Eddyg

Hi all,

Got into my 2007 S8 this very hot evening after watching a movie and the front suspension was fully lowered. Limped the thing home, very bouncy!

Plugged in vagcom, and here are the fault codes from the Level Control, no other fault codes of note were found. The coding is all stock.

Address 34: Level Control Labels: 4E0-910-553.lbl
Part No SW: 4E0 910 553 J HW: 4E0 907 553 F
Component: LUFTFDR.-CDC H06 6310
Coding: 0015510
Shop #: WSC 05050 824 86492
VCID: 2A5B60B3851BFC6E0F-807E

2 Faults Found:
01400 - Suspension Level Control
002 - Lower Limit Exceeded
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 11100010
Fault Priority: 2
Fault Frequency: 2
Reset counter: 173
Mileage: 85726 km
Time Indication: 0
Date: 2016.01.23
Time: 19:51:45

01577 - Turn-Off due to Over-Temp
001 - Upper Limit Exceeded - Intermittent
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 00100001
Fault Priority: 4
Fault Frequency: 1
Reset counter: 213
Mileage: 85736 km
Time Indication: 0
Date: 2016.01.23
Time: 20:08:59

I can clearly hear the compressor working, but it is having zero effect on the front suspension, the rear is fine. Noticed a pop from the rear after the compressor has been running a while.

The over temp was when I was driving it back.

So from what I have read on the various forum posts this looks like the compressor has decided to fail whilst parked. Does that agree with what you guys have seen?

The reason I ask is that I'm suspicious of the pop from the back - surely that means that there is pressure being applied?

I tried clearing the fault codes, the overtemp went away, but the lower limit one reappeared (unsurprisingly).

Cheers, Ed.

mishar

Your compressor may be bad but you have a major leak in the front strut. Lift one front side at the time and listen for air leak.

Eddyg

Thanks mishar, I think you are onto something there. I can jack up the right, but the left is lower by about 1cm, can't even get the jack under it! I can see some damage from on my way home, speed bump in the carpark has dented the body pan a little, will hammer that out when I figure out how to jack it up! Just need an extra 5mm to get the jack under.

When I jack it up it won't run the compressor though, maybe figures out that the car is not level?

However given that it is uneven it sounds like a strut, thanks for that.

I assume to check the strut properly I have to remove the wheel?

I can't believe how heavy the car is! Hard going using the provided jack.

Cheers Ed.

Shamoye Lewis

this happened to me once but it wasn't hot it was cold really cold.... both lights was blinking, front was down and the car bounced like coil-overs, I clears it by letting the engine reach operation temp.... don't force the pump by clearing over and over, the temp warning will kick in.... after the car reach operating temp..... clear the code and immediately set the suspension to lift....depends on your mmi version might say something else nevertheless set it to the top setting the car should attempt to raise..... if the fault return before it raise.... wait 10 mins clear the code again then immediately set to comfort or the third option at the top the one below lift.... and it should clear up.... I notice it happens depends on how you park or weather conditions.... sometimes the level sensor go bonkers

Jack88

Drive it onto a block of wood, that's what works for me when I need extra clearance. I'd pull the fuse for the compressor, if you plan on having the car on any more. The compressor can burn itself out trying to level the car off. It already overheated once.

mishar

+1

MP4.2+6.0

+2 on how to get under it when to slow w/ a wood block to start. Factory jack is also a piece of crap--like most any Audi jack since the dawn of creation. Audis have literally fallen down with those not infrequently. Thus if you have no other option than that, be sure car is supported before getting under there in any way whatsoever. At least slide a loose wheel or spare under the car body for basic safety. Meanwhile plan to get a decent floor jack, even just a compact one.

FWIW, most compressor issues start with a leaking strut, which then wears out compressor from over use. Thus as others like misha are suggesting, start w/ likely root cause at strut, diagnose/replace it and then come back to pump and see if it is working/undamaged. Too much use trying to pump up a leaking system and they will fry. Also, on mine w/ a smaller leak than it sounds like here, I never could find it by either sound or soap testing. After trying all that, since mine could still easily pump itself up, I watched it drop and always saw the same side go down somewhat more first. Replaced that side's strut unit, and 100% fixed.