Today I looked at a P38 that had been stood for a couple of weeks,I started it up and first tested the air suspension,it raised itself but slightly unevenly,the front offside corner was 2 inches higher than the front nearside and on the rear the offside was 2 inches lower than the near side,I repeated the process a number of times but still it was uneven.
I then tested the auto box as much as I could on a small drive way as the seller wasn't available for me to test drive it until tomorrow,everything selected fine on the right hand side of the normal gears but when I shifted over to the left side low ratio gears it was a struggle to move it over and took a little fiddling and heavy handed persuasion,once over it would select smoothly enough but the dash would make 2-3 audible beep sounds with 2-3 flashes of a gear cogs and cross symbol on the instrument cluster,it also did this when changing back into the normal gears.
I'm told this is a normal feature of the box but I test drove another P38 on the road at the weekend and it didn't make any sounds or flashes of gear symbols when I selected and drove in low ratio gears.
I'd like to buy it and I don't mind spending a little on it but I'm not sure if I should,it supposedly did only 12,000 miles from 2002 - 2006 according to the service book,I suspect it's had a rewind but still the engine seems fine as I started it from cold and hot with no problems and does look like a 90k vehicle,it sounded very quiet for a diesel and revved very smoothly and responsively.
It's a 98 P38 DSE with 90,000 showing,asking price around £4,000.

£3500.

rosstav said:

I started it up and first tested the air suspension,it raised itself but slightly unevenly,the front offside corner was 2 inches higher than the front nearside and on the rear the offside was 2 inches lower than the near side,I repeated the process a number of times but still it was uneven.
but when I shifted over to the left side low ratio gears it was a struggle to move it over and took a little fiddling and heavy handed persuasion,once over it would select smoothly enough but the dash would make 2-3 audible beep sounds with 2-3 flashes of a gear cogs and cross symbol on the instrument cluster,it also did this when changing back into the normal gears.

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I had a similar issue with my P38 Air Susension - car had been left for a year in a field - I purchase the cable and software, then spent a couple of hours re-setting the heights - she sits straight now..

Mine was also difficult to get across into Low ratio - I didn't think much of it until I replaced the selector cover for a nice wood effect one, then she slid over into low really easily, so I assume there was some crud in the selector cover....
Mine still beeps for a while whilst the drive is going between ratios - I assumed that was normal though...

The beeps are normal.

Clocking the P38 is nigh on impossible unless you are willing to spend almost as much as the car is worth doing it !!!

was the drive level?

sandyt said:

was the drive level?

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Yes,all was level,it also raised and lowered itself unevenly

If by unevenly you mean not all 4 corners at the same time, i think this is also normal, mine (when it runs) raises rear first then front until level.

Hamster97 said:

If by unevenly you mean not all 4 corners at the same time, i think this is also normal, mine (when it runs) raises rear first then front until level.

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Thats so you don't dazzle people if the headlights are on

My car does not beep or displays anyithing as I change to low ratio. It is not normal...

Andras said:

My car does not beep or displays anyithing as I change to low ratio. It is not normal...

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I've driven two now that didn't bleep or display anything,they were both 1999 vehicles so I think maybe it could be a feature on pre 99 versions.
I was told that those I drove must of had faults though to me they seemed fine.
Still confused lads and still not sure if I should buy,is it normal and does the difficult left and right shift from low gears to normal gears relate to these bleeps and warning light ?

I have a 1998 2.5 DSE. When you change to low ratio it beeps 3 times and displays a low sign on the dash, the left side of the gear change console illuminates. When you change back to normal, again 3 beeps and the right hand (normal) side of the central console lights up.
Hope this helps.
Sorry, just to add this beep is a normal warning and should happen, if not there is a fault. What you saw is normal - BUT the move to low should be smooth, just push the lever over at the neutral position.

It should bleep a few times and flash the gear symbol on the dash to warn you that it's changing transfer box ratios.

Doesn't sound like the kind of thing they'd change for later models but I could be wrong. If in doubt, ask to see the owners manual - that'll give a definitive answer.

Guy.

Andras said:

My car does not beep or displays anyithing as I change to low ratio. It is not normal...

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i am very sorry to say this,but there is very little normal about the p38,mine has a sunroof that doesn't work,it is showing an alarm fault,replacing 3 airbags,replacing front axle oil seals,
it is a labour of love and i enjoy working on it,but it would be nice to actually drive the damn thing now and again.
with the p38 you have to work out what you can live with and what you can't,i did not pay top money for mine,so i live with what i have got,and i have to realise it is an old vehicle,and that some problems are age related.
i would not part with it yet! lol
mine is a 1995 2,5 dse