Air Suspension Warnings with CETE Controller

[mfs7]

I've had my CETE air suspension module installed for over a year with no issues until recently. The past couple of days have been throwing Air Suspension warnings and faults randomly when driving but everything seems normal. Alerts are below:

1. Air Suspension: system fault. You can continue driving slowly (max speed 35mph)
2. Audi adaptive light: System fault!
3. ACC and Audi braking guard : Unavailable

The Suspension is riding normal in CO fort at stock ride height. When I turn the car off and back on the alerts are gone and sometimes don't come back. Other times they will come back 5 minutes into my drive. Has anyone had this issue before? I plan to uninstall and reinstall the module later this week to see if that does anything. Any other ideas other than just getting rid of the module?

Thanks!

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[mintytoo]

Check the height sensor at each corner, then check for leaks at the air lines connected to each of the airbags using soapy water, and also the connection at the air tank in the trunk. If not faulty sensor, is likely a small leak at the lines

from my phone

[HolyHell]

Post the stored faults if possible

[mfs7]

I have some chassis control faults which I'm assuming are leading to the issues. All are intermittent but the fault codes I have are below:

C11AFF0 (intermittent) - Level control pressure accumulator - Leak detected
C1031F1 (intermittent) - Level control pressure sensor - residual pressure for lowering rear axle too low
C104600 (intermittent) - Level control system

Appears all other faults are a result of implausible values received.

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[mfs7]

When I clear the codes, the first two codes do not come back. Only the C104600 comes back. Will be checking for leaks but should I expect to hear the compressor activate to attempt to inflate the airbags if there was a leak? Wondering if the compressor is failing or the electronics aren't properly communicating because I don't hear anything when I attempt to adjust the suspension levels via the CETE control module.

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[mfs7]

After being away all last week and not driving the vehicle, the air suspension stayed at the same height and appeared to hold air just fine. Yesterday afternoon, I left for several hours and came back to my rear end completely dropped with the same fault codes.

Assuming there had to be a leak, I spent all day checking for visible leaks with no luck. I took my air compressor and manually inflated each airbag and took measurements. After about 4 hours, no sagging has occurred.

Using my OBDII app, I checked the accumulator pressure (7 bars) but the system pressure reading suggested 0. If the system maintains its pressure overnight, I'm thinking of draining the accumulator to test if the compressor will kick in to refill. Does anyone know if the system would exhaust itself for any reason and/or where that occurs? Is it the valve block that exhausts if pressure needs to be released? Why would my rear end drop but the front end stays untouched?

Without finding any leaks I'm thinking either the compressor or valve block have failed...hoping someone on here might have other suggestions?

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[ItsLarryG]

In case you have not already, check the rear height sensors. The symptoms sound different, but the result of only the rear end dropping is the same as what I recently experienced when a rear sensor physically broke away from the control arm.

[mintytoo]

Check the sensor at each corner, https://www.arnottindustries.com/rh-...13-18-s6-s7-s8

from my phone

[HolyHell]

You probably have a leaking rear bag. I had the same issue, the car was staying at the proper height and all of the faults were intermittent. Then one time over night the rear aired out and would not go back up, then the faults became static. Found out the compressor burned out because it was over working to compensate for the leak. I couldn't find any leaks when I checked with soapy water.

[mfs7]

That's what I'm concerned about. I've checked as much as I am capable of doing and haven't found any leaks, bad sensors, blown fuses, etc. My compressor still never kicks on to refill and level when it gets low so I'm assuming that is dead. If I had a leaking rear airbag, does the car automatically try to keep the rear axle level by redistributing air? That would explain why both sides drop evenly as it sags rather than just one. Either that or I have leaks on both rear bags

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[rabbitarmy]

I’m no help but wondering if you could answer a few questions to help set some baseline expectations:

Model year of vehicle?
Mileage?
CETE height settings?
Miles/time lowered?
Show mode used frequently/infrequently/never?

