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northernpar
Member Since: 23 Sep 2008
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 30
  
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Got the dreaded suspension fault - max speed 30 mph warning last night. Searched the forum for possible causes but lots of different possibilities listed!
Checked today and resets with ignition however if I attempt to lower or raise the car the fault comes up immediately with the message that its locked at normal height. Withe the fault reset the car seems to drive okay although only had it out for a short test drive (couple of miles) so fully expecting it to return. Had changed the brake bulbs recently with a couple of Halford's finest so took these out and tested but fault remains. Plan on having a look at the compressor tomorrow to see if there is anything obvious there and now looking to invest in an FCR to get some better diagnostics.
From the threads I have read I suspect it could be the compressor on the way out although no strange noises noticed but have not eliminated height sensors. One question I have relates to the low battery status; if the battery was low could this also bring up a similar fault? Plan on giving it a 24 hour charge to test in any case.
Cheers
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 12th Feb 2010 5:21 pm |
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northernpar
Member Since: 23 Sep 2008
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 30
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Well, the charging of the battery didn't make a difference so looks like it's a proper fault. Need to get the car up to check/repair the possible rodent attack on the fuel tank so will have a ferret about with the compressor/pipework/valving/connectors to see if I can pick up anything obvious. Failing that a trip to the local independant will be in order for a reading of the fault codes.
Might also try the 'hard' reset on the ECU to see what effect that has on the problem.
Oh the joys of owning a D3 
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| 12th Feb 2010 10:15 pm |
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amondeggs
Member Since: 03 Sep 2009
Location: Telford
Posts: 155
 
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My compressor went about a month ago with the same symptoms. I had to drive the car for about 70 miles on the bump stops which is an experience that I do not want to relive. Cost of replacing compressor was about £400
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| 12th Feb 2010 10:32 pm |
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northernpar
Member Since: 23 Sep 2008
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 30
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My money's on the same thing but I want to confirm before I buy a new compressor. Tried the hard reset but the fault comes back straight away. Plan to take the compressor cover off today and have a listen to see if it's kicking into life when the car starts or when suspension height adjusted. Can't say that I can hear the compressor coming on when the car is started but I'll take the covers off to make it more audible and if necessary try the Wiggs hotwire to give it a blip.
Car seems to be holding normal running height no problem at the moment but will avoid driving any distance until the fault is fixed. Just can't raise or lower.
Strange thing about this is that car was fine until it went in for the P017 recall. When I got the car back both brake bulbs were blown (both ok when it went in as far as I know) and I now notice a clearly audible relay click when i press the brake pedal with the ignition on which I hadn't noticed before. Of course this could just be paranoia after reading about the havoc a brake switch failure could cause!
Every single time without exception the car has gone into the stealer for work it comes out with more faults than it went in with! Lost all confidence in their ability to carry out work properly but have a fairly local independant LR specialist so will be giving them a call on Monday. Car needs a service and MOT in the next month so may as well take all of the hit but if just the compressor then would have a go at changing it out myself.
At the time the fault occured the car was 6 up with passengers using the 7 seats which was a first. Not sure if this has accelerated the fault but seems too much of a coincidence.
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| 13th Feb 2010 12:03 pm |
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northernpar
Member Since: 23 Sep 2008
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 30
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So the plot thickens!
Took the compressor cover off this afternoon. Pretty clean inside from a mud perspective but also pretty wet. The most obvious thing was what looked like a white granular substance mixed in amongst a gel like substance. Not a huge amount but certianly enouigh to indicate that the dryer has packed up which is most probably what is causing the fault so plan to order up a new compressor today. Heard the compressor kick into life and no obvious air leaks so can only assume the compressor must be suspect as well hence the decision to order the full assy and not just the dryer. Once the old one is off I will strip it to investigate and see if I can salvage it as a spare.
Also noticed some rodent activity in there on the foam, not a lot but doesn't bode well for the diesel leak which I will hopefull get around to investigating next week some time.
And to cap it all off removed the tailgate handle to find a load of water and what can only be described as a white cement like power coating inside plus the plastic pivot for the microswitch actuator broken so it looks like an expensive weekend 
So pending delivery of the new kit I might be back on the forum next week to enquire what the best way to change out the compressor is!
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| 13th Feb 2010 5:13 pm |
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caverD3
Member Since: 03 Jul 2006
Location: Oberon, NSW
Posts: 6922
  
