Wheeler Dealers mechanic warns vital component could ‘deteriorate’ this winter

Marc Priestley has issued a vital warning to motorists (Image: Discovery)

Wheeler Dealers’ host Marc Priestley has warned petrol and diesel cars "could sink" due to an issue with a vital component many will be unaware of. 

Marc admitted that “deteriorating” O ring rubber seals could “clog up” valves and present a major threat to cars with hydraulic suspension systems.

Particles could prevent the valves from properly sealing, ensuring hydraulic pressure cannot be sufficiently maintained. 

This could affect the ride height of vehicles fitted with an air suspension or hydropneumatic suspension and may appear as if cars are sinking into the ground.

Valve blocks control the distribution of pressurised air inside the vehicle, deciding how quickly air can inflate or deflate.

Costly suspension components could become damaged (Image: Getty)

The tool is responsible for regulating the air pressure in the springs, which in turn is responsible for controlling the vehicle's ride height.

Speaking on a previous episode of Wheeler Dealers, Marc explained: “Each valve block assembly has four of these electronically controlled solenoid valves in it. 

“Two of them control the car's ride height by lengthening that suspension leg. Two of them are locking valves that lock that ride height in place once that system's switched off. 

“Now what happens over time is these little rubber seals, these O rings begin to deteriorate and tiny particles or fragments come away and find their way into the hydraulic system. 

“That’s all it can take to clog up the valve and prevent it from sealing. And when that happens of course the hydraulic pressure seeps away and the car can sink.”

Suspensions can be expensive to fix with replacement systems costing anywhere between £200 and £5,000. Actual fees will depend a lot on the type of vehicle, how many parts need replacing and the quality of the pieces owners decide to buy.

Air suspension experts at Arnott Europe previously explained the valve block was a “small but significant" component. 

They warned motorists who notice their vehicle is positioned lower in one or more corners may have an issue with the system which needs to be fixed. 

They commented: “Over time the solenoid valves in the valve block can become sticky or blocked by small particles that have circulated through the system when operating. 

“For example, when an [ageing] compressor breaks down, the valve block can consequentially become damaged too. Due to overheating, small metal particles can block the solenoid valves and disturb the air distribution.”