Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: P6UL K on 06 March 2011, 19:24:01
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Good evening!
Right, while laying under my rear end today i thought i would test my self-levelling suspension by popping off the little arm and guess what... Nothing! ::)
Guess my next question lol
I've checked the fuse and its fine, so could the pump of had it? As there's no pump noise coming from the front or are the shocks kaputski? :D
Would advice would you suggest for further checks of the system to diagnose the what's wrong?
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looked under mine on the ramp and my shocks have been replaced with bilsteins so my self leverling dont do much too, dont know if i will leave or replace them ? not heard eny noises from pumps or enything can see the pipes which should go to them and the linkage to suspension. :(
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Was it the correct sensor? I seem to remember there is another one on the rear too.? Ignition on?
Secondly did you move it and wait a bit?
The pump at the front under the wing is fairly easy to take off. Three bolts. I tested mine by just connecting across the battery terminals. It is easy enough then to see if it is working.
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Check that...
There are 2 black relays above the fuses under the steering wheel(one is sl, one is high beam, so make sure there two)
The pump in the front drivers wing behind fog light is plugged in/getting power.
It was fuse 27 you checked for sl?
And for my own info can you see what rear springs you have with sl. Just want to prove plod run other than SL springs, which they must do. It will have AL or AW or similar printed on them. :y
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Check that...
There are 2 black relays above the fuses under the steering wheel(one is sl, one is high beam, so make sure there two)
The pump in the front drivers wing behind fog light is plugged in/getting power.
It was fuse 27 you checked for sl?
And for my own info can you see what rear springs you have with sl. Just want to prove plod run other than SL springs, which they must do. It will have AL or AW or similar printed on them. :y
Hi Chris, leave it with me mate and i'll check all that tomorrow :y
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Chris, I'm just under the car now and the pump is plugged in and running when the ignition is turned on. There's the two little black relays and the 20amp fuse in No27 in the fuse box. Just checking the springs now.
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I can't see anything written on the springs mate, I'm taking the rear wheels off tomorrow tho so I'll have a look then for you. Any further ideas on the suspension?
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From my own experience the simplest way to find out if the pump is working,and more importantly pushing air into the shocks is to remove one of the little black plastic elbows which connect the air pipe to the shock.
Turn ignition on and await pump under drivers side front wing to kick-in.When this happens,assuming it is working,you should then feel a constant gush of air coming out of the little pipe.
Assuming this is working on both sides you are then facing the probability that the shocks are not retaining the charge of air,and assuming you still require this function it will be necessary to replace them.
Access to the valve requires only just lifting the back end on a jack and for safety holding on a stand , and reaching under the top of the wheel and pulling the little metal clip undone and removing.
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If pump is running thats all good.
As said if your getting air at the shock body joint, but still no elevation, then that would point to fubar shocks. Sounds like the pump may be running continuously if the shocks are leaking, so may want to pull the fuse to save wear until rectified.
Iirc sl shocks are £150 from Gm with a tc card. There are no alternatives that work with the on board sl system sadly. Although normal shocks could be fitted if the springs are firm enough.
Writing on springs may well depend on orientation when fitted, it could be anywhere around the circumferance. :y
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As said if pump is running,that ensures the electrical side is working.
Next you need to ensure air is being driven along the "plumbing" and getting to the shock absorbers on both sides.
If all that is correct then only remaining link in the chain is the air shocks themselves.You should be able to see a definite movement when the air is pumped into them,if not then they are knackered or atleast 1 of them is...you really should be able to hear the air escaping .
Until you can resolve the issue with the shock absorbers or atleast your decision on if to retain self levelling on the car,my advise would be to remove fuse #27 to avoid the pump working overtime and adding to the list of parts required.
Are you sure your car has self levelling shock absorbers fitted ?
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Ok, cheers for your advice Chris/Amba.
The car 100% has the S/L rear shocks, won't be until tomorrow now that i'll be having a look underneath....
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Unless you do a lot of towing or have extremely fat and heavy kids I wouldn't bother with air shocks in my opinion.
I've just had standard ones fitted to my Elite and the cars never handled so well.
Air shocks are NOT worth the expence under normal circumstances it would appear.
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Unless you do a lot of towing or have extremely fat and heavy kids I wouldn't bother with air shocks in my opinion.
I've just had standard ones fitted to my Elite and the cars never handled so well.
