P38A Dreaded EAS fault (Max 35MPH) is this going to empty my wallet ?

Hi

just when I thought I’d got on top of things and my ‘98 P38A was running smoothly, she’s decided to have an issue with the EAS.

I know it’s a horribly complex and potentially eye-wateringly expensive system to repair but I wondered if there was anything I could check for first, before handing it (and my CC) over to a dealer / specialist ?

The PO claimed to have overhauled the system, rebuilt the air ox and replaced the air struts -I even have a spare air box to repair / replace if needs be.

Any advice on common / easy to check issues would be very helpful.

If it helps diagnose, she was pulling a caravan with a nose weight pretty close to the 150kg limit at the time.

thanks in advance for your help and advice !

Bob

Any details on the issue/symptoms?

If it’s a calibration issue you will need diagnostics. If it’s a physical issue you can usually sort it fairly cheaply yourself if you are willing, able and have time. There’s plenty of members here that can help with parts/what to get/what to pay etc.

*** Read Wammers EAS thread in tech archive ***
https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/checking-eas-compressor-and-diaphragm-valve.172555/
it’s a definitive systematic work through. We are so lucky he put it together for us. If I knew him then I wouldn’t have castrated mine

Forget anything and everything any PO told you, start from the beginning and look at it with fresh perspective

+1 on read wammers in the tec section and look for leaks with soapy water

Never take any previous owners word for it.....the difference between your overhaul and there's.....
Follow the guide posted above and get yourself a squirty bottle full of soapy water and get searching.
You are going to need diagnostic equipment to clear the the code to get the systems back up and running and to find the intial error.
It's a great system and as you've seen handles the road and loads very well.
Good luck.
I said to à customer yesterday after we diagnosed a bad clutch and at a 150.000mls, he got given the "your turn to replace the clutch" card.
Your turn to work on the suspension.

The system is not (horribly complex and potentially eye-wateringly expensive system to repair) unless you take it to a garage that does not know what they are looking at and just throw parts at it in hope till its fixed or tell you to put it on springs
it is all diyable with help on here and often just a split bag, pin hole in a pipe from a blowing exhaust or valve block and pump just need new seals, and as you have a spare that can be rebuilt and fitted your half way there

I wouldn't take it to a dealer. These cars are so old that most of them are clueless.

Start with diag. EAS unlock suite is free. You'll need a cable though. Datatek on here can supply that together with the software. Then you can find the fault and also clear it and see if it comes back.

I wouldn't get too hung up on the 150kg thing. I've regularly had over a ton in the boot and it coped fine with that.

Thanks folks,

that’s all really encouraging. Frustratingly I do have the EAS unlock software and the components to build a cable (I was gonna check the calibration as she has a bit of a list) but unfortunately that’s in Glasgow and I’m currently in Inverness !

I’ll give it a good looking at when I get back (at 35mph!)

-other than a bumpy ride, should I be worried about anything (doing any damage, for example) whilst on the low suspension height ?

thanks again

Bob

Grrrrrr said:

I wouldn't take it to a dealer. These cars are so old that most of them are clueless.

Start with diag. EAS unlock suite is free. You'll need a cable though. Datatek on here can supply that together with the software. Then you can find the fault and also clear it and see if it comes back.

I wouldn't get too hung up on the 150kg thing. I've regularly had over a ton in the boot and it coped fine with that.

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+1,

awkwardbob said:

Thanks folks,

that’s all really encouraging. Frustratingly I do have the EAS unlock software and the components to build a cable (I was gonna check the calibration as she has a bit of a list) but unfortunately that’s in Glasgow and I’m currently in Inverness !

I’ll give it a good looking at when I get back (at 35mph!)

-other than a bumpy ride, should I be worried about anything (doing any damage, for example) whilst on the low suspension height ?

thanks again

Bob

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Your filings

awkwardbob said:

Thanks folks,

that’s all really encouraging. Frustratingly I do have the EAS unlock software and the components to build a cable (I was gonna check the calibration as she has a bit of a list) but unfortunately that’s in Glasgow and I’m currently in Inverness !

I’ll give it a good looking at when I get back (at 35mph!)

-other than a bumpy ride, should I be worried about anything (doing any damage, for example) whilst on the low suspension height ?

thanks again

Bob

Click to expand...

Not sure if you're jesting about driving back at 35mph. However, if you are, try to use A roads, where you can, rather than limping along the motorways. Due to Covid restrictions the ratio of bored police to motorways drivers has changed. At 35mph on a motorway you are more likely to be done for 'moving obstruction', than on A roads. Although still a possibility, on A roads.
Best solution would be get it recovered and not run the risk
Other than that , hope you get it sorted

Worth reading up on ^^^ guy, Storey Wilson (RSW Solutions). Has videos on rebuilding pumps/valve blocks/calibration etc for P38 L322 and L320

If any available get a set of four Scraeder valves with the correct sized collet, and connect them to your individual corner pipes and blow them up to approx 65 psi with a tyre pump. Might help you get home. I would however recommend recovery as its an awffy long way at 35 mph

i've done 40mi on the bumpstops with mine

Henry_b said:

i've done 40mi on the bumpstops with mine

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Yes,where's there's no sense,there's no feeling.

tomcat59alan said:

Yes,where's there's no sense,there's no feeling.

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Everything went numb after a while.

There is a dent in the roof from my head

awkwardbob said:

Thanks folks,

that’s all really encouraging. Frustratingly I do have the EAS unlock software and the components to build a cable (I was gonna check the calibration as she has a bit of a list) but unfortunately that’s in Glasgow and I’m currently in Inverness !

I’ll give it a good looking at when I get back (at 35mph!)

-other than a bumpy ride, should I be worried about anything (doing any damage, for example) whilst on the low suspension height ?

thanks again

Bob

Click to expand...

Hi Bob, sorry to read that you had the dreaded EAS limp mode. Hope you got home safe and relatively unshaken. Great advice here from the gang let us know how it goes.
Tricky

Hopefully it won’t damage the bags running with them flat

Hey folks.

not home yet, that’s scheduled for Tuesday morning and it’s about 150 miles.

Drove a short distance today and it wasn’t great.

annoyingly, As I say, I have the EAS unlock software but the components to make the cable are in Glasgow. Id consider going to a specialist to see if they could reset it up here and I can try a more in-depth investigation when I get home. I don’t imagine the RAC would have the tools on-board to do it and recovery isn’t straightforward as there’s a caravan involved too !

is there anything else ‘easy’ / obvious I could check ? I have some tools and a multimeter with me

will get there, I’m just anxious not to cause any further damage.

Thanks again for all your help

Bob

Don't know if this will work : @domino didn't you use someone in Inverness?

Doo uses a guy called Hamish and I have heard good things from other sources too. I cant remember his garage name tho but is near Muir of Ord ish. I will remember it just as you reach Glasgow