EAS woes - I'm thinking of going over to the dark side

[p38arover]

Coming home from a River Island last night, I got a leak in the RH rear bag and the car wouldn't come up but went into hard EAS fault. Naturally, I didn't have my RovaCom and laptop with me.

Travelling on the bump stops on a potholed and corrugated dirt Wombeyan Caves Rd was no fun. When I got to Mittagong, I tried inflating the system (I have a manual inflation system) but service station air systems are limited to 60psi and that's not high enough. :mad:

On the highway it wasn't too bad. It still took me a lot longer to get home.

Maybe it was the off-roading and river crossings I'd done just before leaving River Island. I'm glad it didn't fail whilst I was doing that. :)

[Keithy P38]

Bugger!

[Scouse]

Maybe it was the off-roading and river crossings I'd done just before leaving River Island. I'm glad it didn't fail whilst I was doing that. :)It might have gotten a little p rick while at River Island ;).

[p38arover]

It might have gotten a little p rick while at River Island ;).

No, I didn't see you there, Scouse. :p

I checked earlier today and neither rear bag would hold air. I started on the RHS, pulled the wheel and wheel arch liner but, whilst I could hear the leaking air, I couldn't find the leak. So I've replaced the spring with another (secondhand unit) and am monitoring the various spring air pressures.

I noticed the top plate is warped as if it's not sitting against a flat surface. I also saw that on an earlier spring replacement but can't see anything obvious on the body construction that would cause it. I need to have it on a hoist to check it properly.

Would you believe the LHS is now not leaking even though it could easily be heard earlier.

I'm very tempted to go to coils.

[Keithy P38]

Don't do it Ron! You know as well as others that the EAS can be a trying thing!

I'd suggest that being a simple air leak, the bags are either getting old or are faulty. I wouldn't swap to coils unless the EAS was completely knackered and it was big $$$ to repair - a simple air spring and leak check is much less costly and easier to do than swap to coils!

Cheers
Keithy

[p38arover]

Yeah, I know, Keith, but had this happened out on the track I'd have been in trouble. Put in coils and one no longer has any worry about suspension.

After replacing the RH bag, the car has stayed up in extended mode all night.

I suspect the bag I removed is leaking around the top. I'll change the top plate. Scouse has suggested getting some tyre sealant and brushing that around the joint when refitting the bag.

[Keithy P38]

Could be a good idea with the tyre sealant if you plan to reuse the bag.

Would the outcome be different had you had the RovaCom and laptop with you (and a spare bag)?

Life is about taking chances! If you live in fear of something happening you tend to see the worst when something does go wrong! Personally I'm not at all worried about EAS issues. I always carry the Faultmate and a spare front and rear spring, so mechanically speaking the car will always be driveable. Might make up an emergency bypass kit one of these days to cover software/electrical breakdowns.

I hope it works out for you in the end mate!

[p38arover]

Quite frankly, I don't think it would be that easy to change one in the field. One has to jack the chassis up a fair way and drop the axle to get enough clearance to change a rear.

I did it with a trolley jack under the axle lifted quite high, then I inflated the bag via the manual inflation system to get enough clearance under the chassis for a chassis/axle stand.

Then I dropped the trolley jack to lower the axle.

I do have a Rovair manual bypass in case the ECU fails. I won it at Cooma in 2008 for having the best P38A in show. See http://www.aulro.com/afvb/d3-d4-rrs/74240-rovair-susp-fault-overide-system.html#post926024

[Keithy P38]

It is a hotly debated subject at the moment on the P38 Facebook page as to how long it takes to swap springs out. I can do all 4 in my driveway in an hour easy.

I had to replace a right rear in the bush (a very hot and miserable day to boot), managed to do it using a high lift jack and the bottle jack in 20mins.

It's all about how keen you are to do it!

[p38arover]

:o

You are quicker than me.

I no longer carry a high lift. While I have the Kaymar rear bar, there's nowhere to lift at the front.

P38A Facebook page?

[PaulP38a]

P38A Facebook page?

This one https://www.facebook.com/groups/RRP38/

[p38arover]

I bought a coil spring conversion kit yesterday.

[PaulP38a]

Looking forward to seeing your write-up and review of the install process, and subsequent comparison of ride and handling differences.

[p38arover]

It was a secondhand unit from an LR wrecker, AJG Spares, in Esk, Qld. Tony from there has been very helpful in getting the parts shipped. It looks like he sent them from aussiegregmac's post office this morning. :)

I hope the springs are still OK. I'll leave all the EAS stuff in place so it can be restored if needs be.

[TheTree]

Ron

As one of the P38 aulro Illuminati, it would truly be a dark day if you went over to the darkside :eek:

I like look of that air control system I must say.

Also a good reminder to carry a 150 PSI compressor onboard

I still have Gen3 hunger, but currently my wallet has been P38'd :angel:

Best of luck getting it sorted out .. the EAS that is :p

Steve

[TheTree]

:o


P38A Facebook page?

And this one
https://www.facebook.com/groups/6171047229/

and this

https://www.facebook.com/groups/163943150327858/

Plus the "blue" one i don't have a link for :D

Steve

[DT-P38]

Oh bother... What is happening to this world?

[mtb_gary]

I'm on 4 different Facebook p38 forums. Does that mean I'm addicted to them? As well as a few land rover sites :angel:

Gary

[davidsonsm]

Dont they all end up posting the same crap? Please telle aulro is best and I dont need to change allegence!

[rc42]

I did a drivers side rear bag change on the side of a sandy track on Fraser, thankfully I has a highlift jack to use under the tow hitch to get the height and an OEM bag in my spares set.

The R clip had sheared off from under the Arnott III and let it lift up and roll forward, tearing the bag out of the crimp ring with a bang and a hissssss. The crimp may be better for sealing the air inside but at least the OEM ones can be put back together and re-inflated.

Anyway, it took over an hour to swap out, mostly due to having to get up and wait every time another vehicle wanted to squeeze past (it was a dangerous spot to be stuck)

I've recently fitted a dash switch to operate the EAS timer relay so I can freeze the EAS in any state and I now carry some extra tubing and push fit schrader valves so I can build an emergency bypass for any bag if needed.

Sure, coils would need less planning but to lose the magic carpet ride and self levelling would be too much to pay.

[TheTree]

Dont they all end up posting the same crap? Please telle aulro is best and I dont need to change allegence!

Hi

There are differences but I tend to skim thorough those groups.

If I want solid technical info, aurlo or rr.net are streets ahead of FB

Steve

[mtb_gary]

Dont they all end up posting the same crap? Please telle aulro is best and I dont need to change allegence!

I agree, most of it is crap with lots of the same stuff up for regurgitation.....but not all and can be a good source of amusement ;). How many times do you need to see a picture of a p38 just because it has been washed? Or better still because it has been off road (parked on the grass). There are other more interesting posts though, and I guess its those little snippets I enjoy (such as getting a 3.5 litre turbo diesel in a p38). As for tech help you can't go past here at AULRO :D

Gary