Suspension Malfunction / Air Suspension error

[SctsOut06]

Installed Airmatic lowering links a couple weeks ago... all was good minus my OCD trying to get all 4 corners perfectly level.

Made some adjustments yesterday, and now I keep getting a suspension malfunction / air suspension error.

It will go away when you shut the car off and restart it - but after driving a few miles it comes back on and the air suspension doesn’t work at all.

I adjusted the links back up to higher than I had before (without any errors) and still no dice.

Put the stock end links on and have no issues. Any ideas?


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[subaruski]

Cete lowering links? Cete is a module. Appears that your running just lowering links correct?

[SctsOut06]

Edited the original post... but that was definitely a Freudian slip — I meant airmatic links. But I need to buy a CETE.


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[ADG05]

Edited the original post... but that was definitely a Freudian slip — I meant airmatic links. But I need to buy a CETE.


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My guess is you're too low. I've been running links for 3+ years with all kinds of different ride heights and the only time I received that error was when I decided to see just how low I could go.

[JGreen76]

My guess is you're too low. I've been running links for 3+ years with all kinds of different ride heights and the only time I received that error was when I decided to see just how low I could go.

That might be my situation too.... Looks great, but no lane assist, cruise control , and all the other driver nanies. Maybe i'll lift it one turn....

[SctsOut06]

My guess is you're too low. I've been running links for 3+ years with all kinds of different ride heights and the only time I received that error was when I decided to see just how low I could go.

That’s what I figured. I took the links completely off, put them back on at just slightly lower than stock height (30.5 inches all around) and I still got the error.

It doesn’t come on right away...but after a few minutes of driving it comes on. You can shut the car off and restart it and error is gone... suspension cycles through all settings fine. But start to drive and it comes back on. The rear stays at the ride height but the front keeps raising itself.

On top of that, I don’t know if one of the end links I got was defective but while driving home today, one end of the Airmatics completely came out, so it was just hanging. Was stuck in 30 mph mode. I triple checked that they were all tight...

Just put the stock links back on and no errors. I think at this point I’m tossing the end links and going with a CETE. What a series of bad luck...


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[Bezlar]

That’s what I figured. I took the links completely off, put them back on at just slightly lower than stock height (30.5 inches all around) and I still got the error.

It doesn’t come on right away...but after a few minutes of driving it comes on. You can shut the car off and restart it and error is gone... suspension cycles through all settings fine. But start to drive and it comes back on. The rear stays at the ride height but the front keeps raising itself.

On top of that, I don’t know if one of the end links I got was defective but while driving home today, one end of the Airmatics completely came out, so it was just hanging. Was stuck in 30 mph mode. I triple checked that they were all tight...

Just put the stock links back on and no errors. I think at this point I’m tossing the end links and going with a CETE. What a series of bad luck...


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I started with links also. Switched to cete about 1 month later. Time I can never get back wasted. Lol. You’ll love the cete and it’s easy to install.


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[SctsOut06]

I started with links also. Switched to cete about 1 month later. Time I can never get back wasted. Lol. You’ll love the cete and it’s easy to install.


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My gut told me to start with CETE but I wanted to save a couple bucks. Is what it is!

The CETE appears to be pretty plug and play - is that right?


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[Chris.green]

My gut told me to start with CETE but I wanted to save a couple bucks. Is what it is!

The CETE appears to be pretty plug and play - is that right?


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Super simple install. Plug into the oem level sensors, zip tie some wiring, and run two wires into the trunk and tap then into the factory harness.

[SctsOut06]

Super simple install. Plug into the oem level sensors, zip tie some wiring, and run two wires into the trunk and tap then into the factory harness.

Appreciate that!


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[4-ring-sleepers]

fyi the CETE will also produce suspension errors (and every other mil christmas tree). I think i have found out it has to do with starting up and driving the vehicle to quickly. the air suspension settles when parked overnight or for long periods. when you start it up, it has to adapt back to factory settings. while this is happening, the drive system functions are also calibrating on start up. this is the camera's and lidar sensors are based on specific vehicle height. if you jump in the car, start up, switch to different drive select height setting and then drive off to quickly the system only recognizes last stored values without adapting so you get errors. Proper vcds scan will show the errors more in depth. as to which side or corner caused the error. parking on incline can activate this error also. also if you drive over speed bumps right after an initial start up that can cause calibration errors. I was one of the first sq5's to install the CETE active air and i have pretty much figured it out. car does NOT like anything under 28mm so your chances of replicating that error is increased the lower you go. as the individual module ecu's have settings untouched by the CETE controller. its just intercepting height signals. its not a full suspension "tune" per say. if you have links and remain in one height setting then VCDS is best to use to view and clear codes. engine re-start only clears christmas tree car flat-line beeping errors and re-sets modules. code will still be stored in memory.

[Chris.green]

fyi the CETE will also produce suspension errors (and every other mil christmas tree). I think i have found out it has to do with starting up and driving the vehicle to quickly. the air suspension settles when parked overnight or for long periods. when you start it up, it has to adapt back to factory settings. while this is happening, the drive system functions are also calibrating on start up. this is the camera's and lidar sensors are based on specific vehicle height. if you jump in the car, start up, switch to different drive select height setting and then drive off to quickly the system only recognizes last stored values without adapting so you get errors. Proper vcds scan will show the errors more in depth. as to which side or corner caused the error. parking on incline can activate this error also. also if you drive over speed bumps right after an initial start up that can cause calibration errors. I was one of the first sq5's to install the CETE active air and i have pretty much figured it out. car does NOT like anything under 28mm so your chances of replicating that error is increased the lower you go. as the individual module ecu's have settings untouched by the CETE controller. its just intercepting height signals. its not a full suspension "tune" per say. if you have links and remain in one height setting then VCDS is best to use to view and clear codes. engine re-start only clears christmas tree car flat-line beeping errors and re-sets modules. code will still be stored in memory.

