Low suspension setting drivability.

[Striker]

Hey everyone,

I've been thinking about the height of the P38, and the low roof of some shopping center carparks.

My P38 is still fitted with airbags, and drops in to loading mode nicely.

My question is, once it's dropped in to loading mode, can it still be driven, and at what speed before it returns to standard height?

--Striker.

[TheTree]

Mate

Do you have an owners manual?

You can lock it in highway height and I believe you can lock it in crawl mode as well but I can't remember how to do it off the top of my head

Steve

[Striker]

I'm not sure if I have an owners manual, I guess I'll find out when I pick it up. Not too long now, it's nearly paid off.

--Striker.

[p38arover]

Well, a few years ago I drove over 500km (Coffs Harbour to Penrith) in one night on the bumpstops and, last Easter, over 150km on the bumpstops.

On both occasions, I was often at 110km/h. The Message Centre was rather insistent that I reduce speed to 55km/h.

Does that help? :p

[daf11e]

You can lock it into highway mode by using the inhibit switch, the one on the right side of the 4 height switch.......I don't believe it will stay in the lowest load height.

[TheTree]

Mate there is a crawl mode; I just can't remember which combination of button voodoo you need to use to invoke it :p

Someone will know or I will look it up

Steve

[TheTree]

A little refresher on P38 button voodoo :D

Steve

[davidsonsm]

Press the button to lower the car to access height, then press the inhibit switch. That's crawl mode. You're speed limited as shown in the extract. If you exceed the speed, the car will raise, so be careful if you're height limited.

[Pete38]

So I guess access mode, then half open a door is safer then huh.

[rc42]

Every P38 owner should fit a manual switch to supply power to the EAS delay timer, once you have that you can make the suspension stay where you put it at any time.

Otherwise, the only concern I would have in crawl mode at low speed would be tyres catching the body, that's probably because I have 265/75 R16 BFGs shoe horned in, on standard tyres it should be OK. Speed bumps may be unpleasant if you hit them hard enough to get to the bump stops though

[Striker]

the only concern I would have in crawl mode at low speed would be tyres catching the body, that's probably because I have 265/75 R16 BFGs shoe horned in, on standard tyres it should be OK. Speed bumps may be unpleasant if you hit them hard enough to get to the bump stops though

I don't plan on hitting the speedhumps at any kind of speed if I'm in crawl mode.

The switch to the timer is an interesting idea, but if it will stay in crawl mode up to 40kph, I don't see me ever having any issues with it.

--Striker.

[p38arover]

Every P38 owner should fit a manual switch to supply power to the EAS delay timer, once you have that you can make the suspension stay where you put it at any time.

Otherwise, the only concern I would have in crawl mode at low speed would be tyres catching the body, that's probably because I have 265/75 R16 BFGs shoe horned in, on standard tyres it should be OK. Speed bumps may be unpleasant if you hit them hard enough to get to the bump stops though

The manual switch is a thing that's been on my list for some years.

I have 245/75R16 tyres and they only scrape the rear wheel well liners on highway bumps taken at speed when the car is on the bump stops.

[Hoges]

I suspect that when LR put the max speed limits on EAS access and max heights they may have been taking into account the fact that the drive shafts were not at the optimum alignment and therefore there is greater stress on the UJs... easily overcome with a double cardan joint...

[Pete38]

I don't plan on hitting the speedhumps at any kind of speed if I'm in crawl mode.

The switch to the timer is an interesting idea, but if it will stay in crawl mode up to 40kph, I don't see me ever having any issues with it.

--Striker.

I've had the switch for some time now and often use it. I use it when heading under the car for any reason (rather than pulling the delay timer out), I use it when getting tyres done before going on the hoist and risking creasing the bags when lowered back down (instead of a open door that can easily be closed or heading under the seat), I've used it when I had a sensor problem one day and the EAS Error came up on dash at 100km/h but I could cut the EAS before it decided to hit the bump stops. And most importantly I installed it for water crossings and the risk of a fault meaning the car decides to lay down in the river and wash the insides of the car... So many more reasons other than keeping it in crawl.

[mtb_gary]

I also have a switch fitted. Ditto for Pete38 plus I normally switch it off if I am leaving the car for extended periods. Less drain on the battery and the car stays at the correct height for longer. One day I'll get around to a valve block rebuild ;).

Gary