Range Rover Sport Height Sensor Failures: Symptoms and Calibration

The Range Rover Sport uses four ride-height sensors to maintain precise suspension geometry across all driving modes. When one fails, the system loses its reference point. The result: incorrect ride height, warning messages, and compressor overwork that leads to cascading failures.

Short Answer

Height sensor failures on the Range Rover Sport manifest as suspension warning lights, uneven ride height, or the vehicle defaulting to motorway (lowered) mode. The sensor itself is a rotary potentiometer connected to the suspension arm via a plastic drop link. The drop link snaps, the sensor's internal track wears, or corrosion kills the signal. Replacement is straightforward but calibration via JLR SDD/Pathfinder is mandatory — without it, the system cannot accurately map sensor voltage to ride height position.

What You'll Learn

• How the height sensor system works across L320, L494, and L461 Range Rover Sport generations
• The three most common failure modes and how to distinguish between them
• Why aftermarket sensors without calibration cause more problems than they solve
• The correct calibration procedure and why it requires factory-level tooling
• How height sensor faults interact with the compressor, valve block, and air springs

Real-World Scenarios

Case 1: 2016 Range Rover Sport L494 — "Suspension Fault" After Pothole

Owner reported a persistent "Suspension Fault" message after hitting a pothole at speed. The vehicle sat level but the dashboard warning would not clear. A general garage replaced the front-left air spring — £680 fitted — with no change. We connected SDD and ran live data on all four height sensors. The front-left sensor was outputting 0.3V regardless of suspension position. Normal range is 0.5V to 4.5V. Physical inspection revealed the plastic drop link had snapped cleanly at the ball joint. The sensor itself was fine. A £22 drop link, fitted in 20 minutes, followed by a full height calibration resolved the fault entirely. The air spring the other garage replaced was perfectly functional.

Case 2: 2014 Range Rover Sport L494 — One Corner Dropping Overnight

Classic air leak presentation. The vehicle dropped at the rear-left overnight and the compressor ran for 30 seconds on every start-up. Standard diagnosis would point toward a leaking air spring. We performed a full leak-down test: all four springs held pressure. Live data showed the rear-left height sensor was reading 12mm lower than actual measured height. The sensor's potentiometer track had worn, creating a dead spot in exactly the range corresponding to standard ride height. The suspension module thought the corner was low and kept adding air, then venting the excess on shutdown. Sensor replacement and calibration fixed it. Total cost: £145 versus the £900+ quoted for an unnecessary air spring.

Case 3: 2019 Range Rover Sport L494 — All Four Sensors Drifting After Battery Replacement

A local garage replaced the battery without performing a CAN bus power-down procedure. The suspension control module lost its stored calibration values. The vehicle sat 20mm high at the front and 15mm low at the rear. No fault codes stored. Without SDD, there was no way to identify the problem — the sensors were physically fine but the calibration data was corrupt. A full four-corner calibration on level ground restored correct operation in under 30 minutes.

Why Inspection and Diagnostics Matter

Height sensor faults are routinely misdiagnosed. The symptoms overlap heavily with air spring leaks, compressor failure, and valve block faults. Without live data from factory-level diagnostics, a technician is guessing. And guessing on a JLR air suspension system is expensive.

At Nine Torque, we run live sensor voltage readings on all four corners simultaneously, compare them against measured physical ride height, and perform dynamic tests — raising and lowering each corner individually while monitoring the sensor response curves. This isolates whether the fault is the sensor, the wiring, the drop link, or the control module itself.

Calibration is not optional after any height sensor replacement. The sensor voltage-to-height mapping is unique to each vehicle due to manufacturing tolerances, spring wear, and load distribution. Installing a new sensor without calibrating it is like fitting a speedometer without setting the tyre size — the readings will be wrong from day one.

If your Range Rover Sport is displaying suspension warnings, sitting unevenly, or the compressor seems to run more than it should, contact us for a proper diagnostic assessment before authorising any parts replacement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I drive with a faulty height sensor?

Short-term, yes. The system will default to a safe ride height. Long-term, no. The compressor will overwork trying to compensate for incorrect readings. A £145 sensor fault becomes a £1,200 compressor replacement within months.

Are aftermarket height sensors reliable?

The sensor itself is a simple potentiometer — aftermarket units are generally adequate. The critical factor is calibration after fitting. Without SDD/Pathfinder calibration, even a genuine JLR sensor will give incorrect readings.

How long does a height sensor calibration take?

The calibration itself takes 10-15 minutes per corner. The vehicle must be on level ground, at correct tyre pressures, and unloaded. Including diagnostics and physical inspection, budget one hour for a single sensor replacement and calibration.

Do all Range Rover Sport models use the same height sensors?

No. The L320 (2005-2013), L494 (2014-2022), and L461 (2023+) use different sensor types and mounting configurations. Part numbers are not interchangeable. The calibration procedure also differs between SDD (older models) and Pathfinder (2018+).

Can a height sensor fault cause the air suspension to lock out entirely?

Yes. If the suspension control module detects implausible readings from two or more sensors simultaneously, it will disable the system entirely and drop to bump stops. This is a safety measure to prevent the vehicle from raising to an unsafe height. Recovery requires factory diagnostic intervention — there is no manual override.