Suspension fault, random raising and lowering, up and down especially at idle

[czar]

I have an '06 SE with 109k miles, and about 2 weeks ago, it started to randomly rasie and lower the suspension. I do not raise and lower the suspension normally (ony if I hit the switch by accident). The switch operates normally. This issue seems to happen at idle and a pro-longed (or somewhat so) stop. For example, at a stop light (but not a stop sign), idling in the driveway. Today, I was idling for about 10 minutes, and all of a sudden, it lowered, whell by wheel, and the suspension light fault came on a moment later. I rasied it to "normal" level, then lower level, then back to normal. All worked fine, and the light extinguished, and it did not do it again the rest of the afternoon.

Is this the compressor or some type of actuator? I just want to have an idea before I bring it in for service. This LR3 is my wife's DD, and I just want to make sure it's safe since she's got the kids in tow (and herself but I also want to make sure I donlt replace the whole compressor if it's not necessary.

As a side note, how difficult is the compressor replacement? Is this something I can do myself if I am a (fairly) competent mechanic?

 

[tlt]

That's an odd one for sure. It almost sounds as if the switch has gone haywire. Maybe you can find a buddy and swap it out. Driving it on the bump stops is possible, but I would not consider it safe, it won't handle well at all.

Even if the switch was bad, it would not go down wheel by wheel. If you've got NAV perhaps put it in 4x4 screen and see what the 4 wheels look like when it goes haywire. If you plan to take it do a shop anyway, let them read the codes and see what comes up.

Stop Light, what comes to mind is checking the brake light bulbs, you should only use OEM bulbs, and replace the brake light switch anyway if it has not been done. All the early models have a problem with arcing in the switch, which eventually results in numerous lights, warnings and errors and lowering to the bump stops. This normally does not reset without shutting down and restarting. Replace it anyway if you have not done so.

Keep us posted!!

 

[czar]

Ok, this urged out to be just a bad sensor in the driver rear. He checked it for moisture and other damage but it needed to be replaced. He also recommended that both rear sensors get replaced at the same time to avoid any issues. Had this done in mid-November and two months later it's working as it should.

 

[morrisdl]

Same behaviors as mine - started lowering/raising each corner sequentially at stop lights. Replaced both rear sensors fixed mine too at 105k. Mine only would happened when the roads were cold (<40F) AND wet. Either cold or wet was ok, but not both.