New Owner EAS fault

Good evening all.

I have just bought a 1999 Range Rover HSE 4.6 V8 a couple of weeks ago, the externals are in excellent condition but the interior needs a little tlc but thats all in hand.

Everything seemed to be going great for the first couple of weeks but yesterday on my way to work the EAS FAULT message appeared in the display and the lights on the selector switch flashed and eventualy all 4 stayed on, it seemed to happen when it was coming out of highway mode and raising the rear to normal ride height.

Now every time i turn it on the fault appears again but the suspension seems to still be operating and raising to normal height i just cant select any of the other heights.

Ive downloaded the workshop manual, checked all fuses and relays which are all ok, ive even looked at the height sensors which all seem in good order.

After reading several posts on here i have now ordered the EAS lead and software to do a reset and check for faults.

Im assuming as it all seems to operate and hold normal height that the problem may have sorted itself but i need to reset the fault codes to get it to work and select other heights.

Has anyone had the same symptoms while i wait for the lead and software to arrive.

Cheers Glyn

:welcome2:

Send a Private Message to a member on here called Datatek, he can supply the EAS Cable and software for around £20, this will allow you read, clear and bench test the system.....it is indispensable to the P38 owner

Also if the P38 is a long term vehicle for you, you would do well to invest in some diagnostic gear...the BBS Nanocom is by far the most popular choice (no affiliation)

Think you're stuffed without some kind of diagnostics but if you press in the height inhibitor switch and then select the height will it let you change? Then switch the inhibitor switch off again.

Rather than hunting through threads go to the top of this section where you'll find a 'how to' section. Whilst you'll find the first one is headed 'EAS compressor etc.' you'll find much more information about the suspension system and it's faults. Well worth a read.

Get yourself one of these reset/kicker plugs

Range Rover P38 EAS Nano Kicker Suspension Reset Tool | eBay

Even if you sort things out and have a nanocom or other diagnostic you still have to drag out the laptop to do reset. As the systems get older I am convinced there are gremlins which will put it in fault randomly.

Sounds like a faulty height sensor

mgmayo said:

Get yourself one of these reset/kicker plugs

Range Rover P38 EAS Nano Kicker Suspension Reset Tool | eBay

Even if you sort things out and have a nanocom or other diagnostic you still have to drag out the laptop to do reset. As the systems get older I am convinced there are gremlins which will put it in fault randomly.

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Suspension kicker is a total waste of money IMO, cable & diagnostics is £16.70 to £18.70 depending how you pay.

SpiggyTopes said:

Sounds like a faulty height sensor

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Quite likely, or a weak compressor, or in my case it appears it was the driver pack.

Datatek said:

Suspension kicker is a total waste of money IMO, cable & diagnostics is £16.70 to £18.70 depending how you pay.


Quite likely, or a weak compressor, or in my case it appears it was the driver pack.

Click to expand...

+1

what's the point in clearing the fault but not knowing what caused it? :lalala:

also much cheaper to buy Data's cable

and as Saint V8 has already said Nanocom for diagnostics

Thanks everyone for the suggestions, ive already ordered A data cable and software before anyone mentioned Datatek otherwise i would have ordered from him, will report back once it arrives with the outcome.

Ive also got a problem with aircon not working, the compressor isn't kicking in, i have noticed a small fluid leak front left of engine bay down below the rad that the aircon goes through, its a redish colour could this be aircon fluid??

Cheers Glyn

Sounds like coolant, air con leak usually green. Could have leaky rad.

PPP38vouge said:

Sounds like coolant, air con leak usually green. Could have leaky rad.

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It seems an oily liquid and red in colour the coolant is blue so dont think its that.

Cheers Glyn

Gearbox Oil Cooler....

ATF and PAS Fluid on the P38 is reddish in colour!

Saint.V8 said:

Gearbox Oil Cooler....

ATF and PAS Fluid on the P38 is reddish in colour!

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+1 power steering is ATF and can spray from a pin hole.

Ok so got the cable and software (easunlocksuite) yesterday, installed drivers supplied with lead and usb-serial adapter, connected and initialised as per instructions.

For some reason it doesn't seem to be communicating, all i get back in RX is a series of 28 & 80's not FF's as it should.

Ive tried everything suggested by the seller including different drivers, checked power to ecu & relay under passenger seat all ok, uninstalled and reinstalled software etc but still no joy.

It did start working briefly when i left it running for a while whilst talking to seller of lead etc, just long enough to clear fault before it stopped communicating again.

The seller has been very helpful and thinks it may be a faulty usb adapter so is sending a replacement.

Has anyone else had a similar problem or can recommend anything it might be??

Cheers Glyn

Glynforster said:

Ok so got the cable and software (easunlocksuite) yesterday, installed drivers supplied with lead and usb-serial adapter, connected and initialised as per instructions.

For some reason it doesn't seem to be communicating, all i get back in RX is a series of 28 & 80's not FF's as it should.

Ive tried everything suggested by the seller including different drivers, checked power to ecu & relay under passenger seat all ok, uninstalled and reinstalled software etc but still no joy.

It did start working briefly when i left it running for a while whilst talking to seller of lead etc, just long enough to clear fault before it stopped communicating again.

The seller has been very helpful and thinks it may be a faulty usb adapter so is sending a replacement.

Has anyone else had a similar problem or can recommend anything it might be??

Cheers Glyn

Click to expand...

Usual problem is USB adaptor. This has been covered on here many, many times. Have look around.

Thanks again for all the replies & advice.

Ive just been trying it all again but no joy.

Checked the multiplug behind passenger kick panel and its clean as a whistle in there so ruled that out.

Checked fuse for diagnostic socket all ok.

It did the same as last time and started communicating for a minute or two then dropped out again.

I have noticed if i have key in position 2 engine not running the RX readings are constant at 28 & 80, but when i start engine the 28 stays constant but the other value changes and has been AO, A7, A1, A9, CO & 81 whats going on ????

I do hope its just the usb adapter and nothing more serious.

Cheers Glyn

Which version of Windows are you running? If it's Vista, almost certainly it will prove to be a driver problem.

Datatek said:

Which version of Windows are you running? If it's Vista, almost certainly it will prove to be a driver problem.

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Hi Datatek, my laptop is on windows 7 and im using the driver supplied by the seller of the kit, the adapter is FTDI chipset and he says he has tested the same adapter and lead on his own P38 and it all works ok, hes posted ne a new adapter which he tried before posting so fingers crossed it works when it arrives.

Cheers Glyn

Glynforster said:

Hi Datatek, my laptop is on windows 7 and im using the driver supplied by the seller of the kit, the adapter is FTDI chipset and he says he has tested the same adapter and lead on his own P38 and it all works ok, hes posted ne a new adapter which he tried before posting so fingers crossed it works when it arrives.

Cheers Glyn

Click to expand...

Load the adaptor driver BEFORE you plug adaptor into laptop.

Check which version of USB-Serial driver you have, and makes sure you don't have two versions installed. In windoze device manager, select "View / Hidden Devices" and uninstall any rogue drivers. There are differences between the Prolific PL2302 and others.

I run Win-XP VM on my Macbook Air, and use the "ftdibus" driver with more success. Shows up as COM1

Pete