rcrick@me.com

I have a 2005 A8L 4.2 with 19" wheel option. The car has 124,000 miles. In a recent road trip while running in Dynamic suspension mode, first the yellow warning/indicator associated with the "jacking mode" illuminated and it has remained illuminated steadily whenever the engine is running. I understand that this is an indication of system fault.

After about 100 miles of the illumination of this yellow light for the first time, the green light with the single down arrow was illuminated steadily and it too has remained illuminated anytime the engine is running.

I did take the car to an Audi dealer while on the road but they were too busy to run diagnostics. The shop manager did say that, since the rear suspension was in the correct position as it would be for running at speed in Dynamic mode, that the pump was working. He could not or would not make further comments on possible problems.

On the MMI display screen for selecting the four modes of the Adaptive Air Suspension, only the Automatic and Standard settings are available but selecting these has no effect on the suspension.

Will disconnecting the battery possibly reset the system and perhaps restore the functioning of the adaptive system?

Thanks for any comments.

mishar

You should perform VCDS (VAS) scan first.

Until that, do you hear compressor? It is in front of left front wheel. Is your suspension extremely stiff?

rcrick@me.com

Hi - Thanks for the response.

The suspension is extremely stiff but not more than I have experienced when driven in Dynamic mode above 80 or so - just have not experienced the stiffness at low speeds. In fact, I usually do not use Dynamic on the road between Chattanooga TN and Houston TX because of the chassis stiffness. The front suspension is lowered evenly. I believe the compressor is running but I will check this in the morning. I remember that the Audi shop manager in Alabama said that position of the suspension was the default when the computer detected a fault in the system. Seems odd that the system would default in the position of extreme lowering of the front suspension.

I am back in Chattanooga at present and can take the car to Audi for the scan - would like to get a second opinion. There are a few non-Audi shops that may be able to do the VCDS (VAS) scan.

mishar

Just to be sure that I understand you: front end is noticeably lower than the rear?

Your car is in the limp mode. That can be caused by various faults, but it would be indicated by an additional warning lite. ESP or ABS for example. If nothing is on it looks like compressor.

Do that scan. You actually do not have a first opinion before that. Some guys verdict from the top of his mind shouldn't be considered as one.

rcrick@me.com

Hi again:

Yes, the front end is noticeably lower than the rear - almost in an extremely raked mode.

Thanks

rcrick@me.com

There are no other warning lights showing other that the yellow and green adaptive suspension lights.

awdinut

and then the lights started flashing. So the car gets the soapy-water-test tomorrow to determine where the leak is, although I suspect the RF because its lower.

My question for anyone with experience in this realm is this : is there any argument (read gain/benefit) to be made for replacing both sides ? Or the obverse...any downside to NOT replacing both at once ?

mishar

Replacing both at once is right thing to do, but it is close to $4000 OEM. If you are going for repaired one there is no sense in changing both since the shock absorber is old anyways.

cornell19703

I have a 2004 Audi A8 with the same condition: too high in the back and too low in the front. First the right forward strut seemed like it wasn't working. Then the whole car sat low. I changed out the relay to the compressor, and now the back sits up high and the front still remains low. When it's cold, the left side will raise, but the right side remains low. Any information helps, Thanks in advanced. I've learned so much just from reading posts on this site.

mishar

Looks like air leak, but you should start with VCDS scan.