Electronic Air Suspension is the name of the air suspension system installed on the second version of the Range Rover

Range Rover

The Range Rover is a large luxury four-wheel drive sport utility vehicle produced by British car maker Land Rover. The model, launched in 1970, is now in its third generation...

, known as the P38A

Range Rover

The Range Rover is a large luxury four-wheel drive sport utility vehicle produced by British car maker Land Rover. The model, launched in 1970, is now in its third generation...

.

Components

The system comprises:

• a vulcanised rubber air spring at each wheel
• an air compressor
  Air compressor
  An air compressor is a device that converts power into kinetic energy by compressing and pressurizing air, which, on command, can be released in quick bursts...
  
  , located under the bonnet
  Hood (vehicle)
  The hood or bonnet is the hinged cover over the engine of motor vehicles that allows access to the engine compartment for maintenance and repair. In British terminology, hood refers to a fabric cover over the passenger compartment of the car...
  
  
• a compressed air
  Compressed air
  Compressed air is air which is kept under a certain pressure, usually greater than that of the atmosphere. In Europe, 10 percent of all electricity used by industry is used to produce compressed air, amounting to 80 terawatt hours consumption per year....
  
   storage tank, storing air at ~150psi (1000 kpa)
• a valve block which routes air from the storage tank to the four air springs via a series of solenoids, valves and many o-rings
• an EAS computer which communicates with the car's main computer the BeCM and decides where to route air pressure
• a series of 6mm air pipe which channels air throughout the system (mainly from the storage tank to the air springs via the valve block
• an air drier canister containing desiccant
  Desiccant
  A desiccant is a hygroscopic substance that induces or sustains a state of dryness in its local vicinity in a moderately well-sealed container....
  
  

Advantages

The air springs were designed to provide a luxurious ride quality and provide the ability to raise the body of the vehicle for off road clearance and lower the vehicle when driving at higher speeds on highways.

Problems

The EAS computer is regarded by some to be unintelligent. It can, using pre-programmed criteria to detect a fault, disable the system into "Hard Fault Mode" which can lower the vehicle to the suspension bump-stops and force the owner to limp to the dealership for inspection and repair.

Many enthusiasts use diagnostic devices such as laptop computers running specially developed freeware software and hand held computers to clear the spurious faults and avoid the trip to the dealer. Many enthusiasts share information about DIY repairs of the EAS on webpages and online forums.