W

wantaquad

Active Member
Hi Gents,

Has anyone experienced this before.
On Really cold mornings like today My EAS will not raise.
The light flashes to show that it is in the process but it doesn't go up.
Once the car has been driven or just run up for a while If it stopped and left alone the ambient heat from running seems to cure the fault and Up She Goes.

Weird or what - I thought that maybe there was moisture in the system that freezes and stops the valve block from getting the pressure it needs.
Is there a system drain? is it a Valve or just a bung?

Any Help would be apreciated

Also mine looses height over nigh and ends up on its stops by morning - I know it must be leaking, probably from a spring - but is this excessive -
Do Any one have a p38 that holds its height for days / weeks if unused?
 
I believe that the problem is freezing water in the air system. Maybe need to replace the dryer. Perhaps related to the leak you have letting moisture into the system. Have had the same problem on mine, but only when it is -3C or so, but I've not noticed it doing that since I fixed my leak (then again it really hasn't been that cold since either!) There is no way to 'drain' the system that I know of because the dryer is supposed to dry the air.

Your P38 should stay up for several days without loosing height (ideally). If it is going down overnight you probably have a leaking spring. After 6 hours the system will self level to the level of the lowest spring, which is why the whole system is down on the bump stops when you see it in the morning.
Could also be leaking valve block, but more likely to be a spring.

Under the passenger seat (RHD) there is a box which looks like a large yellow relay. Pull it out before you leave it over night and it will disable the self-levelling so you can tell which corner(s) is sinking - and hence which one is causing the problem.

You need to get the problem fixed or you will wear out the compressor.

Matt
 
You can drain air tank, slowly open drain plug and let air came out. There should be grooves on threads which let air out before whole plug is flyin like bullet. Be careful anyway and do it at your own risk.

My EAS seems to be in good order, as it stays up days if it is parked level and no bump under any wheel. We just had about one week -20c and below, no problems with EAS.
I am still planning to change bags as preventive maintenance, car -97 and bags are not like new anymore.
 
If there is water in the system, tank is easiest place to check it. Big trucks have drain vent in air tanks also... it is daily basis to drain tank. :)
 
Ah, ok! Didn't get that from your post. The dryer should dry out the air. My guess is that a leaking spring is allowing water into the system since I had the same problem and it appears to have gone since I changed the spring.
 
I had the same problem last year with my 1997 P38. It turned out to be a leak on the front springs. Simple way I found out was by tipping contents of window cleaner down sink (much to girlfriends annoyance!) and filling it with soapy water. Raise the car to its highest level and spray springs with soapy water to see where the leaks were. I was quite surprised at how many leaks there were. Fitted two new springs and drained the air tank underneath, only took me 1 hour 30mins including getting tools out and putting them away! Bought air springs from Paddocks at Matlock about £95 + VAT each. Not bad considering what dealer charges for doing job.
p.s. her indoors has only got short legs (nice though!) so we leave car in access mode overnight, it instantly raises itself when put into reverse or drive. Good luck
 
Yeah, it is a pretty simple job providing the lower retaining pins are not siezed in! Took me about 4 hours to do one, but I reckon I could do it in 30-40 mins now I know how to snap the retaining pin! I didn't bother to drain the tank as the spring was already totally deflated anyway!

When I've got the money I'm going to replace the other 3 springs so I know they are all new and totally leak free.

You can get the springs for £62.50 now from Island 4x4, their service is very good too.

Matt.
 
It is a very good idea to change the air springs when they show signs of ageing,but equally you ought to be replacing the height sensors as well.The compressor ought to be looked at as well,at around £300 + vat from LR this is no joke,but lots of Lp RR's I see have worn compressors.I have been repairing them with new piston seals made in Western Australia for a couple of years now.The only problem is that the seal material does not seem to last as long as the original ones.This is now being sorted out with a new material which should last as long as the original.The valve block and drive pack rarely give trouble, so with the above being replaced/serviced,there is no reason why the Eas system should not carry on for another 80-100 thousand miles:)
 
I bought compressor repair kit for spare, cost +50euros. Nice little gadget.
Seems that best way to avoid problem is collect spare parts for advance... :) Really recommend to buy some "essestial" before they fails.

Small piston-connecting rod-counter weight combination, it came from Thomas.(compressor manufacturer)

Sorry, this is going to offtopic...
DSC00324.jpg
 
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