Grand Espace pneumatic suspension - anyone else with that system here?

[renaultbiler]

I have pneumatic rear suspension on my 2000 Grand Espace V6 initiale. The system works fine and both "air-springs" was replaced on service just before i got it this year.
I've read about it on Dialogys documents and it seems like a fairly simple system.

Only issue i would discuss with anyone else who has it, is how it behaves when the car is parked. When it is + temperature (above 0*C) the system keeps the cars height over night (just small lowering) but as soon as the temperature outside is falling to 0 or less (-1*C and colder) it seems to lower the car during a few hours and fully lowered the next morning.

I cannot see that there is any temperature sensor in this system, i guess the air becomes less volume on low temeratures and that might be the reason this happends... ?

On running it works just fine and the compressor is not over-worked (= service warning) even if the temperature is low.

Anyone else that might have some experiences to share on this ?

[Ralph2]

I had this system on a 1993 V6 Espace and it was great.

Mine behaved in this manner twice during my ownership, although I didn't relate it at the time to ambient temperature. Both times the rubber sleeves on the suspension 'balans' (or is it 'balons'?) had perished and the units were replaced. If yours are new then that is not going to be the case. I think more likely you have an air pipe that is a little short, or a union that is not fully tightand and as it contracts in the cold causes the seal to leak at a joint. Most probably one that was disturbed when the new units were fitted. They are just hard plastic pipes with a rubber seal in the union. You could try a soapy water test on any joints you can see underneath. pity it will have to be on a cold night! If the balans HAVE perished, you will see millions of tiny bubbles appear all around the area of 'flex' if you try the soapy water test on them. Hope it helps

[renaultbiler]

Thanks Ralph, will have a test to see if i can find any leak.
We are quite used to working in cold temperatures here in Norway 
Last winter i removed and replaced a 4x4 transmission on my old Trafic at -12*C  since i have no garage to fit it.. but i am not repeating that again!

[Ralph2]

Yes yes I confess everything, I am a wimp from the UK and even -4C would send me running for the fireside! You Scandanavian types are made of sterner stuff.

Mind you, 40 odd years ago I worked as a mechanic and the Garage Owner decided to rebuild the Workshops during one winter. I well remembr lying in the snow on the service road changing a clutch! My circulation was a little better in those days though...