D4 MY11 Air Compressor Failed

[TonyB-Oz]

4 to5 weeks back my 1year old Discovery 4-3.0L threw up some messages on the dash regarding the Air Suspension. Firstly I got waiting for suspension to cool then only normal ride height available. All would re set when re starting but return soon after. After a couple of days the car would not raise at all. I called roadside assist and we went through the usual re set procedure over the phone with no result.
The guys from Land Rover Australia (customer service team) took over from here and did an awesome job of getting the car picked up from my home in NW WA and taken to the dealer in Perth where the faulty compressor was replaced and returned to me back in the Pilbara. The whole thing was done with no cost to me and the car is back to its impressive best once more, thanks LRA for a great service. Just re in forces my decision to buy a land rover once more.
A.

A

[TonyB-Oz]

Just to add, the newly installed compressor is much quicker to raise and is quite a bit louder when dropping air, but worth the extra noise especially as it works so well.

[CaverD3]

THat is the sort of service LR need to provide. :BigThumb: That way they may be able to take sales off Tojos in the bush.

The new compressor model is noisier but more robust by the look of it.

[geoz]

hm .. I recently got a lot of 'only normal height available' messages as well.
had the car at a shop & they said they can't trace the fault to anything in particular.

could this be a sing of my compressor dying?

[AGRO]

My MY2011, November 2010 delivery vehicle had a similar suspension faults senario several months ago.

According to the service manager the compressor, valve block, various sensors and software were replaced and or upgraded under warranty.

I can only report that LR Perth service department were fantastic, very thorough and a pleasure to deal with.

Well done LRA Perth

PS. My vehicle now has noticeable minor levelling adjustments at shut down and ocasional subtle farts. Nice

[DiscoWeb]

Just to add, the newly installed compressor is much quicker to raise and is quite a bit louder when dropping air, but worth the extra noise especially as it works so well.

Good news that LR Assist were so efficient.

Unfortunately the Electronic air suspensions air compressor is a pretty common failure point for both the D3 & D4.

There was another thread started a few weeks back about someone having to abandon part of a cape trip due to a similar issue that started as an EPB failure warning and finally diagnosed in cairns as a compressor issue.

Appears the compressor, which incorporates an air dryer that removes moisture from the air prior to it entering the compressor has a problem where the desiccant (little silicon balls that absorb moisture -similar to what you sometime find packed in new running shoes and the like) has a tendency to adsorb so much moisture they coagulate and limit the amount of air getting to the compressor causing it to overheat and fail.

On the Disco3UK site there is a reasonably good post (below) describing how to remove the compressor and effectively take off the air dryer and dry out the desiccant or replace it.

DISCO3.CO.UK - View topic - Suspension Compressor / Suspension error (http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic65683.html?highlight=%2Bcompressor+%2Brebuild )

Something I will be doing in the next week or too as my compressor is starting to play up. Much cheaper than a fully replacement, especially for those out of warranty.

As an aside they new compressor they probably put on you D4 was from a different manufacturer, the original, made by Hitachi I think has been hard to get because of the damage from the Japaneses Tsunami and earthquake. I think the new one is an AMK or something like that. Louder as noted but faster at the same time.

Regards,

George

[jonesy63]

I wonder if the GOE compressor cover still fits over the new (larger) one? :angel:

[~Rich~]

The air intake for the compressor is actually from within the cabin space of the vehicle.

I wonder if those who use climate control and of course A/C rather than driving around with the windows down actually get better life of their desiccant / dryer because the A/C removes the moisture from the air in humid / damp temperatures?

[Graeme]

I invariably have the windows up all the time with at least the fan blowing significant air to avoid filling the vehicle with dust. My 2nd compressor's dryer was almost blocked (1st was totally blocked) but drying the dessicant for 60 seconds only reduced the weight by 1 gm, so I doubt there was much moisture. I think the dryers have been too full which requires too much compressor pressure to force the air through the compacted dessicant so the compressor fails prematurely.

Mine's suspension ecu main 20A fuse was removed earlier today after a dose of the bump-stops at 100 kph then having to negotiate what's normally a raised height path home whilst still on the stops. My tyre compressor blew the suspension compressor's sump breather hose off when the tyre compressor was started before the suspension compressor, so had to R&R the compressor to super-glue and cable tie the hose back on then get up to normal height before pulling the fuse. No variable height now until a new compressor is fitted.

[SBD4]

I wonder if the GOE compressor cover still fits over the new (larger) one? :angel:

Yes I wondered the same thing in another thread having had the new compressor fitted. I was contemplating getting the cover prior to this but will now wait until it is confirmed one way or the other.

[SBD4]

The air intake for the compressor is actually from within the cabin space of the vehicle.

I wonder if those who use climate control and of course A/C rather than driving around with the windows down actually get better life of their desiccant / dryer because the A/C removes the moisture from the air in humid / damp temperatures?

Got me to thinking... has anyone added a "pre-dryer" to the head of the air intake in the cabin? (maybe it has one already?) It would make sense to have a cannister of desiccant to absorb moisture before air enters the air intake tube leaving the inbuilt dryer to take care of any small amounts of remaining moisture.

Something like this:
Disposable Mini In Line Desiccant Dryer [Made In USA] : Amazon.com : Automotive@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/315RPwsHdBL.@@AMEPARAM@@315RPwsHdBL


It would also make for simple maintenance as it would be easily accessed and the change in desiccant colour is easily visible through the sides so you would know when to put a new one on.

[AGRO]

GOE Air Compressor Protection Plate fits. The Newer compressor fits in the original space and within the original plastic covers

[Graeme]

GOE Air Compressor Protection Plate fits. The Newer compressor fits in the original space and within the original plastic covers
According to the pictures in the Disco3.co.uk thread, the new compressor comes as a kit with a reshaped cover but that's not to say the cover hangs significantly lower.

