Vehicle too low
#1
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A few months ago I bought my first Jaguar XJR it's a black on black 2005 with a clean carfax now with around 108,000 miles (I am the 2nd owner)! Absolutely love everything about this car! I live in the northwest Houston area and it is starting to get a little bit colder now. Yesterday when I went for a drive I had Vehicle too low and I believe the other one was air suspension fail pop up! The ride had felt like I got a flat tire so I immediately pulled over and realize the front suspension was way too low at this point I immediately turn back around and drove back to the house the whole drive was maybe 3 miles. After letting the vehicle sit for a while and doing a little research here I felt better hoping it was probably a battery issue a compressor issue or something called a fuse #4. When I went back outside to start the vehicle up so I could take pictures of the messages that popped up the air suspension was working again and the message went away right after I started it. I turned it off and let it sit for a little while then went back later in the day started it up everything appeared fine and I drove it for a few miles just to see if anything would happened nothing happened everything was fine. When I woke up this morning it's around 45 degrees and the vehicle was sitting low again with the same vehicle too low message. And now for the questions I have.
I live in Jersey Village which is Northwest Houston can anybody recommend somewhere to take my XJR and have it looked at by a qualified and honest shop or is this something I shouldn't even mess around with and go straight to the Jaguar dealership? Am I right in thinking that this is an issue that is related to the cold weather?
I know quite a few mechanics that I trusted in my family is this issue easily to fix or is it something where they have to be very familiar with Jaguar?
I am NOT looking for a cheap way to fix this I totally understand the cost of maintenance required on a Jaguar I am just not sure if this is a minor issue or something major.
I feel like I should be taking it to the Jaguar dealership! However I have seen that unless there's something major sometimes that is not the case and that a qualified shop is more than able to do the work right and from what I've read here in other posts I've seen this seems to be a very minor issue. I'm not trying to spend a lot of money and time when it could be something as simple as a battery or fuse.
I'd like to thank you in advance and from what I've seen in previous posts this is a very helpful site and a great place to start asking questions! I also would like to just say this one more time the car is Awesome and So Much Fun to drive!
I want to do what's right just not sure where to start.
I live in Jersey Village which is Northwest Houston can anybody recommend somewhere to take my XJR and have it looked at by a qualified and honest shop or is this something I shouldn't even mess around with and go straight to the Jaguar dealership? Am I right in thinking that this is an issue that is related to the cold weather?
I know quite a few mechanics that I trusted in my family is this issue easily to fix or is it something where they have to be very familiar with Jaguar?
I am NOT looking for a cheap way to fix this I totally understand the cost of maintenance required on a Jaguar I am just not sure if this is a minor issue or something major.
I feel like I should be taking it to the Jaguar dealership! However I have seen that unless there's something major sometimes that is not the case and that a qualified shop is more than able to do the work right and from what I've read here in other posts I've seen this seems to be a very minor issue. I'm not trying to spend a lot of money and time when it could be something as simple as a battery or fuse.
I'd like to thank you in advance and from what I've seen in previous posts this is a very helpful site and a great place to start asking questions! I also would like to just say this one more time the car is Awesome and So Much Fun to drive!
I want to do what's right just not sure where to start.
Last edited by GGG; 12-07-2017 at 01:57 AM. Reason: Edit typo in thread title
#2
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We have a used 2006 XJ8L which has the same messages but only when it is cold. We live in Midland, TX and recently took the car out to LA, where we purchased it. The car showed the message when we were leaving, but it stopped when the outside temperature warmed up a bit. We also had it coming over the Davis Mts. at night on our way back. The car ran OK on smooth surfaces, but felt every bump all the way back home. So this issue only appears when it is cold.
We don't know the solution, and the dealership in El Paso said they would need to keep the car overnight to check it. The Jag being our only car we could not do that.
We don't know the solution, and the dealership in El Paso said they would need to keep the car overnight to check it. The Jag being our only car we could not do that.
#3
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The front shocks have a habit of leaking at the top after several years, if your 2005 has over 108,000+ on it, good chance that's why it was sold. Arnotts were what was used on the front of my 2004 XJ8 when the stokers started leaking when the weather turned cold my first winter. Price; $830 delivered, for a pair of fronts that were not all that hard to put on. No more leaking, rebuilt the compressor while there, all works great, no more hissing from shocks.
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#4
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You need to get the fault codes read, and usually these are only accessible if the shop has the right kit, so a Jaguar specialist is best, or even a main dealer, (heaven forbid !).
Two things come to mind. Firstly the compressor may be on the way out and needs a new piston seal and possibly piston cylinder. If you are a DIYer, you can buy these parts and fix the compressor yourself. The compressor itself is not a hugely expensive component, and once replaced will last many more years. My service exchange compressor fitted in 2010 at 35k miles was still on the car and working at 115k miles when I part-exed it last year.
A combination of failing compressor and leakage of air as described will cause the car to gradually drop down whereupon the system detects the low height and flags a fault. At the same time it turns off the CATS system which defaults the shock to 'Hard'.
The air spring units are known for slight leaks at the top seal especially when it gets cold, like around or below freezing. This is especially so as the car ages and the seal rubber hardens up with age. In their Technical Notes 2003.5, Jaguar state that small leaks are to be expected in the air system as it is under a high pressure, especially when the car passes over a severe bump in the road. A compressor in good condition is well able to compensate for these leaks.
Two things come to mind. Firstly the compressor may be on the way out and needs a new piston seal and possibly piston cylinder. If you are a DIYer, you can buy these parts and fix the compressor yourself. The compressor itself is not a hugely expensive component, and once replaced will last many more years. My service exchange compressor fitted in 2010 at 35k miles was still on the car and working at 115k miles when I part-exed it last year.
A combination of failing compressor and leakage of air as described will cause the car to gradually drop down whereupon the system detects the low height and flags a fault. At the same time it turns off the CATS system which defaults the shock to 'Hard'.
The air spring units are known for slight leaks at the top seal especially when it gets cold, like around or below freezing. This is especially so as the car ages and the seal rubber hardens up with age. In their Technical Notes 2003.5, Jaguar state that small leaks are to be expected in the air system as it is under a high pressure, especially when the car passes over a severe bump in the road. A compressor in good condition is well able to compensate for these leaks.
#5
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You definitely have a leak somewhere from shocks or from air connection fittings. I could not find leak on my until the weather was extremely cold. Spray soap bubble directly on top of shocks (both front and rear) immediately right after the car started and raised the shocks. The air tank reservoir and block are located under the spare tire. Remove spare tire and spray soap on these lines as well. You will have to remove carpet panels in trunk to access rear shocks. With 100k miles, its time to replace compressor ring and desiccant pack. It's a simple job. Most likely leak came from one of front shock. Shock replacement is super easy. T60 impact torx, impact wrench (must), penetrating oil, 18 mm wrench, blue and red loctite, and couple metric sockets are all the tool you need to replace shock.
#6
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Never saw any codes or warning for my shocks, till an iCarsoft i930 was bought. Saw a code that the front right was leaking, as well as one for the left front. Replaced them, but never a message, or code for either one. A variety of codes, from battery voltage not right, but not while owned by me. & many more, all gone now.The same deal with my 07 Vanden Plas, only numbers, & messages for me were for the tire pressure sensors. But with six of them there, there were four more, but from where i have no clue.
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