SLS sagged this morning

[alpick]

Hi All

some advice please- I have searched the forums/good oil but still have a couple of questions to confirm my understanding of all this

Loaded my D2 MY00 up the night before Xmas for morning departure. nothing too heavy just a full fridge and sundry items.

Came out in the morning and she was down on the stops both sides.

Started her up and no change to the rear height, no compressor noise, nothin!

Checked the ABS/SLS 10 amp fuse- all good--Is there another to check?

There has not been any previous issues with the SLS apart from a little burst of compressor noise sometimes after engine stop, but never any period of continuous operation indicating leaks.

The D2 Being ten years old I have already got some replacement bags and was about to do that job (have the rave resource) and now this. Seems like the weight overnight has "popped" something.

Q1. Would the compressor have been running overnight to try and keep it level? and thereby burn itself out? and now I have both a leak and dead compressor?

Q2. I want to pump the system up and check for the leak but the compressor will not run? Is manual inflation at the compressor end the best place to do it? (I have a good quality ext compressor to use).

Q3. What is the check for a completely dead compressor?

Thanks in advance guru's.

[zzsteve]

Could be dead compressor (due to long-term leaky air bags or blocked/wet filter in LH rear guard). Access the plug to the compressor inside the SLS box under LHS. Check for open circuit (rusty springs, worn brushes) and/or put 12V on it an see if it runs. If so, look elsewhere. To inflate with external compressor you will need something like this:
Disco II - SLS Bypass Kit | Hard Range Australia (http://hardrange.com/node/28)
Hard to get on Boxing Day though.
Our thoughts are with you!

And, before Pedro oils you goodly, check it out - and the SLS fixes in projects/tutorials.

Steve

[jwb]

Unusual that both sides go down at the same time due to leakage from age. I'm sure you know the compressor wont run unless all the doors are closed?

Where are you based? If your compressor is u/s you could simply use one of the emergency set ups for a while.

[Barefoot Dave]

G'Day Alpick.
I've found that mine needs to move about 10m/ 10km/h to switch the comp on.
A leak on one side will trigger a release from the good side to level the height.
Good luck.
Dave

[crossy999]

I had a similar problem recently, all fine the night before then the next morning it was sitting on its bum & wouldn't lift up with engine running (i.e. compressor wouldn't run)

Nanocom showed an error from the height sensor (right rear out of range ..or similar), cleared the error and started - up she went, 1/2klm down the road it was back on its bump stops.

Bought replacement height sensors (did the passenger side too) , dropped it in, cleared faults and haven't had a problem since.

D2 had done 140,000klm when the sensor gave out... Prior to the sensor failing I would get the occassional yellow sls light on the dash when driving, it would simply clear with a engine 'reboot'.... maybe it was trying to tell me something...??!

I have the working passengers side sensor as a spare, you could borrow it if it gets you out of trouble...your sig doesn't say where you live though????


cheers,
crossy

[alpick]

Thanks all,

Will trouble shoot the electrical/sensor paths via the suggestions here and in the other various posts on the issue.

Yeah Pedro, I know there is heaps in good oil but Thought I'd outline the particulars of this one in case someone could put their finger straight on it and give me the fix ON BOXING DAY!!!

watch this space.

HO HO HO

[Panya]

If the compressor is not lifting the car to standard height with engine running and all doors firmly closed then run engine, close all doors and press the switch to get car lifted to offroad height - has worked for me before. Seems to override whatever is in the ecu stopping it from inflating...

[Pedro_The_Swift]

HO Ho HO! Merry Christmas!



and it seems my evil (advertising) scheme is working--;)

[alpick]

Thanks for the pointers people

and yep all were doors closed when she failed to raise.

So

12 volts to the compressor showed it worked fine, so pumped her up to about on road height.

soap test and yep leak in drivers side bag. very very slow.

Thinking elec/ecu/sensor issue I disconnected the battery.

reconnect battery, do the ctrl/alt/del reset dance, make sure all doors good and closed.

start her up , not much happened so pushed the off road height selector and up she went good as gold, and came back down ok when selected off.

Changed the bags, system tested all good and proper.

