Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Entwood on 10 June 2010, 10:25:53
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2001 3.2 Elite saloon
Self levelling intermittently drops to fully down on both sides. Switch off engine, restart, it pumps back up straight away and remains fine until the next time it drops.
Problem "seems" to be worse, ie I think this is when it drops, when heavily laden over uneven/undulating surfaces.
Both air shocks were replaced with genuine Vx 2 years ago.
I don't "think" it's the shocks as the level drops evenly, ie both sides together.
I'm wondering if the level sensor suddenly sends the wrong info, or if there is a non-return valve in the pump that is on its way out ??
Does the self levelling "only" activate on switch on, or should it change throughout a journey ???
Any thoughts before I post in the wanted section for a sensor and a pump ?? !! :)
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2001 3.2 Elite saloon
Self levelling intermittently drops to fully down on both sides. Switch off engine, restart, it pumps back up straight away and remains fine until the next time it drops.
Problem "seems" to be worse, ie I think this is when it drops, when heavily laden over uneven/undulating surfaces.
Both air shocks were replaced with genuine Vx 2 years ago.
I don't "think" it's the shocks as the level drops evenly, ie both sides together.
I'm wondering if the level sensor suddenly sends the wrong info, or if there is a non-return valve in the pump that is on its way out ??
Does the self levelling "only" activate on switch on, or should it change throughout a journey ???
Any thoughts before I post in the wanted section for a sensor and a pump ?? !! :)
It could be an air leak in the pipework, as the compressor is up front, there's a lot of it to potentially leak :-/
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2001 3.2 Elite saloon
Self levelling intermittently drops to fully down on both sides. Switch off engine, restart, it pumps back up straight away and remains fine until the next time it drops.
Problem "seems" to be worse, ie I think this is when it drops, when heavily laden over uneven/undulating surfaces.
Both air shocks were replaced with genuine Vx 2 years ago.
I don't "think" it's the shocks as the level drops evenly, ie both sides together.
I'm wondering if the level sensor suddenly sends the wrong info, or if there is a non-return valve in the pump that is on its way out ??
Does the self levelling "only" activate on switch on, or should it change throughout a journey ???
Any thoughts before I post in the wanted section for a sensor and a pump ?? !! :)
It could be an air leak in the pipework, as the compressor is up front, there's a lot of it to potentially leak :-/
mmmm if it was an air leak from a pipe, wouldn't it always go down at the same rate ??? - ish ?? This holds level 90% of the time and just drops occasionaly when laden on undulating surfaces ... I guess when the system is put under extra strain .. ?? :(
Sort of if it has increased back pressure, but it might be that thelevel sensor is moving more than normal.. if it works continuously and not just on start up.
Seems odd that ignition off/on sorts it out so fast
:(
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Could be that the leak is worse when loaded, and ECU decides the compressor is doing too much work and shuts down? :-/
Sounds worth putting a Tech 2 on it.
Kevin
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Could be that the leak is worse when loaded, and ECU decides the compressor is doing too much work and shuts down? :-/
Sounds worth putting a Tech 2 on it.
Kevin
Hopefully at the Lakes .. :)
Just don't want to damage anything on the 5 hour tow up there ...
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tried playing with the sensor arm? might give some clues. 99% sure its costantly active, not just at start up.
just seen Kevins post, leave it be perhaps, if pump runs for too long it will throw a code, better to see if there's a genuine fault code, rather than a man made one.
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Plan to play with the arm and some soapy water on the pipes tomorrow, then towing this weekend and see what occurs ...
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Results of this mornings efforts :
measuring height of rearwheel arch at a fixed point.
Unladen from overnight : 67.3 cm
Start engine, compressor ran for <2 secs : 67.4 cm
Hitch van up, place generator/BBQ/Tool box in boot to try and load as high as possible.
Height drops (as expected) to 64.5 cm
Start engine, compressor runs for 90 secs height rises to 67.4 cm
Switch off at 0845 - 67.4cm
0915 - 66.2 cm
0945 - 65.1 cm
1015 - 64.0 cm
So it would appear I have a slow airleak under load.... but where from ? Limited access at the moment so the soap water trick has achieved nothing, and I can't get to all the pipes anyway.
How "flexible"/"resilient" is the airpipe, does anyone know ?? I'm thinking about clamping it with molegrips in stages to try and isolate the leak ?? But not sure if that might damage the pipe ???
Any one any thoughts ???
:(
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Sounds like a leak.
Haven't got it on my car but, IIRC, it's fairly hard plastic tube similar to the vacuum tubes. Makes it likely that clamping will damage the pipe IMHO.
A Tech 2 (or two!) will be coming to the lakes, of course.
I haven't had the levelling system apart but another thing to check might be the relief valve that lowers it. Maybe it's got some crud in it and it's not sealing. Failing that, a leak in one of the shocks or the plumbing.
I wonder if you could plumb it into one shock at a time and see if the fault occurs on both sides?
Kevin
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Sounds like a leak.
