything afterwards?
If so give us a phone number please.
Click to expand...
Yep, send him a Private Message from the Forum, and tie up...no tel. numbers on a public forum please!!!!
 
Ian Lucas said:
Thanks Guys. I have done the Warmers check. There is air coming out but I am not impressed with the pressure . While I was playing there was a complete loss of pressure in the sytem and a drop at the back to the stops, accompanied by a lot of flashing lights and an EAS warnig of no more than 35 mph. Luckily I was only 400 yards from home but what a bouncy ride.
So Island 4x4 for a compressor, relay and fitting kit, and P38 for an Arnott set, I know its £70-00 more but I figure it should be worth it.
I'll update after I've played spanners. Will I need Datatec's cable and CD to reset everything afterwards?
If so give us a phone number please.
Click to expand...

Easy enough to re furb the compressor. Don't forget to order new retaining clips when you order your airsprings. If you look in the how to section ther is my guide to replacing the airsprings which also comes on the CD I supply with the cable. You will need to clear the faults as it has gone into hard fault mode, the compressor will not run until you do.
 
Finally finished, the guide was great except no one said you could look up the back of the front bottom support and guide the pin in with sa screwdriver. The second one took 25 minutes.
Thanks Datatek for the lead and CD. Could only find a prolific adapter locally.
it works on Windows 7 but if you need a new driver it is available on Welcome to Prolific
So new compessor, new Arnotts, new relay reset the hard fault and still it won't come up. Sat and ran her for ten minutes with the door open then closed it, nothing. So after an hour I run her for fifteen with the door shut still nothing. I can hear and feel the compressor running and hear air at the back shocks so tomorrow I bite the bullet and visit my local 4x4 center and prepare to shell out hard cash.
 
Ian Lucas said:
Finally finished, the guide was great except no one said you could look up the back of the front bottom support and guide the pin in with sa screwdriver. The second one took 25 minutes.
Thanks Datatek for the lead and CD. Could only find a prolific adapter locally.
it works on Windows 7 but if you need a new driver it is available on Welcome to Prolific
So new compessor, new Arnotts, new relay reset the hard fault and still it won't come up. Sat and ran her for ten minutes with the door open then closed it, nothing. So after an hour I run her for fifteen with the door shut still nothing. I can hear and feel the compressor running and hear air at the back shocks so tomorrow I bite the bullet and visit my local 4x4 center and prepare to shell out hard cash.
Click to expand...

So you still have a leak somwhere, possibly the diaphragm. Did the garage sort it?
 
Sorry for not replying.
Yes they sorted things out, would you believe a duff Arnott. The air pipe would not lock home. they refitted my old one temporarilly
But an immediate replacement and a summer of fun.
 
If the valve block has never been refurbished I'd seriously consider doing it. The kit costs £8. If the valve block is leaking then the new compressor will burn out. Could be £££.
 
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