Hello all! I have a 2004 Jaguar XJR and I have owned it for the last four years. I have had several air suspension fault warnings show up on my dash and I am trying to get down to the bottom of it.

In the past the warning has showed up but then it goes away on its own. Just recently about three days ago I noticed the front of my car riding really really low.

Currently There are no warning lights on and the car is riding on the stoppers and it has been this way for two days now. I have searched through this site on different postings about suspension problems and have learned that there is a conversion kit. I would like to do this myself but I want to make sure the problem isn't something smaller before I spend the money. I have read that there is a compressor repair kit that can be bought to fix a compressor but again I don't know what the problem is with my car. Please help!

I did check the fuse for the compressor and it is good. If you need any other information from me please let me know.

 

Hi TB'sXJR,

Since your ASF has been intermittent, I would suspect one or both of two common issues:

First, one or more of the O-rings on the various air hose fittings may have deformed and is leaking occasionally. Many owners have noticed these sorts of leaks on colder days (below about 40 degrees F in my experience). You can check for leaks with a little soapy water or gas leak detector from a plumbing supply. Search the forum for info. Here's one thread:

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...km-fpm-115111/


Secondly, if the piston ring seal in your compressor is original, then it almost certainly is worn and the compressor is no longer pressurizing the system as efficiently has it did when new. Replacing the piston ring is easy and affordable with bagpipingandy's replacement kit. Most owner's don't bother to replace the desiccant in the air drier as I did, but here are links to photos that show the process:

Welcome to Jag-lovers - Members Photo Viewing Page
Welcome to Jag-lovers - Members Photo Viewing Page
Welcome to Jag-lovers - Members Photo Viewing Page
Welcome to Jag-lovers - Members Photo Viewing Page
Welcome to Jag-lovers - Members Photo Viewing Page
Welcome to Jag-lovers - Members Photo Viewing Page
Welcome to Jag-lovers - Members Photo Viewing Page


It is possible, though expensive, to convert the air suspension to a traditional coil-over-shock setup from Arnott Industries or one of the other suppliers. Search the forum for many threads on this topic. I suspect that all you really need to do is to track down a small air leak in your system and to rebuild your compressor.

BTW, I note that you first posted your problem in the https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/n...-intro-must-5/ but you didn't really post an introduction in which you shared a little info about yourself and your Jag. When you get a chance please post a real introduction so we can give you a proper welcome.

Cheers,

Don

 

Don,

Thanks for the info.

I edited my intro to better match what an intro should be.

After doing some research on the issue I really don't think I should waste time or money on the air suspension if there is a high probability that some of the same problems (among others) will rise again 40,000 miles down the road.

With that being said, I saw that another member posted a website that sold the coil conversion kit for cheap. The website: Carid.com

From your experience on this site, have you heard of Carid? If so, are they reliable? Are the products good?

Do you know of any negative sides to doing the conversion?

Thanks in advance, Don.

 

I'm still maintaining our air suspension for now, so I don't have any experience with any of the coil conversion products. I would suggest that you search the forum for any reviews on Carid's products, and if you don't find the answers you're looking for, just start a new thread asking for input from anyone who has used their products.

The main negatives to doing the conversion are the loss of the self-leveling and ECATS adaptive suspension technologies. Most owners who have done the conversion report the ride to be acceptable. I can't recall reading a report from anyone who thought the ride was bad, but before spending hundreds or thousands of dollars you would do well to search the forum for as many reports as you can find to be sure you really know what you're getting into. I think you could resolve your current issues with the air suspension for about $50 or $60 and an afternoon's work....

Cheers,

Don

 

I'm hoping I don't have too many air suspension issues. I like the ride and the leveling feature is nice. It's been reliable so far, but I've heard bad things. I know cool wet climates tend to cause the suspension more premature failure issues.

 

Vehicle low at the front, but no fault message for this indicates to me that the height sensor is not working correctly. Maybe the system needs the height recalibrating.

 

Gentlemen,

First, thank you for all the information.

After doing some research, actually quite a bit of research, I have decided to do the coil conversion. With that being said I do believe that my current problem can be resolved in a days work and with just $100 or less. But, my research has indicated that if I stick with the air suspension there will continue to be problems and my reasoning is that the least components that I have involved in the suspension of the car the less problems I will encounter. Also, I have talked with several people who have done the coil conversion and they have been problem free since the change. Going off of the information that they gave me I don't see a huge impact in the loss of comfortability while driving. I am sure I will notice a bit of a difference but again I don't think it will be major.

I have ordered the coil conversion kit from CARID.com and I only spent a little over $1000 which included shipping and taxes. The coils are made by arnott industries. They should be arriving here at the end of this week and that is when I will put them in.

I will make sure that I document my work and update this thread.

Wish me luck!

T B

 

Ok! The coil conversion was a success! The job was not difficult at all. I followed the directions that I saw on the video located on the CARID.com site where I bought the coils. I was going to take pictures and document my work extensively but I felt it would have been redundant with the video that is available on the site I already mentioned.

There is something that I would like to point out. The bolts that hold the stabilizer bar in place need to come out as the video shows. I hope the bolts in other cars were put in from bottom to top instead top to bottom like mine. Because of this I had to take the EPB caliper off in order to get clearance for the stabilizer bolt to come off.

Other than this hiccup, the process went smoothe.

Ride quality: the ride quality has decreased and it is very noticeable. I didn't think it would be but it is. This is something that I am obviously willing to deal with as I knew this was a risk. I feel that this negative impact does not out weigh the peace of mind of having an error free ride when it comes to my suspension.

