Hello,

I have a 2001 Audi Allroad. I have had it for about a month after going from a B5 S4 for the space. Obviously, just about anyone who has this car knows about the suspension issues. It seems that everyone has different problems and nothing is ever really the same. Everything was great and then one day the left from tire was down after sitting outside. Sometimes the right front will also sag as well. Now the lights sensor and suspension sensor is on and won't turn off. I have checked for leaks on the left front and can't find anything. I have taken it to the shop and no one can find the leak and also the shop computer can't make sense of the error codes and the answer from the shop is replace everything. Also strangely enough sometimes the shocks don't sag, but the warning lights still stay around.

I think I am going to take a shot at the Tire Slime trick and see if that holds. If that works and the light still stays on does that mean that there is a leak or could there be a computer control issue or a light sensor issue?

Any help or link to a post that could help would be killer. Thanks.

Sebas

 

If the Tire Slime gets into anywhere beyond the bags then you are looking at many more repairs and $$$'s.

Sounds like you have bag leaks. Mine was doing the same thing with random drops on the fronts. One side then days later the other and sometimes both. Got worse when it got colder. I replaced both fronts with Arnott Gen I's 3 months ago and hasn't sagged since.

Did the shop scan with a VAG-COM? What was the code? Generally leaky bags won't throw a code unless the compressor is getting weak and can't correct the sag in a timely manner.

I never got any codes while my bags where failing. Always popped right back up when door opened or restarted.

 

I agree with 5v/cyl. DO NOT USE SLIME. There is a good chance that I could end up in pressure lines, the accumulator, or worse yet, the valve body. The $500 job of replacing the front bags quickly turns into $1500 - $2000. Our suspension systems 'recycle' some of the air that they use. In other words, its like a DV compared to BOV's. Find the issue and replace or rebuild. It sounds like it could be a combination of a bad R or L level sensor and F or R level sensor (auto leveling lights). No reason that any bag leak would directly relate to a code being thrown for the auto-level lights IMO. Anyone else have any thoughts?

 

Ok. I will not end up in the pressure lines...IT (slime) will. Oops.

 

Read to fast and missed the part about you having a light level code(dynamic range control). That is the drivers front sensor. I've had to do one of those. Pricey sensor, but super easy to change.

Still sounds like you may have some bag leaks, but I would do the sensor first.

If you search there is a write up somewhere of someone taking the sensor apart and successfully cleaning the contacts inside to get it working again.

 

Great thanks. The shop I took the car too does have a VAG-COM. They did not mention what codes came up, but because they did not charge me for the inspection and they told me to get another opinion my guess is that they are incompetent. I have not gone to town with the Slime yet.

I am thinking that I will have it checked at one more shop just in case, because it does need new struts at some point and also the auto leveling does not seem to be working when I get on the highway. I am hoping that it is just one bag.

Has anyone ever had a leak in one bag and found that the other side falls slightly as a result? I hope it is not the compressor.

Thanks for the help. I really love this car and am thinking of just scraping the entire system and putting the Arnott Coil Springs in.

 

Here's one write up for the height sensors:
http://forums.quattroworld.com/allroad/msgs/45450.phtml

 

My Allroad front suspension started sagging overnight about a month ago. Then about 10 days ago, the leak got worse and would sag in as little as 5 hours. I was just about to purchase the Arnott suspension (for $800) and found the post about using Slime. I added half a bottle of Slime to each side a week ago with perfect results. Note, I first did the soapy water test and verified that the pin-size leaks were coming from the lower portion of the bags. The driver’s side had a few obvious spots that bubbled, and the passenger’s side had one spot. I found the trick to getting the Slime into the threaded port was to use a large syringe (60ml). The tip of the syringe is slightly conned-shaped and measures about 1/4" OD (plastic), so I was able to simply screw it into the threaded ports – I never spilled a drop! Then, I used a cue-tip to remove any excess Slime from the threads port AND the entry hole before replacing the pneumatic fittings.

When I finished, it was late, and wasn’t able to drive it around, but I did cycle the suspension up and down a few times. The next morning I was disappointed to find the car back in the sagged position again, but I decided to take it for a drive and see if that would improve things... Voila! It's been 100% perfect for the past 10 days. I’m convinced it worked, and for just $10

'02 Allroad 2.8 Tip Quattro
'01 Silverado 1500HD
'06 KTM 450XC-G

 

Excellent find. Thanks for that.. something else to add to my collection of DIYs

PS: You can never have too much info/knowledge!!!