It wa all going so well.

I refitted the air suspension several weeks ago and binned the springs, great move. All was working faultlessly. Existing pump, valvblock and other original components working like a dream, lovely.

Car this morning was sat a little lower, hmm. Started her up, lower access light solid and the normal light flashing. Waited a minute with engine running, no change. Moved off and within a hundred yards, all normal. Continued for my 8m mile journey and all sound.

Second outing this pm. Car sat parked and low on the driveway, hmm again. Started engine, same solid light on access position and flashing on normal position. Stuck now on access, no normal available.

When I switched the engine off and withdrew the key, I could here a clicking from the pump area.

There aren't any messages on the dash.

Help...........please...........

Disconnected battery and reset, still same.

Ran up engine and removed pump cover, pump not working, hmm.

Selected a small Engineer's hammer and carefully tapped all valve tops with engine running. A few clicks here and there and the pump started running!

Couple of minutes later, system pressurised and raised to normal. Clicked it through all settings, test drive and put her to bed....

All sorted for now.

The car has only done 10k miles in last 8 years with a lot of sitting around.

What's the concensus of opinion? Leave and monitor? Valve block replace/rebuild? Or?

Get a set of O rings for the valve block and spend an afternoon fitting them, an ideal job for when it's raining and you can do it indoors. Not difficult at all, just be methodical. make sure the kit you get includes the diaphragm valve rubber too.

Thank you for that.

Any recommendations for which kit?

This one https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RANGE-ROVER-P38-EAS-AIR-COMPRESSOR-SEAL-LINER-VALVE-BLOCK-O-RING-DIAPHRAGM-KIT/321451243072 gives you everything, including the seal and liner for the pump. Or this one https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RANGE-ROVER-P38-EAS-AIR-SUSPENSION-VALVE-BLOCK-O-RING-DIAPHRAGM-REPAIR-FIX-KIT/321451232414 if you know your pump is good.

Thanks for that. I’ve gone for the one with the pump kit just in case.

Got my new set of Billys to put on and will follow up with the valve block then pump. Always something to do!

it's always worth doing the pump anyway, especially if it has been made to overwork for any reason.

Coming to the conclusion that when it comes to EAS its sensible to do everything in one hit each time airbags are changed. Bags, pump seal, valve block O-rings, dryer and any odd bits that seem to be showing their age.

Airbags seem to be good for around 65,000 - 70,000 miles in UK road use, pump seal and O rings will go further but how much further is in the lap of the gods. Unlikely to make it through till the next bag change. So, given the relatively modest cost and simplicity of the work, early replacement when the air suspension is down anyway seems far less trouble than waiting until you actually have a fault.

On condition rather than scheduled replacement of "system blocks" never seems to work well with the P38.

Clive

Got my set of seals coming this week so I will have done bags ‘n seals!

Do you think I should renew the dryer at 19 years and 78K miles?

Yes (and Clive is right).
They're cheap, easy to access and easy to sort. You may as well. Also, it seems that your system may have been open to the atmosphere for a few years while your P38 was running on springs.
There's no need to replace the whole thing unless it has cracked or is leaking in some way. Just remove it, clean it out, and replace the desiccant with a new load.
The worst-case scenario will only cost you £30 for a whole new unit.

Valve block done today. Will do pump tomorrow.

This site was extremely useful, in fact more then!

https://paulp38a.com/range-rover-p38/eas-valve-block-renew/

Renewed the seals in the pump this afternoon, bolted it all together and started her up.

Al was pressurising and going well until one of the rear new Dunlop air springs burst, feck it!

It hadn't even raised it to the correct level!

The Dunlop Springs are cheap Is that because they are cheerful?

I believe The originals are made by Arnott . I assume these are far better in quality, is that correct?

phazed wrote:

The Dunlop Springs are cheap Is that because they are cheerful?

I believe The originals are made by Arnott . I assume these are far better in quality, is that correct?

You believe wrong. :)
Original made by Dunlop, along with other parts.
Arnotts is American company that thought he could improve them. I don't think he did. But that's just my opinion:)

Why did it burst I wonder?

There are knockoff airbags around. Just a thought!

Where did you get them?

Insideout4x4 in Capel Surrey, my local indie.

Should be genuine then.

Ordered from them for this very reason.

Will call them Monday. Damn annoying!