Stuff I will check tomorrow, thank you…

Again, thanks.

Every bit of information is useful!

What seems to happen on a more regular basis is, for instance, after using the car this morning and switching off at standard ride, I have it on a dead level floor, I started it up a short while ago, instantly on standard ride height, good.
Sent car down to access height, car instantly went down and settled at access.

Switched to normal ride height, nothing happened. Checked pump and it isn’t running. Left it for awhile, nothing. Went into settings and switched pump on manually. After a while, the rear comes up, followed by the front and then back to normal.

It seems that when the system calls for the pump to switch on for some reason it isn’t.

Not sure where to go from here. Very frustrating!

Dropped it down to access height.
Front left is 3 mm above target front right is 6 mm below target.
Rear left is on target and rear right is 2 mm below target.

Set to standard. Both the front right and rear right are slower to rise.
Front left is 4 mm above target. Front right is 1 mm below target.
Rear left is spot on, rear right is spot-on.

Set to High. Again, both front and rear right are slower to rise.
Front left is 3 mm above target. Front right is 7 mm Below target.
Rear left is spot-on. Rear right is 2 mm below target.

They all take a minute to settle, and don’t go immediately to the correct setting.

A few months ago. I renewed both front sensors with pattern parts.

The rear is still running its original 22-year-old sensors.

Would it be worth spending the money and buying four new OE sensors?

I really appreciate your help so far Dave.

By the way, I have left the cover off the pump and the thermal switch reads normal. Don’t know if that has anything to do with it.

Car on level ground. I am on utilities. Trying to go from access to standard. It states that the front left and front right valves are closed and the rear left and rear right valves open.
Compressor is off, exhaust valve closed, inhibitor switch off. Also states the inlet valve is open and the thermal switch is hot

From a layman's point of view I am guessing the thermal switch shouldn’t be hot considering that the compressor isn’t running and the car has only had a very short 2 mile journey this morning.

Thanks for that advice Dave.

Car playing about today. Parked up for 20 minutes on level ground, Car decided to settle and then it wouldn’t rise to ride height which was really annoying.

Going out to the garage now to see if I can figure this out.

Thanks for that Dave. I need to check that out. If I can get my brain around the Nanocom and its settings!

Parked it on a hill this morning. Before I exited the vehicle, the click click clicking was heard, and the car settled down low. Returned an hour later, started up and within 10–15 seconds it was up to normal Height, still parked on the hill, result.

Car has been OK for a couple of days. Started the car yesterday and the normal ride height light was doing the flashing thing. Car was lower than should be after being parked on a level surface. Pump silent, hmm. Located the relay and swapped it for another from the fuse box. No change.

Broke out the Nanocom. Faults that came up, (that never have before...)

Front right height sensor out of range
" " " " " " "
Rear left. " " " " "
" right. " " " " "

Plus the usual,"invalid fault code".

I cleared these, no pump starting

Went to "utilities" and started the pump manually.

Pump ran and after a while the rear only rose up to full height leaving the front right down! After a while, the front majestically rose up and the car settled to normal height.

Unplugged the Nanocom and left it feeling a little confused.

Will check it shortly but, what is going on....

My parts guy, (BMG in Leatherhead), sourced the correct late radiator and dryer.

Fitted yesterday and was re-gassed this morning. All good and freezing cold, where is my jumper!

Thanks for your help guys.

phazed wrote:

I will have a thorough look around the pump today.

Definitely no sign of a leak under the bit of foam on the top corner although the alloy is corroded there.

Had a look at night when it was properly dark with the uv torch, (and my mechanic son). We came to the conclusion that it is leaking from the top corner…

New condenser will be ordered today.

Thanks guys, most useful information. 😁

Chrisp38 wrote:

2001 onwards I believe, mines 2001 and needed modding. Diesel though, don't know if petrol is different.

That is interesting. Mine is a 2001 so will keep that in mind…

I will have a thorough look around the pump today.

Definitely no sign of a leak under the bit of foam on the top corner although the alloy is corroded there.

Thanks. Will go for a new condenser.

If it is then great!

Since I've had my P38 the A/C has had a minor leak. Regas at start of summer and all is well. By next year, no A/C.

Need to do a couple of things on the car so just removed the front bumper, (rear wash pump has failed). Checked what I can see with a UV torch but can't see any leaks.

Car is a 2001 and only done 88K. Tempted to change the condenser rad and drier while I have it exposed.

Question: Do these leak in any particular area or is the consensus just replace the condenser and drier?

That sounds like a cheap thing to replace as a try... Thanks.

Thanks, will check tomorrow.

Thanks for responding so quickly, you are a marvel!

I will keep an eye on it when it doesn't rise immediately but I believe the pump isn't activated as it will go days/weeks without misbehaving!

Naturally those periods are becoming more frequent hence this thread. Will be more aware when it won't level and check if pump is running.

If it isn't, any forward thinking ideas? I can switch the pump on manually using the Nanocom.

Always had occasional issues since converting back from springs about 3 years ago. Usual slow to go up, that's all. No dropping corners or such like. Could go many weeks without a problem. Not now...

Faults listed were front L/H & R/H height sensors plus an unknown, (think it was called something else).

I replaced the height sensors but this didn't improve matters. If I leave the car and it settles a bit, occasionally it will take ages to go to correct height, sometimes a few hundred yards, sometimes 10 miles!

If I clear all faults, all is good and ride height is achieved.

Decided to check pump the other day as the periods of, "playing up" are becoming more frequent. Start car, light flashes to achieve correct height but pump remains silent! Now when I clear unknown fault, pump fires up and problem solved.

I will add that I renewed all O rings and seals to valve block and pump when I brought the car back to EAS.

It seems to me that sometimes the pump isn't asked to switch on, any ideas.

Strangely today after the car had been sitting on level ground unused for two weeks, I started up and within about a minute it was at ride height. Later today, I reversed to hitch a trailer on a slope. Switched of ignition, got out the car and a clicking noise was heard, (valve block opening?) and the car settled down a few inches for no apparent reason!!! So annoying

I really need to solve this as it is ripping the joy out of driving this car...Help please.

Guys. trouble again, (first world trouble!)

Lost cruise again and with the info above traced the leak to a split in the pipe where the pipe goes through the bulkhead.

Renewed that section of pipe from the pedal switch through to the engine compartment and joined with a plastic hose joiner. Job done and all working.

Had length of correct hose and joiner in stock. Pulled heater duct off its spigot to facilitate access from under dash. Not too bad a job with advice above, cheers!

Christened the car with a journey to Poole and back last Friday in the p!ssing rain both ways, (230 miles). cruising at 80 + M25 traffic it recorded 19.1mpg, not too bad for a 4.6 I guess....

Thanks for the replicas guys.

Been pretty busy of late but will source a pump in readiness and do in the next week… sounds easy 😀

there is no sound from my pump therefore I guess it must be the pump that has failed or wiring to it. I don’t believe there is a separate fuse for that pump, is there?

Looks like the pumps are on the washer bottle. Looks like a pain to get to, any tips?