Home Forums Articles How To's FAQ Register
Go Back   Xoutpost.com > BMW SAV Forums > X5 (E53) Forum
Arnott
User Name
Password
Member List Premier Membership Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Xoutpost server transfer and maintenance is occurring....
Xoutpost is currently undergoing a planned server migration.... stay tuned for new developments.... sincerely, the management


Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 03-24-2021, 09:38 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Atlanta GA
Posts: 116
nextelbuddy is on a distinguished road
Air suspension led switch inactive (led off) 4.8is

So I'm starting on my journey of trying to reinstall all of the original air suspension components back.

Previous owner of my car removed all of the components airlines bags air accumulator and the pump and gave it to me in a big box.

They stated that they did that because after they rebuilt the pump with some rebuild kit, then the LED switch died and it could no longer control the air suspension system so they just removed everything and installed shocks and springs and for coding they just unchecked the control message using PA soft in the LCM.

- I reinstalled the pump in the trunk plugged it in.
- I modified the LCM check control message for suspension level system so that it will show the error message in the cluster And I verified that I get the suspension level inactive message now.
- I have used INPA and PA soft and I can talk and communicate with the EHC2 module with no problems. I can read the fault codes which the codes it tells me is related to the fact that I don't have the air valve or the air accumulator installed.
- I've used INPA to look at the status and I can read the voltage coming from front and rear level sensors

Yet the LEDs on the switch are not on and don't work.

So I'm really curious could I still have a bad EHC2 module? From all the reading I've been doing for the last month It appears that most people who get a dead module can't communicate with it can't read codes from it can't reset it and they also have no LEDs on the switch active.

In my case the LEDs in the switch aren't lit up at all They do light up if I reset my module or clear codes the center LED will activate briefly and then go away.

My expectation was that if my module is good and plugged in and if my pump is installed even if I have codes at least the center LED should be active and flashing letting me know that the system is not active.

So I'm hoping to get some insight from anybody that has experience with the EHC2 module on the scenarios that would cause the LED to be completely inactive on the switch.

Trying to figure out what's going on before I go drop a bunch of money on a replacement EHC2.

Ideally my goal is to make sure that:

- I have a functioning Ehc2 module
- My air compressor is installed and plugged up
- My air accumulator and air valve is plugged up and installed
- And my air suspension switch with LED is active.

And the goal is that I want to hear the pump turn on and off even if I don't have the airbags installed. That way if I can verify that the system is functioning and everything is activating properly I can go ahead and install the airbags.


I don't want to install airbags and everything and then the car just pancakes because there's something wrong that I can't figure out.





Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk
Reply With Quote

Sponsored Links

  #2  
Old 03-24-2021, 11:27 PM
EODguy's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Saudi Arabia/Philippines/USA
Posts: 3,831
EODguy is on a distinguished road
My Ride Height Controller was getting nuked and yet showed no errors. I never could get at whatever was causing the deaths so I ended up going to coil-over. My switch was good but maybe it was in the wiring. I hope you find what's causing your problem and let us know because I never could.

On the plus side I no longer have the Zamboni edition X5

Sent from my SM-A730F using Tapatalk
__________________
"When the Team Chief said.... You're trapped in a hole with nothing but a goat and a slinky, what do you do? Stubby said, I'm not sure but it won't end well for the goat...." ~(Overheard) Last day, Phase 3, Q Course
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 03-24-2021, 11:51 PM
crystalworks's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: SA, TX
Posts: 6,414
crystalworks is on a distinguished road
Simple first check. Is the system in transport or line mode? I'm not 100% sure, but I believe those will disable the LEDs on the switch. Or it turns them all on. Can't remember.
__________________
2005 X5 4.4i Build 04/05 Maintenance/Build Log
Nav, Pano, Sport (Purchased 06/14 w/ 109,000 miles) (Sold 8/15 w/121,000 miles)


2006 X5 4.8is Build 11/05 Maintenance/Build Log
Nav, DSP, Pano, Running Boards, OEM Tow Hitch, Cold Weather Pckg (Purchased 08/15 w/ 90,500 miles)

2010 X5 35d Build 02/10
Nav, HiFi, 6 DVD, Sports Pckg, Cold Weather Pckg, HUD, CAS, Running Boards, Leather Dash, PDC, Pano (Purchased 03/17 w/ 136,120 miles)
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 03-25-2021, 09:43 AM
TriX5's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Maryland
Posts: 1,572
TriX5 is on a distinguished road
My understanding is that most Electronic Control modules on BMWs have a start-up self test. The system monitors that all inputs are within range. If it detects something is out of spec it will turn off the functionality of the system. So, a brief moment of it turning on and then off probably means the self test failed but the ECH is alive (as you know from communicating with it).

