Rear suspension flat
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AudiWorld Junior Member
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Rear suspension flat
So here's the deal:
A8 has been stored for a couple of months. About 2 weeks ago went out to start it and make sure all was good. It was.
Then earlier this week I went out again and the rear suspension is flat and car is running like ***. What the hell happened in two weeks? Need some help soon. Tell me this is something easy.
Thanks in advance.
A8 has been stored for a couple of months. About 2 weeks ago went out to start it and make sure all was good. It was.
Then earlier this week I went out again and the rear suspension is flat and car is running like ***. What the hell happened in two weeks? Need some help soon. Tell me this is something easy.
Thanks in advance.
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2009
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anyone have an idea on this? Ive never had a problem so I am guessing that something with it sitting for a while caused the suspension to drop. Both the air suspension and jacking light are lite. Let me know, really need some help on this one
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2009
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That was my initial thought too. Battery was down, but I charged it. Still nothing. The car had enough juice to start, so it wasn't dead. Is there something that needs to be reset maybe... I can't believe that something just suddenly happened... It's just been sitting lonely in the Garage..... Getting ready to have a tow truck come and get it to take it to get fixed.... but would rather save the $$$ and figure it out.
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Joined: Mar 2010
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From: NW Indiana
Start with the Simple Things First:
1) Ride Compressor Fuse (Passenger Side Fuse Panel)
2) 40 Amp Fuse (Driver Side Knee Panel & remove small metal bracket)
3) Replace Ride Compressor Relay (Will have to anyway in Worse Case Scenario)
4) Remove Skid Plate/Belly Pan & Remove Driver Side Lower Screws on Wheel Well Liner in front of Wheel.
5) Unplug Power Supply to Ride Compressor and Apply a 12V Source directly to Compressor and see if it Starts/Runs.
Worse Case Scenario is New Air Ride Compressor and/or New Rear Air Struts, but the Cost of the 40amp Fuse & Relay are Cheap. Audi replaces Relay whenever New Air Ride Compressor is Installed, but these are the things that you can do yourself before seeing them. Replacing the Compressor isn't Complicated, but it is Best to have a Lift to Raise and Lower Car for Standing Access which I had available when mine went down and they do go down!
Best Case Scenario is you have a Leak somewhere (Struts or Valve Unit) and overworked the Compressor burning out the Relay and/or 40amp Fuse. Replacing the Relay or Fuse will then put you back in business, but how much time it will buy you is not known. I wouldn't rule out the Air Valve Unit located behind the Wheel Well Liner (Driver Side rear of wheel). I took the Extra Measure of Replacing it Also! Good Luck and laters,
1) Ride Compressor Fuse (Passenger Side Fuse Panel)
2) 40 Amp Fuse (Driver Side Knee Panel & remove small metal bracket)
3) Replace Ride Compressor Relay (Will have to anyway in Worse Case Scenario)
4) Remove Skid Plate/Belly Pan & Remove Driver Side Lower Screws on Wheel Well Liner in front of Wheel.
5) Unplug Power Supply to Ride Compressor and Apply a 12V Source directly to Compressor and see if it Starts/Runs.
Worse Case Scenario is New Air Ride Compressor and/or New Rear Air Struts, but the Cost of the 40amp Fuse & Relay are Cheap. Audi replaces Relay whenever New Air Ride Compressor is Installed, but these are the things that you can do yourself before seeing them. Replacing the Compressor isn't Complicated, but it is Best to have a Lift to Raise and Lower Car for Standing Access which I had available when mine went down and they do go down!
Best Case Scenario is you have a Leak somewhere (Struts or Valve Unit) and overworked the Compressor burning out the Relay and/or 40amp Fuse. Replacing the Relay or Fuse will then put you back in business, but how much time it will buy you is not known. I wouldn't rule out the Air Valve Unit located behind the Wheel Well Liner (Driver Side rear of wheel). I took the Extra Measure of Replacing it Also! Good Luck and laters,
Last edited by williebone; Aug 10, 2011 at 08:37 AM.
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Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Vancouver, Canada
That was my initial thought too. Battery was down, but I charged it. Still nothing. The car had enough juice to start, so it wasn't dead. Is there something that needs to be reset maybe... I can't believe that something just suddenly happened... It's just been sitting lonely in the Garage..... Getting ready to have a tow truck come and get it to take it to get fixed.... but would rather save the $$$ and figure it out.
Your air suspension has a leak but hopefully not the big one. Probably if you are regularly using it you wouldn't notice it at all. Compressor didn't kick in to level it because your battery was low. Check it as Williebone explained. Lower voltage could be not enough to start compressor but enough to burn the fuse. Let's be optimistic.
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