P38A Opinion on Height Sensors

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Opinion on Height Sensors

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    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Chinese

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    4

pwood999

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Near Heathrow.
Anyone using the chinese heights sensors rather than the genuine or 2nd hand sensors ? Wondering what the success rate & lifetime are like ?
 
Datatech had no issues until they got wet. A mate has fitted a cheapy off ebay to his ns rear but hasn't set the heights and it sits low on that corner when parked but fine when driving(he says). I've got the dowels and a nanocom but he's always too busy to come round and set it up!
That sensor has been on around a year so no idea if it's faulty or just needs setting up. Not much use to you that info.
 
Anyone using the chinese heights sensors rather than the genuine or 2nd hand sensors ? Wondering what the success rate & lifetime are like ?
The first Chinese one didn't like the wet, the second one has been fine so far, it's been on the car for at least a couple of years. Even though I needed 2, it still comes out a lot cheaper than genuine. Personally I wouldn't touch second hand.
 
I fitted a couple of Chinesiums to mine but they faulted fairly quickly, the only reason I bought them was that at the time the Dunlops were out of stock. One of the cheap ones I had to re-work as the spindle boss was as loose as anything. I finally managed to get Dunlops and they are working A-OK. Although they are probably made in China the build quality is much better, I think the Chinese ones are hit and miss depending on which shed they were made in.
 
Go for OEM electrical, had last 5 out of 6 parts a couple throwing immediate fault codes, no longer buy evilbay Chinese parts, buying used parts are ok from a trusted supplier, two out of two height sensors failed, new and its replacement, shop around for OEM can be price differences
 
Took the Left Rear sensor off to day to test it with Ohmmeter. Resistance is smooth throughout the entire movement, with no glitches I can find. Cleaned up the connector again, so will see if the random "sensor out of range" fault goes away.

It's only the single connector wiring version, so the wires go deirctly to the ECU. Not had the seat out yet to check the ECU connector, so might look at that after coffee !!

I did notice quite a bit of play on the arm pivot, but this is just the wear on the pin & clearly cannot cause glitches in the height signals. The sensor spindle itself feels nice & smooth with no play.

 
Took the Left Rear sensor off to day to test it with Ohmmeter. Resistance is smooth throughout the entire movement, with no glitches I can find. Cleaned up the connector again, so will see if the random "sensor out of range" fault goes away.

It's only the single connector wiring version, so the wires go deirctly to the ECU. Not had the seat out yet to check the ECU connector, so might look at that after coffee !!

I did notice quite a bit of play on the arm pivot, but this is just the wear on the pin & clearly cannot cause glitches in the height signals. The sensor spindle itself feels nice & smooth with no play.


Surely if there is play in the arm pivot, t's not going to give consistent readings?
 
Surely if there is play in the arm pivot, t's not going to give consistent readings?
Yes but for small movements, the actual height reading should stay in range. I can't see how it could cause out of range errors.

Bit too warm outside now, but will look at replacing the pin to secure it better.
 
Took the Left Rear sensor off to day to test it with Ohmmeter. Resistance is smooth throughout the entire movement, with no glitches I can find. Cleaned up the connector again, so will see if the random "sensor out of range" fault goes away.

It's only the single connector wiring version, so the wires go deirctly to the ECU. Not had the seat out yet to check the ECU connector, so might look at that after coffee !!

I did notice quite a bit of play on the arm pivot, but this is just the wear on the pin & clearly cannot cause glitches in the height signals. The sensor spindle itself feels nice & smooth with no play.


No need to remove the seat kiddo. I swapped my eas ecu out yesterday for another. Short Philips screwdriver and a long one and it slides out of its slot. 👍
 
Might have to unscrew my Android head unit first !!

Android Head Unit Location.JPG
 
The play on the sensor arm would certainly explain wht RL readings don't jump up & down with the general roughness along the road like the other three.

Gonna see if I can sort that before getting new sensors.

1721477949716.png
 
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Sorted the play on the RL sensor arm. Now all four traces track nicely, plus the EAS seems to hunt up & down less. Will see if the random fault re-appears or not over next few days.

1721561869279.png


The fix on the sensor was first to use a self-tap screw to secure the arm to the poteniometer spindle, instead of the rusty old pin.
It still wobbled a little bit, so I used Stiks Like Sh1t & left it for 24 hours to cure. (This stuff is brilliant & does seem to stick anything really well :) )

IMG_1119.JPG
 
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Sorted the play on the RL sensor arm. Now all four traces track nicely, plus the EAS seems to hunt up & down less. Will see if the random fault re-appears or not over next few days.

View attachment 321987

The fix on the sensor was first to use a self-tap screw to secure the arm to the poteniometer spindle, instead of the rusty old pin.
It still wobbled a little bit, so I used Stiks Like Sh1t & left it for 24 hours to cure. (This stuff is brilliant & does seem to stick anything really well :) )

View attachment 321988

I wonder how it holds in the wet? I tend to use Quiksteel where water involved.
 
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