Air shocks are NOT worth the expence under normal circumstances it would appear.
What about on a Lotus Carlton/Omega? They were fitted with almost exactly the same system, but that was so the stance of the car remained at its optimim so the spoilers worked.
I like my self levelers ;) ;) :y
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Unless you do a lot of towing or have extremely fat and heavy kids I wouldn't bother with air shocks in my opinion.
I've just had standard ones fitted to my Elite and the cars never handled so well.
Air shocks are NOT worth the expence under normal circumstances it would appear.
Eventually I'd like to lower it a smidge with some uprated Eibach springs and some Billies but for now i need the rear end working as I'm towing a car to Sweden in July for a car mag.
All that extra weight it'll need to stay upright!
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Unless you do a lot of towing or have extremely fat and heavy kids I wouldn't bother with air shocks in my opinion.
I've just had standard ones fitted to my Elite and the cars never handled so well.
Air shocks are NOT worth the expence under normal circumstances it would appear.
What about on a Lotus Carlton/Omega? They were fitted with almost exactly the same system, but that was so the stance of the car remained at its optimim so the spoilers worked.
I like my self levelers ;) ;) :y
I like mine too,or I did until one of the tinkers started leaking
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I like self levelling, I can raise the rear of the car easily to work on, it's automatic, and accurate.
But having driven a couple of mv6,s and other omegas with non sl suspension, it's fairly clear sl shocks don't allow the rear wheels to act independently like non sl do. Too much side to side head rocking for occupants that just isn't there on non sl cars.
Then again, if carrying heavy loads or towing it's a must surely?
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Just a quick thought...
It wouldn't be the S/L control box thats at fault would it? The one thats mounted on the rear arm?
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You should be able to hear the air being pushed into the shocks,and also if it is leaking you will definitley hear it escaping...like having a puncture.
1..Check to see if air is getting to the shock absorber
2..Check if the shock is holding the charge of air
3..Check if the shock is adjusting with the air in it
Fairly sure you problem..if any ..will be one of the above 3.
I have a sound but used set of s/l saloon shocks that you are more than welcome to try if 1 of the above 3 identifies the problem and if required you could cross my palm with silver for them unless you wish to then buy new at £150 a pair on Trade.
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Just a quick thought...
It wouldn't be the S/L control box thats at fault would it? The one thats mounted on the rear arm?
The sensor detects the hight, and is asking the pump to run, so there is something right at this point.
What needs to happen next is for the car to rise with the pumped air(it's not hence your current problem), THEN as it rises to a point that the sensor says is correct then it stops pumping or releases air. We can't tell if sensor is fully working as the car is not rising.
Your current task is to find where the pumped air, if any, is going to. As Amba said earlier, pull the air connector off the shock body, if you have air pressure there, then it sounds like the shocks are not holding pressure. Replace.
At that point a good test would be to swap your shocks for known good ones and see how the system behaves without spending any money. ;)
If it then transpires the car continues to rise unchecked, as sometimes happens, you may feel it's not worth the cash to pursue. If all is well bung Amba a few quid and your away.Up to you. :y
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I have a sound but used set of s/l saloon shocks
Will stand corrected, but aren't saloon shocks different to estate ones? f/l and pre f/l may be interchangable tho? :-/
Al :y
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Ah! ::)
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Well spotted...saloon shocks are different to those required on an Estate,so whilst my set will prove or disprove if the fault is with the shocks,they will not be suitable for a replacement
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Well after all that it looks like i'm off to Sweden for Gatebill in a Transit van towing the mag car instead of using the Omega to tow.
Bit of a relief really... But now i suppose i can do as Chris has recommended and replace the S/L with some independent Billies ;D
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You should be able to hear the air being pushed into the shocks,and also if it is leaking you will definitley hear it escaping...like having a puncture.
1..Check to see if air is getting to the shock absorber
2..Check if the shock is holding the charge of air
3..Check if the shock is adjusting with the air in it
Fairly sure you problem..if any ..will be one of the above 3.
I have a sound but used set of s/l saloon shocks that you are more than welcome to try if 1 of the above 3 identifies the problem and if required you could cross my palm with silver for them unless you wish to then buy new at £150 a pair on Trade.
If the OP doesn't want, I would like to cross your palm, as mine are dead- are they f/l?
Is it decided if f/l & pre f/l are the same?
Ta muchly