You may have noticed I've been all over this forum for most of this week, trying to diagnose my AIR SUSPENSION FAULT.
I read all about the air suspension system, the possible causes, and how to diagnose them.
I shopped for an air compressor and an air compressor repair kit.
I bought one code reader, struggled with it for 2 days, am returning it and already bought another.
I read through all 60 of the error codes it gave, and bought a bunch of relays online to replace ones that are probably okay, because the errors almost all went away after I got a new battery.
I almost wrecked my new battery with my new code reader, and managed to lock the trunk by draining the battery dead with it, then found the trunk key didn't work, and came back to the forum to find out how to open the trunk by jumping the car via the hood fusebox 80-amp relay's terminals (thanks!).

Now the air suspension system gives no error codes, but the left rear is still about as low as it can go. I decided it was finally time to try to figure out where the air lines were, in order to test them for leaks.

But I couldn't get under the car, because it's so low I can't get a jack under it!

While puzzling over what to do next, I thought, "Well, it can't hurt to just LOOK at the shocks."



I think I found the problem.

Sometimes I make things too complicated.

 

The NT510 can be used as a guage, to see if it fits in the hole.
Cheers mate. And thanks for posting.

 

We all make mistakes-forget it now you can make real progress.

 

It's only Thursday. We've had members who have battled air suspension faults for weeks!

Graham

 

Well that was an easy diagnosis!

 

That shock doesn't look so bad. Won't it just "buff right out"?

 

I'm not saying that this shock isn't failed but the boot that looks blown out in the picture is just a dust cover. The rubber air-bag that supports the weight of the car is located inside the unit where the silver metal sleeve is. Chances are if the other side shock looks as old as this one it's days are numbered also. If you can afford to do both of them that is the way to go.
Good Luck
Jeff

 

The protective boot shows that the air spring diaphragm has suffered a severe blowout. When this happens the air released blows a hole in the boot. Cure is a new unit, and I suspect the other side can't be far behind blowing too. How many miles on the car, it looks like quite a lot.