Omega Owners Forum
Newbie Area => Newbie Welcome Area => Topic started by: Sam Burton on 03 October 2025, 09:11:59
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Hi Everyone,
Sam here, some of the OG members may remember my high miler 2.2 DTI which i did a full interior swap from cloth to cream leather, xenon retrofit and a few other bits.
Picked my 03 Plate 3.2 Auto Elite up about a month ago, usual rusty areas are due to be addressed - had many platforms over the years, however this is my first 3.2.
Absolutely love it!
Glad to be back, I have some weird and wonderful niggles to sort which no doubt the OG members and people a lot cleverer than me will be able to help on.
My main annoying thing is the Air Injection pump in the wheel arch is proper noisy when first starting up - just wondering if there is a way over servicing them or its just a replacement jobby
(https://i.postimg.cc/zBLSGhdB/20250908-193127.jpg)
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The 3.2 doesn't have air injection.
What you're hearing is the compressor for the self levelling rear shocks that the Elites were cursed with.
If you remove them then you also need to change the rear springs as the Elites run a softer rear spring than lower trims.
Personally I would ditch the system as parts are almost impossible to get for it and if it's noisy the the pump is working more than it should which suggests something is on the way out.
To delete it, you remove the fuse, unbolt the compressor and remove the shocksand springs. The wiring and rear control lever (right hand rear trailing arm) can stay put and removing the airlines or not is a personal choice.
Kilen HD rear springs and Sachs rear shocks would be my go to suggestion for replacements.
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Interesting, I've already changed the rear springs as one was broken, however when changing I'm 99% sure the rear shocks have been changed already for non self levelling ones - in this case I think it maybe a case of just removing the pump - just to clarify though, the noisy pump is in front of the driver side front wheel, is this the compressor then? just on my VXR's that's exactly where the secondary air pump is mounted
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It's the only thing on the 3.2 that would make that noise as there's none of the emissions BS that the 2.5/3.0 are afflicted with.
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Hi Sam, welcome back. I remember you and your DTi.
You came down to Essex to buy some parts from me years ago, when I was breaking Omegas.
Sounds like all you need to do now is pull the fuse for the self levelling pump. Not much point in removing it imo.
You should check the rear springs youve bought though. You may well have been supplied with springs for an Elite, which will be too soft for standard shocks.
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Hi Sam, welcome back. I remember you and your DTi.
You came down to Essex to buy some parts from me years ago, when I was breaking Omegas.
Sounds like all you need to do now is pull the fuse for the self levelling pump. Not much point in removing it imo.
You should check the rear springs youve bought though. You may well have been supplied with springs for an Elite, which will be too soft for standard shocks.
Hello sir!
Wow, blast from the past! sounds about right, i was blasting everywhere for bits for the DT hahaha
So I've just checked the springs i brought, they are listed for the 3.2 Saloon without rear self levelling, so sounds like you could be right, just need to pull the fuse (just need to find out which one)
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It's the only thing on the 3.2 that would make that noise as there's none of the emissions BS that the 2.5/3.0 are afflicted with.
Ahh okay, thanks for that, every day is a school day ;)
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It's the only thing on the 3.2 that would make that noise as there's none of the emissions BS that the 2.5/3.0 are afflicted with.
Sadly not, the 2.6 and 3.2 are cursed with a low compression ratio instead to meet emissions, hence they lack the power and economy of the 2.5/3.0
But, yes, I'm guessing that it can only be the air compressor for the rear shocks, and that that is currently blowing out air for a few minutes until the system decides its a fault, and shuts down :y
Incidentally, the SAI pump was fitted NS, suspension pump OS. That was the easiest way to determine which it was :y