Member Since: 11 Apr 2019
Location: Huddersfield
Posts: 20
Compressor replacement
Had my Disco 3 a few weeks now and since I got it I have had the suspension light coming on intermittently , usually after a mile or two and the warning of failure on the dash. Put it into my trusted mechanic who cleared all the faults, reset the sensors etc and then we waited for a while before rechecking the faults and he has said it is the compressor at fault. Annoying as the car had a replacement about 2 years ago according to the receipts I got with the car. He has said that every time he has fitted a cheap compressor he has had to replace it within a couple of years but I note there are some on ebay for around £200 with a two year warranty which would probably see out my time with the car. Its a Hitachi compressor by the way and I was wondering peoples thoughts and experiences on sourcing replacements.
15th Jun 2019 11:29 am
garrycol
Member Since: 06 Dec 2010
Location: Canberra
Posts: 1115
Just rebuild what you have - will work fine.
15th Jun 2019 12:01 pm
SteveYorks
Member Since: 11 Apr 2019
Location: Huddersfield
Posts: 20
Not sure I have the time, the facilities or the skills to be honest.
15th Jun 2019 4:21 pm
nickbos
Member Since: 11 Sep 2018
Location: Cambridgeshire
Posts: 72
I get the same - an intermittent bong with the air-suspension, although (touch wood) I haven't had one for many weeks now. I think a lot of them were caused taking the parking break off on broken ground (gravel drive) as the suspension was inflating to running height - the vehicle would move slightly which would fire off a fault. Can't recall it happening on solid ground or when on the road.
As a result of this I've spent around £140.00 on a spare AMK compressor which was recovered from one of the trillions of Disco3s that have entered the "beyond economical repair" zone and are now being broken for parts - the seller had a vehicle that suffered a thrown drive belt with the result that the engine went South. He'd just paid to have the auto-gearbox removed and overhauled too which added to the pain.
If you do decide to go for a secondhand AMK unit, you will need a software update as the Hitachi (and the many el-cheapo clones around) and the AMK run on different currents (1.0A -v 0.5A; see a previous forum post). Personally, I'd not fit an el-cheapo clone as you could be making a rod for your own back, with the ag of having to swap it out when it fails. OK, so the import agent/retailer offers a two year warranty?
Depends on the truck I suppose? If it's a stop gap ownership, and it's not in the greatest of condition, go for cheap and cheerful and keep your fingers crossed. I'm rather hoping to get another 50,000 miles out of mine....
Cheers.
16th Jun 2019 11:31 am
SteveYorks
Member Since: 11 Apr 2019
Location: Huddersfield
Posts: 20
Well its been a bit pf a really. I replaced the Hitachi compressor with the genuine part and the light still comes on. Car drives fine, doesnt go down on suspension no matter how long its left for but the orange light and usual suspension message appears. Usually comes on after a mile or so but can go a full day occasionally without appearing. Sensors have all been re checked and calibrated as above so not sure what next step is or what may be the fault..
28th Jun 2019 11:02 pm
Mogwyth
Member Since: 03 Oct 2014
Location: Pwllheli
Posts: 3976
Have you had the fault codes read?
Checked tyre pressures?==================================
05 D3 HSE V8 4.4
04 MG TF 135
03 MG TF 115 Cool Blue Edition
02 MG TF 160
00 Hymer B564 Lionheart
1971 Series III 109
28th Jun 2019 11:50 pm
SteveYorks
Member Since: 11 Apr 2019
Location: Huddersfield
Posts: 20
yes my pal who has the garage read and said it indicated compressor, though i cant recall exactly what it said. He is a long term range rover owner so not inexperienced .
29th Jun 2019 2:24 am
pagoda
Member Since: 13 Aug 2009
Location: Not London Anymore (or the US for that matter)
Posts: 1923
SteveYorks wrote:
Well its been a bit pf a really. I replaced the Hitachi compressor with the genuine part and the light still comes on. Car drives fine, doesnt go down on suspension no matter how long its left for but the orange light and usual suspension message appears. Usually comes on after a mile or so but can go a full day occasionally without appearing. Sensors have all been re checked and calibrated as above so not sure what next step is or what may be the fault..
My very strong recommendation is to get someone with an IID tool to reload the firmware for the compressor. Check which compressor you replaced it with (assuming not a Hitachi) and reload. Even if you did replace with a Hitachi, reload the firmware.
Just needs an IID tool.
Start there. Takes maybe 5 mins.PAGODA
29th Jun 2019 3:05 am
SteveYorks
Member Since: 11 Apr 2019
Location: Huddersfield
Posts: 20
Forgive my ignorance but whats the firmware?
29th Jun 2019 9:30 am
Admirable
Member Since: 19 Jul 2015
Location: Fife
Posts: 1017
It's like the software to control and make it work, each compressor has it's own bespoke software.
29th Jun 2019 10:18 am
SteveYorks
Member Since: 11 Apr 2019
Location: Huddersfield
Posts: 20
Ah ok. I went for the oem Hitachi part after reports of premature failure or noisy running of spurious pumps. I will look into that then.
29th Jun 2019 11:05 am
pagoda
Member Since: 13 Aug 2009
Location: Not London Anymore (or the US for that matter)
Posts: 1923
I had exactly the same fault as the OP. The compressor was replaced by LR under warranty. The fault continued. When checking the details using the IID tool, the tool said I had the car had an Hitachi compressor.
I contacted the excellent team at IID, who suggested I change the firmware to the AMK version. I did that using the tool, and haven't had a problem in two years.
(BTW, I could have that the wrong way around, i.e. car had AMK, changed for Hitachi, etc, but you get the idea. Change it and see what happens. Bottom line was that my LR dealer changed the compressor but never changed the firmware).PAGODA
29th Jun 2019 2:39 pm
SteveYorks
Member Since: 11 Apr 2019
Location: Huddersfield
Posts: 20
I think I replaced like with like ie a genuine Hitachi compressor but as the fault was present before it could have had the wrong one fitted at some point and the previous owner lived with the fault light.
30th Jun 2019 12:41 pm
SteveYorks
Member Since: 11 Apr 2019
Location: Huddersfield
Posts: 20
Apparently the fault indicated the air supply was low or something like that. My mechanic says when he has has this message previously on other LR s its always been the compressor at fault. I am now wondering if a leaky air tank might cause the same symptoms?
1st Jul 2019 8:38 pm
SteveYorks
Member Since: 11 Apr 2019
Location: Huddersfield
Posts: 20
Well just to update you all, because I hate unfinished posts, it was a leak in the air tank which I believe was the original one. It looked not too bad until removed and then it was apparent the top had all corroded and it was not holding air under pressure. Replaced with the genuine part and now all is well.
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