p38 air suspesion

[range17]

what the easiest way to deflate the air bags so that i can change them.
cheers rob.

[thermidorthelobster]

Undo the pressure release valve on the reservoir (slowly).  Then disconnect the unions in the pump housing.

[Xtremeteam]

if you are replacing the bags with new uns i find a knife makes them deflate the quickest

[thermidorthelobster]

2 tonne vehicle, sudden loss of high pressure air, and a knife in the mix?  I'd go for the bleed valve, unless you enjoy hospitalisation...

[range17]

Did think of a "controlled" puncture but fancy the reservoir method ,silly question but where abouts is it .

Thanks Rob.

[thermidorthelobster]

RHS inside sill, underneath driver's seat.  If you undo the nut at the back, it has a groove in it so it will let the air out safely without shooting out like a bullet.

It goes without saying, the vehicle should be fully supported on axle stands before you do this, under the chassis, as it'll drop down as soon as the pressure is released.

Be aware that if you want to inhibit the self-levelling for any reason, you can do so by opening the driver's door or the tailgate.

[range17]

Thanks very much,will be doing job at weekend .

Thanks again.

[waveydavey]

Am I being thick? Can you not just press the button on the dash to goto Access height? Especially so if you have axle stands there as it will keep letting air out trying to go down.

Is the air in the bags not trapped there by the control valves? Maybe they only hold one way but I would ahve thought you would have an empty reservoir and still the same pressure in the bag.

RRB?

[thermidorthelobster]

Access height doesn't depressurise - it only lowers the pressure enough to drop to the bump stops.

When I did mine, I'm 99% sure that by depressurising the reservoir, I could then disconnect the unions in the compressor box, and that then depressurised the rest of it.  However, I might be missing a step somewhere...  OTOH, if I'm wrong, the unions just won't come apart, so no harm done.

[Range Rover Blues]

If you drop it to access then at least the system is farily low, if you jacked it back up from there the airbag pressure would be low.  Alternatively if you removed the plug from the reservoir then tried to lift the suspension I guess any pressure in the springs would flow back to the res.

But, you should be able to drain the reservoir without the car falling on your head, the valves keep each air bag locked off.

You can also drain each corner in turn by jumpering onto the ECU multiplug to open the the relevant valves.

[range17]

Done the job today ,let the pressure out of the tank then just released the air pipe out of the bag ,a little pressure in there but was ok .

Rob.

[Range Rover Blues]

I don't think they ever completely empty, even when you use Rovacom.

Anyway, glad you got sorted.  Have you driven it yet? is it any better?

[range17]

Had a quick drive up the road took a while for the suspension to level out but seems ok .
Have you ever changed the fuel pump/sender in the tank ,got to do that next ,its a diesel by the way .

Cheers Rob .

[Xtremeteam]

2 tonne vehicle, sudden loss of high pressure air, and a knife in the mix?  I'd go for the bleed valve, unless you enjoy hospitalisation...

ehhhhhhhhhhhhhh judging by the fact that following the haynes book of [bauble] for anything it says to use an axle stand so i assumed the chap here would have the vehicle supported cos other wise you aint gonna fit a new bag

[Xtremeteam]

ps

it worked fine doing a few a week for 2 years straight  

[Range Rover Blues]

TBH you can safely disconnect the air line, the hole is so small and there's no chance of it tearing or anything stupid.  Just werar goggles in case there's any dust.