Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: pokerdemon9 on 12 April 2012, 19:35:34

Title: Rear Suspension Has Raised
Post by: pokerdemon9 on 12 April 2012, 19:35:34
Hi all.. I hope that some one can help me... I drive a 1999 2.5 v6 omega elite estate and this evening I went to the petrol station on my way home from work and noticed that the back end of the car was raised. I now have a 4" gap between the rear tyres and the rear wheel arch.. The front seems the same as it was.. CAN ANYONE HELLLLLLLP
Title: Re: Rear Suspension Has Raised
Post by: TheBoy on 12 April 2012, 19:42:12
Check the rear level sensor, near the diff :y

(on drivers side rear trailing arm
Title: Re: Rear Suspension Has Raised
Post by: feeutfo on 12 April 2012, 19:58:26
All Elites have self levelling rear suspension, which in your case I suspect is failing to release air from the compressor pump in the drivers wing.

There is a guide in maintanance re testing SL via the senosr arm mentioned. Start there I guess ans see what happens.

You can release air by pulling the air line off the shock body visible in the wheel arch above the tyre. Little spring clip, just pull.

Don't allow the shocks to be driven with no air in them. They will chafe the bladders with suspension movement otherwise.

Hth
Title: Re: Rear Suspension Has Raised
Post by: pokerdemon9 on 12 April 2012, 20:08:32
Hi thanks for that chris.. I will check tommorrow. By the way I forgot to mention that when I started the car again I could hear the sound of a motor going coming from the front of the car for about 5mins or so.. Could this all be connected in your opinion
Title: Re: Rear Suspension Has Raised
Post by: Andy B on 12 April 2012, 20:23:50
Hi thanks for that chris.. I will check tommorrow. By the way I forgot to mention that when I started the car again I could hear the sound of a motor going coming from the front of the car for about 5mins or so.. Could this all be connected in your opinion

They are related. The compressor for the suspension lives at the front of the car.  :y :y :y
Check the level sensor which as said is on the DRIVER'S side at the back (the nearside sensor is for HID lights leveling  ;))
Title: Re: Rear Suspension Has Raised
Post by: RobG on 12 April 2012, 20:35:51
Level sensor & arm right in this pic
(http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z257/belisensis/REARLEVELSENSORS.jpg)
Title: Re: Rear Suspension Has Raised
Post by: feeutfo on 12 April 2012, 22:13:42
Hi thanks for that chris.. I will check tommorrow. By the way I forgot to mention that when I started the car again I could hear the sound of a motor going coming from the front of the car for about 5mins or so.. Could this all be connected in your opinion
Yeah that's the air pump. 5mins is too long, it will have timed out. In which case TheBoy is probably nearer the mark in suspecting the sensor.
Try this
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=90617.0
Title: Re: Rear Suspension Has Raised
Post by: Lazydocker on 12 April 2012, 22:18:23
If you do manually release the air from the shock then exercise caution as it could drop enough to trap your arm ;)
Title: Re: Rear Suspension Has Raised
Post by: pokerdemon9 on 12 April 2012, 22:55:16
Hi thanks for that chris.. I will check tommorrow. By the way I forgot to mention that when I started the car again I could hear the sound of a motor going coming from the front of the car for about 5mins or so.. Could this all be connected in your opinion

They are related. The compressor for the suspension lives at the front of the car.  :y :y :y
Check the level sensor which as said is on the DRIVER'S side at the back (the nearside sensor is for HID lights leveling  ;))

Hi thanks for that.. A question I have to ask is can I tell by looking at the S/L sensr if it is knackerd? if so what am I looking for
Title: Re: Rear Suspension Has Raised
Post by: doz on 12 April 2012, 23:01:42
On the Carltons there's a relay which lives under the rear seat. If that goes gaga it will pump up the shocks to max. I don't know where it lives on the Omega's but it's worth a check as the system is basically the same just parts of it are mounted in different places
Title: Re: Rear Suspension Has Raised
Post by: pokerdemon9 on 12 April 2012, 23:40:29
Hey thanks guys you've all been very helpfull. I just have one more question and that is can the car be driven as it is or would it be unadviseable..?
Title: Re: Rear Suspension Has Raised
Post by: doz on 12 April 2012, 23:44:53
Well one person I know off put his Lotus Carlton arse end in to the arco when his just decided to pump up without reason. However he was on a track day giving it loads of beans. If the air bags on the shocks are getting on then you may well just finish them off by driving it fully pumped up. I can't say it will be very comfy ever. I guess you'd just have to take it easy but if it was me I'd say no.
Title: Re: Rear Suspension Has Raised
Post by: RobG on 12 April 2012, 23:45:38
On the Carltons there's a relay which lives under the rear seat. If that goes gaga it will pump up the shocks to max. I don't know where it lives on the Omega's but it's worth a check as the system is basically the same just parts of it are mounted in different places
It's in the panel next to the fuse box,left hand side. Left hand one, main beam, S/L other one. Both the same
Title: Re: Rear Suspension Has Raised
Post by: feeutfo on 13 April 2012, 02:18:50
On the Carltons there's a relay which lives under the rear seat. If that goes gaga it will pump up the shocks to max. I don't know where it lives on the Omega's but it's worth a check as the system is basically the same just parts of it are mounted in different places
It's in the panel next to the fuse box,left hand side. Left hand one, main beam, S/L other one. Both the same
That relay, once removed, will stop the system working altogether.
Title: Re: Rear Suspension Has Raised
Post by: pokerdemon9 on 13 April 2012, 15:16:31
Hey chaps thanks for all of your help.. Vauxhall say that this car does not list a self levelling sensor so I sent it up in the air on the ramps and had a look and found the problem. The 2 arms had separated at the joint. I pushed them back together and the back end returned to where it should be instantly. The problem I have is that it will come apart again so I need a new part. Spoke to another vauxhall dealership and they can get the part in at a cost of £320 inc VAT. I had to ask him how many would I get for £320. Anyway does anyone have any idea of getting one cheaper without getting one from a scrappers
Title: Re: Rear Suspension Has Raised
Post by: Lazydocker on 13 April 2012, 15:26:03
Hey chaps thanks for all of your help.. Vauxhall say that this car does not list a self levelling sensor so I sent it up in the air on the ramps and had a look and found the problem. The 2 arms had separated at the joint. I pushed them back together and the back end returned to where it should be instantly. The problem I have is that it will come apart again so I need a new part. Spoke to another vauxhall dealership and they can get the part in at a cost of £320 inc VAT. I had to ask him how many would I get for £320. Anyway does anyone have any idea of getting one cheaper without getting one from a scrappers

I'd get one from one of the breakers on here TBH... £320 is incredibly steep ::)

You could try asking andyc (http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=1488) for a better deal although he's not likely to reply for about 10 days or so due to personal circumstances. ;)
Title: Re: Rear Suspension Has Raised
Post by: twiglet on 13 April 2012, 15:29:19
I can sort you out with a 2nd hand one if you need one mate.  Just drop me a PM if you are interested.  :y