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Air suspension phenomena?!?
- Thread starter digitaltim
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- Model S
First off, air suspensions usually have tiny leaks in them. So very small that it's virtually imperceptible if you drive the car every 1-2 days. If you leave your car off, and in energy saving mode (deep sleep), and this super slow leak causes the suspension to droop, the car's level sensors are not active to detect this and readjust. Our Benz had this same operation, and I only notice it on the S if I haven't driven the car in a few days. It's a little lower, but will raise back up when you put it in Drive.
I have a VW Touareg with air suspension that "settles" a bit if it's not driven for a while. It pumps back up when started and doesn't affect driving at all. That said, I really love the air-ride. I can't speak to MS air suspension, but in mine, the difference between comfort mode and sport mode is drastic (which I like). I imagine the Tesla unit is more advanced.
It is the electronically controlled dampers in your VW that allow a change from comfort to sport. Air springs can't change stiffness while maintaining a given ride height. Unlike your VW, the Model S does not have adjustable dampers, so I would say it's actually less advanced.
It is the electronically controlled dampers in your VW that allow a change from comfort to sport. Air springs can't change stiffness while maintaining a given ride height. Unlike your VW, the Model S does not have adjustable dampers, so I would say it's actually less advanced.
Does that mean less error-prone as well?
lucy
bluehair
Thanks so much for this thread.
As I am, and will probably will ever be, hundreds of miles from the nearest service, if I ever get to configure my MX, I'll opt for coils. It sounds like the ride will be closer to what I'm used to with my last few compact cars. With the parking sensors & higher profile the MX will probably have, rubbing curbs & driveways might not be an issue, plus it's one less thing to break.
You will have saved me $$ I can use for paying down my solar panels!
As I am, and will probably will ever be, hundreds of miles from the nearest service, if I ever get to configure my MX, I'll opt for coils. It sounds like the ride will be closer to what I'm used to with my last few compact cars. With the parking sensors & higher profile the MX will probably have, rubbing curbs & driveways might not be an issue, plus it's one less thing to break.
You will have saved me $$ I can use for paying down my solar panels!
mknox
Well-Known Member
My March 2013 car with over 53,000 miles has given me no grief with the air suspension. Still good as new. I was also worried when I ordered the car, but back then, it was the only way to go. Coils had not yet been introduced.
Kenkamm, I feel for you. I really don't understand what the big blanking deal is for them to make such a simple correction to the car. Sadly I had to deal with the same "it's with specs" answer on other issues as well on multiple occasions. I had pointed it out several times previously to them and they wouldn't fix the air suspension and it just continued to get worse. Only now it was dragging out driveways it never had before. Figured this time they had to see there was an issue!?!?. They sent a ranger to pick up the car and his first comment was "wow, that thing really sits low in the back". Yet again, got the same response and they didn't want to fix it. They called and told me the car is ready and I asked if they fixed it. They said no change was necessary. Finally, I got pissed off on the phone with her and said "that's BS. You show me one other car on your lot that has the same measurements as mine and I'll consider picking up the car, otherwise, I am absolutely not picking it up until it's fixed and I'll return your loaner car when it is. I continued saying how ridiculous this company is in not wanted to fix minor issues to keep their customers happy, mentioning that this was the last Tesla I would own. Finally stated, if the car's not fixed, I will be looking into my recourse options as this is just ridiculous" Of course this was all expressed in not the friendliest of voices. After more than 4 service center visits and the CLEARLY sagging in the back (could fit 3 fingers between the fender and tire in front and barely a single finger in the rear). When I first noticed it, I could still get two fingers in the rear with room to spare. Anyway, I normally don't get that way as it takes quite a bit to piss me off, but I was finally fed up with it and rightfully so.
Anyway, just sharing the details of what it took to finally get them to listen. As I unloaded all of my ammo in one round on her, I'm not sure if one particular thing I said triggered her to get it done or just the overall conversation and knowing how much they pissed me off. I would start off by proving you are correct and simply measure it in front of them and compare it to another car on their own lot. Point out that this is not how the car was designed. It's added camber to the rear wheels, wearing out my tires faster. At this rate, the tires will be junk in 4,000 to 5,000 miles. I am respectfully going to ask one more time for you to PLEASE re-calibrate the rear suspension to level the car back out to original specs. You can mention my story and note that it solved the problem in a matter of just a few minutes. If they still refuse, then that's when it will probably be time to get pissed off too. Hopefully it won't come to that if you just sternly request that it be re-calibrated as they've done for their other customers.
Hope that helps. Best of luck to you.
From your description I take it that this was a mere calibration issue and nothing was inherently wrong with your rear air suspension system.
Is that a correct statement?
Pressed the brake pedal to turn the car "on."
I walked away from the car when I went on vacation with the charging cable plugged in.
I have already been in touch with the Rockville SC and this is on the list to be investigated at my October service visit.
Yes but let me correct your first "was" to "is" because it has not yet been rectified. The suspension seems to operate normally, but the calibration is wrong.
Tesla has to unfortunately hire from the same pool of buffoons that work at your standard ICE dealership. Knowing more than the local service adviser and/or mechanic is truly frustrating.
I think you were asking me. Yes, after the calibration, the air suspension has been great. They had instructed me to pick up the car without fixing it. After my tantrum, LOL, they called back within a few minutes and said it's fixed. I went to the service center immediately. Car is now perfectly level and has remained that way. It's been about three months since the re-calibration.
I arrived at the Rockville MD service center an hour ago with 3 complaints:
1) Vibration in rear at about 70 MPH+
2) Rear ride height about an inch too low
3) Faint milling noise
Two techs took the car for a short drive and said they agree the rear ride height looked too low and they would measure and correct it. In addition they said they could hear the milling noise and recorded it and would be sending the data to Tesla for analysis and further instruction. Finally, they will dismount the rear tires and re-balance them for me.
The last time I was in for service, they happily adjusted the rear toe to my requested settings of .1 degree per side. This morning I asked them to restore those settings after changing the ride height, and they said "No can do. It's outside the published specs." I guess it just depends on which tech you talk to. Last time the tech said, "Whatever you want sir."
So they're working on the car now. We'll see how everything turns out.
1) Vibration in rear at about 70 MPH+
2) Rear ride height about an inch too low
3) Faint milling noise
Two techs took the car for a short drive and said they agree the rear ride height looked too low and they would measure and correct it. In addition they said they could hear the milling noise and recorded it and would be sending the data to Tesla for analysis and further instruction. Finally, they will dismount the rear tires and re-balance them for me.
The last time I was in for service, they happily adjusted the rear toe to my requested settings of .1 degree per side. This morning I asked them to restore those settings after changing the ride height, and they said "No can do. It's outside the published specs." I guess it just depends on which tech you talk to. Last time the tech said, "Whatever you want sir."
So they're working on the car now. We'll see how everything turns out.
I received the same response regarding alignment when I asked for increased castor to the front wheels - they said they can only adjust to Tesla specs.
Well they fixed my vibration issue and my ride height was calibrated again, apparently properly this time! The car looks like it has the proper rake now. They said they measured the rear ride height and found it to be 20mm too low (I had measured 25 with my highly accurate eyeball and tape measure method.) They would not agree to set my alignment specs back to what I asked for. I'll have to throw it up on ramps and adjust it myself, I guess. Where did I put my toe plates...?
Overall I'm pleased because they didn't argue with me about the ride height issue.
Overall I'm pleased because they didn't argue with me about the ride height issue.
