Allroad Air Suspension Problems

**hammer365** · 13-04-2017,12:22 AM

Hi Andy, I've just got myself an Audi A6 allroad on a 03 reg as a part ex. When I purchased it the car was bottomed out on the front. I can hear the compressor running but there is no lift at all. The ride is very bouncy but I also don't hear any hissing (maybe I need to double check) what is the first port of call?

**54A4Avant** · 06-05-2017,06:19 PM

Hi all

I'm feeling a bit sick right now! Bought myself a 2007 A6 Allroad 3.2 today and it's a lovely car. Test drove well, the previous owner even delivered it to my door and waved as he disappeared with my money. Now I played with the in car entertainment for no more than 5 mins (engine off). Tried the air suspension settings (still engine off) until the car sank down to level 0 with air suspension warning light flashing on dash for abiut 30 secs and now I can't start the car. It tries to turn over but just barely. Electric tail open / close still works. have I bought a lemon?

i have a battery charger hooked up to it and will try later but my gut tells me it's not just a flat battery. How bad could this get and what should I be checking? Previous owner swears blind he's never had a problem and can't believe it won't start.

Has as the air suspension somehow shorted the battery? Help greatly appreciated as I've just dropped many thousands on a car which doesn't seem to work.

**bagpipingandy** · 07-05-2017,07:10 PM

All these things are a heavy drain on the battery, charge it up, start the car before playing with buttons, the car may still have some issues but as any second hand car we can start diagnosing one by one, first get the battery charged and see if car starts.

Best regards

Andy

**54A4Avant** · 07-05-2017,07:28 PM

Thanks Andy, I went into a flat spin I guess, but after charging the car overnight everything seems good right now. I'll have to keep an eye on that battery to see if it's weak or just the previous owner had been making too many short runs perhaps.

Having checked out your repair kit I'm wondering if I should buy one so I have it if problems do arise, or do you expect to keep them available on eBay for many years to come? The car is a 2007 with about 105k miles on the clock. Would it be too young to expect problems, or is there in fact some benefit from replacing the piston liner as a precaution after 10 years / 100k miles?

**bagpipingandy** · 07-05-2017,07:36 PM

Hi,

If suspension lifts quickly with no errors compressor is ok

Park it in dynamic mode overnight, this will check for leaks, if car sinks down low you have aleak, rear airbags are due to go on your year unless spread replaced.

Best regards

Andy

**54A4Avant** · 08-05-2017,08:36 AM

Thanks Andy. Is it important to do that test in dynamic mode? Reason I ask is the car was run in automatic mode yesterday and this morning the back has sunk fit down (front is a normal height). Does this indicate rear air bags have gone? If so could someone point me to how to fix, or is it always a garage job?

**bagpipingandy** · 08-05-2017,08:42 AM

Small leaks show in dynamic, larger leaks show in auto, if you park in offroad it shouldn't sink confirming it is the airbag.

If an airbag leak it will always sink at low levels, sometimes mid but don't at high levels

If it sinks parked at any level its something else leaking

You can fit these yourself no specialist tools required.

Best regards

Andy

**Retrostyla** · 27-05-2017,01:33 PM

Why the bags won't leak in offoad mode? My car had fallen in comfort+jacking mode for about 15mm from 3 corners and used 90% of it's battery last night. If I've understood right lever control and compressor should be disabled in jacking mode. Somehow the battery has still drained.

**bagpipingandy** · 29-05-2017,09:35 PM

they don't leak in offroad mode due to the rubber bag being extended and so the perished area moves upwards away from the lower bend, and the cracks close and stop leaking, however 15mm drop is not a lot, how much did the 4th corner drop?

regards

Andy

**Retrostyla** · 30-05-2017,06:08 PM

Here's accurate drops in each corner. One was 40mm.
Lf 342 336
Lr 363 322
Rf 358 359
Rr 363 340
Car has been lowered with vcds. That's why the beginning values are so low. I try to get the car driven to hoist where ot can stand on it's wheels and check for leaks with soapy water. I have checked the leaks in lift-mode and on hoist which leaves the wheels hanging in air before, and haven't found any leaks.