Thread: Suspension Faults

Originally Posted by garrycol

Thanks for that - car stayed up last night.

Maybe that's the problem, you are not letting it get a good sleep at night lol!

Originally Posted by Graeme

Valve block re-built kit
Discovery Air Suspension Valve O Ring Set of (3) RVH000095 RVH000055 RVH000046 | eBay

Ah damn, was hoping we wouldn't need to pay so much for a few o-rings, I was tempted to remove them for sizing then go to Pirtek or the like to match them... I suppose for $42 delivered you get the piece of mind that they are the exact right size and you won't have to pull the thing apart again afterwards!
I might try this for my "jumping" rather than smooth raising that is happening in the rear of mine...

I rebuilt my old Hitachi with Ebay kit over 60k ago hasnt missed a beat.Simple job under 1 hour cheap fix

Sorry for the long post.

Well I started this thread in Aug 2017 when I first started getting occasional faults on the suspension - went on like that for a long time, a few faults one after another then nothing for weeks. Went on like that until this week when the suspension started continually faulting about 2 minutes after start. While the 2 minutes were long enough to top up the air tank I was concerned that very soon the compressor was going to stop for good and if the suspension dropped I would be screwed.

Time to use that X8R Hitachi rebuild kit LAND ROVER DISCOVERY 3 4 RANGE ROVER SPORT AIR COMPRESSOR REPAIR KIT HITACHI that I have had for a number of years sitting on the shelf.

Pulled the compressor out - top bolt was not an issue, bottom front was though as I forgot how to get to it and it took me half an hour to work out what was obvious. The rear pipes are not an issue for me as I had to cut them years ago when I had to change the compressor mount as the connectors would not disconnect so I have both rear pipes connected at the cuts with fuel hose - they are both low pressure so not an issue.

So following the X8R video I did the piston first which was pretty straight forward, then did the desiccant which again was pretty straight forward. My old dessicant was white not blue with just a little powder - I think the powder comes from the dead beads being bounced around with car movement and forming the dust - not sure how it gets past the filters but it does, but I didn't have much.

Reassembled everything and tested and the everything ran fine on the bench.

I then loosely put everything back in and started up and right on queue after running for about a minute the same old suspension fault came back

Hmm time to get the faultmate out and actually reads the codes - hmmm not working the Fault mate has an operating temp range of 10 to 45 degrees and it had been sitting in the car which until I got in was at nearly 60 (outside was 40). So I could not check the codes - Faultmate went into the freezer to cool down for a while.

While thinking about the issue, I knew the compressor was not OK and there was not much power so unlikely to have got past the air tank the the front and rear valve blocks so I I thought I would pull the component that lives just in front of the compressor - not sure what it is but I assume some sort of valve block and sensors etc. Pulled it out and disassembled it and there was a fine coating of dust so I hit everything with compressed air then blew compressed air down all the connecting air lines.

I put everything back and started the car an let it run - no faults after 10 minutes - dissembling everything meant the air tank has been discharged completely and the air compressor just ran and ran as it does take a while to refill complete empty. Did a few height changes - going from access back to onroad I did a raising slowly message but no faults.

I got the Faultmate out of the freezer and checked the stored suspension codes and the only one was a communication error - nothing. So while the compressor definitely needed a rebuild it was still working and the dust probably stopped a sensor in the pump or the block I played with communicating with the ECU and so faulted.

Any way as it was dark and I need to connect everything back I could not actually take the car for a drive and I will do that tomorrow . So hoping all is good on the road.

On a side note I dont why someone has not come up with a remote desiccant container mounted separate from the compressor so that it could be easily changed as a service item. The current chamber could be left empty with the remote unit mount in the currrent pipe that goes from the outlet of the chamber to the nearby valve block. My current compressor lasted 12 years and 160,000km so if I still have the car when I do the next compressor rebuild I might thing about it.

Garry

I think you answered that yourself. Develop something for a once in 12 year event? My suggestion would be that if you never want to buy a new compressor, you could always service it at the same time you’re supposed to change the flexible brake lines (six years). I serviced mine before any faults were showing to avoid getting stuck with a fault when I least needed it. Preventative maintenance style. That was a year ago and it’s not missed a beat

I removed my D4's dryer without removing the compressor. The retaining screw can be removed using a stumpy Philips head screw-driver, after which the canister can be rotated to unclip it.

Graeme - being a D4 that would have been an AMK i guess. Not familiar with them but if it can be changed without removing the compressor that would be great.

"On a side note I dont why someone has not come up with a remote desiccant container mounted separate from the compressor so that it could be easily changed as a service item. The current chamber could be left empty with the remote unit mount in the currrent pipe that goes from the outlet of the chamber to the nearby valve block. My current compressor lasted 12 years and 160,000km so if I still have the car when I do the next compressor rebuild I might thing about it."

Right on - I don't get this either. If its easy to get to, its easy to check and change before it becomes a problem.
I have a compressor kit now, and an overhaul is on the list (never ending) of things to do!
Alan