Jaguar replaced the original air compressor,the front upper arm assembly and rear cushions on my XJ8 2004 68,125miles a few weeks ago.When I got the car back, it seemed to be lower than before (there is only a little gap between the wheels and the arch-wheels as if the wheels were being crushed).On the road, the car drives fine but it is when it is parked it looks like very low. I do not get the air suspension fault warning.I have read about height sensors on another forum. Could this need replacing or should I get a warning message if there is a problem ?

 

They may need to adjust the ride height with thier IDS. Nothing you can do short of getting out washers and goofing around. I would suggest that they should have caught that before they gave the car back.

 

Suspension will most likely be set using a PC running IDS, and a ruler. The standard height which will probably be defined with a certain amount of weight (fuel etc) is published and available in IDS. The actual height is measured using the ruler, and entered into the program, and the system adjusts the suspension control to command the airsprings to raise or lower the car until the correct height is acheived. The height sensors are, in effect, calibrated, as there is no intrinsic setting built into them. I don't know the detail of the set-up procedure, maybe our Jag Techs can enlighten us. That is why us owners without IDS cannot set our ride height apart from "fiddles" with the sensors.

 

The suspension ride height can only be "properly" adjusted using the dealer level diagnostic kit, and a special measuring tool.

But you can very easily check the ride height of your car using a tape measure.

Go for a drive. Park the car on flat level ground, engine off, close and lock all doors, leave it sit for a while. Unlock & start the car. The suspension will "level" itself.

Measure from the very center of the wheel, to the inside edge of the wheel arch, with the tape measure perfectly vertical.

Front should be 386mm, rear should be 373mm. Note there is a tolerance of +/-15mm, but on flat level ground it should be bang on those numbers.

If it's not, take it back & tell them to fix it. If they don't know how to, then i'd be writing some very stern letters....

Let us know how you get on.

 

Thanks Cambo351. I will do this when I get the car back from Jaguar.As you read on my other post re touch screen issue, I do not rate the dealership very high so will follow your tape measure advice and see what happens.I normally service my car at the AAA but because of these electric faults (according to them), I was advise to go back to Jaguar.Mmmmhhh.....

 

Just to report that the dealer acknowledge the suspension was not right and adjusted it.Thanks again for all your help guys.