Rustygears
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- Ramona, CA
I'm passing this on because I see threads for the A3 regarding both air leaks and PS issues.
I noticed the air dryer cycling fairly rapidly and the gauge pressure dropping on my A3 when just sitting and idling. Since there aren't many other items that consume significant air aside from brakes and PS, I figured something was wrong. I started checking around and thought I heard air leaking after shutting down the engine in the engine area around the compressor unloader valve. Before replacing it, I looked more closely and found the PS regulator neatly tucked up in the frame rails immediately below the compressor. It has a little cylindrical cover on it with a small hole in the bottom. By pressing my thumb over the hole, I could feel the air escaping it and the slight hiss that I had previously heard change sound. After then finding the PS air shut off petcock on the firewall and isolating the PS system, the truck guage bleed down stopped - found it!
I bought a replacement reg on ebay and in order to figure out the proper setting for the PS pressure, bought a schrader valve (tire valve stem type valve) having a 1/8" pipe fitting at Napa for $3 and installed that in the old regulator monitoring port (hex cap screw at the to of the reg in front). I then used a tire gauge to measure the pressure at the reg output via the schrader valve. The system was set too high (over 100psi), but reducing the pressure setting it didn't stop the leak. The reg was still working, just leaking from around the pressure adjusting know area.
I installed the same schrader valve on the new reg and replaced the old reg in the truck. Using the schrader valve, I set the pressure on the PS for 60psi on the new reg and then capped the schrader with a metal/gasketed valve stem cap to seal and to also keep the crud out.
Needless to say, the truck now holds air for days and the dryer cycles very infrequently when idling with no brakes or PS being used. This will save needless wear and tear on the compressor, unloader, dryer, etc. and the truck system keeps a constant 120psi now.
The schrader now remains as a permanent part of my PS air system and I'll use it to monitor/troubleshoot future issues should they arise. I figure the $3 spent on it is a lot more cost effective than buying and mounting a gauge on the reg, especially considering the gauge will get gummed up, etc. in that mounting location and likely not be working when I really need it. I always have a working tire gauge available! Total repair investment: $32.
I noticed the air dryer cycling fairly rapidly and the gauge pressure dropping on my A3 when just sitting and idling. Since there aren't many other items that consume significant air aside from brakes and PS, I figured something was wrong. I started checking around and thought I heard air leaking after shutting down the engine in the engine area around the compressor unloader valve. Before replacing it, I looked more closely and found the PS regulator neatly tucked up in the frame rails immediately below the compressor. It has a little cylindrical cover on it with a small hole in the bottom. By pressing my thumb over the hole, I could feel the air escaping it and the slight hiss that I had previously heard change sound. After then finding the PS air shut off petcock on the firewall and isolating the PS system, the truck guage bleed down stopped - found it!
I bought a replacement reg on ebay and in order to figure out the proper setting for the PS pressure, bought a schrader valve (tire valve stem type valve) having a 1/8" pipe fitting at Napa for $3 and installed that in the old regulator monitoring port (hex cap screw at the to of the reg in front). I then used a tire gauge to measure the pressure at the reg output via the schrader valve. The system was set too high (over 100psi), but reducing the pressure setting it didn't stop the leak. The reg was still working, just leaking from around the pressure adjusting know area.
I installed the same schrader valve on the new reg and replaced the old reg in the truck. Using the schrader valve, I set the pressure on the PS for 60psi on the new reg and then capped the schrader with a metal/gasketed valve stem cap to seal and to also keep the crud out.
Needless to say, the truck now holds air for days and the dryer cycles very infrequently when idling with no brakes or PS being used. This will save needless wear and tear on the compressor, unloader, dryer, etc. and the truck system keeps a constant 120psi now.
The schrader now remains as a permanent part of my PS air system and I'll use it to monitor/troubleshoot future issues should they arise. I figure the $3 spent on it is a lot more cost effective than buying and mounting a gauge on the reg, especially considering the gauge will get gummed up, etc. in that mounting location and likely not be working when I really need it. I always have a working tire gauge available! Total repair investment: $32.
Ron