As I'm no elec guru i'm not sure what might have happened here but I tend go for the simple fixes when any computer thingys are involved, Reset reset reset before unplugging/undoing stuff.

sounds like a nanocom is useful- are they easy to use? am reasonably computer literate.

cheers and thanks again

Al

[rusty05]

Could be dead compressor (due to long-term leaky air bags or blocked/wet filter in LH rear guard). Access the plug to the compressor inside the SLS box under LHS. Check for open circuit (rusty springs, worn brushes) and/or put 12V on it an see if it runs. If so, look elsewhere. To inflate with external compressor you will need something like this:
Disco II - SLS Bypass Kit | Hard Range Australia (http://hardrange.com/node/28)
Hard to get on Boxing Day though.
Our thoughts are with you!

And, before Pedro oils you goodly, check it out - and the SLS fixes in projects/tutorials.

Steve


These kits are great. I fitted one recently, very easy and straight forward.
Its a cheap get out of jail card for when u need it.

Glad to see u are mobile again.

I too have had the amber sls light on the dash ( 3 times in 6 months), turn car off, turn car on, seems to clear it.
Wonder if thats a sign the height sensors are playing up.

[discohobie]

had my 2003 td5 se serviced just before xmas and mentioned to mechanic that it has fallen on its ass three of four times this year - months apart.

He said my airbags had started to perish and when I have had a load, or boat trailer on the car, the bags are in a different position, so it opens up cracks that are usual closed in normal city driving height. Makes sense i guess.

I also found that they would not inflate just under normal driving but i had to press the extra height button (as mentioned in a previous post) this would raise me up the extra bit then when i drive off and hit the 40kms it drops back to normal ride height - all fine until the next time!

Guess i will get airbags done soon.....

[firstdisco]

Hi Alpick, my 1999 TD5 SLS defated a couple of times, but somehow came good after starting the engine. I could no longer trust it as I do quite a few
4WD Club trips, so had the SLS removed by my Triumph/ Rover specialist. I now have conventional springs, with polyaire inserts, works a treat. Now even if the polyaires leak, I still have the coils. I now don't stress out anymore, it's nice to have the peace of mind.
Regards, FirstDisco

[Sharkee]

Disco II - SLS Bypass Kit | Hard Range Australia (http://hardrange.com/node/28)
Sorry maybe I'm a Dummy I cant figure it but how exactly does this work? Do you pump it up with valves at a servo etc?

[Tombie]

Sorry maybe I'm a Dummy I cant figure it but how exactly does this work? Do you pump it up with valves at a servo etc?

Yep.

Or your tyre compressor.

[biggin]

Hi Alpick, my 1999 TD5 SLS defated a couple of times, but somehow came good after starting the engine. I could no longer trust it as I do quite a few
4WD Club trips, so had the SLS removed by my Triumph/ Rover specialist. I now have conventional springs, with polyaire inserts, works a treat. Now even if the polyaires leak, I still have the coils. I now don't stress out anymore, it's nice to have the peace of mind.
Regards, FirstDisco

Pity you didn't have the piece of mind to repair and properly maintain the SLS.:(

[Krayzie Keegs]

Hey mate

The morning after I picked up my D2, found her on her arse, old soap test leak drivers side, call City LR 500 each bag...... **** that i said on to google got 2 new ones from Arronts in us on my door for $260.. think not much more

10 day wait, that was the killer but had the thing serviced new tyres all that in the time. 2 hours and all changed blow out the lines changed fillter.

Car had never been lifted since new by the looks of them.

[strangy]

Hey mate

The morning after I picked up my D2, found her on her arse, old soap test leak drivers side, call City LR 500 each bag...... Fu*K that i said on to google got 2 new ones from Arronts in us on my door for $260.. think not much more

10 day wait, that was the killer but had the thing serviced new tyres all that in the time. 2 hours and all changed blow out the lines changed fillter.

Car had never been lifted since new by the looks of them.

Hi, I dont want to alarm you but Arnott bags are Rubbish and you will be claiming against warranty sooner rather than later. Constant sagging backside and bags that expanded too wide (rubbing on the chassis) 3 x sets (6 x bags) and an uneccessary new compressor later, I ditched them and went for the UK items from paddock spares.
Not the only one here either. Dont trust them.
Be careful
Cheers.

[zzsteve]

Hi, I dont want to alarm you but Arnott bags are Rubbish and you will be claiming against warranty sooner rather than later. Constant sagging backside and bags that expanded too wide (rubbing on the chassis) 3 x sets (6 x bags) and an uneccessary new compressor later, I ditched them and went for the UK items from paddock spares.
Not the only one here either. Dont trust them.
Be careful
Cheers.

