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air suspension wooes

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Posted by: 97quadcam

So my 95 is acting up. After some high water my front end is venting over several hours. New front struts and new rear bags, but I'd like to have some helpful advice as I don't have a lot of time to diagnose the problem as I'm in the middle of a trans swap on a 94 for a friend. Also could have sworn I heard the leak coming from the ps front side...in the general area of the compressor assy. The problem persists with or without the suspension being on.

Thanks in advance for the help. Also what two pins do I connect to have the computer run the self test on the air ride? And what is the order of events that I should be listening for?

Justin

Posted by: JC1994

I'm glad I don't have that problem to worry about any more. went non air ride a year and a half ago and love it.

Posted by: billcu

If you just replaced your airsprings you might have a leak at the solenoid O rings. That could cause air to leak out when the system is off (or on too).

Posted by: 97quadcam

the orings were lubed when installed and the spring installation was nearly 10 months ago. and the fronts were over a year ago. I seems to have been a glitch as now they aren't leaking down. Maybe water/corrosion in one of the valves??? I don't remember all the different parts to this system...since my 97 was swapped to springs when it started acting up.

Posted by: billcu

If you're sure that the airsprings and O rings aren't leaking, I'd look at the solenoid valves too.

Are these new or rebuilt airsprings? Did they come with new solenoid valves?

Posted by: 97quadcam

I'm not too sure. The previous owner had the front strut assy's installed by the ford dealer. So I'm not sure what they are. But I guess I'm "assuming" that they were done correctly. And since all of this occured after nearly drouning the car out in high water...I'm thinking that something in the compressor area took a hit. But to be honest...I need to look at it closely pretty soon, as I do not want to be stranded. So hopefully next week I'll have the opportunity.

Please keep the ideas coming as I will look into them all at my first opportunity.

Justin

Posted by: billcu

If the car drops with the air suspension on or off, I'd check for leaks at the airsprings and solenoid valves. Just spray them with soapy water and look for bubbles. Also spray the tops of the airsprings as I've heard that they can leak there too.

If there is a leak or problem at the compressor, that should show up when the system is on. Does the compressor pump the car up as it should? Is this when you hear a leak?

Posted by: 97quadcam

I hear the leak...or what sounds like air leaking after the compressor turns off. It's slow and seems to stop after a few minutes. Also the car is only dropping over several hours and only when the temp drops outside.

But when the temp stays say above 65 it doesn't fall...just stays to parked height.

I'm telling you guys I have some strange luck with these cars.

Posted by: BLACK SUNSHINE 95LSC

When i removed my air silencer or whatever that thing was from the passenger front fender under aircleaner assembly and the compressor and main valve assembley sit right there. anyway when i barely hit one of those lines i heard a psssss... if you heard a leak in the front passenger it very well could be there. there is all 4 lines for each airbag there and these lines are plastic and crack easily, especially from a fricken stray stone at highway speeds. could just be old age, heat or dry wheater that could crack them, take out fender liner which is easy and if you have not removed air silencer you need to to really get at compressor and distribution valve assembly and those pesky plastic hoses ???

Just a thought, the soapy water a great idea to pinpoint or prove a leak, good luck hope this helps

Posted by: BLACK SUNSHINE 95LSC

I think that you have a line leak with the cold weather. Either a cracked line or a lose connection at pump, valve assembly or solenoid. Get general idea with ears and then use soapy water to pinpoint, I really beleive its at the distribution assembly right next to compressor.... Just a thought only you can pinpiont it, just something to consider or check, good luck keep us updated..

Hang in there on the marks, they are great cars and often go 250,000 with no major trouble, but they are 9-14 years old and used cars require some repair money, BUT SURE BEATS A CAR PAYMENT AND THE DEATH TRAPS MADE TODAY UNDER 30 G'S..

Posted by: 97quadcam

Oh how I know. I have 2 marks and both are my baby's. This 95 has a Cobra longblock in it and has been mostly gone through by yours truely. I will try to get the fender liner out this week and check it as it looks like I may actually have some spare time. I also need to replace the fuel filter so I'll just kill 2 birds here. Thanks for the advice, otherwise I may have to just junk it all for a coil spring conversion like on the 97. I'll let you guys know how it goes.

