Thread: Air suspension cactus in Kununurra

Originally Posted by Graeme

Dropping to the bump-stops (not lowered to access height) most often occurs because the selected height cannot be achieved within the allowed time. As the compressor runs for only 15s then perhaps the system isn't detecting any increase in pressure at all which suggests that a pipe might be broken rather than the compressor having become too weak whereby the system doesn't fault for a much longer period. Knowing the fault code would be very useful but you should be able to hear air escaping somewhere if a pipe is broken. Broken pipes can be repaired using even cheap push-on 6mm air-line joiners and perhaps a short section of 6mm tube as used in some trucks.

Originally Posted by Graeme

Some functions not being available sounds like an ABS fault (HDC, ABS) possibly caused by a broken ABS sensor wire for which the vehicle will lower to access height.

Is it on the bump-stops or just at access height?

Definitely bump stops

The combination of the 3 faults indicate that you most likely have an overheated compressor that is now drawing too much current due to an internal partial short circuit. Check that the 60A megafuse in the engine bay fuse box is OK and see if you can swap the compressor relay with another in case it's a power supply issue.

Also check the filter on the compressor intake line to see if it is blocked. It's located inside behind the left light cluster clipped to the bodywork, found by following the tube that is visible with the internal cover removed.

Originally Posted by Graeme

The combination of the 3 faults indicate that you most likely have an overheated compressor that is now drawing too much current due to an internal partial short circuit. Check that the 60A megafuse in the engine bay fuse box is OK and see if you can swap the compressor relay with another in case it's a power supply issue.

Thanks Graeme, I am off to google how to do that swap the compressor relay- the 60A looks ok. So appreciative of your time and assistance. Will let you know how it goes

Originally Posted by Moggymitch

Sounds similar to what I experienced back at the start of the year.

I had previously changed the desiccant on the original Hitachi compressor and this worked for a further 9 months but the compressor ultimately stopped again. You could try just loosening the compacted desiccant in the compressor if this hasn’t been changed before.

Other option might be to create an emergency air kit, hopefully you can find the right parts in Kununurra.

GOE emergency air up kit.

Good luck

Thank you! Will try

Originally Posted by Moggymitch

Sounds similar to what I experienced back at the start of the year.

I had previously changed the desiccant on the original Hitachi compressor and this worked for a further 9 months but the compressor ultimately stopped again. You could try just loosening the compacted desiccant in the compressor if this hasn’t been changed before.

Other option might be to create an emergency air kit, hopefully you can find the right parts in Kununurra.

GOE emergency air up kit.

Good luck

Originally Posted by PhilipA

About 5 years ago my D2 chafed its fuel line which is common and I had to be flat topped in to Kununurra from El Questro .

I would not leave my car with the WA auto club workshop, and the manager of the caravan park suggested the Thrifty outpost at the airport.

Young bloke mechanic there was great and looked at the youtube how to and fixed it well and quickly.
If same management and mechanic I recommend them.
Regards PhilipA

Will give thrifty a go- thank you for the recommendation

Originally Posted by gemma.winlo@gmail.com

Hi all, the air suspension has died on our Disco 2012- compressor sounds like it’s working after starting the engine although no lift on any of the wheels, then after about 15 secs the amber suspension fault comes on. Car sitting on bump stops. Have checked fuses, integrity of wires, the charge going to compressor, tried raising back of car to reset sensors- nothing worked so far. We’re traveling in Kununurra, the fault happened at the eastern end of the Gibb and limped to Kununurra hoping to get sorted but unable to get a mechanic to check the car- anyone know someone between Kununurra and Darwin that can help us? Or anything else we can try?

TRY THIS:
*There is a harness plug behind the passenger side rear wheel, behind a plastic flap that sits on top of the chassis.
*You may need to remove wheel to better access it.
*Fold plastic flap down, it has 2 integrated plastic clips holding it at right angles, the clips may break, not a big deal.
*The large harness plug is visible and is attached to the lower plastic panel on a slotted retainer, waggle it and remove it so the plug is better accessed.
*The plug has a lever type cam action clip with a small retaining notch on it, lever open, spraying some electrical cleaner or brake cleaner will clean and lube the outside of the plug making unplugging it easier.
*Clean the inside of the 2 halves of the plug with a electronics safe clean and lube spray, yes brake clean is ok, but only spray the plug that slides inside the other plug.
*The outer part of the plug has a orange (or blue, cant remember) silicone type ring seal, if you spray that with brake clean it will swell and the two halves of the plug wont plug together enough.
*If the seal does swell or is damaged, you can remove it with a tiny pick.
*Make sure the plugs go together properly or the fault will continue.
*If you look at the plug you will see it has two rows of pins, there is a space between these 2 rows which once the plug is together again will allow you to put a thin long zip tie around the outside which keeps to plug together nicely.

*A pin on the plug may have backed out, but generally that leads to only one fault.

Have you removed the cover from the air compressor and checked that none of the pipes or the cap have gotten damaged, or split.

It’s under the car basically below the rear passenger door. Will be a plastic cover wedged in near the chassis rail. Not sure what compressor you have but the hitachi were renown for cap failure between where the 2 airlines come out. I had mine completely split.

Bulletman

Originally Posted by gemma.winlo@gmail.com

Hi all, the air suspension has died on our Disco 2012- compressor sounds like it’s working after starting the engine although no lift on any of the wheels, then after about 15 secs the amber suspension fault comes on. Car sitting on bump stops. Have checked fuses, integrity of wires, the charge going to compressor, tried raising back of car to reset sensors- nothing worked so far. We’re traveling in Kununurra, the fault happened at the eastern end of the Gibb and limped to Kununurra hoping to get sorted but unable to get a mechanic to check the car- anyone know someone between Kununurra and Darwin that can help us? Or anything else we can try?

Same thing happened to my D3 at one stage.
Found it was a melted air line right at the compressor managed to cut it close to the melt point ant reattached it all good from then on.
May be worth a look in the area of the compressor.

Glen