Member Since: 15 Sep 2020
Location: Cambridge
Posts: 9
Suspension warning light help
Hi
My first time owning a Disco 3 and I need some help. The suspension warning light comes on intermittently. Sometimes it is amber, and nothing else happens, and occasionally it comes on red, and then shortly after the suspension drops and you feel every bump in the road.
In both cases if you stop, switch off and switch on again the lights clear, and in the case of the red light the suspension makes a real clonking noise as you pull away, but then recovers to the normal height and you drive away as if nothing had happened.
Does this sound like a faulty compressor pump? It’s the AMK type, and I don’t think it’s been changed before. It’s a 2006 model disco.
It’s strange because it seems very intermittent. Maybe 1 in 6 or 7 trips I get the light. And I’ve had the red one 3 times in a month.
Any advice gratefully received!
Thanks
15th Sep 2020 10:06 pm
MikeO
Member Since: 15 Jan 2014
Location: The Cotswolds
Posts: 1372
You really need to get the codes read. Hitachi would have been the original fitment on a 2006 so it may already have been changed once.2016 Skoda Octavia VRS Estate
<gone>2009 FF Vogue TDV8 Buckingham Blue</gone>
<gone>2015 BMW 520D SE (not my favourite car)</gone>
<gone>2009 D3 HSE Galway Green</gone
15th Sep 2020 10:44 pm
KevinD3
Member Since: 05 Aug 2020
Location: Sutton Coldfield
Posts: 1207
Sounds like the compressor, you may get away with refurbing it rather than replacement but MikeO is right, getting the codes will help, as well as pulling the cover off and seeing what compressor you’ve got2008 HSE Stornoway Grey
My Wife thinks the D3 is a hobby, The D3 thinks the wife is 💕
15th Sep 2020 10:50 pm
Poloperson
Member Since: 15 Sep 2020
Location: Cambridge
Posts: 9
Many thanks for the suggestions. I’ve had the cover off and it’s deffo an AMK type.
Rather than me going out and buying the kit to read the codes (and I’d really not want to go to the dealer to have them charge me to read them), can you hire these devices? Or is there a kind of protocol on the forum that lets you search for fellow members who are local to me who might have one I could borrow?
Sorry if I’m sounding tight, but I‘m afraid I am naturally tight!!!
16th Sep 2020 11:44 am
Poloperson
Member Since: 15 Sep 2020
Location: Cambridge
Posts: 9
... oh, and another stupid question (as I’ve never used these devices before), can it tell you the error when the fault isn’t there? Ie if there is no warning light and everything is working as it should be? This fault is intermittent, so I’m wondering if I have to catch it when it’s happening to be able to read the codes.
16th Sep 2020 11:47 am
waterbuoy
Member Since: 26 Oct 2013
Location: Argyll
Posts: 2862
The car will log the fault codes so that base is covered
Whilst many on the forum use the GAP iiD tool as it allows you to do somuch, a basic code-reader is less than the price of a tank of diesel or half an hour of a dealer mechanic. There is a thread on here somewhere about a unit that seems to be good vfm - I think it is the Autel?
Maybe try and search and then make a decision.Currently 2009 Disco 3 SE, 2013 MY D4 HSE and 2016 D4 SE
Previously:
TD5 Defender 110 CSW (230k miles)
300TDi Disco 1 (289k)
4 RR Classics (300-350k each, 2 manual, 2 auto)
110 V8 CSW (220k)
S3 109 hi cap pickup (ex RN)
S2A 88 Safari SW with lpg conversion (bloody lethal)
16th Sep 2020 12:02 pm
waterbuoy
Member Since: 26 Oct 2013
Location: Argyll
Posts: 2862
Welcome to the forum by the way Currently 2009 Disco 3 SE, 2013 MY D4 HSE and 2016 D4 SE
Previously:
TD5 Defender 110 CSW (230k miles)
300TDi Disco 1 (289k)
4 RR Classics (300-350k each, 2 manual, 2 auto)
110 V8 CSW (220k)
S3 109 hi cap pickup (ex RN)
S2A 88 Safari SW with lpg conversion (bloody lethal)
16th Sep 2020 12:03 pm
Poloperson
Member Since: 15 Sep 2020
Location: Cambridge
Posts: 9
Thanks very much! That looks pretty interesting. I did read in the thread you linked to that it doesn’t do suspension though? Not sure what the contributor meant by that, but as you say it’s not overly expensive and I may well take a punt.
