welshsteve

welshsteve

Member
Hi all,

Please forgive me for bringing this up yet again :crazy:

I have a 2000 2.5 dse which is currently sat on coils, It was like this when I bought it and the front sits quite a bit higher than the rear. aside from the fact that I think it looks a bit odd like this (almost like the engine is out!) I am sure this does the handling no favours.

Basically I am thinking that if I am going to address this I would like to revert back to the air bags as originally fitted, bearing in mind I have no idea why the car was converted to coils i am a bit at loathe to buy a set of air bags and fit them only to find the compressor or something else is u/s and that is why the system was binned!

What I would like to know is if it is possible to check the system prior to fitting the air bags so I know whats involved?

Regards

Steve.
 
ohhhh...first one would want to check all the rest is there prehaps...???
 
you'll be opening a can of worms here mate lol. If its on coils itll be because the Air Suspension system broke badly enough to warrant ALOT of money to be spent on it. So i guess the previous owner felt it cheaper and safer to put coils on it. So id guess there is alot more than just the bags missing :(
 
Littelwill said:
you'll be opening a can of worms here mate lol. If its on coils itll be because the Air Suspension system broke badly enough to warrant ALOT of money to be spent on it. So i guess the previous owner felt it cheaper and safer to put coils on it. So id guess there is alot more than just the bags missing :(
Click to expand...
Not necessarily, some people are just put off by the complexity when it might've just had one fault.. or been wrongly advised to fit coils by an inept garage.. EAS is the making of a good P38 and is always worth repairing.. need to check it's all there then get some diagnostics on it..
 
Check every part. One P38 I looked at had everything removed, including the airlines, air tank and hight sensors. The cheapest way to revert back if lots of items are missing is to buy a V8 with a nackered engine but working EAS. Switch the parts then either sell the V8 or strip as many useful parts as you can then scrap the rest.
 
It could ok, when i put four new air bags on my dse i set the ride hights to the RSW standard hights and it sits a little lower on the back now but seem to remember somebody saying its the rear ride hight that control the headlight beam hights.
 
Littelwill said:
you'll be opening a can of worms here mate lol. If its on coils itll be because the Air Suspension system broke badly enough to warrant ALOT of money to be spent on it. So i guess the previous owner felt it cheaper and safer to put coils on it. So id guess there is alot more than just the bags missing :(
Click to expand...
Bull****, the EAS is easy to fix, it's just some garages are clueless:mad2:
 
welshsteve said:
Hi all,

Please forgive me for bringing this up yet again :crazy:

I have a 2000 2.5 dse which is currently sat on coils, It was like this when I bought it and the front sits quite a bit higher than the rear. aside from the fact that I think it looks a bit odd like this (almost like the engine is out!) I am sure this does the handling no favours.

Basically I am thinking that if I am going to address this I would like to revert back to the air bags as originally fitted, bearing in mind I have no idea why the car was converted to coils i am a bit at loathe to buy a set of air bags and fit them only to find the compressor or something else is u/s and that is why the system was binned!

What I would like to know is if it is possible to check the system prior to fitting the air bags so I know whats involved?

Regards

Steve.
Click to expand...

Look under the bonnet, on the inner wing to the rear of the air filter box you should see the EAS box, if it's there, pop the lid and see what is inside, look to seeif there is a collection of platic pipes on the engine side of the box, get under the car and look for height sensors, they operate via little arms from the radius arms then report back for next stage info.
You will need the diagnostics for the EAS which I can supply along with RAVE and details of how to change/fit airsprings for £16.70/£18.70.:)
 
Thanks for all the replies,

Basically the only items missing from the setup are the airbags themselves!

everything else appears to be in place but I have no idea if things like the height sensors, compressor and so on are working or not?

as said previously the car has been changed to coils but I would have to say poorly due to the strange stance. my thought is that if I am going to address this then I would rather revert to the air bags than spend on more coils.

Is the best way forward to fit the bags take out the bypass loom and see what happens?

Cheers
Steve.
 
Contact Datatek (as above) he can supply the diagnostic lead and software for about £20 that will help you to troubleshoot the system one you put the bags back!
 
welshsteve said:
Thanks for all the replies,

Basically the only items missing from the setup are the airbags themselves!

everything else appears to be in place but I have no idea if things like the height sensors, compressor and so on are working or not?

as said previously the car has been changed to coils but I would have to say poorly due to the strange stance. my thought is that if I am going to address this then I would rather revert to the air bags than spend on more coils.

Is the best way forward to fit the bags take out the bypass loom and see what happens?

Cheers
Steve.
Click to expand...

No.

Not if you want to avoid hassle.

Minimum is:

Buy Datatek's eas software and cable kit

Overhaul the compressor - allow GBP 50 or so for a crank, piston and cylinder kit, or budget more to replace it with new.

Overhaul the valve block - kit say GBP 20.

Replace o rings for the dryer and consider drying the innards.

That's all I can think of immediately.

Ah, if you are really keen, remove the height sensors and swap left to right (if you have a late model).

Do all the work before replacing the springs with bags.

It is really worth doing and will put a big smile on your face!

Good luck with it.
 
welshsteve said:
Thanks for all the replies,

Basically the only items missing from the setup are the airbags themselves!

everything else appears to be in place but I have no idea if things like the height sensors, compressor and so on are working or not?

as said previously the car has been changed to coils but I would have to say poorly due to the strange stance. my thought is that if I am going to address this then I would rather revert to the air bags than spend on more coils.

Is the best way forward to fit the bags take out the bypass loom and see what happens?

Cheers
Steve.
Click to expand...
EAS faults usually come down to leaking airbags knackering the compressor or a dodgy height sensor, sometimes corroded connectors. Nothing costs a lot to fix, just takes a bit of time and logical thought plus of course the diagnostics which will be needed to reset the system.
Secondhand valve blocks & compressors are readily available on Ebay for spares and overhaul, however I would fit a new air dryer, not expensive and important to good operation, the dessicant breaks up eventually and coats the inside of the valve block.
 
here's a map to P38's on coils..

Here_Be_Dragons_by_Lord_Psymon.jpg
 
SpiggyTopes said:
No.

Not if you want to avoid hassle.

Minimum is:

Buy Datatek's eas software and cable kit

Overhaul the compressor - allow GBP 50 or so for a crank, piston and cylinder kit, or budget more to replace it with new.

Overhaul the valve block - kit say GBP 20.

Replace o rings for the dryer and consider drying the innards.

That's all I can think of immediately.

Ah, if you are really keen, remove the height sensors and swap left to right (if you have a late model).

Do all the work before replacing the springs with bags.

It is really worth doing and will put a big smile on your face!

Good luck with it.
Click to expand...

Good advice, thanks very much.
 
Datatek said:
EAS faults usually come down to leaking airbags knackering the compressor or a dodgy height sensor, sometimes corroded connectors. Nothing costs a lot to fix, just takes a bit of time and logical thought plus of course the diagnostics which will be needed to reset the system.
Secondhand valve blocks & compressors are readily available on Ebay for spares and overhaul, however I would fit a new air dryer, not expensive and important to good operation, the dessicant breaks up eventually and coats the inside of the valve block.
Click to expand...

You have PM.
 
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