domino

domino

Well-Known Member
I knew it would end up being too good to be true!

I collected my P38 4.0 HSE today and, unfortunately, now that it's home (well, back to a base - home is 500+ miles away) I've discovered 2 problems;

1 - 'EAS Fault' and Christmas tree lights
2 - Passenger foot well was soaking wet and there's a visible drip coming from the side closest to the centre console.

I received a call from the seller on Saturday telling me that he was away to get the air-con recharged before I collected it on Monday (today) and the air suspension 'collapsed' so he had to take it to his garage and have it checked out. Apparently this was due to a leak in one of the pipes and it was sorted though I don't yet know what was done. I took it for a 10-15 minute drive when I went to collect and checked the air-suspension was working.. which it was. It raised and lowered correctly. It has now done 215 miles since collecting and now it displays the EAS fault, the warning light and christmas tree lights. It doesn't give the max speed warning though.

Also not sure on the water problem - it doesn't taste or smell like coolant but the footwell mat was really properly drenched. Lifting it out and it was dripping immediately.

I live in Edinburgh but I'm currently in South central London. My intention was to fly down next week and collect the car from the in-laws (where I am now) but I'd like to get these problems sorted first.

Any ideas? Further more, if it's a garage only job.. know of any garages around the Clapham area that would be competent and not rip-off merchants?

Once I get it home I'm happy to fiddle and fix things myself.. but I do need to get it there first! :)

Thanks in advance, all :)
 
It is more than likely the O rings....just cos it doesn't smell of coolant can only mean the cooling system is filled with water and not a coolant/water mix!!

Looking up from under the dash you should be able to see the two pipes that lead to the heater....check these as this is where the O rings are!

Get in touch with Datatek on here, he can supply the EAS Diagnostic cable and software for around £20, that may be able to help diagnose the issue...more than likely the airbags are old and leaking and the pump is struggling to feed the leak!
 
+1 with Saints comments. Classic o ring symptoms re the wet footwell. And the eas cable and software is a must have. Could be any number of things from leaky airbags or pipes, to pump or valve block. Once you get to know the system its pretty straightforward and all quite simple to fix. The diagnostics will tell you whats wrong. If you have a problem with the valve block or pump you could get a set of schrader valves, which will enable you to pump the system up manually at a set height, so you don't have to drive back home on the bump stops. Good thing to carry in the glovebox of a P38. Won't help if you have a leak though.
Annoying problems after just getting the motor, but easily sorted. Good luck with it.
 
As it's the passenger side that's wet I too would say it's either air-con drains or pollen filter housing drains that are blocked.

Air-con drains are accessible from under the car, either side of the gearbox is a small rubber dome with a cross cut in it to act as a non-return valve. Just poke a stick up there (I used a fencing foil last time I did it) and any blocked condensate with come out and wet your arm.

It might just be that seeing as the air-con has just been re-gassed it might have blocked with lack of use...

If it is the pollen filter drains, It's a bit more of a faff, but not hard, you need to take off the plastic trim at the bottom of the windscreen and clear out the heater plenum of any leaves etc that might have built up in there. Dirt etc blocks the drains, and then any rainwater builds up in there and eventually overflows in to the cabin.

Download RAVE tonight, and spend the week reading up how to take the windscreen trim etc off, and unblock the pollen filter drains, that way you're ready for when you fly down next weekend!
 
I know the rear airbags hav just been replaced as has the pump. Sounds like I need to get a hold of the software though!

With regards to the aircon, would it produce a considerable amount of water? I mean, you can see it drilling (or could) like a dripping tap!

Thanks muchly for your help so far guys :) has been a bit of a downer but I'm hoping it's just little annoying things!

Edit: does anyone have a link for RAVE at all please? :)
 
Last edited:
domino said:
I know the rear airbags hav just been replaced as has the pump. Sounds like I need to get a hold of the software though!

With regards to the aircon, would it produce a considerable amount of water? I mean, you can see it drilling (or could) like a dripping tap!

Thanks muchly for your help so far guys :) has been a bit of a downer but I'm hoping it's just little annoying things!

Edit: does anyone have a link for RAVE at all please? :)
Click to expand...

land rover rave technical system

And the aircon can produce quite a bit of condensate yes!!!

Could be the front bags leaking then:D:D:D:D

Nothing is impossible on these so stiff upper lip and stick around!
 
I had similar issues with water leak, did plenum filter & pollen filter and all stopped. ..good luck & welcome to the p38...
 
I had similar problems with EAS. While waiting for diagnostic software you could do the following bypass as follows: 2no 6mm airline push fit tees, 2no inflation stems - cut from bicycle tubes or tubeless tyre valves, when trimmed back they are by chance 6mm!!
So I rigged as per pics, connecting 1with 2 which inflate the front while 3&4 do the rear. I believe connecting in pairs is better than the individual options available on fleabay.
I suggest everyone take time in advance to get similar backup so you are not off road for long
Attached Thumbnails

Sorry, this is a link to original post with pics.
http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f10/p38-compressor-prepare-failure-159044.html
 
Last edited:
Saint.V8 said:
It is more than likely the O rings....just cos it doesn't smell of coolant can only mean the cooling system is filled with water and not a coolant/water mix!!

Looking up from under the dash you should be able to see the two pipes that lead to the heater....check these as this is where the O rings are!

Get in touch with Datatek on here, he can supply the EAS Diagnostic cable and software for around £20, that may be able to help diagnose the issue...more than likely the airbags are old and leaking and the pump is struggling to feed the leak!
Click to expand...
Not O rings if it's the passenger footwell Saint, more likely a blocked aircon drain.
As far as the EAS is concerned, if it has had a leaking pipe replaced, I'd be looking at the exhaust for a blow, it's almost the only thing that would cause a pipe to fail, they melt from the hot gasses. I suspect the replacement pipe has started to melt and the compressor cannot maintain pressure.
If the aircon had to be recharged just before you collected, don't expect it to work for long, most likely the condensor is leaking, common problem.
 
Last edited:
Does only seem to happen when the engine has been or is running so that would make sense!
 
@datatek - easy enough job to source a replacement? When I get it home my aircon guy will sort that!
 
I've got it booked in to RR London (rr-london.co.uk) to have the suspension sorted. Should hear back on Friday what's up.

As for the leak, the air-con isn't cold any more which suggests all the gas is gone so a porous condenser. Surprise surprise, there's no leak/drip now! I may see what they'd charge to replace it or I'll get it done myself when I get it back oop norf.

Thanks for your help all , very much appreciated :)
 
still might be worth running a bead of silicon around the pollen filter covers to be on the safe side seeing as your in sunny scotland:)
 
an easyer way to seal the pollen filters is use self adhesive draft excluder just stick it rounnd the hole in the scuttle and refit covers nice foam seal no mess:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

feyniriel
P38 EAS problems
Replies
18
Views
885
pwood999
pwood999
D
P38 in need of some love
Replies
7
Views
669
stuu
stuu
M
Air suspension problems
2 3
Replies
59
Views
2K
Rubberknees
Rubberknees
M
Air suspension problems
Replies
1
Views
232
Datatek
Datatek
Montyjohn
P38A Adding a valve to manually fill EAS tank and why did my pump fail again?
Replies
14
Views
645
Datatek
Datatek