Is this normal?!

eight - you might be able to help me here since you seems to know what you are talking about!

My air suspension all seems to be working fine, apart from some occasional weirdness - it goes down to access position all on its own sometimes when I get out of the car and close the door, and sometimes when I get in the car it is in extended mode and sinks down - all properly indicated by the lights on the dash, but it does always return to the normal position. However, that's not what I'm really concerned about...

...when I stop at traffic lights (without holding the brake pedal on), the suspension almost always re-adjusts itself after about 20-30s. Sometimes it goes up, sometimes it goes down, sometimes it goes down, up, down, up, or it goes up, down, up! etc. etc. as though it is trying to find the correct position. Sometimes this is just a small movement, which I can kind of understand, but othertimes it is quite a large movement. I really don't know what is going on. Maybe the height sensors are sending out spurious signals - is that possible?

I thought that maybe it was a leaking valve block at first, but that wouldn't expain why the suspension rises sometimes!

Maybe it is normal for the suspension to adjust itself when stationary, I don't know - does anyone else see these same symptoms?

My compressor also seems to run for an inordinate amout of time. When stationary I can hear it come on at least every 30s or so. Not for long, sometimes maybe on 5-10s, even when the suspension hasn't done anything! Is that normal?! I heard somewhere that putting another smaller tank between the compressor and the main tank stops the compressor cutting in and out all the time, something about the pressure sensor dropping the pressure on the line when it is checking it???

Other than that, the system works absolutely fine!

Matt

Seem to know what I'm talking about ! Hell - theres confidence !
How old are your height sensors ? If they have done more than about 80k miles then they are probably wearing out.The way to check is by disconnecting the battery,then you can test the sensors without fear of putting open circuit faults into the Ecu.To test them you need to disconnect them from the suspension and undo the electrical plug aswell.Connect a decent multimeter to the centre wire and either of the outside wires,using the resistance range very slowly move the sensor arm through its full arc, watching the readings - esp in the area of operation where the sensor arm is at normal ride height.If the reading jumps around or you can get the same reading in 2 or more places then the sensor is shot - this will explain why your car is moving around alot to try to level itself - the ecu is being confused by readings it doesnt expect, so it has another go at leveling etc.People dont like being told that their sensors are shot because the car still works,but if the sensors work properly,you have no air leaks and a decent compressor it makes a huge difference to the systems operation.Between 80-100k pretty much all the air springs will be perished or porus,the compressor seal will be worn out and more than one sensor will be on its way.
Some people will disagree but rather than break down 1/2 way across Spain or Italy its better to sort it all out in one go.It is not as expensive as it was now either.

Well it's done over 200k now! I can't see any bills for new sensors (I have all of them from new!) I replaced all 4 air bags recently because they were leaking with varying degrees, and thought it best to get them all sorted rather than wait for them to go individually. The compressor was new last year, so that should be fine.

When it last had an "EAS fault" the specialist hooked it up to Testbook in dynamic mode and ran it up and down a few times and said the height sensors checked out ok (it was one of them that had tripped the fault) but I suspect that you are right in that they are getting on a bit and probably failing. It should be in for a service soon, I'll asking him to check them out again on Testbook, work is manic at the moment so don't have much time for getting dirty with my LR! Not sure I fancy 4x new height sensors right now either I suspect a gearbox bearing is going, so got to save my money for that bill!

So - just to clarify - when I stop, it shouldn't be trying to correct the ride height at all? or is it normal for it to do this? I mean - not the bouncing up and down bit, but just move to the correct height as a one-off movement.

Does the DII have similar problems with the rear air suspension? I'm tempted to get a Td5 DII next time, just two things concerning me - got to figure out if it is big enough inside, and secondly that huge swinging rear door is a real PITA!

Cheers,

Matt

It has done very well to get that far on a set of sensors - think you will have to flex the plastic soon ! I never bother using testbook to check height sensors - it is not fast/accurate enough,I use a fluke meter or oscilliscope if it is set up -that really shows up the faults.
Your car should come up and stop after braking hard to a halt,maybe making a few tiny adjustments if you remain stationary.It certainly should not cycle up and down,if it does then I would see this as a first clue to faulty sensors as the Ecu is not seeing expected results from its outputs to the valve block - so it tries again etc.
Disco II's suffer slightly different problems to LP RR's with their SLS,Porus air springs seem most common - not necessarily related to age/mileage.They go down on one side,sometimes in 5mins,overnight or once a week - it depends on where they are parked.With the spring at a certain level it may not leak,a bit lower/higher it will.Some owners ignore it as the air supply unit pumps the car back up when you start it,(the ASU pumps straight into the springs - there is no air tank )trouble is 6 months of this and the ASU fails,I cant rebuild these - yet.You could get a 5 seat one as most of these have coils on the back.

Cheers eight. Guess I will have to spend some money

You could get a 5 seat one as most of these have coils on the back.

Click to expand...

With 2 kids, 7 seats is part of the attraction tho - when my parents come down it is a pain to have to go out in 2 cars everywhere. Will keep your comments in mind if I decide to get one. I will have to be dragged kicking and screaming away from the P38 tho, despite its habits!

Matt.

I got through a lot of snow in France over Christmas with the air suspension exhibiting this kind of problem. After a while, the position sensors failed (but I didn't know that then). A dealer in Lisieux charged €80 for a new air dehumidifier and reset the ECU.

Half an hour later, I was back on the bump stops and resigned myself to this all the way back to Sussex!

The problem was solved in the end by a center in Eastbourne http://cartest.org who have Rovacom diagnostics.

C'était moi, le fou anglais!

Oyl,

Where is the dealer in Lisieux? Could come in handy as I travel around that area rather regularly! Any details would be handy if you have them.

I guess I'm looking at one or more new sensors soon! Most likely be the fronts at that is the end that goes up and down most!

Matt.

GARAGE PAYS D'AUGE
RUE PAUL CORNU
14100 LISIEUX
Tel:02 31 48 24 24

From the center, go north down Rue G. Leclerc by the side of the post office for a couple of miles.

As I said, they didn't get to the bottom of the fault - they said that damp air was a common fault and it failed soon after leaving the garage. Very nice people there, though.

Great, thanks for that. I don't know the centre, but I'm sure I can find it. I normally only drop in at E.Leclerc on my way past Lisieux - it's a nice one there!

Is it a main dealer? I've not found anyone over there apart from Main Dealers who have the diagnostics to sort out the air suspension.

The garage I normally use over there wouldn't even change an air spring for me as he didn't know how it worked! Fair enough I guess - I'd prefer him to be honest than make a balls-up of it! I did it myself in the end with the help of some new tools from Bricomarche (any excuse to buy new tools! ), and a very long breaking bar I found!

Matt

Yes, it's a main dealer. It is on the northern edge of the town near a lot of other garages. From Lecerc, go north west on the Rue de Paris and pick up the D406. Turn left at the juction with Rue de Cornu and the garage is on your right. It's about 3 miles.