A6-C5 - (Typ 4B, 1997–2004) 1997–2004

Air supsension problems

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Old 12-18-2009, 05:07 PM
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Default Air supsension problems

I am losing the air out of my system when car parked for ten or more hours. In the summer it is the rear passenger tire, and the car can recover in a matter of seconds of being started. During the winter though some times both rear bags lose their air. But when there is a cold snap all four bags lose there air.

I'm not a mechanic but if the front bags hold air all summer long. The bags might not be the problem. I figure that there must be valves somewhere to allow the car to release the air to go down to the lower levels. Is it possible that they are not sealing properly?

Any input would be appreciated.
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Old 01-02-2010, 11:44 AM
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Default Re: Air supsension problems

my friend had same problem
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Old 01-04-2010, 06:45 AM
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Default Re: Air supsension problems

I also have air problems, front, right goes down over night on level one. Changed to level two and it seems to have gone away, I know that it is a tempory fix.

Check out Arnott Industries, Florida. They do have a web site.

You should also Vag com for any codes, you are correct there are lots of sensors, valves, hoses, etc.

If you do switch to Arnott do a write up on how it works, lots of interest.

Alex.
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Old 01-05-2010, 12:21 PM
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Default Re: Air supsension problems

quite hard
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Old 01-05-2010, 12:21 PM
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Default Re: Air supsension problems

may be 2nd guy is saying right
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Old 01-10-2010, 12:02 PM
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Default Re: Air supsension problems

Suggest pump the airbag system up, then spray each bag with water / dish soap mix and watch for bubbles to identify air leak(s). If no bags are leaking then move on to spray connectors. Typically the bags start leaking near the lower base and is the most common type of Allroad air ride system pressure failure.
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Old 01-31-2013, 09:27 AM
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Default Re: Air supsension problems

Sorry to revive an old thread ...

Just checked wheel clearance at Levels 1,2,3 in "jack" mode. My left front (driver side) is lower from the get go at all three levels, by about 5 to 6 millimeters. Clearance is different by 1-2 Millimeters on all four wheels at level-2, but 9 mm on Front driver corner. Clearance is identical on three wheels (except driver front) at level-1 and level-3.

There are no immediate signs or sounds of a leak. I have no suspension warning lights either. I do not have access to a VCDS tool yet. I have a slow leak drop of 5 mm in 3 hours on Front driver corner, and 2 mm on front passenger corner. The problem is exacerbated when driving and load is placed on the bags (pump keeps turning on).

#1) How can I tell if an Audi repair kit (Audi p/n 4Z7 698 507, consisting of upper and lower o-rings) will fix the leak?
#2) Perhaps I also need to fix or replace the front driver sensor.
#3) Perhaps I need a VAG-COM level reset.
#4) Perhaps I need a set of new front bags.

Last edited by dcaron9999; 01-31-2013 at 11:21 AM.
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Old 02-01-2013, 11:59 PM
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Default Re: Air supsension problems

Just slimed my two front air springs tonight on my 2005 allroad with 68,000 Miles. Figured I give this a shot, and buy new springs if it fails.

I had a slow leak in the driver front air shock. It would take a few hours to droop, but leak was more pronounced while driving, as I could hear my pump working every few minutes.


After this fix, my allroad feal great - I even lost the floaty boat fealing I was getting in level-1. Air pump used to start every few minutes while driving in level-1 or level-2. It now starts only when I change to a higher level, like it should.

Here the procedure I used, which could be useful for anyone thinking about doing this for FRONTS BAGS ONLY (rears have a recirculation loop and clogging is likely):

#1 I recommend buying at least 32 ounces of green Slime. The Slime comes with a short piece of vinyl tube under the label that, as others have said, will be too large of a diameter to fit in the hole in the air spring. You need to find about a foot of smaller diameter tube that fit into the Slime's tube, to reduce the diameter at the end to fit into the airbag's hole. I used the hard plactic tube from a spray bottle such as this (http://www.pangeareptile.com/store/i..._29945_102.jpg). This plastic tube fits perfectly in the opening of the air spring. I used another intermediate flexible tube between the one supplied with the Slime, and the one from the spray bottle. I secured the three tubes together with a few tie wraps to prevent leaks.

#2 You do not need to remove the wheel. Drop car to Level-1, and put it in Jack Mode. Initially, you will be pressurizing the bags by going to higher levels, preventing any residual slime from leaving the bags, and contaminating the rest of the system.

#2 Use a hydraulic jack, and jack up the car until the wheel nearly rises off the ground. This reduces the air pressure in the air spring. You will noticed that this gives you lots of space to reach the air line above the tire.

#3 Use 10mm open-ended wrench to remove the airline that goes into the aluminum cap at the top of the bag. As a safety precaution, when unscrewing your 10mm air fittings, do so very slowly, half a turn at a time, to allow air to slowly escape. Do this until you hear no more pressure, and then remove the air fitting screw.

#4 Move the air line out of the way. Make sure you have removed the seal inside the cap of the Slime bottle. Insert the tube attached to the slime bottle, into the air spring's air hole. I had to hold the tube's end against the air bag's hole while squeezing the bottle. Squirt as much as you can into the opening. You will probably need both hands, as the small diameter of the tube creates resistance. This is where the 32 ounce bottle comes in handy, as it is large enough to wrap both of your hands around it to increase pressure forcing the sline into the bag, and offer you a better "pouring" angle. Tokk me 5-10 minutes to get about 8-10 ounces into the air spring. I cleaned up the opening with a few Q-tips.


#5 Massage the rubber around the bottom of the bag, to the slime as evenly as possible.

#6 After you button everything up, slowly lower your jack VERY CAREFULLY, and do not let the whole weight of the car rest on the empty bag. Go back inside your car, and remove jack mode, to allow your bag to be re-pressurized. Once you hear no more air flowing into your bag, you can now slowly lower and remove your jack. Once your suspension level has stabilized, you may process to next level (level-2 or more).

#7 Go for a test drive, at this level (2 or more). Go over a bumpy road, and drive in the city, where you can brake often, and put pressure on your bags.

#8 Drive for a couple of miles, while moving to next levels (3,4). Drive for another couple of miles, and proceed to lower levels.

#9 Enjoy your new suspension dynamics, and set money aside for new bags eventually ...

Last edited by dcaron9999; 02-02-2013 at 10:56 PM.
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