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You should be able to get the dryer on its own. “There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely gamesâ€
Ernest Hemmingway
D4 3.0 Active Diff, Adaptive Lights, High Beam Assist, Surround Cameras, Privacy Glass.
D3 2.7:Adaptive Headlights,Electronic Rear Diff,ARB Bar,Blaupunkt Speakers,JVC Powered Subwoofer,Removable Snorkel,Mitch Hitch,Pioneer After Market Head Unit,Steering Wheel Control Adaptor,Remote Adjustable Supension Rod System, Taxside Dual Battery System.
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| 14th Feb 2010 12:19 am |
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northernpar
Member Since: 23 Sep 2008
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 30
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CaverD3, do you happen to know what the dryer part number is? Already ordered a compressor which should hopefully be here on Tuesday/Wednesday but plan on reconditioning the old compressor to keep as a spare. Judging by the number of true compressor failures experienced this wouldn't be a bad thing also as the car is needed didn't want to run the risk of only changing the dryer to discover the compressor is knackered also.
One quick question; the compressor remove/replace looks straightforward enough however any advice on where to bleed the air from the system without having the T4 software (or any software for that matter)? I've searched the postings and so far can ascertain that others have done this without problem but haven't quite worked out where from (any photo's of location greatly appreciated to make things simpler/fool proof!).
For re-pressurising the system (assuming the compressor does not spring into life automatically) I will plan to use Wiggs's 'relay hotwire' method if all else fails.
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| 14th Feb 2010 11:29 am |
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GrenobleLandy
Member Since: 04 Mar 2009
Location: Grenoble
Posts: 116
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Slight tangent. I have kept my original compressor as a spare cos it was dying - not dead when i changed it and hoping to recon it 'sometime'. Only thing is i think they changed the software when the new one went in last year (thanks TLO  ) - so would they be able to retro fit the old one? hmmm TDV6 HSE AUTO
Defender 90 CSW
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| 14th Feb 2010 12:13 pm |
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caverD3
Member Since: 03 Jul 2006
Location: Oberon, NSW
Posts: 6922
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Not sure of the part number but if you just want a spare you could take the dryer apart and replace or dry the desicant. Depending on the type of desicant you may need to bake it. “There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely gamesâ€
Ernest Hemmingway
D4 3.0 Active Diff, Adaptive Lights, High Beam Assist, Surround Cameras, Privacy Glass.
D3 2.7:Adaptive Headlights,Electronic Rear Diff,ARB Bar,Blaupunkt Speakers,JVC Powered Subwoofer,Removable Snorkel,Mitch Hitch,Pioneer After Market Head Unit,Steering Wheel Control Adaptor,Remote Adjustable Supension Rod System, Taxside Dual Battery System.
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| 14th Feb 2010 12:23 pm |
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northernpar
Member Since: 23 Sep 2008
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 30
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With reference to the software I have pm'd TLO with my chassis number to see if it's the correct software installed. If he can't help then I'll either ring my maindealer to enquire or get a local independant to check. The new compressor looks identical so I've assumed that the software has more to do with the suspension functionality rather than the compressor type (but could be wrong). I have the MY06 model with all work done to date by the local dealer plus a warranty check on suspension a year or so ago (felt saggy/rolling at the time which may have been an indication that the compressor was on the way out) so hopefully if it didn't come with the software upgraded they will have done it then.
CD3, Looks like I may have lost most of the desicant so would need to replace this as well as the dryer housing (assuming it can't be recovered). Will take a closer look once I get the current one out.
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| 14th Feb 2010 7:15 pm |
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caverD3
Member Since: 03 Jul 2006
Location: Oberon, NSW
Posts: 6922
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The dryer canister comes with the desicant but the old one could be taken apart and new desicant put in. I am not sure what type of desicant it is but it is small spheres about 3mm in diameter. “There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely gamesâ€
Ernest Hemmingway
D4 3.0 Active Diff, Adaptive Lights, High Beam Assist, Surround Cameras, Privacy Glass.
D3 2.7:Adaptive Headlights,Electronic Rear Diff,ARB Bar,Blaupunkt Speakers,JVC Powered Subwoofer,Removable Snorkel,Mitch Hitch,Pioneer After Market Head Unit,Steering Wheel Control Adaptor,Remote Adjustable Supension Rod System, Taxside Dual Battery System.
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| 15th Feb 2010 1:15 am |
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northernpar
Member Since: 23 Sep 2008
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 30
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Well, changed the compressor out for the new one which was a fairly simple job with the exception of the VOSS connectors on what I think is the compressor intake/exhaust. On a brand new installation these would be reasonably straightforward however with 40k on the clock lots of dust/crud gets in which makes it very difficult to achieve. However some persistance and WD40 helped. Might be an idea to find a way of blocking ingress to make it easier to remove in future. Was thinking either grease as a wet seal or possibly heatshrink. Another thing to watch out for is the U-nut fixings which clip onto the chassis. Found mine heavily corroded and they disintegrated when removing the compressor fixing bolts. A quick trip to the stealer sorted me out with a few although officially they didn't have any in stock (parts guy raided the workshop so a huge thanks to him).
Reset the faults through the battery disconnect process and started the car. Compressor kicked in and the car farted and levelled. Tried a raise/lower but unfortunately still coming up with a Suspension Fault - Normal Height Only message. I guess the good news is that the car now tries to move when commanded and does level also the message doesn't come up when driving at the moment. Measured up around the wheels and found the front right down by around 2cm compared to the rest which are all around 84cm from ground to centre of arch. So, now suspect I have a height sensor problem as well. Will take the connector off and measure resistance/check for corrosion to see if that helps. If not then I'll get the independant to sort it when it goes in for a service next month.
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| 17th Feb 2010 5:03 pm |
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caverD3
Member Since: 03 Jul 2006
Location: Oberon, NSW
Posts: 6922
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There is a recall for a small VIN range with problem height sensors.
Check your is not in this range. “There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely gamesâ€
Ernest Hemmingway
D4 3.0 Active Diff, Adaptive Lights, High Beam Assist, Surround Cameras, Privacy Glass.
D3 2.7:Adaptive Headlights,Electronic Rear Diff,ARB Bar,Blaupunkt Speakers,JVC Powered Subwoofer,Removable Snorkel,Mitch Hitch,Pioneer After Market Head Unit,Steering Wheel Control Adaptor,Remote Adjustable Supension Rod System, Taxside Dual Battery System.
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| 17th Feb 2010 10:16 pm |
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northernpar
Member Since: 23 Sep 2008
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 30
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Just checked and I fall outside that range so looks like I'll have to fork out on this one 
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| 17th Feb 2010 10:40 pm |
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