Hi all,

Another issue with my new(to me) L322 4.2 SC... air suspension.
Yesterday I got "suspension fault, normal height only"
My guess is that the compressor has failed.

However it do do something weird after a drive, gave me "Suspension fault, MAX 30 mph" the bags then deflated and the car was slammed to the floor.
It did pump up very slowly after I stopped, but not sure what that was about?!

Either way I am going to take the compressor out tonight to have a look, my actual question is: can I run the car without the compressor in?
I know I will get loads of errors but will it stay at normal height?

I need to make a small journey to work for the next few days and it would good if I could work on the compressor in the meantime.

Thanks,

G

Probably best to leave the compressor in place, otherwise you will be guaranteed to be running at 35 and have an extremely bumpy ride. Have you got a leak? or pinhole in one of the bags? If you can get it in to high, switch off the engine and go for a stroll around the car.. anything sounding like an angry snake and you've found the problem  Yesterday I couldn't spell Engineer... Today I are one!
Inventor of the 'Guide-o-Matic automatic wheel alignment tool'
Former long term L322 owner, Up/Down graded to a Classic Tractor!

Think I've found the problem, one of the blue pipes coming from the car.
Anyone got an idea on how to fix the tube?

That rather depends on where the damage is, providing that there is sufficient good pipe between the hole and the nut then you might get away with a Commercial Air Brake straight coupler, they are push fit and come in allsorts of sizes, but you would need about 1/2 inch stub on the nut for it to grab. Not being funny but it might pay to seek out a commercial vehicle specialist, possible even a mobile fitter, as they deal with that nylon pipe day in day out... it's used for the brakes, suspension, clutch, seats, PTO, remote levers on a lorry and much more! Yesterday I couldn't spell Engineer... Today I are one!
Inventor of the 'Guide-o-Matic automatic wheel alignment tool'
Former long term L322 owner, Up/Down graded to a Classic Tractor!

just had a thought it could be wrapped with some rubber and jubilee clip tightened over the top.. it's a real bodge.. but it does work

Assuming that it's on the pump (hard to tell) you might possibly be able to scrounge a dead one off a forum member  Yesterday I couldn't spell Engineer... Today I are one!
Inventor of the 'Guide-o-Matic automatic wheel alignment tool'
Former long term L322 owner, Up/Down graded to a Classic Tractor!

Yeah might get someone professional to have a look...
What are the 2 blue tubes anyway? I am assuming the black one is the reservoir? Blue ones, front and back?

On that same vain depending what the blue lines are, would some silicone do?

At 13 bar you'll be lucky! If the blue lines are not on the pump, I would assume that they are the main F/R feed pipes, if you know where it's going, why not look it up on Microcat and get the part number, then google that number and if your lucky you'll end up the price and possibly a bargain too

Microcat is in wiki ^

But here's the link http://lrparts.ru/engl/

just click on L/R English and it will open up a new world to you ! FYI if when you have found the part click on the item number and after a bit of clanking and whirring a new box will appear with the part numbers and options  Yesterday I couldn't spell Engineer... Today I are one!
Inventor of the 'Guide-o-Matic automatic wheel alignment tool'
Former long term L322 owner, Up/Down graded to a Classic Tractor!

Thanks for that link, it's super helpful!
I've managed to find the part number for the brass connector and looking at a new one hopefully I can remove it, shorten the tube and pop it back on... hopefully...

Update on this.

So that pipe wasn't my problem after all, although I did fix it by removing the copper plug, cutting out the bad bit and reattaching.

The compressor was making a lot of noise so I figured try a rebuild kit off of eBay.
Carried that out and reconnected the compressor, made the same noise for a while and cut out, just as before.
I restarted the car, some noise then... no noise, just the whiring of the motor.

Took it to bits again and the piston rod had snapped in half.
Pretty sure I didn't do anything wrong so it was going to do that anyway.

Been speaking to the nice chap that supplies refurb kits and he's going to hook me up with a new piston, motor and solenoid as he's pretty sure the solenoid caused the issue.

Going to put all that back together and see how things go...

Also as a side note, I am currently running the car without the compressor, I would have thought it would just keep the bags inflated... which it does for a while then randomly just let all the air out?! sometimes front, sometimes back, sometime both.
Any idea what that's about? It doesn't go down overnight FYI.

Hi all,

Soooooooo...

Rebuilt my compressor with new piston and solenoid and still having problems.
Seems to be something with the delivery/exhaust valves as when the pumps not running there is air escaping from the "in" hole. This seems to be also affecting performance and in turn the error. Also my newly fitted replacement delivery valve rubber stopper thing is degraded already.

I have bit the bullet and bought a new compressor. Managed to get one on eBay for £300.
Received yesterday fitted and so far it's pumping good and no errors (fingers crossed)
It's a little different than the original, it has a Dunlop badge on it so I think it's genuine but the dryer is different as are the connections (annoying brass ones instead of push fit).

Either way it's working and I can finally de-stress about this.
The refurb guy is going to look at mine and get it working, new delivery valve assembly I think, so I will sell refurb after that and hopefully get some money back.

I think I even though I have had good service off of the refurb kit re-seller I would recommend anyone to just buy a new compressor if your car is around 10 years old and 100k miles unless the fault is obvious like a clogged dryer or worn out piston collar, mines didn't look in bad shape at all.

Probably know these things inside-out now if anyone has any questions.

Buy a new compressor!
Seriously, I got the refurb one back with new dryer cover, piston ring etc and still doesn't work.
It's been a nightmare trying to get it repaired and cost me about the same as a new compressor.

Only caveat is if the problem is VERY obvious e.g. humidity caused the desiccant to crystallize or there's a crack in the lid etc.