'95 RR Classic LWB EAS question

[suberec]

Hello All,
My first post (please be gentle).
My 5 yr. old daughter recently thought that it would be a good idea to push the raise and lower buttons repeatedly while I was preoccupied. Now it rides on the stops. When starting up the buttons as well as the traction control warning light flash in unison for 10 sec. or so and then remain on. The airbags don't inflate and I don't hear the compressor running. I've checked the fuses under the hood as well as under the seat, and all seems O.K. I've disconnected the battery in case there was an error that needed cleared. All to no avail.
Is there a reset button or something similar that I'm missing? I'd really rather not replace the suspension right now, and besides it seems to me that it may be a minor problem (thats just too major for my minor brain).
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

[Funrover]

Did you try the relay? did you remove the fuses and then put them back in?

Honestly coverting to coils, in my opinion, is a better idea....My family constantly had troubles with our air suspension.....

[suberec]

I did remove the fuses from under the seat, but I'm not familiar w/ the relays, so no I didn't mess w/ them.
I thinnk that I agree with your opinion regarding the coils but I would rather hold off until spring, if possible.
Thanks for the quick reply BTW.

[Funrover]

I just had a thought...May be more trouble though....If you unhook the battery to reset the memory...Problems that occur are your radio will have to have the special "code" entered....that can be a pain....If you have an aftermarket radio I'd say go for it.... This is just a thought

[suberec]

I tried that. (Luckily I have the code to reset the radio.) I thought that it might clear out any "confusion" errors caused by the repeated pushing of the buttons. Thanks though.
I can't help feeling that there is something I'm overlooking.
Could you tell me which relays to remove? Maybe one, or both, are stuck.
Thanks.

[Funrover]

I can't remember what realy....... someone on the boards will know for sure....I just suspect that is what is wrong.If your 5 year old played heavily with the button.....My guess is she overheated the relay.... i feel i am missing something also....sorry i can't help more right now....I'll keep thinking...

[suberec]

Thanks FunRover. I appreciate it.

[scuffdog]

You are getting a fault code. Sounds like the suspension ECU is boogered...In theory the system needs to be reset by the L.R. test book or a Rovacom. Hopefully the ECU lockdown was triggered by an overheating pump insstead of a pump or valve body failure. I gutted my EAS system in favor of springs after it started throwing up error codes. I liked the ride of the air suspension better...but the idea of being at the mercy of the dealer or a major service center to reset the EAS ECU still makes me shudder.

[suberec]

Thanks ScuffDog,
I'm thinking that you are right about the overheated comp., since this began after my daughter played with the hieght adjustment buttons.
Do I have to take it to a dealer to reset the codes? I've tried disconnecting the battery for about an hour. Evidently this won't reset it. Is there another way?
Thanks for the reply.

[scuffdog]

If your truck will not raise of the bump stops and your EAS height controll switches flash and then stay illuminated (if I remember right), the ECU is in protect mode (AKA limp home mode). Only the higher powers above can reset the system (clear the error code from the ECU)...Robison Service has a pretty good write up on EAS functionality and problems:

Electronic Air Suspension
Beginning in 1993, Land Rover began fitting EAS — Electronic Air Suspension to its top line Range Rover models. The system replaces conventional coil springs with air bags. The intent was to provide ease of access by lowering the vehicle for entry and exit, and better handling at high speed by dropping the vehicle down at speed while not
compromising ground clearance by rising at low speeds.

All County LWB models sold in the United States were fitted with EAS. Most 1995 Classic models, and some 1993 and 1994 Range Rover models had EAS as well. Since 1995, all 4.0se and 4.6hse models have an updated version of EAS.

How it works:
Range Rover air suspension have a height button (up/down) on the dash, and an inhibit button on the dash.

Range Rovers have five pre-programmed height settings:
EXTENDED
HIGH
STANDARD
HIGHWAY
ACCESS

Provided the inhibit button is not pressed, the heights are selected in response to the driver pressing the up/down button provided these conditions are met:
1: the vehicle is running;
2: the brake pedal is not being pressed;
3: all the doors are closed.

Complaints that the air suspension does not respond to a new driver are usually a result of not knowing those three pre-conditions for operation.

From a stop, pressing the down button will put the truck in ACCESS height. This is a very low setting, near the bump stops. It's meant to allow people to get in and out more easily. As soon as you drive off the truck will automatically rise to STANDARD height.

From a stop, pressing the up button once will take you up one step in height, from ACCESS to STANDARD, or from STANDARD to HIGH. Two presses will take you from ACCESS to HIGH. HIGH is meant to allow extra clearance for wading a flooded road, crossing a log, etc. As with ACCESS, once you attain a speed of 20MPH the truck will automatically return to STANDARD.

If you are in HIGH and you dangle a wheel in a deep ditch, the truck will sense that condition and put the one wheel into EXTENDED mode, where more air is put into the bag to press it to the ground. EXTENDED will release once the truck is level.

Once the truck is on the highway it will drop to HIGHWAY profile, which is between STANDARD and ACCESS. It will drop after 2 miles at 60MPH and rise again to STANDARD after ½ mile at low speed.

Theory of operation:
Range Rover EAS consists of these major components:
Airbags for each of the four corners of the car
Height sensors for each corner
An air compressor and air storage tank
The electronic control unit
The valve block which routes air to the individual air bags.
The ECU reads the height signals from each wheel and compares the readings to the target heights stored in memory. Signals are sent to the valve block to add or remove air from each corner to attain a match between the actual heights read on the sensors and the target heights.

Air is released through a muffler into the air, and when additional air is needed is it taken from the storage tank under the vehicle. The storage tank is kept charged by the compressor. Since the compressor starts and stops based upon the pressure in the storage tank its operation may or may not coincide with leveling of the truck.

