Air suspension leak down time

[HDJ100]

I have a 2013 Cayenne Diesel S. It is fitted with air suspension. What is an acceptable time frame before the suspension starts sinking after being parked? An hour, a day, a week? Mine is noticeably lower at the back after being sat for two days but the front still looks ok. This tells me that air is leaking out of the back but I'm not sure if the time frame is within spec or not.

[Nuttcase]

That does not sound normal and suggests you have a slow leak somewhere in rear - could be one of the bags, air supply lines or one of the fittings / valves at the top of the struts. I believe a problem on only one side will cause the other to fall due to the suspension design with stabiliser bar. Some of the advanced diagnostic tools might be able to test the system and each shock individually but I'm not sure. If you are not under OEM extended warranty, probably time to speak to a good independent and ask them if they can test each component of the system before they start dismantling the car.

The problem with a leak is that they tend to become worse ultimately resulting in the compressor burning out, or if you are lucky just blowing the 40A fuse or relay. I'd get it seen to.

[gizlaroc]

I would guess you have a small tear in one of the bellows on the air spring.

What you can do to test this theory is drive around so it is at full height, then pull the fuses that pump up and release the air when needed.
You will no doubt get error messages on the dash, however, if it then doesn't drop you know your air springs are fine, and the issue is with the solenoid valve, or a split in the line between them and the compressor but that is unlikely.

But it should never drop if OK.

[HDJ100]

Thanks for the replies. Thankfully it is still under OPC warranty, I just wanted to make sure it was not normal behaviour before booking it in.

[David W.]

HDJ100 said:

Thanks for the replies. Thankfully it is still under OPC warranty, I just wanted to make sure it was not normal behaviour before booking it in.

Your OPC will have the ability to do a series of manual tests on the suspension which should identify the problem. On older cars you can suffer corrosion in the control loom underneath somewhere which can also upset the suspension.

[HDJ100]

Thanks. It is booked in. Requested a courtesy car so I've got to wait until 25th Nov before they have an available slot.

[Krikkit]

I'd say somewhere between 4 and 5 days it should look pretty much the same. I wouldn't expect to park a car on a Monday and come back Friday to find it listing.

[HDJ100]

Thanks, sounds like the warranty might be dusted off, again. Many thanks to the previous owner who bought a two year one and to Porsche for making it transferable.

[The Wookie]

My old 2013 S diesel would sit for weeks without sinking, definitely worth investigating OP

Probably just one of the valves on the top of the air strut, I’ve heard they are notorious

[pmg]

There is an episode of the new series of Wheeler Dealers where Mike buys a Cayenne with exactly this problem and Ant goes through fixing it at quite low cost.