In my recent purchase, the seller had just installed new both air ride front struts. The rear suspension wasn't touched. Not being familiar with the ride technology, I drove the car several hundred fairly smooth freeway miles home. It wasn't till later ,while driving on rough pot holed city streets that I realized the ride wasn't the lauded smooth Jaguar ride. I took it to a local Jaguar experienced shop and they pointed out that there was no bounce when pushing down on the rear end. Their analysis was that the rear suspension was stuck in the "Transport " mode! Their suggestion, If I was going to keep the car long term, to just eliminate air system and avoid further expense with compressors, ride height sensors, air tank, leaking air hoses, distribution valves and expensive rear air ride shocks. My unqualified question to the forum is: Can you just tell computer to come out of the "Transport" mode, which I assume was possible once the new car was delivered? I realize it would be just a temporary adjustment but allow time for me to decide if I want to go with a transformation of ride quality.

 

It is highly UNlikely that your car is stuck in "Transport Mode" since this can only be accessed by a factory level software interface. Also, if the car were in Transport Mode you would see a continuous display of "Air Suspension Fault" on the display, which you don't mention.
If your car has original style shocks with the electronic stiffness adjustment (ECATS) then it will default to "stiff" anytime the car is parked. My car cannot be "bounced" on it's suspension AT ALL when parked. As for being rough over pot holes, that is a characteristic of these Jags especially as you go up in wheel size. These cars came with 17, 18, 19 and 20 inch wheels from the factory and the bigger yours are, the rougher the ride will be. The X-350 and later Jaguars went for a sportier ride quality and do not have the super cushy ride of earlier models.
If your car sits level and doesn't give air suspension errors just drive it and enjoy it. When the air suspension eventually needs repair you can decide then if you want to switch over to coil springs.

Good Luck and enjoy your beautiful car.

Jeff

P.S IF your Jaguar shop is so "experienced", why didn't they just take it OUT of transport mode? These guys are full of baloney and I would look for someone else to help you.

 

same problem here on 04 xj8

 

I reckon my car is harsher after front air spring replacement (OEM). I have a comparison (memory!) but then paranoia can be real .
The original struts were Green Dot (comfort) or Red Dot (sport), mine had Green dots.
The new struts, I can't see any dots with the struts in place.
SNG Barratt (for instance) don't list Comfort or Sport option. And I vaguely recall but not sure from where, reading that only Sport might be available (is this right?).

 

I'm having the describes issue as well, all four bags stuck in hyperinflation, but I do have the "air suspension fault" yellow warning message up. My scan tool, just a $60 unit from harbor freight, reads 0 stored codes. Thoughts?

 

Hi jrfritz3,

Most of the air suspension diagnostic trouble codes are either Chassis (C-prefix) or Network (U-prefix) codes, and cannot be read by a generic OBDII scanner, which can only read Powertrain (P-prefix) codes.

Based on your symptoms, I would suspect that either the exhaust solenoid valve on the compressor has failed, or there is a malfunction inside the valve body in the trunk under the spare tire.

The exhaust valve is the only "official" path for air to be released from the system, so if it seizes in the closed position (usually due to corrosion), excess pressure cannot be released. You can remove the valve from the compressor and test it with a 12-volt power source. I am not aware of a source for the valve alone, so if yours has failed, you may have to purchase a new compressor or a used one with a good working exhaust valve. Before you install a used compressor, it would be prudent to replace the piston O-ring seal with one from bagpipingandy, clean the corrosion from the leaf valve, exhaust valve port, and pressure relief valve, and also bake the dessicant beads on a cookie sheet in a hot oven overnight to partially reactivate them, or replace them (they are molecular sieve beads).

The valve bodies have exhibited some failures, so it is possible that a valve inside yours is seized and cannot release excess pressure. Salvaged valve bodies are usually available on eBay.

Cheers,

Don

 

That's very helpful. Thank you. I believe I shall check for corrosion first and go from there.