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

Summary

If the air suspension has deflated and the car sits low, you cannot tow it "head-on" — you can damage the bumper/battery. The right way is to raise the system 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, 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, air suspension block errors.
• If it sags again — look for the weak point: strut/valve/compressor block/dryer.

Links

• Service Manual (Model S): Air Suspension > Air Spring Module/Reservoir and Compressor.
• Service Manual (Model X): similar procedures.
• Owner discussion (TFF-Forum, German): air suspension lowers itself when parked — a loaded S caught a curb.
  https://tff-forum.de/t/automatisches-absenken-beim-parken-verhindern/29681