How do you like my car in the weeds! I rather like the look. How did I achieve this? Here's my procedure:

Park car overnight outside on a sub-30 Degree Fahrenheit night.
Ensure car's suspension sinks down to its lowest point.
Start car and let compressor fill until the "air suspension fault" error triggers, shutting down compressor and leaving ride height at this beautifully aesthetic position.

If anyone would like pointers regarding my procedure, don't hesitate to ask! Enjoy the attached pics!

P.S., the last pic is the procedure to raise ride height. This involves parking the car in direct sunlight the following morning with the hood open to warm the system, and then PRAY that everything swells up enough to have the car raise to a ride height acceptable to the MCP upon startup!

 

Sorry, forgot to add: I will post with updates regarding the effectiveness, or lack thereof, of my "warming procedure", in restoring car to factory ride height. If(OK, WHEN) additional procedures are required to restore factory ride height (air spring replacement, etc.), I will update the status of this thread.

 

Here is the car out of the weeds after the warming/prayer procedure. Voila!

 

Hi, I am very interested as am having trouble with the ride height of my XJ8 2004
Are you suggesting to simply kill the ignition when the warning light comes on. Then wait for a sunny hot morning and start her up!
Seems very bizarre!
Thanks

 

I've been following various 'ride height' threads with more than a passing interest; my'04 XJ8 was very slow to bring the front end to the proper height on a couple of the very coldest days of this winter. It's my understanding that the most common cause of this condition is a deterioration of the seal between the 'piston' portion of the assembly and the encasing sleeve; a lessening of the ability of the rubber surface of the seal to make the air-tight connection against the metal surface of the sleeve. Is there any case to be made for disconnecting the compressed air feed into the top of the assemblies, and adding a little mineral oil, or silicone lube? Any reasons not to?

All feedback or theories welcomed.

 

Sorry but I can't see how that would work.

The struts leak from here in cold weather:

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=j...Hwk0B1gu_EbPM:

and it is this area that needs to be sealed AFIK.

Fortunately it never gets below +4 deg C (+39 deg F) in Victoria so I have never had a problem but if I did I would try sealing

this area from the outside with silicone sealant or preferably something better.

Struts may leak from other areas of course.