P38 EAS ECU problems

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oowebb

New Member
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45
Long time no speak here for me ....which I consider to be a good thing with my rangie!

Anyway, Suspension fault and limp mode now. Local garage took to nearest landrover specialist and they say that the Suspension ECU is knackered....new one is £650 + VAT from Landrover!

I have noticed that there are second hand ones for sale....my question is are they transferable between vehicles without a problem?

There is one for sale via a local 4x4 dealer for £89 stated as fully tested and would rather try this option than the new part one.

The garage has said a cheaper option would be replacement of EAS with springs....but I still prefer £89!

Any thoughts appreciated :)

Nick.
 
It is very unlikely to be the ECU, they rarely fail. You need to read the faults which you can do yourself with the EAS software & cable if you have a laptop £11 plus P&P.
Corroded connectors behind the passenger side footwell kick panel, leaking airbags, duff height sensor, all easily fixed.
Don't even think about coils, it may cause it to fail the new MOT.
 
As Datatek said, ECU failure is rare - possible but rare! Get one of his cables and dust the laptop off. If you've got an old laptop with a serial port collecting dust in the cupboard - even better as you won't need a (sometimes troublesome) USB to serial converter.
 
It has been to Overland in Methwold Norfolk Overland Vehicle Services - Contact
and they have done the diagnostics....I have spoken to them today directly (rather than via my local garage) and the defucnt ECU is their diagnosis. Not being an expert in anyway I am rather at the mercy of a garage :(
 
I can only remember one failed eas ecu since I bought Testbook back in 2001,I still have a spare "known good unit" on the shelf for P38 and RRC. There is nothing to fear from buying a secondhand one,certainly no point in buying a new one - if indeed it is the ecu at fault.
Corroded cables,drive packs,height sensors and compressors are all more likely to cause problems.
Did they tell you the actual logged fault ? Their website does not show what diagnostic tool they are using - some claim to work on EAS but dont always read the codes properly.One unit used to just list ALL the faults the ecu was capable of generating,but you would hope they have something better than that.
A secondhand unit would not need coding,but highly likely need recalibrating - not a big job.
 
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Do you know another P38 owner? Could you swap the ECUs over to see if their diagnosis is correct?

If they are so sure then perhaps you can get a money-back guarantee that replacing the ECU will fix the problem? Or will they suck their teeth and say - "tsk - would you know it - you've got another problem as well..." i.e. the standard chuck-parts-at-a-Range-Rover-until-it's-fixed approach often employed by "mechanics" who are totally bamboozled by the car. The chuck parts at it approach used to be fine (if not financially) but these days it often means you are replacing good quality OE parts which still have more service life left in them than the new Chinese crap you're replacing them with.

As always, ask for your old parts back. Might be nothing more than a dry solder joint.
 
eightinavee said:
I can only remember one failed eas ecu since I bought Testbook back in 2001,I still have a spare "known good unit" on the shelf for P38 and RRC. There is nothing to fear from buying a secondhand one,certainly no point in buying a new one - if indeed it is the ecu at fault.
Corroded cables,drive packs,height sensors and compressors are all more likely to cause problems.
Did they tell you the actual logged fault ? Their website does not show what diagnostic tool they are using - some claim to work on EAS but dont always read the codes properly.One unit used to just list ALL the faults the ecu was capable of generating,but you would hope they have something better than that.
A secondhand unit would not need coding,but highly likely need recalibrating - not a big job.
Click to expand...

The purchase of the excellent AUTOLOGIC diagnostic computer gave us a main dealer level of diagnostics to our clients.We have been servicing our clients vehicles from NEW with NO loss of warranty - about us page on overland's website :)
 
Thanks everyone.

Is there somewhere local to PE33 9SF that could help me on this....I'm not spending £1000s to sort this as the car just isn't worth it. I've had new height sensors and air bags since I bought the car in 2008.....along with plenty of non suspension parts!

I'm a complete novice on the technical side of these things so wouldn't have a clue how you would go about recalibrating an ECU!

Nick.
 
Fraggle73 said:
The purchase of the excellent AUTOLOGIC diagnostic computer gave us a main dealer level of diagnostics to our clients.We have been servicing our clients vehicles from NEW with NO loss of warranty - about us page on overland's website :)
Click to expand...
I didnt read the whole site,most indies put stuff like that on the "services" page.Looking at their site you would have to beleive they know whats what.
You would have a job to find any data at all on my website - esp about the new valeting bay.....
 
eightinavee said:
I didnt read the whole site,most indies put stuff like that on the "services" page.Looking at their site you would have to beleive they know whats what.
You would have a job to find any data at all on my website - esp about the new valeting bay.....
Click to expand...

Lol , wasn't trying to show you up - just got too much time on my hands :)

PS What's you URL? I'd like to data mine it for fun
 
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Fraggle73 said:
The purchase of the excellent AUTOLOGIC diagnostic computer gave us a main dealer level of diagnostics to our clients.We have been servicing our clients vehicles from NEW with NO loss of warranty - about us page on overland's website :)
Click to expand...
Still don't believe it's the ECU, might even be a corroded OBD connector stopping them communicating with the ECU.
 
Fraggle73 said:
Lol , wasn't trying to show you up - just got too much time on my hands :)

PS What's you URL? I'd like to data mine it for fun
Click to expand...
I was eating lunch and typing at the same time - poor attempt at multi - tasking.
There is no website,no valeting bay - not even business cards.... It was a dig at another indy who lurks on here.Evenin Rich.
 
eightinavee said:
I was eating lunch and typing at the same time - poor attempt at multi - tasking.
There is no website,no valeting bay - not even business cards.... It was a dig at another indy who lurks on here.Evenin Rich.
Click to expand...


Lol, well I spent my afternoon productively fixing my drivers window :cool:
 
Fraggle73 said:
Lol, well I spent my afternoon productively fixing my drivers window :cool:
Click to expand...

It's all right for some!!! A few of us actually work for a living.

Then dive home for a quick cuppa and a change of clothes (and a quick nose on here) and I'm on my way mate.
 
oowebb said:
Thanks everyone.

Is there somewhere local to PE33 9SF that could help me on this....I'm not spending £1000s to sort this as the car just isn't worth it. I've had new height sensors and air bags since I bought the car in 2008.....along with plenty of non suspension parts!

I'm a complete novice on the technical side of these things so wouldn't have a clue how you would go about recalibrating an ECU!

Nick.
Click to expand...
Sorry,back on topic - you would need to hook up a diagnostic tool to reset the stored values the ecu uses to set the height of the car.I've only ever used Testbook,(The factory tool) or Autologic,(Similar,but aftermarket) to do this,but there are many more choices now than back when I started,and many can do this function.
Before you worry too much I'd see what codes they are working from,or if indeed they have been able to communicate at all with it.If the OBD plug is corroded it is a simple job to cut back the loom and fit a replacement,they are available from Ebay etc.
It ought to be easy enough and not massively expensive - compared to 10 years ago,to fix your EAS.....
 
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