L322 suspension question

[QBee]

I have had the car, a 2011 L322 TDV8 Vogue SE, for 8 months now.

As soon as it got cold this autumn I started getting suspension fault warnings on starting the car. They often clear if I turn it off and turn it on again. I usually clear the fault before driving it.
I did read a comment that it wasn’t a problem and just to ignore it.

This evening I drove it half a mile home without bothering to clear the warning.
Upon parking, I noticed quite a loud compressor-like noise coming from the region below the battery, so around the near side front wheel arch.
But I also noticed a small amount of blue grey smoke coming from the driver’s side front wheel arch.

Any thoughts of a technical nature ? I have already had the “bound to be expensive “ thought myself.

[camel_landy]

The smoke might well be the Webasto fuel burning heater, which comes on below 5c.

As for the suspension problem, it's probably the compressor on its way out (they're essentially a consumable item). However, you really need to get it plugged in and diagnosed properly.

M

[f3nns]

I have a 3.6 and these things really dislike an old battery, usually throwing up fault codes for all matter of things.

Could be that?

(oh and the smoke issue is definitely the preheater/webasto. Nowt wrong there - 'they all do that sir'

[QBee]

Thanks both - the pre-heater is new on me - what does it pre-heat please?

The battery was new 2 years ago and is a big AGM type battery.
Yes, I get the silly "Low Battery, please start the car" warnings if I leave the car unlocked for more than 5 minutes.
Yes, when I get back to it the starter turns over like a loony on drugs (which goes well with the drug dealer black on black spec of the car) and it always fires up first time every time.

My local auto-electrician showed me that, with the ingition on but the enging not started, all the eager ECUs are draining 31 amps.
I now lock the car every time I get out of it to turn off the ECUs.

[camel_landy]

QBee said:

Thanks both - the pre-heater is new on me - what does it pre-heat please?

Although it can pre-heat, by default it will just heat.

The Webasto heater is a fuel burning heater, which sits in-line in the cooling system. When it's cold, it will automatically start when you fire up the engine and helps bring the coolant up to temperature sooner. Getting things warmed up sooner means you can get warm air into the cabin sooner and reduces wear on the engine.

The pre bit comes from an optional kit, which includes a pump, remote and timer. This will start the heater (either on a timer or via remote), heat the coolant while circulating it around the engine. Warm coolant means you can also use the heater to heat the cabin, so you gan get into a nice warm car on a cold day.

M