Suspension nightmare! Stuck in Karratha

[ytt105]

I'm stuck in a caravan park in Karratha WA. The Disco 4 won't hold air.

Long story short, months ago I thought I had a leak from the air bag/pipe joint so I pulled it apart. Turned out to be a broken air con pipe that was making the hissing sound. That's been repaired but I've now got a persistent leak from the air bag/pipe fitting.

Played with it many times, but now I can't get the suspension to raise the car at all. It says I'm in extended mode, but wont take any button commands at all.

There are NO errors via Nanocom. The fitting isn't leaking, I think, but since I don't know if there's air in there or not, I can't be sure.

How do I get out of this extended mode loop. I've even tried a hard reset, to no avail.

HELP

Its a long walk to NSW from here!

[josh.huber]

While ever it thinks it's in extended mode it won't move, have you checked the values to see what each corner is reporting?

[BradC]

Can you manually control the system from the Nanocom? On the GAP you can inflate/deflate one or more corners individually in service mode.

[ytt105]

Brad
No, the Nanocom can only deflate ALL bags at once.
Each corner is stable, ie no air going in or out. That's the problem!

[ATH]

This is a problem confronting anyone who drives anything which is not a Tojo. Luckily I haven't had any problems for years out of town (Perth) but have spoken to others who can't even get their vehicle serviced by local so called "mechanics" in the north.
One bloke I spoke to in Broome last year with a Hyundai was having to wait until he got to Darwin before as no one he called would do it. It's a disgrace and these mechanics are not worthy of the name but what can you do about it?
Sod all is the answer except buy a Tojo....... :)
AlanH.

[Bulletman]

What you were playing with the fitting did you knock the ride height lever at all. I had a similar issue the car kept thinking it was in extended mode. No faults logged but I did disconnect the ride height sensor and reconnect.
If you can deflate the system with nanocom you should be able to tell if the compressor tries to refill the system.
I have a couple of old air struts I'm pretty sure I kept the fittings. I can check if that's what you need.
Cheers Bulletman

[ytt105]

Thanks Bulletman.

I've fitted a brass push airline fitting and it seems to be holding air, but I can't get it out of extended mode, even though its on the bump stops!

[Bulletman]

Have you tried jacking the car up to make it uneven, I dont know if it works but it might make it try and level.
So as a matter of interest are the suspension fuses all good .
Cheers Bulletman

[ytt105]

Have you tried jacking the car up to make it uneven, I dont know if it works but it might make it try and level.
So as a matter of interest are the suspension fuses all good .
Cheers Bulletman

That's tomorrows job. Back to the basics. Fuses, relays, pump, etc.

[Tote]

This is a problem confronting anyone who drives anything which is not a Tojo. Luckily I haven't had any problems for years out of town (Perth) but have spoken to others who can't even get their vehicle serviced by local so called "mechanics" in the north.
One bloke I spoke to in Broome last year with a Hyundai was having to wait until he got to Darwin before as no one he called would do it. It's a disgrace and these mechanics are not worthy of the name but what can you do about it?
Sod all is the answer except buy a Tojo....... :)
AlanH.

Yeah the Tojos don't have a problem except the DPF fills up and Toyota pay you 14 K because they can't fix it but you still don't have a car.....

Anyways,
Is the compressor running - Nothing will work without air. Check the fuse and see (listen) to see if it is running. I'm a little surprised that you aren't getting a million messages on the car display, let alone the nanocom.

You should be able to check the settings on the ride height sensors on the nanocom, maybe that will give some clues. Another hard reset disconnecting the battery and leaving it for a while won't do any harm either.

EDIT - This post would tend to indicate a sensor error making the vehicle think it is already in extended mode Suspension Front Wheels on Bump Stops (no codes) - Land Rover Forums - Land Rover Enthusiast Forum (https://landroverforums.com/forum/lr3-28/suspension-front-wheels-bump-stops-no-codes-80373/)

Regards,
Tote

[josh.huber]

Brad
No, the Nanocom can only deflate ALL bags at once.
Each corner is stable, ie no air going in or out. That's the problem!