I run at -40 and have never had an error code come up

[SctsOut06]

fyi the CETE will also produce suspension errors (and every other mil christmas tree). I think i have found out it has to do with starting up and driving the vehicle to quickly. the air suspension settles when parked overnight or for long periods. when you start it up, it has to adapt back to factory settings. while this is happening, the drive system functions are also calibrating on start up. this is the camera's and lidar sensors are based on specific vehicle height. if you jump in the car, start up, switch to different drive select height setting and then drive off to quickly the system only recognizes last stored values without adapting so you get errors. Proper vcds scan will show the errors more in depth. as to which side or corner caused the error. parking on incline can activate this error also. also if you drive over speed bumps right after an initial start up that can cause calibration errors. I was one of the first sq5's to install the CETE active air and i have pretty much figured it out. car does NOT like anything under 28mm so your chances of replicating that error is increased the lower you go. as the individual module ecu's have settings untouched by the CETE controller. its just intercepting height signals. its not a full suspension "tune" per say. if you have links and remain in one height setting then VCDS is best to use to view and clear codes. engine re-start only clears christmas tree car flat-line beeping errors and re-sets modules. code will still be stored in memory.

Appreciate the info - I’m wondering if the repeat error codes might be stored, to your point, and that’s why I keep getting them even if I raise the suspension up to a normal level.

Maybe I should start with a VAGCOM before I buy a CETE since I’ve already got the links...


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[JGreen76]

I will raise mine up a touch and see if I can clear them with my OBDeleven. I do know that you can air our in OBDeleven...

[JGreen76]

Would pulling the negative terminal from the battery help to reset reset height measurements stored reading?

[SctsOut06]

I will raise mine up a touch and see if I can clear them with my OBDeleven. I do know that you can air our in OBDeleven...

That would be great - thanks!


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[4-ring-sleepers]

I run at -40 and have never had an error code come up

it will happen eventually. you probably leave the car in the same drive select setting all the time and park on flat surfaces? its a weird random fault when it happens. def more likely in -40mm than me and i am at -28F and -26R in dynamic mode and still get one occasionally. also depends on tire size also as some wheel/tire combo's are identical to stock height ratio where others may be lower. not sure.

[SctsOut06]

it will happen eventually. you probably leave the car in the same drive select setting all the time and park on flat surfaces? its a weird random fault when it happens. def more likely in -40mm than me and i am at -28F and -26R in dynamic mode and still get one occasionally. also depends on tire size also as some wheel/tire combo's are identical to stock height ratio where others may be lower. not sure.

When you get the fault does it adjust your suspension level to account for it?

Not only did I get the fault, but the car would raise the front end - and then the air suspension wouldn’t work at all until I shut the car off and restart it.


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[Bezlar]

I’ll get a fault every now and then. But always gone after a shut down and restart. Seems to happen more when I’m parked on a angle.


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[[email protected]]

I've found with any lowered air suspension setup that is lowered a fair amount with CETE, links, even VCDS on older cars the more aggressive the lowering the more possibility of issues randomly. A restart always solves it on any the car I've had or worked with. The less lowering the less likelihood of ever getting an error randomly.

Just got an inventory shipment of CETE setups in so ready to ship!

Controller Package | Q5, SQ5 Air Suspension <-Click Link for More Information

Cheers,

[SctsOut06]

I’m going to reinstall the links again this weekend after clearing the codes and see what happens.

Maybe my SQ just doesn’t want to be lowered...


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[SctsOut06]

As an update, I drove around on the stock end links for a few days before I could get the Airmatic links back on.

Got an ODBEleven, cleared all the fault codes (like 15 related to the suspension), reinstalled the end links and have had zero issues sense.

Maybe it was a gremlin but I’m good to go now.


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[JGreen76]

As an update, I drove around on the stock end links for a few days before I could get the Airmatic links back on.

Got and ODBEleven, cleared all the fault codes (like 15 related to the suspension), reinstalled the end links and have had zero issues sense.

Maybe it was a gremlin but I’m good to go now.


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Those Gremlins are bastards. I'm going to have to take the same approach.

i'm without BSM, ACC, and a few more acronyms.

[ZEEP]

I recently received a “suspension error” after I blew out my tires, slapped on the spare… then slapped on the original wheel and the error still persists. Does this just need be reset? I also have the CETE installed, not sure if that plays into this at all.

[coolwater]

Happened to me on airmatic links. Figured it out that my right and left front links were way out of spec from each other.

Took them both off and measured to make sure even. Then always keep them within 1 turn of so of each other. Too much delta will make it not like you and put you in safety 4x4 mode.

I mistakenly thought you can adjust each corner completely independently. That’s is not the case as oem is even side to side for the links.

-cW


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[Chris.green]

I recently received a “suspension error” after I blew out my tires, slapped on the spare… then slapped on the original wheel and the error still persists. Does this just need be reset? I also have the CETE installed, not sure if that plays into this at all.

Disconnect and reconnect the battery. That should clear the error.