[maleksandersen]

Hi,

I have read several posts regarding air suspension issues on the Touareg, but haven't quite found the answers to my issue.

I recently bought my first Touareg. I'm very happy with the car, but a trip to the mountains for new years eve, made the happiness a little less happy. I live in Norway, so winters are cold and on the said trip it dropped to -16C during nighttime. Starting the car in the morning, i had the "Stop! Error running gear" message show up. Checking around a bit, it turned out the 40A fuse (F56) on drivers side (suspension compressor pump) had gone out. A bit tricky to get a new one, but I left the car running without the fuse for about 1 hour. Then i switched it off, put in the fuse, and all was good enought to get home.

It was all good for a while, and then it got cold where I live too and the problem returned. I had it at a VW-shop for repairing something else, and they had a quick look at the air suspension problem as well. They said there was no leaks, but the relay for air suspension had to be changed and they out in some condensation remover into the compressor. They also said if the problems continiued, the whole compressor would have to be changed. The quote from them was about $2500.

It has been working lately most of the time, but again the cold came and problem returned. This morning i heard the compressor working hard and loud, and some squaking sound like something had been frozen stuck and the compressor was trying to get it loose. Got the error message, checked the fuse - not broken. Took the fuse out, drove a bit back and forth in my driveway and put the fuse back in and started the car again. Worked all good.

In my non-professional mind it seems like something get's stuck when its really cold and pushes the compressor to max trying to get it loose again.

Anyone have some ideas?

 

[TommiT]

It reads like you have moisture in the system that is freezing. When the car warms the ice turns back to water and normal service is resumed. There are other similar threads on here.

There has been a recent thread where the owner had the system purged with nitrogen.

I think there is there is a dessicant pack in the pump. Perhaps this has become too contaminated with water.

Hopefully others better versed in air suspension will contribute.

 

[maleksandersen]

It reads like you have moisture in the system that is freezing. When the car warms the ice turns back to water and normal service is resumed. There are other similar threads on here.

There has been a recent thread where the owner had the system purged with nitrogen.

I think there is there is a dessicant pack in the pump. Perhaps this has become too contaminated with water.

Hopefully others better versed in air suspension will contribute.

Thanks for the reply.

Yes, that was my thought as well, that moisture freezing. The odd thning is that today, I only had the car running for about 5 minutes until it worked again. Thats why I'm thinking the major part of the problem is something else than moisture, but thats only a theory i have cooked up.

I saw the nitrogen purging, that is on my list to ask the mechanic about when/if i have someone fix it. The same with dessicant.

My issue is that the VW dealer couldn't/wouldn't do anything other than put in a new compressor. Thats why I'm now trying to find a DIY-solution, or something more specific to ask another workshop to try/have a look at. My experience so far is that there isn't that much experience around with problems like this in the workshops where i live (Oslo, Norway).

 

[TommiT]

This is a total shot in the dark, but....

If it only takes a few minutes for something - whatever it might be - to "unfreeze" and the system to work normally then my thinking is that the only thing in the air suspension system that is working hard enough to generate any warmth is the air compressor itself.

You can buy a service pack for GB £25 for Wabco compressors by the way.

Look up www.bagpipingandy.com

 

[maleksandersen]

This is a total shot in the dark, but....

If it only takes a few minutes for something - whatever it might be - to "unfreeze" and the system to work normally then my thinking is that the only thing in the air suspension system that is working hard enough to generate any warmth is the air compressor itself.

You can buy a service pack for GB £25 for Wabco compressors by the way.

Look up www.bagpipingandy.com

Yes, that sounds reasonable.

I have only been able to find, also on the site you linked, kits for up to 2010 model Touareg. This is, as far as I understand, the previous model of mine and a different air suspension system.

 

[TommiT]

Ping the guy an email. If he doesn't do the pack he might point you to someone who does.

 

[maleksandersen]

Ping the guy an email. If he doesn't do the pack he might point you to someone who does.

Thanks for the tip, sent him an email.

 

[adidas]

Same happened to me the other days, temperature was -18C. My first thought was that the sensors were frozen so i drove 1m, brake hard and reverse 1m brake hard, to make some balance. After this everything was ok.

 

[Hasselhoff]

Hi, have the same issue's.
When it drops under -14 F the Valve Block freeze's. Put a heating fan om it and it works again. Have used 3x 40A fuse's som far.

I have just replaced the compressor and the problem is the same. So i have concluded that condensation is the problem. Bought a can of West-Frost (Air brake anti-freeeze) and are planning on putting it in the system.

 

[maleksandersen]

Same happened to me the other days, temperature was -18C. My first thought was that the sensors were frozen so i drove 1m, brake hard and reverse 1m brake hard, to make some balance. After this everything was ok.