Given you don't have bags installed, I take it there is no pressure in the accumulator and pump is disconnected? If the ECH cannot start the pump to get the pressure up, it would turn off the system. Also, if it detects the car is not at the ride height it demands but cannot adjust, the system assumes a fault and turns off. So, I think you are on the way but without completing the install it will be hard to guess where any issues start from.
__________________
2003 4.4i black ext./black int./black headliner (kid's runabout)
2014 535d X-drive, M package, silver/black interior

Sold but not forgotten:
2009 E70 35d, black ext./black int./black headliner (sold 2021)
2006 4.8iS Le Mans blue/cream int./black headliner, SOLD in 2012 sadly...

Other hardware:
2015 Cayenne S (wife's new DD and definitely wroooommmmm)
2016 Tundra 1794 edition crew cab, luxo hauler
2005 Tundra crew cab, weekend hauler. Sold after 150k very happy miles.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 03-25-2021, 09:59 AM
crystalworks's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: SA, TX
Posts: 6,414
crystalworks is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by nextelbuddy View Post
I don't want to install airbags and everything and then the car just pancakes because there's something wrong that I can't figure out.
Don't know how I missed that the system wasn't in yet. As trix5 mentioned, the whole setup is going to have to be put in to diagnose any faults it may have. Going to be frustrating, there is a reason so many of us switch to coilovers. Good luck.
__________________
2005 X5 4.4i Build 04/05 Maintenance/Build Log
Nav, Pano, Sport (Purchased 06/14 w/ 109,000 miles) (Sold 8/15 w/121,000 miles)


2006 X5 4.8is Build 11/05 Maintenance/Build Log
Nav, DSP, Pano, Running Boards, OEM Tow Hitch, Cold Weather Pckg (Purchased 08/15 w/ 90,500 miles)

2010 X5 35d Build 02/10
Nav, HiFi, 6 DVD, Sports Pckg, Cold Weather Pckg, HUD, CAS, Running Boards, Leather Dash, PDC, Pano (Purchased 03/17 w/ 136,120 miles)
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 03-25-2021, 11:11 AM
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: atlanta,GA
Posts: 187
bagpype is on a distinguished road
Subscribed. I would love to have my air suspension but it was removed by a previous owner.
__________________
2006 x5 4.4
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 03-26-2021, 01:03 AM
BigLion's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Posts: 163
BigLion is on a distinguished road
I wish you luck, my brother -

I recently went to springs because frankly having replaced airbags on every corner so many times that I forgot, and exceeding my repair budget to the nth degree, just because I love 'stock', I wanted to know how the ride was on springs compared to air struts. If it was as shit as running Altenzo tires (never again!!), I was gonna just put it in the workshop and do a reverse and go back to air. So far however the ride is smooth and rugged enough to not warrant going back to the oh-so-fragile air shocks. Not when you have a million speed humps on every journey in Abu Dhabi.

The point to my post, though - (excuse the meandering) -

"just unchecked the control message using PA soft in the LCM"... I have INPA - is there a way to cancel the dashboard warning so I don't get the "SUSPENSION INACTIVE" warning all the f'in time ??
__________________
----------------------------------------------------------------
2006 X5 4.8iS (facelift) in Imolarot + Ivory leather & alcantara headliner
1999 E46 323i in Imolarot II + Grey nappa
1990 E30 320iSE Sterlingsilber
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:40 AM.
vBulletin, Copyright 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. SEO by vBSEO 3.6.0
© 2017 Xoutpost.com. All rights reserved. Xoutpost.com is a private enthusiast site not associated with BMW AG.
The BMW name, marks, M stripe logo, and Roundel logo as well as X3, X5 and X6 designations used in the pages of this Web Site are the property of BMW AG.
This web site is not sponsored or affiliated in any way with BMW AG or any of its subsidiaries.