There are five sets of target height stored in memory, for each of the five height modes. Target heights may be programmed via the Testbook system. Some users may want heights that differ from the standard Land Rover targets, and it is sometimes necessary to correct the targets to compensate for different readings from the height sensors. Such differences may occur, for example, after collision repair if linkage pieces are bent and not replaced.

Normally, the height sensors do not require adjustment or calibration. On a newer (4.0 or 4.6) truck parts can generally be replaced without the need to change programmed heights.

The ECU evaluates each of the four height signals in the context of the other three to determine if each sensor is providing a valid signal. If the ECU determines that any one sensor is not providing a valid signal it will continue to level the truck using the remaining three sensors and set an EAS fault code. Failure of both sensors on either the front or rear axle will cause the EAS computer to deflate the system to the bump stops until repaired.

The air suspension will level the vehicle when it is parked, but it will shut down after a period of time. Therefore, if the truck has any air leaks the driver may return to find one or more corners have sagged. Normally the truck will rise using the stored air in the tank as soon as it is started.

Common problems:
The most common EAS problems are leaking and dry rotted air bags, and damaged height sensors. The bags begin to leak at 100,000 miles or 6 years of age in most climates. The sensors get damaged by winter salt intrusion in snow country, and by being pulled beyond their travel limits when the wheels are dangled.

Lifting the car on service lifts that dangle the axles can damage the air bags. When lifting a Rover on such a lift pay attention that the air bags do not pull away from the end caps and deflate. If they do, you will have to carefully guide them back together and hope the system re-inflates on startup. Otherwise, you'll need a Testbook reset.

Classic models have a disable switch under the right front seat that should always be switched off before lifting. Opening a door slightly in a 4.0 or 4.6 will disable that system.

In Classic models, most failures result in the vehicle dropping to the bump stops and staying there until the system is reset with the Testbook. Even if a repair is made the system will not return to functionality until reset.

4.0 and 4.6 models are much more forgiving. They are less likely to drop to the bump stops but they can be problematic just the same. Neither system can be repaired without the Testbook or equivalent specialist tool. There is no way to retrieve fault codes without this tool. As a result, drivers in remote areas often convert to coil springs.

In cold climates the valve blocks are prone to freeze. Compressors also wear out as the vehicles age. Compressor wear can be judged by measuring the time required to pump up the air tank. The EAS computer monitors this and will set a compressor failure fault in extreme cases.

Service options:
The air suspension fitted to 1995-2002 Range Rovers is quite a bit better than that fitted to County LWB models, but those trucks are getting older and the systems are now beginning to give trouble.

The most common problem is deflation when the car is parked. You leave the truck parked overnight and come out to find one corner flat, or even the whole truck flat. Most times you start it and the system rises to height, but one day it stays flat and you get a failure message on the dash.

Another problem is air bags coming apart when the car is picked up on a lift. If this happens try and seat the bag carefully as the truck is lowered and it should re-inflate normally. If not, you''re in trouble, as the Testbook will be needed to reset it.

At Robison Service, we offer two options: repair of the standard air suspension, or conversion to coil springs. Users in the field cannot generally repair air suspension because the system cannot be reset to function in most cases without the specialist test system (Testbook, Autologic or Rovacomm). For do-it-yourself repair conversion is really the only option.

The air suspension can be fixed but you need to consider the value the system has to you versus its cost. As of this writing, January 2003 , we can covert a truck to coil springs for a total price of $1,500. Repair of the air suspension may cost less initially but the long-term cost will he higher. The air bags have a service life of about 6 years or 100,000 miles before they dry rot and leak. A set of bags will cost a bit over $1,000 installed. In addition to the bags you have a compressor that wears our, and four height sensors. Replace those parts and you'll be well over $2,000.

Another consideration is access to service. If you drive an air suspension truck far into the woods and blow a bag, you're in big trouble! If you off-road we suggest being prepared by carrying wood blocks to prop the suspension up to get home. In most cases, air suspension cannot be diagnosed or fixed without the $15,000 dedicated Land Rover test systems. You can change air bags on a working system yourself, but a failed system cannot generally be brought back to life without the tester even if you replace the necessary parts.

The coil spring kits can be installed in the field if needed. The newest kits include a box that tricks the EAS computer and prevents warning lights from coming on.

When we change to springs we often upgrade or replace the shocks at the same time. Depending upon what you choose for parts this can add $300-500 to the upgrade cost. Robison Service stocks spring conversion kits and several choices of shock.

[drg]

I have a 1995 RRC with EAS and just sold a '98 4.6 with EAS.

From your description, it sounds like the compressor overheated and sent the system into limp.

Find an independent shop with a Rovacom or Autologic diagnostic computer, and ask them to reset the EAS.

There used to be an online registry which listed Rovacom-equipped shops, but I couldn't find it to post here.

I have had mine done. I had a loose vehicle speed sensor which caused the limp mode on my 1995. Resetting the sensor literally took 3 minutes. The shop will probably want to charge you at least 15 minutes for getting out the book and getting away from other jobs, but they may do it for free in hopes of getting your business in the future.

Don't ditch the EAS just for a problem or two. If it starts to cost you major money, then obviously consider it, but both of my Rovers are around the 100k mark and I've had minimal problems. If it's just leaky bags, just replace the bags. I replaced all four air bags on both ($460 for the 4.6, lucky $50 on eBay for the RRC) and did the work myself. It's easy. 1.5 hours to do all 4, by myself no help, including time to jack it up, get out all the tools, etc. First time maybe leave yourself 3 hours to figure out where everything goes.

In your case, I doubt you need to replace anything. Just reset the EAS computer and see if that does the trick.

[scuffdog]

here's a shop listing http://www.rangerovers.net/service/index.html