Yes, sounds about the same as I did today. Exiting to see what will happen tomorrow morning!

Hi, have the same issue's.
When it drops under -14 F the Valve Block freeze's. Put a heating fan om it and it works again. Have used 3x 40A fuse's som far.

I have just replaced the compressor and the problem is the same. So i have concluded that condensation is the problem. Bought a can of West-Frost (Air brake anti-freeeze) and are planning on putting it in the system.

Hi! Ok, so replacing the compressor is no guaranteed fix then. Good to know! The west-frost idea sounds like a good one. As TommiT mentioned above, there’s some posts about people that have had their system filled with nitrogen, but I’m not sure how/where to do that.

 

[Metalhead_79]

And another one with the same problem.
Has only blown fuses when it's been outside in the cold. But a few times the compressor has made the same sound and interior lights blinking like it does before the fuse is blown even when it has been in the garage. However the fuse has remained intact and the compressor has started working normally after a few seconds.

Had the car to VW for diagnose and they found these codes.
C10D307: Level Control System mechanical malfunction
C10D407: Level control system control head mechanical malfunction

They want to change the compressor and valve block (sold as one unit). Trying to get this covered by the company that sold the car as I've only had it a while.

 

[Odessa]

wow seems a theme with you guys way up north. I'm surprised no one from Russia / Canada have chimed in ???

Question re if there may be moisture in the system ... how old is the vehicle and therefore how much moisture ?

Also re other members if it is the valve block the tricky question of how to protect and test ??

Interesting thread im in .. good luck boys

Dont forget any major work being done and with enough kms on the clock i would replace the relay as well. Its the weak link in this whole system ... besides the fuse.

 

[Metalhead_79]

Have to say VW diagnose of the problem seems a bit simplified. (Just hook up computer and read fault codes)
Of course there is going to be fault codes on the compressor if it can't run properly. But they don't pay any mind to what is keeping it from running, just want to replace the expensive part without further investigation.

 

[maleksandersen]

And another one with the same problem.
Has only blown fuses when it's been outside in the cold. But a few times the compressor has made the same sound and interior lights blinking like it does before the fuse is blown even when it has been in the garage. However the fuse has remained intact and the compressor has started working normally after a few seconds.

Had the car to VW for diagnose and they found these codes.
C10D307: Level Control System mechanical malfunction
C10D407: Level control system control head mechanical malfunction

They want to change the compressor and valve block (sold as one unit). Trying to get this covered by the company that sold the car as I've only had it a while.

I unfortuneately bought the car privately, so no going after the seller. At least not with the way our legal stuff works.

Only fuses blown here as well, so no problem for me to change a few fuses from now and then. The problem is when the wife is using the car 😂

wow seems a theme with you guys way up north. I'm surprised no one from Russia / Canada have chimed in ???

Question re if there may be moisture in the system ... how old is the vehicle and therefore how much moisture ?

Also re other members if it is the valve block the tricky question of how to protect and test ??

Interesting thread im in .. good luck boys

Dont forget any major work being done and with enough kms on the clock i would replace the relay as well. Its the weak link in this whole system ... besides the fuse.

There might very well be moisture in the system. Where I live it’s around -10 and regular snow, but they use a lot of salt on the roads so we’re basically driving on salty slushy ice half the year. Not exactly a cars best friend.

My car has run 117000 and is a 2011 model.

 

[Metalhead_79]

Has anybody else checked the fault codes for the air suspension?

 

[maleksandersen]

Has anybody else checked the fault codes for the air suspension?

I’m looking for an alternative to doing it at a workshop. Do I need vagcom or can I use a tool like iCarsoft CR Plus?

 

[Metalhead_79]

Think VCDS or ODIS might be required.

Anybody else noticed that the car often lowers like 2cm if sat for 24h and more if sat longer?

 

[Metalhead_79]

Hasselhoff when you changed the compressor I take it you didn't change the valve block too? Did you check fault codes at any point?
Don't suppose you had the system filled with nitrogen after the replacement?

 

[ePa]

wow seems a theme with you guys way up north. I'm surprised no one from Russia / Canada have chimed in ???

Not so far away from Russia... ~300km to border and ~250km to Arctic Circle = City of Oulu.

Actually yesterday morning my front suspension was "down" but rear was still on "normal" height. Heated ~15min with Eber and when turn ignition on car returned to normal driving position. It was -25C at that time. I drove car to my garage and there it is still. Tomorrow longer trip so lets hope everything is ok. I assume so. These are quite robust vehicles. Short driving and moisture+ freezing temperatures are challenge but when car is heated with longer trip they will perform as in summer time.

I had W164 MB some timeago and it had similar issues.

 

[Metalhead_79]

Has anybody made any progress in finding cause and solution for this yet?