I've had I think more than 20 Land Rovers of various types over the years, and now we've had a 2008 LR3 HSE V6 for 2 years. In that time, apart from 2 new batteries and an AC fan, its had 5 air suspension struts, 5 compressors and 4 valve blocks in an effort to fix an airsuspensiomn fault it's had since we bought it used from a private sale.

The seller had it fixed at a local air suspension specialist here in Dubai and since then its been back to the same specialist many, many times, at my cost... Finally I thought I would source the replacement parts as the last centre valve block they fitted definitely looked "dodgy", So I got a new valve block from the US and a new compressor from the UK and I got another garage to fit them. Hooray, a working air suspension system at last!

Problem is, the "Air Suspension Fault" warning comes on, occasionally with the red light speed warning and sometimes the "Extended Height" warning pops up, it can appear as we are speeding down the motorway, starting the car, driving slowly around town, sometimes its a couple of weeks with nothing, sometimes its 5 or 6 times a day. BUT the suspension is working normal, and the 4x4 Info display shows standard height and all wheels normal all the time. Turing off the ignition and then restarting the car usually clears the fault until the next time.

Its very annoying having now an apparently working suspension but still getting the fault messages. Any thoughts?

Cliff

 

Please I am new on this Forum, I was hoping the absolute wealth of experience that you all have might be able to help me with some ideas, instead of just wasting money with garages that just keep changing expensive components.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Cliff

 

Need codes. Period. Otherwise it is a guessing game. The air suspension is incredibly simple but very easy to misdiagnose without codes. There are weird quirks to the system. For example, a dying compressor can in fact trigger extended mode. Makes no sense, but I have seen it happen lots. Also need to be sure the sensors have NOT been modified with lift-rods. Lift rods can cause issues by using the sensor way out of readable range, such as when on the bump-stops.

So without codes, can't not help really. And I will add that most aftermarket parts can be a huge issue too. OEM valve blocks are best, bar none. And for compressors, I trust Arnott for aftermarket otherwise only OEM.

 

Yeah...this. If you are going to keep this LR3 you need a good diagnostic tool (GAP, iCarsoft) so that you can properly trouble-shoot.

 

Thanks for replying. Yeah, I should get a plug in diagnostic.

If it's any help, a few days ago our AC compressor died, (so that's 2 batteries, 5 Air springs, 5 compressors, 4 valve blocks, 1 AC Fan and now 1 AC Compressor all in less than 2 years!) and the guy plugged in his diagnostic tool, so I asked him to look at the EAS and he said there were no fault codes at that moment. The height sensors are original (no lift rods).

I agree about dodgy parts, we have been a victim of poor quality parts from the repair workshop, of the 5 compressors, the last one was purchased by me from UK and is proper OEM whereas some of the others were definitely poor quality copies.

oh, and just now the AC blower fan, which we replaced last year, is slowing down and struggling whenever I turn left.... Straight driving and turning right is fine. I feel a new AC blower fan coming on.

 

You need a new mechanic. One that diagnoses issues instead of throwing new parts on in hopes it will resolve the issue.

 

Thanks Dakota, yes true point, the workshop I kept going to and spent a huge amount of money at, was an Air Suspension specialist, that's all they do, and their workshop is always full of Mercedes and Range Rovers which inspires confidence but after a long time I started to realize that they just don't know what they are doing.

The clincher was A) when the showed me the center valve block they were going to fit, it looked cheap and nasty despite their claims it was from Europe, and mostly B) they said they had fitted a more expensive (of course) AMK compressor instead of the Hitachi type. I asked them if they had changed to software to match the AMK, and had they fitted the correct mounting kit and also the adapters for the air line connections? They just said yes to all and not to worry. That "AMK" compressor lasted 2 months, at that point I ordered a Hitachi compressor and a new proper center valve block myself from UK and the US and took the parts and car to another mechanic. Needless to say the "AMK" compressor was a copy of the Hitachi compressor. Since then the air suspension has worked perfectly for the first time, apart from the random suspension fault warnings even though, as far as I can see, the suspension works better than it has ever worked.

 

Oh wow, so they pretty much lied. Because that AMK is, as you know, nothing like a Hitachi at all. Wow...

What errors are you still having?

 

Hi Dakota, Yes, still getting random suspension fault warning, plus the occasional "speed limited" red warning and very occasionally the Extreme Height suspension warning telling me to lower the suspension when the obstacle is cleared. And all the time the suspension is quite normal, better than it's ever been, And with the Extreme Height warning, the ride height is still normal.

The only component that was never changed is the EAS module under the dash, although I did check the connectors (wiggled them, sprayed with contact cleaner). Looks like a hard thing to change. I can get a used one locally for about US$200 but I'm still not 100% convinced that will fix it.

 

codes?