Hi,



So basically, Just picked up the 2008 Range Rover Vogue SC a few months back and facing a "Suspension Fault".
Car is at the dealer and had to dish out an arm for a diagnosis.

Response from the dealer, re-calibrating the suspension and looking into other possible TSB's, faults, repairs if any. Car with no warranty.

I don't use the Suspension anymore just to be on the safe side but that hasn't stopped the problem i've faced from happening twice in 3 months.

Heres what I've experienced:

> Highway doing 130Km/h
> "Suspension fault" appears (again) but this time the suspension lowers into a low rider and one bump ride.
> Pulled over to the hard shoulder (attached pics, note front left wheel going up and down on the 4x4 screen)
> Attempted to bring the suspension back up
> "Suspension slowly raising" appears
> Decided to drive off slowly to see if the suspension would react and lift to normal height
> "Do not exceed 50Km/h" appears and the suspension did not lift
> Pulled over to the hard shoulder again
> Tried to lift the suspension , message "Suspension will lift when system cooled"
> Turned off vehicle
> Back on after 20 mins
> Suspension came back up to normal height and I drove off
> Done

The recovery truck guy wasn't happy when I called him from a remote location 30 mins later saying I don't require his service anymore as he was already half way out

The second time the incident happened the same way, I just turned off the engine off for 20 mins and then on and drove off just fine.

Its generally a fairly new car at ask Km's, so didn't mind to take the diagnosis once with the dealer.


- My compressor is noticeable than other RR, I feel mines works harder and louder.


So far been advised by a friend to swap out the Ride Height Sensor for the front left wheel which is 99% the cause of the problem?

The dealer is saying they have re calibrated the suspension and will swap out the Front Left Ride Height Sensor which seems to be the problem.

I have forwarded the dealer the previous TSB regarding Dryer, Valve, Relay and Software update?

Ive also read a bit about loose hose connectors (leaks), ride height sensor, bags, batteries, solenoid valve block, all play a role in the suspension fault?

Dealer is saying they've checked it all and seems fine.


Any help on suppliers is helpful too. Support/guidance is much appreciated.


Thanks.




Best,
Mohaned

You say you don't use it.... it is working every time you drive the car, always making adjustments to keep you level, so it does work hard even if you don't play with the buttons..

Sounds to me like you have a leak and the pump is working overtime, it has no direct cooling so if it works too much it will shut down to prevent meltdown and come back on when it's cooler...

I'd jack it up to max height and get some soapy water on the bags and pipes, if it has a small hole near the top of the bag it won't let air out unless you are traveling over uneven roads when the bag will move up and down and let air out... when stopped the fold of the bag will stop it escaping so you think the bags are OK...

Worth a try and free as well..... Pete
__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

"Suspension Fault" appears…no particular reason but mainly when driving or at the traffic lights.

The 3 level mode suspension height works fine but refrain from using just in case all the air suddenly goes out and it drops close to the bump stop. No, the car is not always making adjustments, but occasionally..Isn't that normal?

The compressor does not over work it self unless it drops close to the bump stop, then I will gets fault saying "vehicle slowly raising", and when I drive off slowly hoping for it to raise again to normal height mode, it will say
"do not exceed 50Km/h speed" , then i will pull over and it will say ""Suspension will lift when system cooled" and thats forever, so switch of the engine, wait 2o mins, switch back on, and good to go…
This has happened twice over a 3 months span.


The dealer has confirmed that there are no leaks bags or elsewhere. Front left sensor will be replaced as per the fault code from the diagnosis.

But I will take your advice as its best to do my own diagnosis before I take her into the dealer next time.
Was just worried that more damages where occurring as I drove the car, so a precautionary measure as first step, a little costly but ok this time.


Anyone else like to educate a newcomer with their knowledge and experience?

Attached photos.

Thank you,

@Haylands, spot on mate just had to change my front passenger side due to a leak. If the compressor is working overtime to keep the leak inflated it will overheat and stop. Was driving mine on bump stops to get home after the bag let go on a trip. Note that the bags can reseal (leak hole becomes covered) until it is moved again by going over a bump etc. When we changed the passenger bag we took a look and the rubber had perished to the point that when we put it under manual load it was cracked all over.

Grabbing the car today, hope all goes smooth after the sensor replacement.

Will update.

Good news, car is driving just fine. If I hadn't rushed, would of cost me considerably less, its a first with the dealer so harm done and car drives just fine now.

