Self level suspension problems

[X5E53John]

Thankyou to anyone that reads this and can help
So Im back here again after more problems with my beloved e53 i have the self level suspension which just controls the rear i have normal coil springs on the front.
The x started coming up with self level susp inact.
the pump would come on if i started the car and turned it off within a couple minutes before the error came up but once error showed itself the pump wouldn’t kick in
I had the car plugged in and scanned for codes only showed an error for the height sensor but the air bag on the opposite side was completely deflated
Bloke who plugged it in started the re calibration but exited it before completing as he noticed the completely empty air spring.
Since that the air compressor never kicked in again
So i changed the air spring and the one that seemed blown once removed seemed to hold air pretty well.
Started the car and no luck
I bridged the wires to force the pump on and it was working but i didn’t notice the x lift or inflate.
I don’t know what to do from here could it be the sensor still?
Possibly the compressor rings?
Compressor solenoid?
Or should i just go coil spring conversion?
If i go coil spring cobversion how can i turn off the self level inact error message ?
Thanks for any help i may get im really at a loss right now


Sent from my iPhone using Xoutpost.com

[andrewwynn]

Filling the tank unrelated to filling the air spring. FYI air bag is Wyatt deploys in an accident not what holds up the car.

Scanner like foxwell can command the car to fill the springs even when the sensors aren't working properly.

The arms that connect the sensors to the control arm rust and malfunction so you should pull them off and clean/refurbish them and make sure they are both vertical and straight. (and smoothly operating).

Quite regularly somebody posts on xo where the arm gets turned horizontal puts the sensor arm vertical and will stop working

[X5E53John]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

Filling the tank unrelated to filling the air spring. FYI air bag is Wyatt deploys in an accident not what holds up the car.

Scanner like foxwell can command the car to fill the springs even when the sensors aren't working properly.

The arms that connect the sensors to the control arm rust and malfunction so you should pull them off and clean/refurbish them and make sure they are both vertical and straight. (and smoothly operating).

Quite regularly somebody posts on xo where the arm gets turned horizontal puts the sensor arm vertical and will stop working

Thanks for your input, force of bad habit calling it an air bag
I cleaned up both arms regreased the arms that connect i was unable to remove the actual sensor.
Do i need to unbolt the bracket that holds the sensor first as even this seems impossible to remove.
But they both seem fine smooth and vertical on both sides.
Ive read what i can about these problems tried everyones ideas I’ve read about.
But struggling to finding a definitive answer


Sent from my iPhone using Xoutpost.com

[andrewwynn]

I wouldn't unbolt the sensor unless you need to replace it.

Proper scanner will report the voltage reading from the sensor and with arm removed you can swing the sensor and watch the voltage.

Did you take the push arms off to clean out the rust?

[bcredliner]

It is possible that when the suspension is fully extended and then lowered to the ground that a sensor arm(s) will go over center the opposite direction than it should. When that happens the air suspension inactive light will appear.

For clarification- is one side of the vehicle at normal ride height? Or are both sides bottomed bottomed out? I assume you have checked the fuses.

Perhaps this link will be helpful. https://www.suncoreindustries.com/pr...roubleshooting

[X5E53John]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

It is possible that when the suspension is fully extended and then lowered to the ground that a sensor arm(s) will go over center the opposite direction than it should. When that happens the air suspension inactive light will appear.

For clarification- is one side of the vehicle at normal ride height? Or are both sides bottomed bottomed out? I assume you have checked the fuses.

Perhaps this link will be helpful. https://www.suncoreindustries.com/pr...roubleshooting

Thankyou and both sides are lower but drivers side is completely deflated passenger side is about an inch higher
And sorry but the link didn’t work when i clicked on it
Thats a good point about the sensor being over rotated but how will i know how to get them to their correct point if that makes sense or should i just look into getting these calibrated?


Sent from my iPhone using Xoutpost.com

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by X5E53John

Thankyou and both sides are lower but drivers side is completely deflated passenger side is about an inch higher
And sorry but the link didn’t work when i clicked on it
Thats a good point about the sensor being over rotated but how will i know how to get them to their correct point if that makes sense or should i just look into getting these calibrated?


Sent from my iPhone using Xoutpost.com

I have seen where one air spring is leaking and the other is good. The bad side will drop all the way down and the good side stays up. As the leak gets worse the good side will start dropping. Can take a day or more to show any good side drop but as the leak gets worse both sides will drop all the way down in a few hours.

If compressor isn't running normally calibration is not going to be of help. It doesn't take long for the compressor to go bad if it has been running constantly trying to inflate a bad air spring. In other words-- the problem may have started with a leaking air spring and now has damaged the compressor.

IMO the first step is to get the compressor running normally. Depending on the year it should come on when you open a door or when the key is turned on. Normal operation is to run until it reaches normal height. There are two fuses for the compressor if you haven't checked them.

[X5E53John]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

I have seen where one air spring is leaking and the other is good. The bad side will drop all the way down and the good side stays up. As the leak gets worse the good side will start dropping. Can take a day or more to show any good side drop but as the leak gets worse both sides will drop all the way down in a few hours.



If compressor isn't running normally calibration is not going to be of help. It doesn't take long for the compressor to go bad if it has been running constantly trying to inflate a bad air spring. In other words-- the problem may have started with a leaking air spring and now has damaged the compressor.



IMO the first step is to get the compressor running normally. Depending on the year it should come on when you open a door or when the key is turned on. Normal operation is to run until it reaches normal height. There are two fuses for the compressor if you haven't checked them.

Thanks for all the input and help,
My compressor no longer kicks in at all
Ot was kicking in once ignition was on but when i had the codes scanned the bloke went to calibrate the system then cancelled out of it when he noticed the air spring was flat with no air at all
Ever since the compressor has stopped working and the self level warning comes up as soon as ignition is on now.
Ive checked the fuses in the boot they seem fine is there any other fuses?
Whats your advice on getting compressor to work normally?
And its an 2002 x5 if that makes a difference
Thanks
John


Sent from my iPhone using Xoutpost.com

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by X5E53John

Thanks for all the input and help,
My compressor no longer kicks in at all
Ot was kicking in once ignition was on but when i had the codes scanned the bloke went to calibrate the system then cancelled out of it when he noticed the air spring was flat with no air at all
Ever since the compressor has stopped working and the self level warning comes up as soon as ignition is on now.
Ive checked the fuses in the boot they seem fine is there any other fuses?
Whats your advice on getting compressor to work normally?
And its an 2002 x5 if that makes a difference
Thanks
John


Sent from my iPhone using Xoutpost.com

There are 3 fuses for the air system, The two in the luggage area are numbers 79-7.5amps and 87-30amps. There is a third behind the glove box which is 57-7.5 amps. There is also an air system control relay there.

[andrewwynn]

The bar connecting the sensor to the control arm needs to be mostly vertical and the arm on the sensor should be mostly Horizontal.

Also I think the link worked you just didn't scroll down. The top of the page has a set of selector choices ignore that Ana scroll down.