Justin

Posted by: Rope

I was going to start a new thread but I think I will present my problem here. I put a set of new strut from Strutmasters about a year ago and recently, say a week ago I put new air bags in the rear after about two days my front strut started to leak out and they only leak out when I drive my Mark, when the car sit they don't leak, so when I drive the pump comes on every minute, I suspect the solenoid valves are leaking. oyea, I turn off the switch and bouth side leak out.

can you all give me some opinion.

Posted by: billcu

Soapy water is your friend.

Spray the bags and solenoids and look at where the bubbles are.

Posted by: 97quadcam

...

Posted by: 97quadcam

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLACK SUNSHINE 95LSC

I KNOW THIS SOUNDS OBVIOUS, BUT IF YOU DONT TURN YOUR AIRRIDE SWITCH OFF BEFORE JACKING UP, YOU WILL HEAR A HISS COMING OUT AS YOU JACK UP, IF YOU TURNED OFF, YOUR BAGS ARE SHOT.. GET MOTORCRAFT FROM DEALER 535 EACH FOR FRONT AND 211 FOR REARS FROM DEALER....

Please stop yelling at us.

And yes most of us know this. But thank you anyway.

Posted by: Rope

Here is another problem I notice, when I jack up my car I here a hissing sound coming from the wheel well, as I push the jack handle down I here the hissing sound then it stop, push the jack handle down and there goes the hissing sound and then stop every time I push the jack handle down I here the hissing sound, it is almost like air is leaking out or air is seeping in, did anyone ran across this before, I jack up my car many of time and never notice that tipe of sound before, I am baffal, these frunt struts is about one yere and a half old from Strutmasters.

Posted by: JC1994

sounds like they are leaking around the edges of the bags.

Posted by: BLACK SUNSHINE 95LSC

I KNOW THIS SOUNDS OBVIOUS, BUT IF YOU DONT TURN YOUR AIRRIDE SWITCH OFF BEFORE JACKING UP, YOU WILL HEAR A HISS COMING OUT AS YOU JACK UP, IF YOU TURNED OFF, YOUR BAGS ARE SHOT.. GET MOTORCRAFT FROM DEALER 535 EACH FOR FRONT AND 211 FOR REARS FROM DEALER....

Posted by: mespock

Don't go to the Dealer for bags unless you just have a lot of money to through around... Then if you do send me what you would save after calling or e-mailing Eddie Spinks at American Air Suspension.

Eddie sells manufactured OEM air bags... after market air bags.... and coil conversions...

Buys back your old bags and gives you core charge discount. (which the other aftermarket guys don't do).

Personally if you start replacing bags I'd do the conversion... Air Ride is nice while it last but once it starts to give you problems you are going to be throwing money at the system for a while. Spend the $350 to $450 for a conversion and have no more Air Ride woes...

Posted by: Rope

@BLACK SUNSHINE 95LSC

I have tryed it with the switch on, I didn't here the solenoid click on or off but I here the hissing sound, I also tryed it with the switch off and still here the hissing sound, these strutch isn't that old and they shouldn't go that quick unless there is some kind of defect which may cause the air to hiss, decided to take out the solenoids relube them didn't change the O'rings and still that sound. I let my car sit for two days and no leaks at all, if you think the bags was bad you think it will leak and slam one time or an other when park like the rear was doing but that not the case so far.
The dealer would be the choice, but I don't have that kind of money, it was working find untill I change the rear bag.

@mespock

Beleve it or not, I was told by (JC1994) go springs, but I convince my self to stay with the air ride because I wasn't having any majer problem at the time and now this it really discusses me that these bags isn't that old to go out like that, the pump comes on every minute and it going to be a matter of time for the pump to go out and I hate be in a hell of a position for that to happen to me, and now it look like I'm going to have to put some more money into my air suspention system.

Posted by: JC1994

go non-air ride and leave your troubles behind!! I have absolutly 0 regrets. my car rides better and handles AWESOME!!

Posted by: 1993_M75

To me, I just isn't a Mark VIII without the air suspension. It is one of the unique features that makes the car what it is.

Posted by: Rope

Unique it may be, which I like and decided to keep but when the system start to caust a lot of money, it is time to change, but I'm still hazetating. I hate to let it go but before I do that I will look into it a little bit more before I let it go.

Posted by: JC1994

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1993_M75

To me, I just isn't a Mark VIII without the air suspension. It is one of the unique features that makes the car what it is.

you do what you will with your's, IMO it made the car better than it was with the air ride and that is what I wanted, better than stock.

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