Should a P38 suspension automatically drop to access mode when parked up? Mine does every night so when I turn it on in the morning I have to wait about 5 secoonds before it adjusts to the correct level and I can drive off. I should add it never drops any lower. If it shouldn't behave like this does anybody know what may be wrong with it?
brianp38dse
Well-Known Member
Sounds like you have a leak in the system, if a bag leaks the car self levels automatically to keep it level, first thing to do is when you park it up remove the delay timer relay under the passenger seat its the tall black one, and see which corner has dropped in the morning then use a spray bottle with washing up liquid and water to look for bubble on the bags and connections, also have a look in the technical archive (top left of the Range rover home page) for a post by Wammers on checking the Eas system,
the air bags have a lift of about 8 years and always change them in pairs.
the air bags have a lift of about 8 years and always change them in pairs.
brianp38dse
Well-Known Member
If you do have a leak sort it sooner than later as it will be over working you air pump, you can rebuild pump and block for under £40 if it has not been done to your knowledge.
brianp38dse
Well-Known Member
Relay location
If it is a bag there is a very good step by step guide in technical section by Datatec on how to change them. As said make sure you change in pairs
Wammers, It's not dropping to the bump stops even if left for prolonged periods.
sometimes my car self levels to around access height as soon as i turn the ignition off and sometimes it doesn't.
ie. it doesn't drop to access, rather it keeps adjusting until its dropped significantly with the click click pff pff etc
I've not solved this yet but i'm wondering if its a dodgy height sensor that sometimes gives an implausible reading. i've yet to prove/disprove this
Thats just my thoughts about my own car, but sounds similar to your experience and I'm by no means an expert! i've replaced the bags over the last month and no leaks when the car is sat with the engine off
ie. it doesn't drop to access, rather it keeps adjusting until its dropped significantly with the click click pff pff etc
I've not solved this yet but i'm wondering if its a dodgy height sensor that sometimes gives an implausible reading. i've yet to prove/disprove this
Thats just my thoughts about my own car, but sounds similar to your experience and I'm by no means an expert! i've replaced the bags over the last month and no leaks when the car is sat with the engine off
Thanks, yes it does sound very similar. Did you do follow the method described by Datatec when you changed your air bags or did you depressurize the system prior to starting the work? If I do have to change them I was a little concerned about removing the connection with 10 bar pressure inside the spring.
25 mm drop over a 24 hour period is acceptable. What i am saying is the car does not normally self level enough overnight to drop from standard to access height. Delay relay maybe faulty. As people have said remove delay relay and see what you get.
Thanks for the advice. That's reassuring I'm not overly concerned about 2 or 3 bar.
Okay I'll pull the relay tonight and report back. Thanks for the advice.
Okay thanks for the warning, I'll be prepared.Normally around 60 Psi it can blow crap into your face at terrific speed.
to change the bags, I dropped to access, put a jack under the chassis, then opened the valve for the bag I was working on, along with the exhaust valve. That let all the pressure out, then i jacked up to the point where I could work on it. When I removed the air hose, barely anything was released.
I had the same when I had mine, I found if I didn't switch off immediately it wouldn't do it, nanocom never showed any faults so I lived with it then, for no reason it stopped doing it
I never really noticed it because as I said I had lived with it, I would return from holiday, never found it on the bumpstops in the car park, strange never had a flat battery either
unless they had used a jump pack on it and not told me.
RangeRoller dt
Well-Sprung Member
You’ll likely need a pry bar to manoeuvre them out, if the pins are rusted in tie a wire on them and give them a yank
Datatek
Well-Known Member
There is an airbag replacement guide in the Technical archive.
tomcat59alan
Well-Known Member
If they're that rusty just use the pry bar and shear them off,clean up the location hole where the new bag fits before trying to fit them.