The values are stable, but are they the same? Pull the rods off and set all the arms at 90 degrees to simulate normal ride height and see what happens,

Did you use the nanocom to do a reset?

After you try the above, might be worth resetting the ECU anyway. Even if you have to unplug a corner to force a fault in it.

[Graeme]

What you were playing with the fitting did you knock the ride height lever at all. I had a similar issue the car kept thinking it was in extended mode. No faults logged but I did disconnect the ride height sensor and reconnect.

Check that the sensor arm is correctly rotated by comparing it with the other side. If OK then disconnect the sensor plug as the system will still work with 3 sensors.

[ytt105]

An update.
Started the car this morning and the 'car gods' hadn't done anything to help.
Plugged in the Nanocom and played with the 'EAS Enabled' switch and it cleared the 'Extended mode'. Now were back at normal height. Just hoping the original leak is fixed.

Thanks for all the help.

Does anyone know what the EAS Enabled switches do?

Regards
Trevor

[PerthDisco]

An update.
Started the car this morning and the 'car gods' hadn't done anything to help.
Plugged in the Nanocom and played with the 'EAS Enabled' switch and it cleared the 'Extended mode'. Now were back at normal height. Just hoping the original leak is fixed.

Thanks for all the help.

Does anyone know what the EAS Enabled switches do?

Regards
Trevor

You disable the EAS to depressurise the system to do work on the system. This would explain why a) you have no pressure and b) you don’t have a dashboard full of fault lights. After completing the suspension work you enable the EAS and the system is on again.

The pump has a big job filling up so let it rest I think your supposed to switch off after 4 minutes and let it cool down.

[DiscoJeffster]

Oddly enough the dashboard should have read “suspension not in customer mode” on the centre display when you started it. Did it?

[ytt105]

Oddly enough the dashboard should have read “suspension not in customer mode” on the centre display when you started it. Did it?


Have never seen 'customer mode'!

Regards

[ytt105]

Any recommendations of Landrover gurus from Karratha to Perth that I can put on a list.

Gee its a big state isn't it!

Regards
Trevor

[eddy]

Whyatts in Geraldton are the go to for service /repair.
Whyatts Land Rover - Approved Service & Parts Centre - Geraldton (https://www.aulro.com/afvb/land-rover-dealers-wa/255502-whyatts-land-rover-approved-service-parts-centre-geraldton.html)

[cjc_td5]

Glad you seem to be mobile again mate.
At least you can get your Nanocom working on your D4. Last time I tried mine it wouldn't even boot up correctly. The trouble with the D4 is I only have a potential need to use the Nanocom every few years, so it goes out of update etc, and then throws a wobbly....
Safe travels.

[PerthDisco]

Have never seen 'customer mode'!

Regards

I don’t see it on the D3 either. From memory the rocking car light comes on though.

[veebs]

I would pull the plugs from the height sensors anywhere near where you have been playing, check for corrosion, bent pins, or anything else stuck in there, then reseat each one.

Once happy everything is plugged in correctly, try a total system reboot - disconnect any Aux battery you have, trailer anderson plug connected etc.
Then disconnect the main battery, and touch the leads together (not shorting the battery here, just the battery leads)

This should reset the computer systems, and rule out any gremlins that may be lurking in the settings / config...

[ytt105]

OK, more playing.

Pulled the height sensor, caused an error, and then no more 'extended mode' so that's good.

Redid the connector joint, pretty sure that's not leaking. But the air bag deflates within a couple of minutes if the car isn't running.

Both front air struts are weeping oil on the shocks, so can this cause a leak in the bag itself. They've got about 50k kms on them.

Regards
Trevor

[cjc_td5]

Have never seen 'customer mode'!

RegardsFrom memory I get a similar message when moving to and from TTM (Tight Tolerance Mode for wheel alignment etc) (MY14 D4).

[ytt105]

A major breakthru!!!