I hope all of this helps anyone that may try to tackle this job. If anyone has any questions please feel free to contact me.

Regards
T B

 

Do they explain or provide instructions/hardware on how to overcome the error codes after you disconnect the air suspension module?

 

One of the first steps in the instructional video is to unplug the computer behind the backseat. I followed this step and when I was complete I did not have any fault or error codes on the dash. I am guessing because the entire suspension system is being unplugged in this step you cannot get anymore fault codes.

 

"Ride quality: the ride quality has decreased and it is very noticeable. I didn't think it would be but it is. This is something that I am obviously willing to deal with as I knew this was a risk."


You made the right choice by converting the suspension system over, but you should have picked up the coil/spring conversion kit (C-2290) from Arnott Industries (currently priced at $1395.00). My 2005 Jaguar XJ8L was converted over with the C-2290 conversion kit last March, and the ride was smooth as silk. In some respects, the ride was superior to the former air suspension system.

 

after replacing upper control arm on right side front end dropped and went into tow mode.mechanic un plugged the battery and attemped to reset front end remains low help/

 

[QUOTE=snullygust;1115163]after replacing upper control arm on right side front end dropped and went into tow mode.mechanic un plugged the battery and attemped to reset front end remains low help?

 

Rick,

That is the same coil conversion kit that I bought from CARID.com. The kit is made by arnott but sold for a lot cheaper price through CARID.com along with a 10% discount for military.

Regards
T B

 

Here is the link to the arnott coil conversion kit I bought. Here they have the video that shows complete installation.

http://www.carid.com/2004-jaguar-xj-type-suspension-systems/arnott-coil-spring-conversion-kit-10116095.html?gclid=CjwKEAiAzIWkBRDO5LDEn8G1nAUSJA DnHq_5Mg7j8H6AkEFtmShKy6sCjqyoUeKoWfXfBH7agqJauxoC AqXw_wcB

 

I've seen that on the carid website too, but I would just point out that it doesn't actually specify what brand or part number that the coil/spring kit (that is shown) refers to. However, there is a reference to the Arnott C-2290 coil/spring kit at the page bottom (so presumably that is what they were selling there). Moreover, I couldn't help but think that the rock bottom price quoted there was somehow too good to be true considering that other sites priced that kit considerably above it.

I would like to add that were plenty of consumer complaints about that site so I can't help but question that company's legitimacy. When you received your kit, was the box sealed? Was the Arnott C-2290 coil/spring kit actually printed on that box?

In my case, I hired Goodyear to install the Arnott C-2290 coil/spring conversion kit on my 2005 Jaguar XJ8L. It took their mechanic(s) all day long to complete the conversion (they had to perform an alignment afterwards, and give it a road test also), but it was a stellar job. My Jag just floats along the road, and the rear end doesn't bottom out either (like it did when I still had the air suspension).

There were two other Jags at that Goodyear service center on the same day that I took my car over there to get the suspension system converted over, and one of those Jag owners asked the Goodyear manager as to how my vehicle's conversion was coming along. I think that he was mighty interested in getting his Jag's suspension system converted over by their mechanics also. That particular service center seemed to be a favorite among Jag owners in my area.

You shouldn't have noticed much of a difference at all after the conversion. In many respects, the ride should have been superior to the former air suspension. All that I can tell you is that the Goodyear manager told me afterwards that he never drove a vehicle with a better ride than mine.

 

This is a photo of my 2005 Jaguar XJ8L that was taken a few months after the Arnott C-2290 coil/spring conversion.

 

I can assure you that if your conversion kit was bought from arnott than we both have the same kit. I called arnott to make sure and they told me that CARID was a reputable distributor.

By no means did I say the ride quality was horrible. I just said that the quality wasn't as good. I think some of my ride quality has to do with other front suspension problems. I just replaced my sway bar links in the front because they were bad. I also need to replace some of the bushings throughout the front end. Maybe this will leave me with a smoother ride.

As far as CARID is concerned. I did not know much about them and was skeptical at first. But I can tell you, since I ordered from them I have ordered several other things because they offer a wide variety and some of the best pricing on the Internet. I just recently ordered the are not coil conversion kit for my 2000 Lincoln navigator and I will be doing that next week. Also The swaybar links that I put in this week on my Jaguar I got from them as well and the brand was MOOG. I just recently ordered some new rims and tires for my Jaguar and they should be coming in at the end of this month. I will definitely post pictures when I get my new rims on my car.

Regards
T B

 

I bought the Arnott coils from carid and installed them successfully about a year ago. I'm pleased with the ride, although it is not as smooth over bumps as the air suspension was. My reasoning for the change over was that because there are so many parts to the air suspension that can fail, my $ investment in avoidance of future problems was better invested in the coil springs. I'm happy with my decision. Now I don't have to wonder on extra cold mornings whether she will be squatting on all fours.


By the way, I had a good experience with carid. The front and back were not sitting the same height, so carid sent me new rears under warranty. The only drawback about buying Arnott from carid, as I understand it, is that should carid go out of business I couldn't get warranty replacement from Arnott because it resides through the retailer. The height between front and back is still not the same. Arnott told me they should level out over time, but they haven't. Maybe Strutmaster brand would not do this. I think it's an error in their manufacturing calibration. Has anyone else had the same issue with Arnott coil overs?

 

Both the front and back should have been settling at the same height 'soon' after the Arnott C-2290 coil/spring conversion.

These were my measurements (From center of hub to fender):

Front: 15.625" (396.87 mm)
Back: 15.1875" (385.76 mm)