Thread: should the air suspension remain exactly where it was?

Originally posted by charliebrisbane
Sometimes when I turn the 2001 p38 off and come back some minutes later it has dropped to the bump stops. Once or twice I have heard a sound like the valves intermittently releasing air in short bursts soon after the car has turned off. Is this normal I thought the car was suppossed to maintain the same height after the ignition is turned off.

Does this mean the valves or something will need replacing soon? Is it making the compressor work too hard and do you think it would be constantly working while driving if air is being lost? A bit worried that this could cost lots of $$$. While it is still under used car statutory waranty I'll want this sorted.

Be kind,

Charlie

Charlie,

If it's dropping to the bump stops in minutes you have a leak or leaks.

The EAS does self level when parked with the ignition off and if on sloping ground will lower all corners to the level of the lowest, but this takes hours rather than minutes and rarely goes down to the bump stops. The valve noise on switch off is normal.

The EAS should not leak at all. Cars which drop overnight have leaks. You are correct about the compressor wearing more when working longer to replace leaked air. You need to have this fixed.

Regards

Bugger the dealer that sold it to me will not like the sound of that. I will get it checked out by my local dealer and get a costing. Isn't it a bit young to have bad leaks? The rest of the car seems in pretty good nick.

Charlie

Originally posted by charliebrisbane
Isn't it a bit young to have bad leaks?
Charlie

No, it's just of age to start having it's first EAS problems. I would guess it's on it's original air springs and 5 years is more than old enough for them to need replacing.

Regards
Howard

It could also be leaking fittings fixed one on my disco in the weekend had a slow leak on the right hand rear fitting on the air bag changed the fitting now stays up.

Fill up a spray bottle with very soapy detergent water and spray around fittings and the top and bottom of the airbags do this in the raised mode,
if you do need a new airbag ring around, airbagman in brisbane has replacement parts for the range rovers.

(url)www.airbagman.com.au(url)

Yeah the fellas are right. I had a problem similar in my LSE, only it was droppin to the bump stops WHILST DRIVING 8O :!:

Not fun I can assure you.


In my case a faulty valve body, in combination with the self levelling suspension, caused the problem. I had to replace the whole valve body. Luckily a mate had one on his car (converted to coils) other wise it would have cost me THOUSANDS of $.

The airbags themselves are fine (in my case).


SO, yes, get it fixed under warranty.

Once sorted, I'd also instal one o the airbag man's EAS emergency kits, Allows you to bypass the valve body and inflate manually with a compressor and can get you out of trouble in a bush situation. Pretty hard to recover a vehicle when its on the bump stops and getit back to civilisation. Money sell spent I reckon. (And much easier to instal in a P38 than in a Clasic, too).

I can offer you a better quality, new EAS emergency kit for half the price of abman, which does not require the airlines to be cut. Email me if you would like details.

Hah :!: Now you tell us. :roll:

thanks for your help guys I have emailed p38ace and will let you know what comes of it all. After it has been checked out.

Charlie