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S/X: car 'belly-flopped' (air suspension), how to safely raise it

≈ 1 min read
2 source(s)
Drivetrain · AWD, AWD Performance, RWD
Updated · June 9, 2026
Contents

Summary

If the air suspension has deflated and the car sits low, you cannot tow it "head-on": you can damage the bumper or battery. Raise the system first and only then move it.

What to do

  1. Enable Jack Mode (Controls → Service → Jack Mode, with the brake pedal pressed; Towing is a separate item) so the air suspension does not try to auto-level.
  2. Check 12 V: at low voltage the air suspension blocks won't wake up.
  3. External compressor to the service port of the air suspension/reservoir block (see the manual for your model/year): apply moderate pressure and wait for the struts to rise. Tesla's official procedure is dry nitrogen at ~10 bar only, via Toolbox/Service Mode; shop air is explicitly prohibited (moisture/contamination kill the valve block). A household compressor is only an emergency option at your own risk.
  4. If the port is unavailable, raise each strut in turn through the circuit (per the manual).
  5. After raising, set ride height to Very High, install spacers/ramps and carefully move the car.

⚠️ Don't lift the car with a jack without jack pads (battery protection). Don't overheat the strut valves with prolonged air supply.

After

  • Diagnostics for leaks (soapy solution on fittings/air lines).
  • Check height sensors and air suspension block errors.
  • If it sags again, look for the weak point: strut/valve/compressor block/dryer.

Sources

  • tff-forum.dein Germanarchive
    https://tff-forum.de/t/automatisches-absenken-beim-parken-verhindern/29681
  • tesms.org
    https://www.tesms.org/jacking_and_lifting-2649.html
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