Parked the car at the local supermarket today and noticed a strong burning smell and smoke coming from the nearside front wheel. Also the car lowered itself quickly while I was stood examining where the smoke was coming from.

Later on while I parked up at the house, there sounded like a pressure release from somewhere at the back of the car.

Any ideas what any of the problems could be?

Cheers

The pressure release is a normal feature as far as I know. Or at least all mine do the same
Regarding the smoke I can be of any help to you mate.

What about the car dropping in height when the engine is switched off?

By how much did it drop?

About an inch or so?

You sounded dramatic, inch is nothing. Not quite sure by how much but I am certain that mine drops when the pressure releases.
Personally I would be concerned more about the smoke...

Coko,

Had the car for almost a year and I have never seen it drop before.

The car is going into the garage with a list of things I want looked at.

1. Knocking from the suspension and general poor ride quality.
2. Smoke and burning from the front wheel.
3. The heating system not working correctly.
4. Will also be asking about the car dropping of its own accord.

even after a year your still very optimistic

1. do some more reading on the forum might be usefull before you get in the garage
2. am interested what will they say, keep us updated please
3. see one 1. mate
4. hmmm, you definitely need some more reading on the forum about experience of other members

but in general I really hope that the garage will sort things out for you

It may be a silly comment but are you sure the smoke is not from the FBH and the fault with your heater is relevent to this.

Unless your car is petrol of course.


Pete Follow Us On Twitter @bellautos

Think it is more to do with the brakes siezing rather than the heater, both rear brakes were seized when it brokedown Dec26th 2008.....looks like the same thing again

As for the heater, it cant maintain a set temp in the car,with no from me adjustments it starts pumping lots of cooler air into the car?

Last edited by Red1903 on Sat Feb 28 2009 9:17pm. Edited 2 times in total

Very good point Pete...

Red 1903

When I had my first RRS, after I parked the car and turned off the ignition I thought it was strange that it hissed and farted and dropped in height sometimes.

I particularly noticed it when it was in may garage. Recently, I had a D3 for a month or so on loan and it did exactly the same, in fact even more so.

Yesterday I took delivery of my new 2009 RRS TDV6 and it does the same again.

Conclusion, its normal air suspension behaviour, don't worry. Gone - 2008 Stornoway Grey RRS 2.7 TDV6
Gone - 2009 Buckingham Blue RRS 2.7 TDV6
Gone - 2010 Alaska White RRS 5.0 V8 Aspirated
Gone - 2017 Chawton White RRS 5.0 V8 Supercharged
Current - 2010 Java Black RRS 5.0 V8 Aspirated
Current- 2024 RRS P400 SE Dynamic

It does seem to be the norm, car did it twice again today

Hey Red

Yep, The squirts & Farts from the Suspension are definately the norm.

As for your smoke, Are you sure it's not just the Fuel Burning Heater (FBH). I also live in North East Scotland and mine usually comes on below 5 degrees. You may already know this, but the FBH is used to help get the engine up to temperature on cold days and it has an exhaust of it's own that comes out in the wheel arch.
It will also keep running after you have turned off the engine after only a short journey. You can usually hear it as well as see the smoke. I've had a couple of people point out the "smoke" from my wheel this winter. If it is the FBH then it's perfectly normal and nothing to worry about.

Anyway hope this helps - and if it's not the answer then I hope you get it all sorted asap.

Cheers  2013 Discovery HSE Luxury - 3.0 SDV6 - Santorini Black
2013 Evoque 5 Door Pure Tech SD4 - Orkney Grey with Panoramic Roof (Mrs E's new baby)

GONE - RRS - 3.0 TDV6 HSE - Santorini (2010)
GONE - RRS - 2.7 TDV6 HSE - Java Black (2007)
GONE - Porsche Boxster S - 3.2 - Black

On Saturday morning at CHPR even though it was 8c somebody (who doesn't have an FBH on his RRS) remarked that there was smoke coming from my car in the CHPR carpark - the car was freshly washed and I think the valeting team must have used icy cold water to rinse, which the outside temperature gauge had sensed and thought "OhOh it must be cold outside, need to start the FBH!)

Compressed air venting from the suspension is normal, even if you have lowered it to access mode you will sometimes still get it. 2020 Pangea Green 1st Edition D240 New Defender 110 is here and loving it
2018 Melting Silver Mini Countryman PHEV - soon to be replaced
2015MY Corris Grey SDv6 HSE Dynamic, the best car I have ever owned, totally reliable only a cou0le of rattles in 3 years, now no longer in my care
Also in my garage is a 1996 TDi300 Defender 90 County HT made into a fake CSW