Tein Height Control Advice Please

[dave1066]

Hi All

I have recently imported the Vellfire with has a  Japanese Tien electronic Height and Damper control Control suspension system. I'm looking for some guidance please on recharging the height accumulator.

 

The accumulator has a Schrader valve but I'm wondering if it should be recharge with nitrogen or hydraulic oil and to what pressure? . .  unfortunately Tien UK are unable to offer any help on the Japanese system.

 

Cheers

Dave

 

 

[Chris.ac]

Its suggest emailing Tein.

They have an email link on their page. 

https://www.tein.co.jp/e/products/hybrid_wagon.html

[dave1066]

Thanks @Chris.ac I did try contacting them but no reply.

 

The struts are gas but I think these have separate height control cylinder.  I'm gonna take my chances and ask a workshop to repressure the accumulator with nitrogen and hopefully the car will then lift.

[smurf]

Accumulators normally have a gas bag filled with nitrogen to provide an energy store within the nitrogen that is compressed by the hydraulic side of the system. Definitely don't recharge it with hydraulic oil.

 

Where is the hydraulic pump located and is it working? Lack of hydraulic pressure is more likely to be a cause of not lifting rather than low nitrogen pressure. 

[dave1066]

Hi @smurf thanks for the reassurance.  over the past few days I've come to the same conclusion regarding  Nitrogen and not oil to pressure the accumulator

 

The electronic controller is reporting an error code E1 which according to the user guide means low tank pressure. It's a shame it does state what the pressure should be set to.

 

I don't think I can test the pump until it's been repressurised , I did press the l pin on the Schrader connection and only a small amount of Nitrogen or air was expelled. suggesting a very low pressure.

 

All lines and connections look good so I am hoping it's just a matter of getting it up to the correct pressure to clear the Error code on the height controller for it to start working.

 

I need to find a local firm.willing to give it a pressure test/fill test without breaking the bank. 

 

 

This is the system https://www.tein.co.jp/e/products/hybrid_wagon.html#:~:text=HYBRID WAGON Damper is fully,available (except some models).

 

 

 

 

Edited May 12 by dave1066

[smurf]

The lack of gas does need resolving. Knowing what pre-charge pressure it should be set to will be a challenge as it doesn't appear to be published anywhere. Contacting Tein ú in in Japan might the best way to find out. 

 

From the photos I've seen there appears to be no pressure sensors fitted to the gas side of the suspension, so the controller wouldn't have a clue what the pressure is. I would expect low tank pressure to be related to the hydraulic pump. It doesn't look like the system holds much of a reservoir of oil, so if the bladders are empty of gas then that is more volume to be filled with oil before it can begin to build pressure, and if there isn't much spare oil in the system it just isn't going to work.

 

Look for hydraulic maintenance specialists near you. The chances are that they will have the gear to recharge accumilators and it should be easy for them to charge up your suspension, so long as they know what pressure they are aiming for.

[dave1066]

I recently shipped this car over from Japan so I'm thinking the gas have been depressurised as a requirement of the carrier.

 

The sensor appears to be on the side of the accumulator and also looking at the photo on the web I've.notoced it may have a label with some info which i'll check tomorrow.

 

Cheers for the info, i'll another email to Tein JP tomorrow.