A8 3.7 2004 adaptive air suspension problem

[jlnatfast]

hi can any one shed some light, my 2004 A8 3.7 has just decided to develop an intermediate problem, when i am driving the automatic confort and lift options seem to go of line in the same way the lift option goes off line after about 80 km/hr, then they all come back on line then off etc, loosing all options in this way has never happened before, there is no warning light so i assume there is no major fault with the system, i have checked the fuse and that is fine, also when all options came back on line i checked if the car lifted normally, and it did. please any ideas? thanks in advance

[Badger61]

I would suggest you have a small air leak somewhere and the pump is switching off due to overheating, this would be logged as a fault.

[jlnatfast]

thanks for your thoughts! if i have an air leak there should, i assume, see the yellow car flashing on the dash display showing that i should seek mechanical attention, this is not illuminating. plus so far today the auto comfort and lift have been going off only sometimes mainly if i accelerate quickly, when i break they are comeing back online, i am wondering if it could have something to do with the speed sensor that disconects the lift function when at higher speeds. also i have set the height to auto and left it on this setting and it has been fine. assuming you are correct and it has a small leak what would you surgest? i am a bit nervous to take it to an audi garage as i have had several bad experiences where they have over charged, done unnessesary work, etc to pump up the bill.....

[Badger61]

It is a strange one I haven't come across before and I think the only way to pinpoint the cause is to reproduce the problem with diagnostic equipment attached. Unless you know a very good independent with A8 licence training you will have to bite the bullet and take it in to an Audi centre, ask to talk to the master technician in the first instance and explain in detail the symptoms, give them a time limit for diagnosis at an agreed cost, they will not go over this agreed time unless they get authority from you.

[jlnatfast]

thanks again! i have been to audi and had it plugged into the computer and it appears that the compressor although working is not at 100% and seems i will have to bite the bullet and have a new one reasonably soon. another question i have is do you have any idea where parts can be bought from for new shape A8 without going to audi? I am in europe and could probably sourse parts from Germany,"the audi mother land" but if by any chance you know of an online company please let me know. one last thing i was informed by the technician at the garage that the early new model of A8 has issues, one day things want to work then another not........ best regards