[CaverD3]

Wot Graeme said.

Looked luke that to me.

[discojools]

I finally got around to taking apart the compressor from my old D3 which failed a couple of years ago a while after a Simpson Desert trip. The dessicant in the dryer was not wet but had some of it had discoloured. Also some had broken down into a powder and I think had caked up on the 2 filters at either end of the dryer. Whether this was the cause of the failure I don't know.
Am tempted to buy the repair kit which am I right in thinking consists of a spring valve and the the stuff to go in the dryer. I suppose there is no way of testing the unit on the bench is there? Would do it on my D4 but a bit nervous of getting the pipes off as other people have had trouble. Or is there a knack to get them off?
Heres a few pics of the dryer and stuff.

[Graeme]

The compressor is easily tested by supplying power and earth to the pins in the motor power connector, perhaps using jumper leads as I did. With the pump running there may or may not be any pressure at the outlet from the dryer that goes to the reservoir valve block. If there's no pressure with the dryer refitted empty then the compressor isn't pumping, in which case the valve for which there's a kit could be dismantled and inspected to see if its worthwhile getting the valve repair kit.

[trif]

I had my EAS compressor replaced yesterday under warranty (MY11 HSE). I use my EAS daily (often multiple times) to enter my garage and had noted a gradual decline in compressor efficiency moving between the different heights. Last weekend l took the cover off and the compressor was red hot and running for too long before cut out.

Contacted the guys down at Hunter Land Rover and the compressor was indeed 'not to specification'. New AMK compressor fitted. It comes with new covers and sits at a similar height to the old compressor (l have photos to attach of 'old' and 'new' when l get home from work). Performance wise it seems similar to the Hitachi compressor when new and slightly louder. Perhaps Gordon can answer if the GOE compressor cover fits the new unit.

Regards Trif.

[yakka]

When I used to own an 08 D3, my service manager sheepishly said to me, "well' you've had the air compressor replaced and the EPB replaced, there's really only the front bushes and that's pretty much all that goes wrong with the discos".

Mind you, having forked out $1300 for the compressor and something ridiculous for the EPB ($2500 i think) all just outside the warranty period, on top of the constant brake pad changes, I wasn't going to wait for the next thing to happen so flogged it off (at quite a loss, obviously, being a LR).

I think it's a shame LR know about these faults and fail to do anything about them. I'm looking for another tow vehicle to tow our boat and did entertain the thought of a D4, but it seems the reliability issues have not been ironed out...

[Graeme]

I finally got around to taking apart the compressor from my old D3 which failed a couple of years ago...
You should be aware that once an AMK compressor is fitted, the 3 hoses that connect to the compressor are re-worked, hence Hitachi compressors cannot simply be refitted.

[trif]

Photos comparing position of the compressor.

[discojools]

The compressor is easily tested by supplying power and earth to the pins in the motor power connector, perhaps using jumper leads as I did. With the pump running there may or may not be any pressure at the outlet from the dryer that goes to the reservoir valve block. If there's no pressure with the dryer refitted empty then the compressor isn't pumping, in which case the valve for which there's a kit could be dismantled and inspected to see if its worthwhile getting the valve repair kit.

Thanks for that Graeme , will give it a go. Looking at Trif's pictures of new and old compressor looks like the new one doesn't sit as low. I suppose that's good news. Now how to get mine to fail while under warranty!!

[101RRS]

A "how to" to install the new type of compressor

RRSPORT.CO.UK • View topic - How To - AMK Suspension Compressor Replacement (http://www.rrsport.co.uk/forum/topic28349.html?highlight=)

[Graeme]

Its good to know that the new pump can be fitted without upgrading the software.

[rufusking]

For those interested there is some guy selling / auctioning refurbed D3/4 compressors on fleaBay. No association with them just trying to help out. I think the auction starts at $90 with a buy it now of 200 inc postage.

[discojools]

The compressor is easily tested by supplying power and earth to the pins in the motor power connector, perhaps using jumper leads as I did. With the pump running there may or may not be any pressure at the outlet from the dryer that goes to the reservoir valve block. If there's no pressure with the dryer refitted empty then the compressor isn't pumping, in which case the valve for which there's a kit could be dismantled and inspected to see if its worthwhile getting the valve repair kit.
Graeme,
Did what you said and there was air coming out of the dryer although it didn't seem much.So does that mean that the pump is ok and the reason for the failure of the compressor must have been the breakdown of the beads in the dryer?

Jools

[Graeme]

If the airflow can be stopped using your finger then there's obviously insufficient pressure. My current one produces virtually no pressure but because it produces enough pressure with the tyre pump attached to the inlet to avoid any faults, I expect its a worn-out valve rather than a worn-out piston/rings. I didn't bother to check its replacable exhaust valve because when I replaced my 1st compressor's exhaust valve it still failed to produce enough pressure. AFAIK there is no replacement kit for the inlet valve.

[Peejaytoo]

THat is the sort of service LR need to provide. :BigThumb: That way they may be able to take sales off Tojos in the bush.

The new compressor model is noisier but more robust by the look of it.
Always get great service from the team at Berwick LR. Just thought that was what to expect from all LR service departments.
not the same but recently had a warning message of “suspension Failue”. Appended after I jacked the rear of the car to change right side tire - low pressure warning. No problem found with the tyre so put it back on. Low pressure warning continued and the Suspension Failure appeared. Car down on the stops. No adjustment available. Left the car for a couple of days and jacked it up again. Dash adjustment now available and message ‘gone’. Pressure warning changed to ‘Check all pressures”. On checking all pressures OK. Pressure warning disappeared. Electronics issue? Hoping it’s not a sign of more to come.