Left the 2013 GTC unused for several weeks, and noticed some "drop" in front. Usually the car is used regularly on the weekends only
with no issues.

New OEM struts were put in less than two years ago, and the height normalizes quickly with driving and the height adjustment works fine to the high and normal level settings.

Is this an ominous sign or simply a product of the heavy front end and disuse?

 

Hello @tteplitzmd ,
I would put the vehicle in lift mode (highest height) and jack mode, and let it sit to see if any of the corners drop compared to the rest of the vehicle, for a quicker and more precise measurement, after putting the vehicle in lift and jack mode, measure each corner from the ground to the wheel well openings at each front fender and rear quarter panels, then check the next day, or longer to see if one corner is dropping.

Johnny

 

Thanks so much. Will do.

 

Before driving the car (unused for 24 hours) driver side front height is 29 inches as is the passenger front.
After driving for an hour driver's side is 29 7/8 inches and passenger 30 inches.

Setting the height on high and then invoking jack mode, driver's side is up to 30 3/4 inches, passenger side 30 3/4 inches
with the dash showing "Level Fault contact dealer."

Car drives fine in all scenarios.

I will measure again tomorrow after 24 hours and look for "drop."

 

Both front wishbone links were replace 18 months ago, not the struts.
I'm guessing my problem suggests the original struts are going at 17,000 miles.

 

I just wanted to add that I also receive the "Level Fault" error once I place my '08 GT in jack mode. I haven't been able to find more information regarding this, but I don't think it is anything to worry about.

 

But do you feel like the front or rear ends are low when the car is sitting for a day or more?

 

Ok, Mr. Hotspur, here is the follow up:

On high level, jack mode before 24 hours, yesterday, 30 3/4 inch both driver and passenger front
now, 24 hours later 30" inches both sides.

Note after sitting for awhile unused earlier this week, at cold start they were 29 and 29.
After a drive 29 3/4 and 30, and after invoking jack mode high level 30 3/4 both sides with "level fault" showing.
So I got a 3/4 inch drop in the front both sides after 24 hours in jack mode.

Since both sides are measuring the same. In jack mode the compressor is bypassed as I understand.
Or sensor module? It shouldn't drop at all after sitting for 24 hours in jack mode or normal height no jack mode?
Two slow leaks or two deteriorating struts?

 

Anyone?

 

I have not noticed many differences in the height, but I recall perhaps noticing the front sitting a tad lower after last winter's 6-month hibernation. I have not kept such a close eye at it as you are doing. Fall is creeping along here in Sweden, so I will probably not drive the Bentley for more than another month. I will make sure to document the heights once I place it in storage for the colder season.

 

Thank you.

I know the front is heavy. I haven't got any error messages and the car lifts on driving, so I am hoping a 1 inch drop with no use is acceptable.
Every 4 months something goes wrong with this car but hopefully this is not an ominous sign.

 

Hello @tteplitzmd ,
Please be sure to read my EDIT below.

Just for clarification, I read your posts over again and see that you now say the struts were not replaced under two years ago, so they are the factory originals, at nine years old, with 17,000 miles, correct ?

Either way, originals or replacements, I would be spraying some soapy water at the top (under the hood/bonnet) and bottom of each strut, along with spraying the air line going into each strut, and giving all six lines on the valve block at the rear of the vehicle a spray, because, as in jack mode, nothing should drop at all, as the suspension system is shut down completely, therefore no release of air, the level fault message is normal in jack mode.

You have a 2013, so I am not sure how the 13 reacts when the vehicle is shut down and you exit the vehicle, my 2005 GT with a 2007 suspension control module does not have any movement at shutdown of the engine and exiting the vehicle that I have noticed (see edit below), yet, my audi A8L W12 does have a air release and leveling of the vehicle to a resting height right after exit and lock, the whole vehicle lowers to a certain level front and rear, I only mention this incase someone else with a 2013 can tell us of their vehicles behavior at exiting the vehicle.

As to the measurements on my GT, I have the following after sitting for a little more than 32 hours.

Car parked, Engine off, no doors opened, vehicle not accessed at all.

Driver front = 27 3/4"
Passenger front = 27 13/16", so off by 1/16" s to s
Driver rear = 27 3/4"
Passenger rear = 27 3/4"

Now after entering the vehicle and starting the engine I have the following.

Driver front, = same, 27 3/4"
Passenger front, = same , 27 13/16""
Driver rear = 27 1/2" so lowered a 1/4" after startup.
Passenger rear = 27 1/2" so lowered, just as driver side.

My GT is lowered via Ross-Tech VCDS and lowering links, hence the lower height numbers, I also lowered the rear more than the front to give a better stance.

I will do the lift mode and jack mode tonight and report back tomorrow with the numbers.

I must add, my Audi 05 A8L W12 has over 200,000 miles on the factory original struts, same engine minus the turbos, she has been sitting for 37 days, I just did the same measurements as the GT, the Audi after 37 days only lost a minimal amount of height, after entering the vehicle and starting the engine the DF rose 1/8", the PF 3/16", the DR 3/16", the PR 3/16", then after a very short drive, I shut down the engine and exited the vehicle, the measurements were now higher than before sitting in the vehicle after it had lifted to normal height, about a 1/4 of an inch that I could measure on the drivers side before it lowered, so this release of air as I stated above is to bring the vehicle back to its normal height that it added to compensate for my body weight, although it does appear that the resting height is a tad lower than running height, about an 1/8" to 3/16", I also have the A8L lowered via Ross-Tech at 15mm in the front, and 25mm in the rear to get rid of the raked look.

I will double check if the GT releases the air to lower after exit.

EDIT:
I just wanted to add, as I am writing this while testing, I just checked the GT for height variations while sitting in the vehicle with it running, I placed a tape measure outside on the ground up to the top of the mirror, using the dumb end as a scale of movement, at first the vehicle did nothing, it just sat at the lowered height from my body weight, I even put in R N and D, but nothing, then after waiting about 2-3 minutes the vehicle rose to the proper height compensating for my weight, then after I exited the vehicle it lowered after about 30 seconds, with no sound of air as like the Audi, the Audi lowers the second or two after you close the door, and the air release is plenty loud enough to know what it is.

I will add that unlike my Audi, my GT of the same year only has 1/15 of the mileage, and had sat outside for almost 7 years during my rebuild, she came from Long Island NY and went through Sandy there, yet I have no issues with the original struts at all, it seem to me that the newer units are failing sooner, rather then lasting longer, it might have to do with road conditions, pot holes, and or climate, yet my one owner Audi came from the west coast (Cali), and the GT here on the east coast (LI), so @tteplitzmd , can you tell if you have had any adverse conditions that would cause any damage to the struts.

Johnny

.

 

Yes, Johnny, original struts at 17,000 miles. I don't know if the 2013 releases air upon shutdown.
If I understand my numbers, it looks like I got 3/4 inch drop on both sides will retaining jack mode.
over 24 hours. That shouldn't happen right?

 

No, it should not happen...

Johnny

 

My car was in Southern California with the original owner until I purchased it in 2020 at 14,000 miles. Now I've got 17,000 miles, garaged all the time and only a weekend driver.