Hello,

Just bought my first all-aluminum Jag '05 XJ8L and couldn't be happier.
I have an air suspension question that has puzzled me since the test drive. My car's manual says "when driving at motorway speeds, the [Air Suspension] will automatically lower the vehicle..." However, I recall while test driving the car and pulling up to a gas station, the moment I put it in "Park", the car noticeably lowered itself. However, during subsequent driving/stopping this hasn't occurred again. Can anyone explain this?

'Tis a puzzlement!

Wolfy
Los Angeles

'86 XJ8 VDP champagne/beige (SOLD)
'98 XK8 platinum/beige (SOLD)
'05 XJ8L 94k mi grey/dove

 

I have never seen my 04 lower itself. I have seen it raise itself at a stoplight after exiting the freeway.

Wouldn't worry about it. Check the heights and make sure they are within limits.

Park it on a level surface and measure from the center of the wheel to the highest point in the wheel arch in the fender.

386 +_15mm Front
373 +_15mm Rear

Numbers are for an 04 but I believe they are the same.

Eddie 04 VDP

 

I have seen this on my car, after driving slowly over a very bumpy car park. It would seem logical to raise the suspension in such circumstances

So there may be things in that air suspension we don't know about and which are not even published !!

 

My car has also raised and lowered unexpectedly on me. The first time it happened, I felt queasy.

 

I got my car with a blown shock, so the whole system wouldnt hold air. It said "ride height too low, air suspension fault" Once i installed the new one, i saw it raise up and now the only times i notice it lower is when im walking away from it after parking somewhere. Then again, i dont pay attention that much lol

 

My VDP has stayed the same for 2 days now(garaged), but I am sure it will lower if I park it outside 32 F.

 

Calibration of the sensors guys. Need the factory scan tool which makes it a pain, or autologic which makes it a breeze. get them at my job all the time... if u changed one of the springs then the car will specially do this. put come weight on the corner of the car and see how the air suspension compensates for it after a while, and when u take it off it will keep doing that until it gets it right, trying to self calibrate itself. It had me puzzled for a while until one lady that selled tiles came, and her trunk was full of tiles, and i took them off (that was a workout) to check the spare tire for air and the battery and realize the car going up and down everytime i put it on park.

 

It is correct that the car lowers itself at speed to reduce air drag and improve stability, but this only occurs at speeds over 100 mph. Such speeds normally lead to loss of driver licence !!

OK if you drive on German autobahns, I suppose.

 

How do you do on roller coasters?