Haven't got it on my car but, IIRC, it's fairly hard plastic tube similar to the vacuum tubes. Makes it likely that clamping will damage the pipe IMHO.
A Tech 2 (or two!) will be coming to the lakes, of course.
I haven't had the levelling system apart but another thing to check might be the relief valve that lowers it. Maybe it's got some crud in it and it's not sealing. Failing that, a leak in one of the shocks or the plumbing.
I wonder if you could plumb it into one shock at a time and see if the fault occurs on both sides?
Kevin
Any ideas where that is ??? Not mentioned at all in "The Book of Lies"
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That was my thought to, sound like the system is suddenly loosing pressure as opposed to slowly.....hence I wonder if the release valve is sticking.
Its mounted on the pump under the drivers side front wing
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I'm guessing that if the relieve valve is the problem its a replacement pump then, think I'll ask for one in the wanted section anyway .. might be worth having one on the shelf just-in-case anyway... :)
Looks like I'm dismantling the thing next week !! Todays tow is only 30 miles so shouldn't be a problem .. :)
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Could this be simply a leak at one of the shock valves? I think theres a single pressure supply pipe from the compressor comeing to a T then supplying both shocks so if one leaks it will drop both shocks. Also the valves will be subject to extreme flexing if the shocks are working hard.Hope this is your problem Entwood just re-connect into both shocks an easy fix.
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Could this be simply a leak at one of the shock valves? I think theres a single pressure supply pipe from the compressor comeing to a T then supplying both shocks so if one leaks it will drop both shocks. Also the valves will be subject to extreme flexing if the shocks are working hard.Hope this is your problem Entwood just re-connect into both shocks an easy fix.
I've put soapy water on both the connections into the shocks - no bubbles ... can't get to any other bits at the moment... will have to wait until monday for in depth work. Hopefully will get a spare compressor from serek (ta very much :y :y) and will either use it or keep as a spare .. depending what I find .... :)
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Latest situation .... :)
I've loaded the thing up best I can, and done the soapy water thing over the whole length of pipe, all the joins and as much of the shockers and the compressor I could get to.
No bubbles. :(
I've now removed the compressor and will fit Serek's replacement when it arrives, hopefully before Thursday. If not, then on Thursday the old one goes back on and hopefully will be no worse and we will endeavour to get to The Lakes.
Looking at the compressor I've removed there doesn't seem much in the way of "user serviceable" parts, and no sign of damaged pipes or leaks on the outside anyway.
Question .. can anyone see any problems with driving to The Lakes with the wheelarch liner removed ??? Don't want the hassle of refitting that then having to take it of again to fit a replacement compressor, if it can be avoided !!
EDIT : just had a phone call from Serek .. he's going to FedEx it to me to ensure I get it in time.... Thanks very much .. much appreciated :y :y :y
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The HID ECU will get manky if driven without liner. Also, hothing will hold the carbon canister in place?
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The HID ECU will get manky if driven without liner. Also, hothing will hold the carbon canister in place?
HID ECU is "baggable" ... but what "carbon canister" .. I don't see any such item ???
:(
EDIT ... do you mean the "Fuel Evaporator" ?? EPC shows that on the passenger side ??? or have I got it wrong .. again .. :)
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It's on the driver's side on my car. You should see a small breather pipe from behind the 1/3/5 bank of the engine go through a hole in the driver's side inner wing to the canister. It is joined by one of the 3 fuel lines that come forward from the fuel tank.
Kevin
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Okies .. found the charcoal canister .. :) Its well tucked away and nicely secure .. :)
(http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/8747/imag0020yz.jpg)
however the liner is back on .. :)
Serek's replacement compressor fitted this evening, loaded up the boot with generator, 3 toolboxes, trolley jack, angle grinder, disc cutter. !!! System rose back up nicely when the compressor ran and stayed there for over an hour, no drop at all. Can't do the full "caravan hitched" test until tomorrow but I decided to refit the liner anyway.
So thanks to Serek for the speed of delivery and, providing tomorows test with the 'van on goes OK looks like we should still make The Lakes .. :)
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Serek's replacement compressor fitted this evening, loaded up the boot with generator, 3 toolboxes, trolley jack, angle grinder, disc cutter. !!! System rose back up nicely when the compressor ran and stayed there for over an hour, no drop at all. ....
Looks like a poorly compressor then.
Are you doing a post mortem on your old compressor then? ::) ::) ::) ;)
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Serek's replacement compressor fitted this evening, loaded up the boot with generator, 3 toolboxes, trolley jack, angle grinder, disc cutter. !!! System rose back up nicely when the compressor ran and stayed there for over an hour, no drop at all. ....
Looks like a poorly compressor then.
Are you doing a post mortem on your old compressor then? ::) ::) ::) ;)
Not just yet ..... it's a standby "nearly working" until I'm certain of this one !!! (I know .... cowardice !!! :) )
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Not just yet ..... it's a standby "nearly working" until I'm certain of this one !!! (I know .... cowardice !!! :) )
;D ;D