I started looking at the air spring instead of the connector, and low and behold, there is a major leak from the shock top nut. It was very loose and has been tightned at least 1 full turn, cant get it any tighter. There is still a small leak but at least the compressor might get some relief.

Question is, remembering I'm at Karratha, is it reasonable to think that a competent mechanic can remove the strut and replace the "o ring" at the top? Is it a normal o ring?

Holiday may not be ruined just yet!

Regards
Trevor

[Graeme]

There are 3 o-rings IIRC. Just tighten the nut, which will require a hex driver or Allen key to hold the shaft so that the nut can be fully tightened.

Edit: not hex (that's L322).

[Bulletman]

I'm bringing a roadtrain up thru that way , pretty sure I have a drop off in karratha, I do have a used front and rear air strut that if you need I can throw in the truck. I dont leave till mid morning tomorrow so realistically it would be friday as I'm oversized load but if it helps I will bring a strut with me. Pretty sure D3/D4 have the same struts.

[BradC]

There is still a small leak but at least the compressor might get some relief.

Given you've been pumping incalculable quantities of air through the drier, you'll want to put a drier rebuild on your "after holidays" todo list.

It's sounding positive though.

[Eric SDV6SE]

From memory I get a similar message when moving to and from TTM (Tight Tolerance Mode for wheel alignment etc) (MY14 D4).

Correct, the EAS defaults into dealer mode, sits on the bump rubbers.

[Eric SDV6SE]

But the air bag deflates within a couple of minutes if the car isn't running. Yep, was going to say you've got a leaking airbag. Surprised it stays up a few minutes. Best bet is a replacement strut, especially if you've got oil leaking from the damper. Easy enough to change out, just make sure they have a torque wrench that goes to 350Nm. You need the bottom bolt to be at 300Nm. You can reuse the old bolts. I've got spare bolts if you need.

[ytt105]

Thanks to everyone for the help and offers of parts.
I hope to have enough of a seal to get to Canarvon over the next couple of days. Then I'll probably order a couple of new struts, hopefully they won't take too long. I usually get parts from UK within a week to the NSW South Coast.
How long to Canarvon?
Regards
Trevor

[LGM]

What Eddy said!

Whyatts Land Rover are the go to folks on the West Coast for your D4.

[Ghost-Who-Walks]

What Eddy said!

Whyatts Land Rover are the go to folks on the West Coast for your D4.

Call Whyatts and talk to them. They are SUPER helpful, really knowledgeable and experienced in all LR's. They will be able to advise best course of action.

If you're going to Carnarvon (and are confident in getting there with leaky spring), then you might as well do the extra few hundred k's and get to a place where there's excellent help available!!!
Experience speaking here....

[ytt105]

Made it to Carnarvon no problem. Strut holds air for most of the day, but drops overnight, so obviously still leaking.
I've ordered a couple of new struts off Ebay, supposedly only a week to Carnarvon.

I know I should be worried about quality, but as the quality BWI ones are the ones that have failed within 50k kms I'm going for a cheap repair to get me home and will see how they go.

I'll fit them myself, done it before, but as I'm getting older its getting harder.

I'll have to buy a couple of spanners and an extra jack. Can anyone confirm that the big nut on the bottom is 24mm?

Regards
Trevor

[Eric SDV6SE]

Can confirm the lower nut and bolt are 24mm. Bolt to go to 300Nm, or VFT if you don't have a torque wrench.

[ytt105]

Just to complete the post.

After spending just over a week in Carnarvon, a lovely place for 3 or 4 days, Auspost finally got my Express post items to me from Melbourne.
4 hrs later both new struts are in and all seems to be well.
The old struts are totally stuffed, they rattle , wobble and oil pours out of the air inlet. So much for quality BWI items.
I hope the eBay cheapies last better.
Anyway, off to Coral Bay tomorrow to continue the holiday.
Thanks again to all help!
Regards
Trevor

[josh.huber]

If they are BWI from advanced factors, I understand your frustration, my rears had surface rust on them which I had to clean up..AF doubled the warranty on them for me, I already feel like the damping has gone. I'll be ordering Bilstein shocks next.