Nice one well done fella

Well done for such a good account of the problem and the steps taken to fix it.
I replaced my Compressor with a fairly cheap "hitachi Style " compressor a year ago and now getting the same symptoms as here - cant help wondering if this would have been the fix I should have done before buying the new compressor last year.

I will post and let people see how I get on at fixing mine.
 I am the darkness before the storm

Hitachi "style" never works for long

Just had a new compressor on my TDV8 last week, my indi only uses AMK now.

With all the valuable information provided by everyone on these forums I ordered a new "Hitachi Style" Compressor and also ordered a Billet aluminium end cap to put on it and possibly avoid the common "cracked end cap" problem later on.
Compressor arrived. Fitted the end cap - removed old compressor from the Vehicle ( cant afford the £ 150 per hour at garage. Taking the old one off took slightly longer than fitting the new one - as unfamiliar with the layout and difficult to get the vehicle far enough off the ground as it was on Bump stops.
decided to instal the compressor in the cradle off the car and then install the whole unit. Had a bit of difficulty with the third bolt ( hidden by the compressor and difficult to reach ) as working blind - but got it done. all piped connected, electrical all connected . Turned the key and voila ! for about 20 seconds until
" Ping" and hello old friend - the yellow "wobbly vehicle" light came on - compressor running but car not lifting. so dissappointing - same old "resevoir not filling fast enough" on meter readings.
So out came the soapy water spray bottle and it revealed air leaking from the billet aluminium chamber cap on compressor.
Compressor removed - very quickly now I am familiar with the set-up under the vehicle.
Removed the aluminium end cap and looked at the original plastic end cap I took off - and ..........oh duh ! - what a wally I am - I had failed to install the large rubber O ring supplied with the new cap !
Fitted the large O ring , compressor back on car , ran car - all hunky dory .
Very embarrassed but very happy all now working . I am the darkness before the storm