07 A8 Rear Air Suspension Issues after Jacking
12-26-2018, 06:17 AM
#1
AudiWorld Member
Thread Starter
07 A8 Rear Air Suspension Issues after Jacking
Hello all
I jacked up the left rear wheel to repair a flat and when I let it back down the rear suspension (both sides) were bottomed. Car has about 160K miles. The fronts seem to be fine. I jacked on the jacking point under the rear left door, and I was NOT in jack mode. I understand how the system works, I have read a bunch of threads on the subject. I have jacked the car up from the rear diff and have her on jack stands, have the left rear inner fender liner removed as I thought maybe somehow I had pinched a line or something. It doesn't look like that is the case. I run the car and I can't hear any obvious leaks, but the rear doesn't pump up. I will post the VCDS scans later as they are not in the computer I am on at the moment. Has anyone had a similar issue? I am basically wondering where to start first. Every once in a while I would see the yellow and green lights prior to this. My thoughts are to soap up the connections at the rear left shock and anything else I can get to there, and if I don't find anything maybe start at the compressor, check output, go to the distribution block and check there, then I guess go to the right rear.
Has anyone tired to air these up under water to check for leaks? It would seem to me that would be an effective way to test the actual shock and find leaks easily.
Any input you may have would be appreciated.
I jacked up the left rear wheel to repair a flat and when I let it back down the rear suspension (both sides) were bottomed. Car has about 160K miles. The fronts seem to be fine. I jacked on the jacking point under the rear left door, and I was NOT in jack mode. I understand how the system works, I have read a bunch of threads on the subject. I have jacked the car up from the rear diff and have her on jack stands, have the left rear inner fender liner removed as I thought maybe somehow I had pinched a line or something. It doesn't look like that is the case. I run the car and I can't hear any obvious leaks, but the rear doesn't pump up. I will post the VCDS scans later as they are not in the computer I am on at the moment. Has anyone had a similar issue? I am basically wondering where to start first. Every once in a while I would see the yellow and green lights prior to this. My thoughts are to soap up the connections at the rear left shock and anything else I can get to there, and if I don't find anything maybe start at the compressor, check output, go to the distribution block and check there, then I guess go to the right rear.
Has anyone tired to air these up under water to check for leaks? It would seem to me that would be an effective way to test the actual shock and find leaks easily.
Any input you may have would be appreciated.
Last edited by pelletman; 12-26-2018 at 06:22 AM.
12-26-2018, 07:48 AM
#2
AudiWorld Senior Member
Hello Pelletman,
If you could clear up one thing for me, you say you jacked it up by the rear diff and have it on jack stands, where are the jack stands, is the rear hanging ?
Did you check level sensor rods ?
If you could clear up one thing for me, you say you jacked it up by the rear diff and have it on jack stands, where are the jack stands, is the rear hanging ?
Did you check level sensor rods ?
Hello all
I jacked up the left rear wheel to repair a flat and when I let it back down the rear suspension (both sides) were bottomed. Car has about 160K miles. The fronts seem to be fine. I jacked on the jacking point under the rear left door, and I was NOT in jack mode. I understand how the system works, I have read a bunch of threads on the subject. I have jacked the car up from the rear diff and have her on jack stands, have the left rear inner fender liner removed as I thought maybe somehow I had pinched a line or something. It doesn't look like that is the case. I run the car and I can't hear any obvious leaks, but the rear doesn't pump up. I will post the VCDS scans later as they are not in the computer I am on at the moment. Has anyone had a similar issue? I am basically wondering where to start first. Every once in a while I would see the yellow and green lights prior to this. My thoughts are to soap up the connections at the rear left shock and anything else I can get to there, and if I don't find anything maybe start at the compressor, check output, go to the distribution block and check there, then I guess go to the right rear.
Has anyone tired to air these up under water to check for leaks? It would seem to me that would be an effective way to test the actual shock and find leaks easily.
Any input you may have would be appreciated.
I jacked up the left rear wheel to repair a flat and when I let it back down the rear suspension (both sides) were bottomed. Car has about 160K miles. The fronts seem to be fine. I jacked on the jacking point under the rear left door, and I was NOT in jack mode. I understand how the system works, I have read a bunch of threads on the subject. I have jacked the car up from the rear diff and have her on jack stands, have the left rear inner fender liner removed as I thought maybe somehow I had pinched a line or something. It doesn't look like that is the case. I run the car and I can't hear any obvious leaks, but the rear doesn't pump up. I will post the VCDS scans later as they are not in the computer I am on at the moment. Has anyone had a similar issue? I am basically wondering where to start first. Every once in a while I would see the yellow and green lights prior to this. My thoughts are to soap up the connections at the rear left shock and anything else I can get to there, and if I don't find anything maybe start at the compressor, check output, go to the distribution block and check there, then I guess go to the right rear.
Has anyone tired to air these up under water to check for leaks? It would seem to me that would be an effective way to test the actual shock and find leaks easily.
Any input you may have would be appreciated.
12-26-2018, 08:13 AM
#3
AudiWorld Super User
My question--and likely suggestion--is whether after you let it off the jack you really gave it a chance to pump back up again? As in, start car, let it run for a bit, etc. Check battery if need be. IIRC, the power management system does cut out the compressor if it decides battery is not up to snuff, so maybe you are just fighting that? Starting it up would usually get my compressor going after a minute or so regardless.
