Has your Porsche Panamera ever experienced a sudden drop in ride height? Does it ride unevenly or seem extremely rough to drive? Do you recognize the sound made by the air compressor is louder than usual? These symptoms can indicate Porsche Panamera air suspension problems.
Even in the luxury import market, Porsche’s Panamera has garnered a reputation as a standout vehicle for owners of both luxury and sports camps. German engineering has often been called the bridge between these two worlds, and the discerning observer would surely agree.
Many attributes of the car are cutting-edge technology, yet there is something at the center of customer frustrations too. For instance, Porsche Panamera has some of the buggiest air suspension issues out on the road. They get worse the more they’re used and haven’t been attended to. If you’re a suffering owner or want to purchase a new Porsche Panamera, this guide is for you.
Porsche Panamera Air Suspension Problems Causes
Air suspension failure typically produces signs and symptoms, such as a lowered vehicle ride height, a malfunctioning selectable ride settings function, or perhaps rougher handling through corners or over bumps.
While some will say air suspension failure isn’t life-threatening like a tire blowout, you do need to be aware of the following issues to avoid any sudden danger.
1. Suspension Failure
Porsche Panamera owners may report that when their cars have been parked overnight, the suspension system has sprung since one side of the vehicle is entirely resting on the strut.
This typically takes place unexpectedly, but the suspension system has a diagnostic light on, and this may be the only indication that something is occurring with the system.
The onboard computer system in the Panamera 970 keeps track of the air suspension system and provides a simplified warning when these controls occur. There are, unfortunately, various reasons for this. There may be a software error with the suspension monitoring system, in which case a reset can cure it.
Alternatively, there may be a leak somewhere in the system, which might not be easily fixed. In this instance, repairing would likely prove too intricate for the house mechanic, so service professionals would be a much better alternative.
Read also: Pros And Cons Of Air Suspension – Justify Your Investment
2. Leakage in Air Shocks
Leaky air shocks will have air leak out, failing ECU to detect the setting of shocks, then making the air compressor run so that the positions can be adjusted.
The compressor may be asked to turn more often, based on the severity of a leak. If enough heat goes to the system, the internal seals of the compressor or the compressor may even get broken, causing the compressor to become bad and requiring replacement with a reconditioning kit with new seals and pistons or a new compressor.
When the shocks have leaks, the shocks need to be taken out and repaired by specialists. The repairs are too complex to do on your own, as the needed repair would entail removing and disassembling each sock.
3. Faulty Level Sensor
At times level sensors will become faulty. When this happens, the control system cannot properly read the input signals whether shocks or a raise/lower button has been pressed.
If any of the level sensors fail, after a single button on the steering wheel has been pressed to increase the car, you will be able to see the car being raised but will see the messages appearing on the cluster that the system is flawed.
Some other examples are when changing modes to sport or sport plus, dominating the cluster air suspension system, or inability to enter sport or sport plus mode all of these may cause the error in the title, and also will limit vehicle power.
Car warns of a danger or a threat while trying to enter sport or sport mode, then disables those modes if an error is detected. These modes may be restored after the issue is fixed. Generally, the sensors in a disabled mode need to be replaced. These days, it is simple to repair and replace damaged sensors.
4. Air Compressor Failure
Another frequent issue is air compressor failure. This device controls the pressure inside the storage tank so that suspension alterations can be carried out quickly. If a leak happens in the suspension system, the air compressor must refill shocks frequently. This implies the compressor is working a lot more habitually to make sure the storage tank stays filled.
You can hear the compressor turn on over 20 minutes when you begin your vehicle. If you hear the sound frequently for over 20 minutes and you are idle for long periods, then your vehicle may have suspension issues. You can examine compressor issues by comprehending codes.
Normally, the suspension failure is likely to result from a bad compressor. If you have difficulty raising your car by using the button, your compressor is probably defective. If you hear a loud noise that doesn’t seem to come from a car seat inflator when it is pressed, there is likely a problem with your compressor.
Very often this should appear as if the relay is not working at all, or it will be on all the time (this is the reason that you should change the relay too if you replace the compressor). New relays have undergone small but significant alterations, affecting their power and current output.