Agreed, had the "reinforced" plastic tops blow out of mine in the worst possible place. European replacements going fine.

Cheers,
Steve

[alpick]

Thanks for the tip, my replacements are Arnotts! and did not know about their poor record, will carry the oldies just in case on the upcoming trip to the centre

cheers

AL

[Sharkee]

Thanks Tombie Cheers for clearing that up for me

[discomarsh]

Have you examined the solenoid? The solenoid in my 2003 D2a **** itself 3-days after I bought it new!!! Very sad to see a brand new car towed away like that.

Years later, I had the air springs replaced with coil springs. Do I miss SLS? No. Do I have peace of mind? Yes.

[alpick]

Replaced my air springs in Jan 2011 and now car slowly sags over time when left in garage for a few days.

with the soap test I cannot see any leaks in the bags even when hyper extended via nanocom. there is no leaks in any of the air piping/joins.

I have replaced each Arnotts bag in turn with the old good spare OEM bag and it still goes down.

Before I send off for a new set?

Is there any thing at all other than the bags and lines/joins I can check as a possible cause.


I have noticed there is faint clockwork noise at the compressor that runs continuously and stops when the connectors are pulled off, starts again when they are plugged back in. What is that?

Paddocks have dunlops air springs avail for 68quid @

[Clarkey]

Guys save yourself alot of time and worry, contact the Airbag Man in Queensland and order a couple of Dunlop bags, quality and priceand overnight delivery to most places in Oz

[MR LSD]

Guys save yourself alot of time and worry, contact the Airbag Man in Queensland and order a couple of Dunlop bags, quality and priceand overnight delivery to most places in Oz

Hello there rear bag we would like to help if we can
RKB101200 part SPRING $250.00 gen land rover
RKB101200 part SPRING $190.00 not gen

not in stock at the moment will be in on next boat or we could air freight free delivery with in Perth W.A so would be a small cost to send to the rest of oz thank you Simon :D

[Pedro_The_Swift]

go and buy a metre of 4mm ID airline and two push in connectors and two schrader valves($20) from Pirteck, jack up the chassis, remove lines from tops of airbags(are they push-in?) add a 200 mm length of new 4mm line add schrader valves, put 70lb in the bags, leave overnight.
This will tell you where the leak is,, (very unlikely its a hose leak)

apparently the SLS will try and self level for a short while after switch-off, could it be those noises?


I replaced my tyres with solid rubber ones after a flat.
Do I miss the ride and handling?
Bloody oath!
:p

[strangy]

Alpick,
The Arnott bags are the problem. They leak From the top as a factory fault. I had 6 bags replaced under warranty. I gave up and bought the genuines from Paddocks. Perfect ever since.

[MR LSD]

go and buy a metre of 4mm ID airline and two push in connectors and two schrader valves($20) from Pirteck, jack up the chassis, remove lines from tops of airbags(are they push-in?) add a 200 mm length of new 4mm line add schrader valves, put 70lb in the bags, leave overnight.
This will tell you where the leak is,, (very unlikely its a hose leak)

apparently the SLS will try and self level for a short while after switch-off, could it be those noises?


I replaced my tyres with solid rubber ones after a flat.
Do I miss the ride and handling?
Bloody oath!
:p

very good point hpw aout punp up the bags then line lockers i would think pipes to be ok with line lockers:wasntme:

[jwb]

Agree, the Dunlops are fine. a bit over $100 from Paddocks and delivered in less than a week.

[alpick]

Just a copy of another post to finish of the thread for those searching this topic

Arnott air bag failure Replaced 10 yr old original airbags in Dec10 with a pair of arnotts due leak in one bag.

In May 2011 started to noticed slight sagging onite. Replaced each arnott in turn with the known good orig bag and sagging still occurred.

Used the hard range emer kit and isolated the arnott bags from compressor to confirm bag problem.

Yep as predicted by Strangy both 5mth old Arnott bags leaked although I could not see the leaks via the soap bubble test.

Installed two new Dunlop bags from paddocks and all is well, the ride has less body roll with the dunlops but is still
smooth over bumps, definite improvement over the Arnott bag ride, bonus.

Yet another example that 99.9% of sagging is due leaking air bags.

Don't buy Arnotts air bags they are crap in my opinion and experience.

I can't be bothered about warranty refund stuff just put it down to experience and share the outcome.
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