Look forward to read through the forum. Thanks for the support.

Back to to where it started, car on the ground, same messages

Now what? Help please?

Another sensor or a leak or possibility that someone has programmed the system into tight tolerance mode, this can make it work very hard and overheat the compressor...

My money is on a sensor or a leak, sensors can have their live values checked with a diagnostic tool so should be easy to diagnose...

Buy an IID tool, then you can do it yourself....

Good luck Pete
__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

Brilliant how you jump out the rocks with the support and feed back, its rather exciting, thanks Haylands.

I wondered whether its another sensor or the jaw dropping leak , shes with the dealer because the exact same codes and physical state was experienced; repeat situation..so they will check.

Hope its just a fine tune as you pointed out ...and that all the parts are fine...


Pete, if its a sensor, straight forward replace with a tune.

If its a bag, can I change just the bag, or wold you advise to change the whole assembly, strut/bag?

https://www.arnottindustries.com/search-Pr...p;year=173

Just wondering how the car will drive with three original strut/bag assemblies and one arnott if I make any sense?

The notion of having longer validity before I hit the garage again...so maybe a coil spring conversion kit?

Supposed to be enjoying the ride not fixing it very coupe of months


Can you recommend a few IID tools,thanks.

Personally I wouldn't bother changing just the bag, FF's are heavy and the shock will be worn...

If you change the whole strut you should do both, if just the bag then you can just do one but the other won't be far behind... They do seem to last a bit less in the higher temps you have over there...

Try Island 4x4 and get Delphi replacements, the Dunlops are a bit cheaper but they are nowhere near as good, they have a shorter suspension travel and don't last as long...

I wouldn't bother with springs, the kit costs a lot, the ride will be horrible after the air you are used to...

Read about several people who have done it and they all want to say how great it is so they don't look dumb for spending so much money... Well I went from air to springs on a LWB RRC and it was terrible, nowhere near as good to drive on the road...

There is only one IID tool, again available from Island 4x4, I've got one and recon it's superb, there are other tools that work but when I looked there weren't any that did the same for the money...

Island 4x4 http://www.island-4x4.co.uk/ they will deliver to you....  Pete
__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

Thank you sir. I'll have a look!

Personally, I would feel more comfortable for a full assembly replacement.
Just wondering if I should do all four corners once and for all. Fronts and Rears?
How long is the man hours on each side?


I go for an inspection tomorrow, heres the response I got from the dealer:



Starte of Message

Workshop initial diagnostic result on the suspension issue. Confirmed “heavy air leak” from BOTH lower bellows of Front (Left) & (Right) Air springs that causes the air to escape from the system. Consequently, Suspension Compressor will continue to feed high-pressure air into the system but if such air leak is present, the air compressor will continue to operate to compensate for the air loss.

Initially, we need to replace BOTH Front Air springs and damper assembly and recalibrate the air suspension.


End of Message




If this is the case, why would they replace the Front Left Sensor previously…Make sure I get that sorted tomorrow!


So if the above turns out to be correct, who else has done what and how happy where they with the decision outcome to date?

Great to have you all to communicate this all too…probably would of shot my self by now given the $4K estimate from the almighty just two replace the fronts!?


Thanks all.

Fronts take about an hour, rears about 30mins... very quick to do...

Different faults will give the same symptoms, although I still think you had an air leak from your first post...

Rear bags tend to last longer than the fronts but getting them all replaced will give you peace of mind, the rears are just bags, the shocks are not inside them.... Pete
__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

Brilliant, thank you

Almost forgot, after replacing, needs to be tuned? Can a qualified mechanic sort it?

What needs tuning.....??? The engines tune themselves, there are no adjustments you can make, it either runs fine or something has failed....

If it hasn't been serviced in a while a service may help with minor niggles.... Pete
__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Parchment over Navy Interior. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand, Jet Interior. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green, Ivory over Aspen Interior (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click for Project Fatty off roader-

luv2xlr8 means calibration (tuning), I think.

The garage should do this when they replace the front struts and air springs as a part of the job, otherwise heights will be different on the new rubber and slight tolerances in the struts. Just make sure they do this and get the report.

If you do the new struts yourself, you will need a diagnostic tool (e.g. IID) to carry out the calibration, or take to garage with tool to do it for you. This just ensures everything is level again. .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

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