5. Faulty Valve Block
A second place you might blunder is the valve block itself. Older valve fittings might have to deal with the pressure of airlines on the valve block, which can lead to leakage. You can purchase these fittings in various stores and replace the valve block.
However, you may also end up leaking from the internal valves. Occasionally the whole valve block must be replaced, and a new block with new fittings arrives along with the part.
If you do not wish to experience that sticky sensation caused by valve block connections, then you can spray soapy water onto the valve block connections and fittings yourself.
You could not see a sign of failure coming from the valve block itself unless it went bad. In that case, some valves will probably get stuck, manifesting in one corner sticking high or low, or maybe all corners stuck in one position, however long before you get to that point.
6. ECU Control Unit Malfunction
If the ECU controller stops working, the suspension system can cease operation. This means the vehicle will not be able to raise, lower, or change the setting of the shocks, or anything else. In short, the brain of the suspension system is dead.
Therefore, the entire suspension is defunct. If you press any buttons and do not hear the compressor kick in, and the car’s height does not change, it is an indication that the ECU is the main culprit.
Pro Tips To Fix Porsche Panamera Air Suspension Problems
Since Air suspension in a Porsche Panamera consists of several components, fixing air suspension issues requires all those components to be checked. Here is a complete process you can opt for to fix Porsche Panamera air suspension issues.
Check Air Shocks First
First, it is a good idea to look at your shocks. A leaking shock can be confusing, so begin by testing with soapy water (with bubbles signifying a leak). If you find bubbles forming around the soap used by your shocks, your shocks are worn and will need replacing soon.
Replace Damaged or Faulty valve Block
Now crawl under your vehicle and spray the valve block attached to the differential diagnosis with a hose. If bubbles form there, the valve block is bad, too. Often the valve block is bad internally, and it is not always easy to separate the good and bad. If so, spend $100 to replace it with a new control valve.
Only the PIWIS2 system has troubleshooting runs built-in for air suspension. Other systems can only identify faults and cannot correct them. As a result, you will not be able to fix air suspension faults without a copy of its wiring diagram.
However, the ability to identify the pin responsible for issuing 12V into each valve in the block, and the ability to use the manual-energize command to verify if the malfunctioning valve can open.
Inspect Air Lines
Attach valve block to airlines to check if they keep leaking. However, the line should be disconnected from the shocks and replaced with a pump to create some vacuum. If the vacuum persists, then there is no leakage. If there is no vacuum, the line has a split.
You will then need to find the split in the line. It normally appears at endpoints. If you see a line crack, there’s a chance that the line leak can be mended by replacing it or by reconnecting chunks of it on priority. Line leaks would be less urgent to address once someone has accidentally broken the lining membrane or the line connector.
Troubleshooting Air Compressor
Compressors make unpleasant noises before they start to fail. A rubber seal is at the bottom of the piston, usually within refrigerant gas, where a metallic sleeve rubs on a rough surface while the air is being compressed.
If heat builds up too rapidly, and the rubber seals get dented (by running too long), the compressor will stop working, as the crankshaft won’t move (because the ECU is unable to affect the piston), and you won’t be able to move it manually either.
To ensure a bad relay doesn’t damage a brand-new compressor when you change the compressor, be sure to replace its relay. Since relays are an easy way to close a circuit with electricity and battery magnets, make sure to always keep it working.
Whenever current flow is started, magnets attract metallic particles to each other, causing electricity to flow. As soon as the electricity has been shut off, the magnets stop attracting the particles, so electrical conductivity becomes unnoticeable. These resistances are dynamic and offered when electrical power is invalidated.
Final Words
If you believe you might need an air suspension repair, you will want to get it done along with the problem’s seriousness in mind. In this situation, your first instinct probably will be to go right to the closest Porsche dealership.
Have things already been taken care of there? If they did, you probably came in shock when you saw that the price of repairs was so much. Parts and labor could be as costly as $1,000 for air suspension repairs on your Panamera even if you just have a single popped air strut.
If you could simply fix your damage by replacing all four air struts along with some other parts, though, for example, your air compressor or suspension control module, your air suspension system would be as good as new.
