Air height adjustment question.

[Homestar]

Hi, had a look at an 04 today, everything checked out apart from one thing that concerned me. When I moved the height adjustment up or down, the vehicle would go up or down no problems, and took about 15 or 20 seconds to change height - this seems consistant with other vehicles I have tested, but this one would have the LED continue to flash at the set point you had selected, rather than go on solid once it had reached that height - like it hadn't registered that the vehicle had moved up or down. Does this sound like a senor fault? Would this mean the compressor would continue to run. The owner had never used this switch, and didn't even know what it was for, so could the lack of use have something to do with it? She is the second owner, and has had it for 3 years, I would imagine the original owner may have used it.

The owner is going to have Ritters look at this next week when they get the LHS front window fixed, but I was wondering if anyone could shed any light on this.

Is this a deal breaker, as the rest of the car seemed fine?

Cheers, Gav

[33chinacars]

If and I say if its the same as my P38 when the light keeps flashing it meens that the suspension hasn't locked in at that level.

[Homestar]

Thanks for that. So, IF it is the same as the P38, then is it serious?

Cheers.

[tebone]

For it to lock to the correct height, make sure all the doors are shut and the suspension will move to the correct position if not the led will flash.

Regards Paul

[catch-22]

Continuing to flash tells me that it hasn't yet reached the height it is expecting to. This 'could' be a hole in a bag that only presents itself as a problem when that certain bit of rubber (where the hole is) gets to the point where it has to bend, therefore opening the hope. When the hole was flat, there was no 'open' hole as the rubber didn't stretch. This is what happened to mine. The angle of the car would determine if it reached top height.

Bags from LR are about 2.5k fitter from mem. We have a strong dollar and Genuine parts are far cheaper to import..

[Homestar]

Thanks for that.

Tebone, I had that problem for a start, took me a while to realise it wouldn't work with the doors open.:D. After that, it went up and down ok, just that the LEDs kept flashing.

Catch-22, that could be a posibility now I have been through the sequence in my mind. Should find out later this week when Ritters goes over it to see what is wrong. If that is the case, the current owners can fix it, or I will be looking or a big discount.;)

If this was the case, that would also mean the compressor would be working overtime? What's a new compressor worth if that ****s itself after I buy it?

Thanks all.

[catch-22]

remember if one bag on one corner is getting old and crusty, it's likely its oposite will be also...so double the cost

[RangieBit]

Hey there,

The EAS is always a contentious part of the RR experience. So much to go wrong but oh, so nice to drive on.

One thing I've found is that if you try to raise the suspension while the vehicle is parked it has to work harder. This is usually because you've got the trans in P and/or the handbrake on. It has to change the geometry of the suspension which means moving the wheels. It doesn't like trying to do this against the resistance of the brakes as well as mother earth.

You'll generally find it raises quicker from Access to Normal if you just drive away rather than try to raise it while the car is stationary. For the above and a few other reasons.

So, it may take a little while longer to change vehicle height while you're not moving thus the little LEDs will blink for longer. If they're still blinking more than 30secs after the vehicle has started moving up or down then there's possibly an issue somewhere. Dodgy valve, tired compressor, leaky airbag (I had the problem as described by Catch-22 :angry:. Leak only became obvious when you went up to Off-Road height.), cracked air line, and so the list goes on.

As to the cost of a new compressor, as mentioned previously with the $AU being good against most overseas currencies importing genuine is worth considering. This is noticeably cheaper than buying new parts here.

The compressor can also be replaced with an OEM unit from Wabco for much less than the LR part cost. IIRC about $400 as opposed to $800+. I think Arnott (the airbag folk) carry them in the U.S. Don't know of anyone out here in Oz who carries them.

Good luck with the hunt.

Cheers,
Iain

[PAT303]

I never change height in mine when stationary,if you do you can see the tyres pulling off the rims so that can't be good for it. Pat

[Homestar]

So,I have a bit more info now, and want to run this past everyone... The current owner has been to a respected LR service centre in Melbourne to get the vehicle serviced, window motor fitted, and to check the suspension. They have reported back to the owner that there were no leaks in the system, and that everything worked ok. They told her that it is normal for the compressor to take up to 7 to 9 minutes to charge the system up from cold, and that you will only get the suspension to move up and down once or twice on a tank of air, and that it takes the compressor another 7 to 9 minutes to then catch up, so that it will work again.

Is this info correct, as this seems like a long time? On previous vehicles I have looked at, I don't remember this being an issue. Does the system hold air when the car is parked overnight, or does it have to charge the system each morning?

Any other thourghts, as I really like the rest of this car, and this is probably the only thing stopping me from buying it, but if there is sometimg potentially wrong with the suspension/compressor, then it is a deal breaker in my mind. I want to at least start with a vehicle that has nothing wrong with it...:p

Cheers - Gav.

[harlie]

that you will only get the suspension to move up and down once or twice on a tank of air,
agree - maybe 3 times if you only move 1 height setting




Is this info correct, as this seems like a long time

Way too long. Would think it should only be about 1-2 minutes. It's a wonder it's not having compressor temp issues running for 9 minutes each time



Does the system hold air when the car is parked overnight, or does it have to charge the system each morning?

It should hold overnight, but it will only hold the pressure it had when shut down - if no external leaks are evident there may have a slow leak through an exhast valve

[RangieBit]

Hi Gav,

Agree with what Harlie has to say there - except.

The air suspension should change quite readily a couple of times on just the tank/reservoir. Although going all the way from Access to Off Road might just about empty the tank.

The compressor should be able to re-pressurise the tank in a few minutes. It is possible though that the compressor could take this long (7-9min) to prime everything again. Thinking simply, how long does your portable tyre compressor take to get a single tyre to 35-40psi? The EAS runs at close to 5x that pressure. So, a compressor not any larger than the one you use on your tyres is doing that and should take how long to prime the reservoir again after its moved all four airbags in the suspension? 4 airbags x 40mm height increase @ 190psi is many litres of air to move. In those terms I'd say 7-9 minutes is not entirely unreasonable. But hey, that's just my opinion.

Can't say that I've ever heard the compressor run for more than a couple of minutes but it's hard to hear at the best of times.

I have tried to confirm run times and lock outs but the info I have access to does not seem to indicate timings anywhere.

The system shouldn't lose any air if the valves and lines are intact. Mine stayed at normal height with everything locked out (tank and compressor inactive) for 500km of running over three days due to a dodgy high pressure relief valve.

The system wakes every 6 hours or so the vehicle is stationary to check everything is on the level and adjust as necessary so a slow leak may sometimes only be apparent by checking the faults logged. If the LR spec is saying it checks OK then its a fair bet all is in order.

That's my 2c worth.

Cheers,
Iain

[Homestar]

Checked another one out today. It worked fine doing a full cycle from access to off road, but then when I cycled it a second time, it took a fair time, so it may be that everything is ok with the first one. I will be checking it out again this weekend, so I may time everything myself, and compare it to the second vehicle I am looking at.

I'll compare them both and post the results...

Thanks for everyones input. :)