T5 Psssst (hiss) noise ocasionally whilst driving

[toff]

Hi,
I'm back on the forum again after a few years of non-VW ownership!

I've got myself a 2011 T5.1 Caravelle (TDI 140 LWB DSG Auto).... I'm absolutley loving it, it's one of the smoothest driving vehicles I've ever owned! It's a Lloyds Autotech camper van conversion.

When I'm driving along, I get an ocasional "pssst" noise... like a compressor release valve is actuating etc. Just wondering if this is normal on a T5.1 or if it must be an aftermarket accessory (camper conversion related) making the noise?

Cheers
Toff

[Crasher]

The water cooled charge cooler on top of the engine can crack, check for oil deposits that come out through such cracks.

[toff]

Thanks Crasher, I'll check next time I've with the Van.

It's incredible that you're still here helping out the community after all these years! I first remember seeing you helping people out in the early naughties in Performance VW mag or a Golf mag... did you have a Q&A column in one of those?

[toff]

I went to have different alloys (with all terrain tires) fitted today and found out what the pssst noise is...

My Caravelle was a disability conversion at some point... It has airbags in place of the rear suspension! Presumably to lower the rear of the vehicle for easier access... It has a drop down step too.

Annoyingly, the garage refused to fit my wheels because they said they don't know how to put the system into jacking mode / don't want to be responsible for causing it to go into a failure mode.

As there's no controls visible for the rear air suspension, they suggested the controls may have been removed as part of the camper conversion, with the airbag system being left in automatic mode.

Is my only option to find an airbag specialist to see if it can be put in jacking mode?

[Crasher]

did you have a Q&A column in one of those?

I was the agony aunt for The Golf for many years and latterly had my Crashers column bit. I can understand them being reluctant, I have not seen an aftermarket system with OE style jacking mode, I would expect disconnecting the battery to be sufficient. We fitted a full new genuine engine, twin turbo unit and DPF to a 2015 T5 disabled conversion a couple of weeks ago and the rear was air on that but it didn’t have a jacking mode.

[toff]

Thanks Crasher - the VAG community are in your debt!

The disability conversion people (Lewis Reed) put me onto the company that did the airbags on my van (Glide Rite) who advised that the air suspension won't self-level so long as the ignition is off.

They didn't reply to confirm if I could jack on the official jacking point or if I need to jack on the lower suspension arm (to avoid over-stretching the airbag). I understand why they didn't reply - liability and all that!

Looking on other forums; I see people using the method pictured below... seems like a good plan to me, what do you think?

20210329_160720.jpg
Credit: Monkster1 on the T6 forum

Cheers
Toff

[toff]

Jacked up the van on the wishbones usign a rubber block - all was good!