So let’s say you have a friend, relative, or acquaintance who is on the heavier side of heavy. You and your significant other pull up in your new Cadillac XTS to pick him and significant other up for a night on the town. All’s swell until he gets in the back seat behind the passenger, at which point the Caddy sinks like a stone, nearly placing the right rear wheel well on the tire right rear tire. He is that heavy. Now, all four of you do the crab-like sideways crawl drive to dinner in a lob-sided XTS… right? Wrong, thanks to the Automatic Level Control rear suspension.
Standard on all XTS models, the automatic level control rear suspenders provide a better-leveled riding position as well as better handling under a variety of passenger and loading conditions.
The system works thanks to an air compressor that’s connected to the rear air springs. It’s this compressor that raises or lowers the rear of the XTS to maintain proper vehicle height. A tell-tale sign that the system is raising the XTS is the somewhat-noticeable noise made by the air compressor when it’s in action. So, when your buddy gets in and you hear a quiet motor while the car’s rear end raises, you know it’s the Automatic Air Springs at work. Pretty nifty, right?
A few things to know about the air Automatic Control Feature:
- The system is active only when the engine is running, automatically adjusting vehicle height as needed.
- The system may exhaust (lower vehicle height) for up to 10 minutes after the engine has been turned off. You may hear the air compressor operating when the height is being adjusted.
- If the vehicle is not used for several weeks, the rear of the vehicle may look low. The proper height is automatically restored when the engine is started.
- If a weight-distributing hitch is being used, it is recommended to allow the air springs to inflate, thereby leveling the vehicle prior to adjusting the hitch.
- If the compressor runs often for longer than one minute within the same trip and the vehicle remains low in the rear, see your dealer to service the system.
Comments
Air springs or air shocks???
Hopefully shocks as their failure doesn’t leave the rear of the car on the ground like an old Towncar.
Air springs, according to Cadillac.
Air springs. MR shocks. The shocks do leak fluid pretty badly. The springs don’t fail often but the compressors do and the car will be low in the rear but drivable.
Extremely old technology… Lincolns enjoy it for decades, you can see this technology in real life if you take a look at oldest town car in town!
Hello, I have an issue with mine, the rear driver side some times are lower than the others and the dealer has no clue how to solve it, and he keep saying change this and change that, any body can help diagnosing the issue? mine is 2016 with 24K miles
Thank you
The factory service manual has plenty of info regarding ride height and adjustments. Apparently, whomever is working on your car is either unqualified, illiterate, or both.
Sounds like it’s time to find a new service department that doesn’t throw parts at a problem, (on your dime) they can’t figure out.
The entire system is a disaster in waiting and very finicky. The side to side leveling aspect is the toughest aspect to fix. Often replacing both of the rear ride height sensors and performing the trim height learn will remedy. This has been recommended by GM technical assistance on vehicles where the sensors are reading and no apparent errors are found but the car still won’t sit right. Good luck.
Bought a 2017 Certified Pre-owned XTS. Had it since March 2018. The entire rear shock/compressor system went out while my wife was driving it. Fortunately it dropped in the school parking lot where she teaches. Fortunately, it is covered under the certified pre-owned warranty.
I also have a 2016 XTS prem lux v sport I bought used w 15k miles. 5k miles later leaning to left when parked and compresser running excessively. Diagnosed bad air shock by Cadillac dealer not covered by my CPO warranty. The gave me a discounted price for 900.00 to fix. Sounds like a bad deal
I had a new set of rims and tires put on my 2014 XTS Platinum V Sport, soon after I had issues. The rear would lay down after I would pull out of a steep drive way. after a wrecker would tow it to the shop and take it off the flat bed, it would rise up back to normal driving height. No leaks in the lines or air springs .Compressor works fine. It did give me the codes C056D C0712 C0800
still need help with this issue
I own a 2014 Cadillac xts. The rear suspension airbags air fully inflated. Happened after having a full load in the trunk. 2 big coolers 4 suitcases and clothes in the back seat. After getting to my destination I emptied everything out of the car ,but rear has not readjusted. The ride is real stiff. Help please
Hi i would like to no where the air pump supply for a self leveling is located on a 2000 Cadillac Seville at and how do you change it out i would like to see pic on it thank you
I have a problem, my 15 XTS hits very hard in the rear of the car periodically. My car would lower automatically at stop lights, now it does not. I can hear the air pump, after I start the car in the morning so it is working.