sullyj

My car is now sitting about 4" higher on driver side than the passenger side. The green/yellow suspension warning lights come on occasionally, but they go off for periods of time as well. Took car to Audi specialist and he tried to adjust the height with VAG tool unsuccessfully. Car has about 198,000 miles on it and I just replaced front air shocks about 7 months ago. Tech feels the valve block ($600 part) may be culprit but he has tendency to throw parts at car until problem is solved. That can be pricey. Any suggestions?

ltooz_a6_a8_q7

4" is a lot of height difference, but respect to what? The high is normal or the low is normal? Again, try the simple test, put on lift to see if all have the same heights, then put on jack mode to see if they stay the same after a few hours. The level sensors at normal operation should pull the height of the high to the same height of the low, but not in this case: a.Either the level sensors are bad or the valve block solenoid relief valve is NOT working (hence the question if the low is normal and the high is abnormal).
Use some logic and understanding of the system to figure it out. Tech mostly are too lazy to read to troubleshoot for customers. If you're planning to keep the car, read the SSP about the suspension to understand how it works, read once, understand it and it will be with you forever.
Cheers,
Louis

sullyj

Thanks Louis,

Appreciative of the feedback...really am but not sure what the SSP is and how to obtain same? Sorry for my ignorance.

Sully J

MP4.2+6.0

Give us more background about "replaced front air shocks about 7 months ago." Were they rebuilt? Which brand? Junkyard/used? Or, new dealer OE?

As Louis is perhaps implying, do you mean one side is actually sitting quite high relative to normal? If so, yes maybe valve block, or maybe a messed up sensor. If you mean one side is quite low, then back to likelihood it is a bad shock on that side. If you used rebuilt last time, honestly from posts on the board you would conclude the failure or defect rate in the short term is quite high--easily double digits, maybe 25-40% even. Either dealer or rebuilt would have warranties. Air block is a possible, but diagnosing in part involves eliminating other scenarios.

sullyj

Hi MP4.2+6.0,
Thanks for the response. The two front shocks were new Arnott's which were replaced within a week of each other about 3,000 iles ago. I was told they have a life time guarantee by installer. Yes, car is sitting higher on driver's side as compared to passenger side (egual gaps in driver front and driver rear wheel wells). I replaced the valve block about 90,000 miles ago with a remanufactured unit so it well could be time for it to go. Gap between the top of the tire and the fender wells is roughly 3-4 inches. Car is scheduled to get to the shop this coming Tuesday so I have my fingers crossed that the replacement (new) valve block is the fix.

ltooz_a6_a8_q7

http://www.volkspage.net/technik/ssp/ssp/SSP_292.pdf

mannyo1221

It may just be a sensor issue given that its a whole side of the car and not just an individual wheel.

Have the level sensors been checked to make sure they are all installed correctly, and that the wiring has no water in the connections?

Just thinking out loud, does the D3 also have a sensor for body angle?, maybe it it trying to self level but thinks it is on a sideways slope rather than a flat road. Would be interesting to see if parking on a slope sideways on changes the suspension behaviour.

MP4.2+6.0

Arnott failure rate seems similar (and just as high) as others like RMT. Failures reported on the board though are typically either leaks or noises. Your description does sound like it is literally too high, which is unusual in the front and logically doesn't seem to be a strut issue. Have mechanic look over level sensors in front very carefully--dislodged, broken connecting arm, wire connection, etc. Also worth a VCDS scan to look for codes. Those would typically catch basic sensor issues, and it might provide other info. I guess valve block remains possible too if a solenoid to the high corner strut isn't shutting completely and pump runs to fill up any corner.

ltooz_a6_a8_q7

I forgot to ask, after a drive, when you locked the door, did you hear the pressure relief valve working?

sullyj

Yes, I can hear the pressure relief valve working and ride heights changes a bit. Dropped car at shop yesterday and given tech could not get any codes to show he felt the valve block was the culprit. Part was installed and I dropped by shop later in the day for update and was told the system needs calibration. How long does it take to calibrate the system? I'm now in a rental car and the clock is ticking and my gut is telling me the culprit was not the valve block. Thoughts?