Thanks for the welcome by the way! It’s great to be here.....
16th Sep 2020 12:38 pm
KevinD3
Member Since: 05 Aug 2020
Location: Sutton Coldfield
Posts: 1207
Hi Poloperson
The Autel will tell you all of the codes stored on the car including any errors being thrown up from the suspension. If you look around you can pick it up for around £49, cheaper than a single visit to a stealer for the same thing once you have the error codes it’ll help a lot to pin the fault down. It will definitely pay for itself in a really short time and small enough to leave in the glove box.
2008 HSE Stornoway Grey
My Wife thinks the D3 is a hobby, The D3 thinks the wife is 💕
16th Sep 2020 3:50 pm
Poloperson
Member Since: 15 Sep 2020
Location: Cambridge
Posts: 9
Thanks Kevin,
I’ve prized open my wallet, waited for the moths to disburse and placed an order for the Autel device.
If it turns out to be a load of rubbish I’ll be round with the boys! Seriously though, I very much appreciate all the advice you guys have given me, and I hope you’ll be as helpful when I hot foot it back to you with the codes my car dishes up
Thanks again
Simon
16th Sep 2020 5:27 pm
KevinD3
Member Since: 05 Aug 2020
Location: Sutton Coldfield
Posts: 1207
2008 HSE Stornoway Grey
My Wife thinks the D3 is a hobby, The D3 thinks the wife is 💕
16th Sep 2020 6:46 pm
Poloperson
Member Since: 15 Sep 2020
Location: Cambridge
Posts: 9
Well! The little device arrived, and everything installed correctly, so that was good.
Stuck it in the car and (bearing in mind I haven’t really got a clue what I’m doing!) I managed to get a list of codes for the whole car.
Well, there were more red lines than you’d find in a right wing Tory politician!
I looked through some of them, and several mentioned the warning light I’d seen but listed about a dozen different things that could cause the problem.
So, first question is - (as the faults don’t seem to be date stamped, so I’ve no idea if they are current issues) - is it a good idea to clear all the faults and stat from a blank canvass? Then, when the problem happens again, I can look straight away and see a shorter list of faults (I hope!)
Thanks
Simon
19th Sep 2020 2:16 pm
KevinD3
Member Since: 05 Aug 2020
Location: Sutton Coldfield
Posts: 1207
Phew! So the boys won’t be round anyway faults come as intermittent historic & permanent. Concentrate on the permanent ones, Drop a screenshot of them on here2008 HSE Stornoway Grey
My Wife thinks the D3 is a hobby, The D3 thinks the wife is 💕
19th Sep 2020 3:48 pm
Poloperson
Member Since: 15 Sep 2020
Location: Cambridge
Posts: 9
I’m guessing it’s the ones listed under the ride level control module?
19th Sep 2020 4:57 pm
KevinD3
Member Since: 05 Aug 2020
Location: Sutton Coldfield
Posts: 1207
Hi Poloperson, first 3 errors could all be pointing to the same issue with your front left height sensor. Obviously the front left sensor error is, but the other two are around the car being unable to decide what height to sit at. Last error may be an air leak anywhere but I’d sort the sensor first. They’re cheap and easy to fit but need to be recalibrated once in, I THINK the AP200 can do it under suspension calibration but haven’t tried it myself.2008 HSE Stornoway Grey
My Wife thinks the D3 is a hobby, The D3 thinks the wife is 💕
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once you have the error codes it’ll help a lot to pin the fault down. It will definitely pay for itself in a really short time and small enough to leave in the glove box.
