Disco 2 D2 Air Suspension Fault

Hi All, I've read and look at threads about air suspension faults but can't see anything like what mines doing.
About 2wks ago the suspension drop on the n/s as i was going long the road it was a bumpy country lane.
I stop and try the button in the car for lifting the suspension but nothing happen so had to drive home like it.
Once home I had a look under the car couldn't see anything out of place as it was getting dark i binned the job. I shut up the garage then I backed the car up and the suspension went up, still up in the morning and worked fine on the way to and from work I also checked for leaks around the bags nothing found. So I decided it was a levelling valve playing up.
I've put a new levelling valve on the n/s the suspension went up and i've not had a problem until tonight it did the same thing. I'm thinking wiring fault or valve block by the compressor? any help would be appreciated.

When were the bags last replaced?
Bags can be expected to last about five to seven years and can throw up some weird behaviour when they're beginning to fail. As the rubber hardens small cracks can develop especially where there are folds in the bags. These can seal themselves up for days or even weeks and just when you think the problem has been fixed, they let you down again, literally.
I would advise anybody who's experiencing trouble to replace both bags to rule them out before diving any deeper into the self levelling system.

Hi thanks for your reply, I don't know when the bags were last replaced but they look in good condition I've had the vehicle on a ramp and had a good look at them. That's why i'm thinking some thing else.

Hi, if the vehicle is on level unplug the two air supply valves and remove relay R5, if there's no leak it will stay on level for many days with the warning on just that without self levelling like on coils then you know it's a management or "hardware" issue, if it drops that way there is a leak

cheers for that will look at that in the morning

Brian and the airbags (as always), great band name. Airbags need a change every 5 years or whatever is recommended but this isn’t always the problem, change them sure but for now if it holds air it holds air . first question do you have diagnostics? If you don’t it’s not the end of the world. The air suspension system is really simple and fantastic don’t be tempted to switch to coils this can be fixed

kevseabass110 said:

Brian and the airbags (as always), great band name. Airbags need a change every 5 years or whatever is recommended but this isn’t always the problem, change them sure but for now if it holds air it holds air . first question do you have diagnostics? If you don’t it’s not the end of the world. The air suspension system is really simple and fantastic don’t be tempted to switch to coils this can be fixed

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I don't wish to start an argument, that's furthest from my mind. In the case of air suspension, I've based my advice on the fact that the air springs are the items which are under the most mechanical stress and therefore most likely to fail. They are also liable to failure due to age, hardening of the material and cracking. I have also based it on my own experience, I've had failures twice, both times the back end started showing signs of dropping and both times it was the bags at fault.
Yes, the air suspension system is fairly easy to understand, unless you start trying to get deep into the electronics of the SLABS ECU. My advice to suspect the air springs is also based on having to start diagnosing the fault somewhere and since they are almost "service items" that are expected to last about five to seven years, it would seem sensible to rule them out straight away, then diagnosis can proceed to such items as the air valves and compressor.
Had the OP complained that the suspension was rising to it's full height instead of dropping, obviously I wouldn't suggest a problem with the air springs but the ride height sensors.
Incidentally, I would never, or almost never advise an owner to change from air suspension to steel coiled springs for no reason, or just because that bloke down the pub says to do it.
Out of interest, where would you start to diagnose the trouble?
By the way, there's a "K" and a "W" in know.
What happened to "Here we go again with Brian banging on about the airbags. Sorry Brian but its starting to sound like you no nothing else about the air suspension system other than the airbags."?

No offense intended Brian. Sorry about missing a few letters also whilst typing on a small phone screen, my narcassistic mate will always pick up on spelling too, he then thinks he’s intellectually superior. Anyway I’d back Sierraferys comment 100% rule the bags out by bypassing the systems control.

Update
Suspension seems to be working ok at the moment but i will do what Sierraferys said over the weekend.
I won't be putting it on springs either air rides to nice.

Hi All just a quick update I've repair some wiring to the sensor plug on the n/s going green have driven around now for a couple of weekend no problems. I'm going to replace both air bags as a precaution measure in the very near future.
Thanks for all your help.

And keep a bag spare in the boot. Can be changed at roadside if needed

baronvonprepper said:

And keep a bag spare in the boot. Can be changed at roadside if needed

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Since I changed to coils I always carry a spare coil in the boot. NOT lol. Says a lot about the robustness of the system.

brianconwy said:

Since I changed to coils I always carry a spare coil in the boot. NOT lol. Says a lot about the robustness of the system.

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If you wanted reliability you probably shouldn't have bought a Landrover
Don't think the system is any less reliable than its competitors though, change bags and sensors every 5-7 years and it should never have a problem, but also remember the d2 was the first (or one of) 4x4's to have air springs. Atleast he wont be sitting on his ass towing

I like SLS and am buying new bags as a preventive measure. Have had to carry a few heavy loads recently but with that and ACE it’s really impressive how normal it feels. Good luck fixing it!

brianconwy said:

Since I changed to coils I always carry a spare coil in the boot. NOT lol. Says a lot about the robustness of the system.

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I haven’t needed to change a bag at a roadside yet. I have had 2 snapped springs though.


If you open my boot you will find a spare turbo, alternator, aux belts, suspension bags, wiring, spare BCU & ECU.


It’s not that my car is unreliable, I just refuse to let it arrive at its destination on a tow truck.

Also I have found the law of odds in my favour, as I have not needed any of my spares in the boot yet. All my break downs have been down to items I don’t carry .

Time to tow around a full D2 behind me I guess

baronvonprepper said:

I haven’t needed to change a bag at a roadside yet. I have had 2 snapped springs though.


If you open my boot you will find a spare turbo, alternator, aux belts, suspension bags, wiring, spare BCU & ECU.


It’s not that my car is unreliable, I just refuse to let it arrive at its destination on a tow truck.

Also I have found the law of odds in my favour, as I have not needed any of my spares in the boot yet. All my break downs have been down to items I don’t carry .

Time to tow around a full D2 behind me I guess

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Probably the sensible way to go. We towed our caravan down to Spain two Yeats ago with just spare light bulbs. Luckily no problems whatsoever, but if we ever decide to leave the car out there I would definitely take tools and some spares.