These instructions apply to the Porsche Macan Mk1 (95B) 2014-Present.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
If your Porsche Macan (2014–present) — the 95B — is fitted with the optional air suspension, you should switch it into jacking mode before you raise the car on a trolley jack or a lift. Air suspension continuously self-levels: it senses ride height and adds or releases air to keep the body sitting where it should. That is exactly the wrong behaviour while the car is going up on a jack, because the system will fight the lift — pumping air in or bleeding it out as the height sensors read the change — which can strain or damage the struts, lines and the compressor. Jacking mode tells the car it is deliberately being lifted so it stops levelling and stays put. It is a simple owner button sequence with no tools required, and it is a normal part of routine maintenance such as changing a wheel or getting under the car.
Why This Matters
Air suspension constantly adjusts ride height. While jacking, that’s dangerous — the system can pump air in or out under the lift. Jacking mode locks it so it stays put. It also means the height sensors don’t log a fault from seeing an impossible ride-height reading while the wheels are off the ground, so the car behaves predictably as you lift and lower it.
Getting Ready
- Park on firm, level ground — a solid floor or driveway, not soft or sloping ground.
- Make sure the car is fully stationary with the parking brake applied.
- Confirm your Macan actually has air suspension — steel-spring cars have no levelling system and don’t use this mode.
- Have your correct jack or lift positioned ready at the proper jacking points before you start the sequence.
- Keep the ignition on as the procedure requires, but the engine does not need to be running to set the mode.
Activating Jacking Mode
- Park on level ground; the car must be stationary.
- Turn the ignition on.
- Press and hold the ‘High Level’ ride-height button for at least 10 seconds.
- The display shows ‘Levelling system switched off’ — the suspension is now locked for jacking.
- Raise the vehicle at the correct jacking points.
If It Won’t Switch Off
- No message appears — make sure you held the High Level button for the full 10 seconds; a brief press just changes ride height instead of disabling levelling.
- The car keeps re-levelling — check it is genuinely stationary with the ignition on; the mode won’t engage if the car thinks it is being driven.
- You can’t find the button — on steel-sprung Macans there is no ride-height control at all, which means there is no levelling to disable and no jacking mode to set.
- A suspension warning is already showing — an existing air-suspension fault can block the mode; resolve the fault first (see aftercare).
Afterwards
- Lower the vehicle and let the suspension re-level before driving (it reactivates when you drive off, or repeat the button to switch levelling back on).
- Watch the car settle to its normal ride height and confirm no warning remains before setting off.
- A persistent suspension warning can store a code — look it up on autodtcs.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need jacking mode to lift my Macan?
Only if it has the optional air suspension. On those cars, yes — switch the levelling off first so the system doesn’t fight the jack or lift. Steel-sprung Macans have no levelling system and can be raised at the proper jacking points without any special mode.
How do I activate it?
With the car stationary and the ignition on, press and hold the High Level ride-height button for at least 10 seconds until the display reads ‘Levelling system switched off’. That confirms the suspension is locked and you can raise the car at the correct jacking points.
What if I jack it without doing this?
The self-levelling system may try to re-level under the jack, adding or releasing air as the height sensors read the lift. That is unsafe, can shift the car on the jack, and can strain or damage the air-suspension components, so it is worth the few seconds to set jacking mode first.
My Macan has steel springs — do I need this?
No. Only air-suspension cars have the levelling system that jacking mode disables. If your Macan rides on conventional steel springs there is nothing to switch off; simply lift it at the correct jacking points as you would any car.
How do I turn levelling back on?
In most cases the system reactivates automatically once you lower the car and drive off. You can also press the ride-height button again to switch levelling back on manually. Either way, let the car settle to its normal height before driving.
Why does the ride height matter while lifting?
The height sensors constantly compare the car’s position with a target. With the wheels off the ground they read an extreme value and the system reacts, which is both pointless and potentially damaging. Jacking mode freezes that logic so the suspension holds still throughout the lift.
If an air-suspension fault appears, our sister site autodtcs.com can help you decode it.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Porsche. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.