P38A Height Sensor replacement

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J L Carr

J L Carr

Active Member
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360
Location
Hemel Hempsted
Hi Guy's. My old girl at times has a suspension problem, sometimes when I start it up the suspension will rise but only fully on the nearside so the car ends up lopsided, drive it a few hundred meters and she'll level out. Other times it take a lot longer,so my question is, how easy it it to change over the ride height sensors. Are these just plug and play, or is there more to replacing them.
 
You will more than likely need to recalibrate the heights which is fairly easy to do with the right kit.
There is the free software from storey Wilson and someone on here makes up cheap leads for it ( @Datatek I think)
Plenty of advice available if you get stuck.
Not sure the height sensors would cause your issue but getting it plugged in would allow you to see the readings from the sensors
 
They're about 60 quid for oem at island 4x4. Not cheap I agree but not 90 quid
Need to see the readings first. No point going in changing stuff til you know what the problem is. Very expensive way of fixing a potentially cheap fault.
 
There is no sound on this even tried it on YouTube and it's the same no sound.I all ready have the lead and cd got that from Datatek a couple of years ago. So if it's not the height sensor then it must be the air valves not fully opening to allow the air just to the drives side of the car. I have a fully rebuild valve set so may try a replacement and see what happens.
 
Sensor faults are usually picked up by the continual fault flagged on diagnostics. Id check all cheaper options such as valves sticking/leaks etc before shelling out. @Datatek is they guy you need.

The sensors can't be repaired, only replaced however, when they wear it is the track that wears. on later p38's (MY '97 on, but I'm not 100%) you can swap them from side to side So it's on an unused (new) bit of track
 
J L Carr said:
Hi Guy's. My old girl at times has a suspension problem, sometimes when I start it up the suspension will rise but only fully on the nearside so the car ends up lopsided, drive it a few hundred meters and she'll level out. Other times it take a lot longer,so my question is, how easy it it to change over the ride height sensors. Are these just plug and play, or is there more to replacing them.
Click to expand...
I'd be looking at corroded connectors first. I had similar symptoms on my project car giving odd sensor readings on diagnostics. The white connectors behind the panel at the base of the A post in the passenger footwell were corroded. That didn't fix the problem completely, I then looked at the EAS ECU under the passenger seat, the amount of corrosion was incredible. The only thing that would remove it was a swiss file. I admit I gave up, I just cleaned the plug contacts and fitted my spare ECU. So far it seems to be fixed.
It's also worth cleaning all the height sensor connectors (NOT with WD40!)
 
Datatek said:
I'd be looking at corroded connectors first. I had similar symptoms on my project car giving odd sensor readings on diagnostics. The white connectors behind the panel at the base of the A post in the passenger footwell were corroded. That didn't fix the problem completely, I then looked at the EAS ECU under the passenger seat, the amount of corrosion was incredible. The only thing that would remove it was a swiss file. I admit I gave up, I just cleaned the plug contacts and fitted my spare ECU. So far it seems to be fixed.
It's also worth cleaning all the height sensor connectors (NOT with WD40!)
Click to expand...

The white plug at A post is interface from height selector switch to ECU. All sensor cables go straight from where sensor plugs in directly to ECU with no interconnections or splices. So the only places they can give problems are at connection to sensor or at ECU or the sensor itself failing. WD40 contact cleaner is fine to use just not the water repellent in the blue tin.
 
wammers said:
The white plug at A post is interface from height selector switch to ECU. All sensor cables go straight from where sensor plugs in directly to ECU with no interconnections or splices. So the only places they can give problems are at connection to sensor or at ECU or the sensor itself failing. WD40 contact cleaner is fine to use just not the water repellent in the blue tin.
Click to expand...
There are 2 white plugs on mine, one has only 3 wires that appear to come from the rear nearside height sensor.
 
Datatek said:
There are 2 white plugs on mine, one has only 3 wires that appear to come from the rear nearside height sensor.
Click to expand...

Wiring diagrams show direct connection with no plugs or interfaces other than at sensor or ECU. Are we talking my N/S or your N/S? C0467/469 are interface height switch to ECU. And are at base of A post left side of car whether it be right or left hand drive. The other plug in same position is the feed to door outstation and has a lot more than three wires. Only three wire plug located at base of what would be my O/S your N/S A post as far as i can see is a Black plug Whit/orange White/purple White/blue feed to fuel cut off inertia switch.
 
Last edited:
wammers said:
Wiring diagrams show direct connection with no plugs or interfaces other than at sensor or ECU. Are we talking my N/S or your N/S? C0467/469 are interface height switch to ECU. And are at base of A post left side of car whether it be right or left hand drive. The other plug in same position is the feed to door outstation and has a lot more than three wires. Only three wire plug located at base of what would be my O/S your N/S A post as far as i can see is a Black plug Whit/orange White/purple White/blue feed to fuel cut off inertia switch.
Click to expand...
Sitting in the car, it's the left side, one big white plug with lots of wires, a second smaller one with three wires and a lot of spare ways.
I have not checked where exactly the three wires go, I was just surprised to find a second connector and as it was corroded and the left rear sensor was playing up I put 2 and 2 together and may have made 5.
The car is LHD MY99.
 
Datatek said:
Sitting in the car, it's the left side, one big white plug with lots of wires, a second smaller one with three wires and a lot of spare ways.
I have not checked where exactly the three wires go, I was just surprised to find a second connector and as it was corroded and the left rear sensor was playing up I put 2 and 2 together and may have made 5.
The car is LHD MY99.
Click to expand...

Wiring diagrams don't show any connectors in sensor runs. Maybe your car is a Land rover created one off to confound us. :D;)
 
Datatek said:
I have now checked all my P38's, they all have 2 white connectors at the bottom of the A post passenger side. I was wrong about the smaller connector having 3 wires, it actually has 5.
Click to expand...

Yep the only three wire white connectors are under the seats. ;)
 
Just to revive this thread, I've been having height ride sensor issues for years now and have been tackling every part of the air suspension system to no avail. The last place to be tackled is the wiring to the sensors. A the height sensors are new underside but I now believe there's a wiring issue somewhere.

Can I ask where to find the front passenger internal sensor cable can be located?

I've taken this photo as reference. What wires/connectors am I looking at here?
20240613_123555.jpg
 
UnitLandy said:
Just to revive this thread, I've been having height ride sensor issues for years now and have been tackling every part of the air suspension system to no avail. The last place to be tackled is the wiring to the sensors. A the height sensors are new underside but I now believe there's a wiring issue somewhere.

Can I ask where to find the front passenger internal sensor cable can be located?

I've taken this photo as reference. What wires/connectors am I looking at here?
View attachment 319192
Click to expand...
I am assuming you have made sure the connector is clean, even if it looks good it can still be the main issue with many a fault. The best thing is to cut and solder/heat shrink each wire, this will ensure there is no connection issue. I had all kinds of issues years back until I did mine, at the end of the day the connector/s are only there if you want to take the body off. I did both sides and also the ICE outstation connector
 
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