I have been getting the "suspension fault - normal ride height only" for about 9 months. It started off as a very occasional issue but has now reached a constant level ie pretty well every time I start up.
When I first start up the car after its been standing an hour or so, the fault light comes on after about 45 seconds. However, if I manaually activate the suspension height control straight away, the fault does not occur. This applies whether I go from Normal to Offroad and back down, or up from Access height. I tried simpy dropping onto Access height after start up and the fault still occurred so the "cure" plainly only works if I activate the "raise" option which I assume means kick the compressor into life.
Until about a month ago, I could also avoid the fault by simply holding the car at 2500rpm or so for a while after start up but even that doesn't work now.
If the fault doesn't occur within the first 45 seconds or so, it doesn't at all and the suspension seems otherwise to be fine (apart from the fact that once you get the warning light, you can't raise or lower it).
9th Feb 2018 9:14 am
Sea Raider
Member Since: 01 Nov 2016
Location: None
Posts: 4450
You'll need to get the codes read and see what's stored.
9th Feb 2018 9:39 am
G_Cam
Member Since: 12 Aug 2010
Location: Fife
Posts: 2048
Suspect a leaking air tank..1 TR6 Rusting away quietly
1 FARR UTV SOLD
1 International Harvester SOLD
7 x D3 all SOLD
2 x D4 both SOLD
1 x Mrs D4 'Panther' SOLD
1 x Outlander van SOLD
1 continual stream of car parts and me living in the garage...
9th Feb 2018 10:15 am
camtheman
Member Since: 29 Nov 2013
Location: UK
Posts: 18
Thanks for your reply Sea Raider.
A paragraph dropped out of my posting for some reason but what it said was that a local Indy has already scanned the codes and his conclusion was that the air reservor might be leaking as it was very rusty. So, we did that but without improvement. I'm guessing therefore that whatever codes were there were of no help and from memory all he mentioned was the suspension was raisng slowly. He now suggests a new compressor. It's not ridiculously expensive and I will probably go with it but I'm a bit worried we're into a wild goose chase around the system here.
I'm not a mechanic but I do know that over the years, my D3 has had a few faults that have only ever once been diagnosed correctly by codes, and that was a parking sensor. At one time I had 2 Indies telling me there was a generator fault according to the codes causing the well know "Christmas Tree" of warning lights - but I worked out for myself that my car simply didn't like Absorbent Glass Mat Batteries, a cheap ordinary battery solved the problem for good. I also worked out that if the battery connectors come at all loose, the dash lights up the same.
The reason I put the post on is because of the apparent ability to avoid the fault by operating the ride height control seems to make it a bit more specific than the usual "I'm getting a suspension fault" post.
Have you or anyone else had these same symptoms?
9th Feb 2018 10:22 am
G_Cam
Member Since: 12 Aug 2010
Location: Fife
Posts: 2048
By operating the ride height switch you are in effect switching the compressor on.. and it compensates for the leak.
take the tank off .. look at the front at the top. that is the usual place for the rust to hit..
good Luck with it..1 TR6 Rusting away quietly
1 FARR UTV SOLD
1 International Harvester SOLD
7 x D3 all SOLD
2 x D4 both SOLD
1 x Mrs D4 'Panther' SOLD
1 x Outlander van SOLD
1 continual stream of car parts and me living in the garage...
9th Feb 2018 10:27 am
camtheman
Member Since: 29 Nov 2013
Location: UK
Posts: 18
Thanks G-Cam.
The Indy went for the air reservoir first and has been replaced it, but that's not sorted it. So we're onto Plan B but not hopefully not the rest of the alphabet!
9th Feb 2018 11:17 am
G_Cam
Member Since: 12 Aug 2010
Location: Fife
Posts: 2048
Ok -Sorry.. I misread your post..
If it is not the reservoir (and on the assumption you have checked its not leaking at the pipe/voss/connector).. My second guess would be the valve blocks need to be looked at. Easy to get to the one at the front and have a check... If there is any tell tale white deposit from the drier desiccant breaking down you will need to strip, clean and replace the seals (around £15) OR the more expensive option would be new valve blocks...
Hope this helps?1 TR6 Rusting away quietly
1 FARR UTV SOLD
1 International Harvester SOLD
7 x D3 all SOLD
2 x D4 both SOLD
1 x Mrs D4 'Panther' SOLD
1 x Outlander van SOLD
1 continual stream of car parts and me living in the garage...
9th Feb 2018 4:28 pm
Richie092
Member Since: 11 Jan 2016
Location: Maidstone
Posts: 83
Had exactly the same thing on mine, did tank, valve blocks and it turned out to be the 2 year old compressor!
9th Feb 2018 4:43 pm
camtheman
Member Since: 29 Nov 2013
Location: UK
Posts: 18
Update...
New compressor fitted a week ago since when I've had no faults.
Still don't understand how I managed to avoid the fault by raising and lowering the suspension immediately after startup but main thing it seems fine now.
Particular thanks to Richie092 who had the same fault pattern so I was a bit happier about going down the new compressor route before embarking on other options.
24th Feb 2018 12:45 pm
Globetrotter448
Member Since: 21 Mar 2017
Location: Londonderry NSW
Posts: 1780
If you have the old compressor, check the descant (filter material) it could be solid
25th Feb 2018 6:57 am
Mogwyth
Member Since: 03 Oct 2014
Location: Pwllheli
Posts: 3976
Globetrotter448 Cheap fix got 8 months fault free after doing mine, but now seems to not like the cold weather.==================================
05 D3 HSE V8 4.4
04 MG TF 135
03 MG TF 115 Cool Blue Edition
02 MG TF 160
00 Hymer B564 Lionheart
1971 Series III 109
25th Feb 2018 9:59 am
Richie092
Member Since: 11 Jan 2016
Location: Maidstone
Posts: 83
camtheman wrote:
Update...
New compressor fitted a week ago since when I've had no faults.
Still don't understand how I managed to avoid the fault by raising and lowering the suspension immediately after startup but main thing it seems fine now.
Particular thanks to Richie092 who had the same fault pattern so I was a bit happier about going down the new compressor route before embarking on other options.
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Globetrotter448 Cheap fix got 8 months fault free after doing mine, but now seems to not like the cold weather.