Besides just giving it a decent chance to work, make sure rear suspension sensors did not get dislodged somehow.
I jacked mine up at the rear diff a fair number of times. I certainly forgot to put it in jack mode more than a few times on the various corners/ends, so neither of those are catastrophic issues by themselves.
Besides just giving it a decent chance to work, make sure rear suspension sensors did not get dislodged somehow.
I jacked mine up at the rear diff a fair number of times. I certainly forgot to put it in jack mode more than a few times on the various corners/ends, so neither of those are catastrophic issues by themselves.
12-26-2018, 05:17 PM
#5
AudiWorld Member
Thread Starter
When it happened it was just jacked up on the rear left corner with the jack under the rear left (driver's side) door on the jacking pad to pull off the tire to fix it. When I let it down the suspension had sunk. Presently (like a month later) it is up in the air and I had jacked it up on the rear diff and put jackstands near where the rear control arm meets the differential. I believe the rear wheels are now hanging. I have not checked the level sensors, how would I check them?
12-26-2018, 05:25 PM
#6
AudiWorld Member
Thread Starter
My question--and likely suggestion--is whether after you let it off the jack you really gave it a chance to pump back up again? As in, start car, let it run for a bit, etc. Check battery if need be. IIRC, the power management system does cut out the compressor if it decides battery is not up to snuff, so maybe you are just fighting that? Starting it up would usually get my compressor going after a minute or so regardless.
Besides just giving it a decent chance to work, make sure rear suspension sensors did not get dislodged somehow.
I jacked mine up at the rear diff a fair number of times. I certainly forgot to put it in jack mode more than a few times on the various corners/ends, so neither of those are catastrophic issues by themselves.
Besides just giving it a decent chance to work, make sure rear suspension sensors did not get dislodged somehow.
I jacked mine up at the rear diff a fair number of times. I certainly forgot to put it in jack mode more than a few times on the various corners/ends, so neither of those are catastrophic issues by themselves.
12-27-2018, 06:50 AM
#7
AudiWorld Senior Member
When it happened it was just jacked up on the rear left corner with the jack under the rear left (driver's side) door on the jacking pad to pull off the tire to fix it. When I let it down the suspension had sunk. Presently (like a month later) it is up in the air and I had jacked it up on the rear diff and put jackstands near where the rear control arm meets the differential. I believe the rear wheels are now hanging. I have not checked the level sensors, how would I check them?
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12-27-2018, 07:19 AM
#8
AudiWorld Member
Thread Starter
Ahhhh, THAT'S good to know! Lol. I will move the stands under the lower control arms and see what happens after I check the level sensors...
12-28-2018, 10:41 AM
#9
AudiWorld Member
Thread Starter
OK, moved the jackstands so the weight of the car was on the suspension, still under control arms, closer to the tires. Susp lights went out on dash. Put the tire back on, put the car on ground, rear tires are 3" up on blocks so I could get jack under, green and yellow lights are back on. Suspension is low in rear. I can't hear any leaks. I scan with VCDS and I don't see anything for suspension issues. I assume they would show up in group 34 but i get all is good. LEvel sensors looked good but that is just visually. I am confused! Pics are from before I moved jack stands. Thanks for your help!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/dmJ8Tu1TwaXf72Ea8
https://photos.app.goo.gl/dmJ8Tu1TwaXf72Ea8
12-28-2018, 10:49 AM
#10
AudiWorld Member
Thread Starter
The MMS allowed me to try to put it in lift mode, all the options were there. I did, the compressor ran for a minute or so, then shut off. The rear didn't pump up at all and I am not sure the front moved at all. A code did show up
Friday,28,December,2018,14:45:21:24716
VCDS Version: Release 18.9.0 (x64) Running on Windows 10 x64
Ross-Tech: Home
Address 34: Level Control Labels: 4E0-910-553.clb
Control Module Part Number: 4E0 910 553 H HW: 4E0 907 553 F
Component and/or Version: LUFTFDR.-CDC H06 4480
Software Coding: 0019911
Work Shop Code: WSC 11111 111 45799
VCID: 2809043BDEF51387F6B-807C
1 Fault Found:
01400 - Suspension Level Control
002 - Lower Limit Exceeded
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 11100010
Fault Priority: 2
Fault Frequency: 1
Reset counter: 78
Mileage: 259846 km
Time Indication: 0
Date: 2018.12.22
Time: 19:00:01
Friday,28,December,2018,14:45:21:24716
VCDS Version: Release 18.9.0 (x64) Running on Windows 10 x64
Ross-Tech: Home
Address 34: Level Control Labels: 4E0-910-553.clb
Control Module Part Number: 4E0 910 553 H HW: 4E0 907 553 F
Component and/or Version: LUFTFDR.-CDC H06 4480
Software Coding: 0019911
Work Shop Code: WSC 11111 111 45799
VCID: 2809043BDEF51387F6B-807C
1 Fault Found:
01400 - Suspension Level Control
002 - Lower Limit Exceeded
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 11100010
Fault Priority: 2
Fault Frequency: 1
Reset counter: 78
Mileage: 259846 km
Time Indication: 0
Date: 2018.12.22
Time: 19:00:01