[mfs7]

2017 Audi S7
~45,000 miles
CETE settings toggled between stock and -20mm
My typically ride height was -20mm and would switch to stock for bad roads or during winter season
~3,500 miles with CETE module installed
I used show mode maybe a total of 5-10 times

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[mfs7]

So I finally gave up on my own troubleshooting and brought it in to my local shop. They came back saying the solenoid block had failed and was blowing the solenoid block fuse (not sure where that's located). They said they recommend replacing the valve block, fuse, and block relay and are confident it will solve the problem. They're quoting me $1,800 to do the job. When I know I can replace the block myself and buy the parts for much cheaper. Does anyone know where the air suspension solenoid block relay and fuse are located? I can't find it in my owners manual or online.

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[Alabama]

So I finally gave up on my own troubleshooting and brought it in to my local shop. They came back saying the solenoid block had failed and was blowing the solenoid block fuse (not sure where that's located). They said they recommend replacing the valve block, fuse, and block relay and are confident it will solve the problem. They're quoting me $1,800 to do the job. When I know I can replace the block myself and buy the parts for much cheaper. Does anyone know where the air suspension solenoid block relay and fuse are located? I can't find it in my owners manual or online.

Don't take my word for it, but the Suspension, Wheels, Steering manual mentions a "Level Control System Control Module J197" located "behind the luggage compartment side trim panel on the right side". It has to be reprogrammed if replaced. I don't see any mention of a fuse for the solenoid block (lots of warnings about keeping the air lines covered to prevent contamination), but hopefully someone with more knowledge will respond.

[ItsLarryG]

You can find the valve block on eBay for $20 and it takes 10-15 minutes to change.

Try this site for the fuse location, lists it as fuse 18 and/or 39 in the trunk:
https://fusesdiagram.com/audi/fuses-...udi-a6-c7.html

[Alabama]

Try this site for the fuse location, lists it as fuse 18 and/or 39 in the trunk:

The owner's manual for my 2014 S6 has Luggage Compartment Fuse Panel B (red), Fuse #6 (15 AMP): adaptive air suspension. Also, Fuse Panel D (green), Fuse #3 (5 AMP): adaptive air suspension. You should check your owner's manual as the location may be different, as mine is different from the link posted by ItsLarryG.

[mfs7]

Roger that. I had checked all the fuses identified in my owners manual before bringing to the dealership so I was confused when they said one was blown and kept blowing when they replaced it. What I'm unsure of is if there is in fact a relay for the valve block and where that would be located. I couldn't find that anywhere in my manual and could only locate a compressor relay.

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[Alabama]

Roger that. I had checked all the fuses identified in my owners manual before bringing to the dealership so I was confused when they said one was blown and kept blowing when they replaced it. What I'm unsure of is if there is in fact a relay for the valve block and where that would be located. I couldn't find that anywhere in my manual and could only locate a compressor relay.

Sorry I'm not more help. My owner's manual does not identify relays. The repair manual has the following: "Open the releases on the left and right side with a long screwdriver in direction of -arrow- and remove the Level Control System Control Module - J197". The picture shows the fuse block in the luggage compartment but no close up to determine which relay is which. Maybe the relays have the code number embossed on them? Hopefully others will chime in. If not, you can download all the repair manuals from Audi erWin for $35.

[mfs7]

Brief update on this issue. I finally located the relay and blown fuse that needed to be replaced, purchased the OEM parts and did the repair myself. All in to replace these components was about 20-30 minutes. However, it didn't seem to fix the entire problem. The fuse no longer blows but my dealership is telling me the compressor is dead from overheating. Has anyone had to replace their air suspension compressor before? OEM part looks to be $1400-1500 and about an hour of labor to replace. Anyone know a good aftermarket part that's a plug and play replacement for the OEM compressor?

[DoItAllGarage]

Lucky me, I have the rear sag and levelling issues trouble codes. After doing some research on OEM parts needed and price, I'm thinking about leaving it in tire change mode and switching over to Air lift Performance. I'm still in the early stages, just got the vehicle off the ground tonight and will start wrenching on it later in the week.