Air Ride Help!!!!!

D

Duck

Well-Known LVC Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2008
Messages
364
Reaction score
6
Location
Fayetteville, AR
1st, let me say that I know less than nothing about the air ride, as this is the first one I have owned. Total Newb!!

Ok, my 93 is flat on the ground, it was that way when I bought it and I just getting a chance to work on it.
1. The check a/s light comes on at once.
2. Plugged in the tester codes were the hight sensors are out of range. OK, its on the ground. Turned off a/r switch.
3. Jacked up the front and let it back down and reran the test. No beeps from the control box, compressor runs until it times out, but the car does not rise, no check a/s light until the time out.
4. Opened the door twice and reran the test. Nothing. No codes, compressor does not run, nothing.

I am at a loss on where to start. Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated.
 
Did you try putting on all of the new parts yet?

If the compressor is going and the car is not going up that makes me think that it is a line problem.
 
Not yet. I thought I would try and trouble shoot a little more 1st.
If it was a line, wouldn't the others try to air up?
 
I went out and jacked up the front, and turned on the key. Noise from the rear, sounds like bags trying to fill, then 2 clicks and check a/r light comes on.
Any ideas?
 
Duck said:
I went out and jacked up the front, and turned on the key. Noise from the rear, sounds like bags trying to fill, then 2 clicks and check a/r light comes on.
Any ideas?
Click to expand...

So you lifted the front and the rears sounded like they were trying to fill but didn't???

Is there a leaking air sound coming from the compressor area or anywhere for that matter?? If it's around the compressor, it could me an air line that is cracked or unhooked, dryer assembly may have dislodged, or the vent solenoid could be bad and stuck in the open position. Also, the solenoids on the bags could be faulty. I'd listen for hissing anywhere, while the compressor is running.
 
Duck said:
Not yet. I thought I would try and trouble shoot a little more 1st.
If it was a line, wouldn't the others try to air up?
Click to expand...

Our cars air up the front two bags first and then the rear two bags last. If one of the lines going to your front bags are leaking then it will effect both when trying to air up, all the lines essentially T together at the dryer assembly. They all have pressure on them when the compressor is running. The solenoid at each bag controls the fill and release of air for each individual bag. But if one of the rear lines is leaking, then it will effect both rear bags.
 
96hotrodlincoln said:
So you lifted the front and the rears sounded like they were trying to fill but didn't???

Is there a leaking air sound coming from the compressor area or anywhere for that matter?? If it's around the compressor, it could me an air line that is cracked or unhooked, dryer assembly may have dislodged, or the vent solenoid could be bad and stuck in the open position. Also, the solenoids on the bags could be faulty. I'd listen for hissing anywhere, while the compressor is running.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, the compressor doesn't run long enough for me to check for leaking.:(
 
Look and listen for leaks.

Listen in the front of the car- the vent relay could be stuck open.
Make sure all four hoses into the compressor are secure.

Put you head in the wheel wells then feel around.
Make sure the lines into the air springs are secure and that there aren't severe leaks in the bags.

Listen in the trunk for the leak, there's an air line that runs across the backseat.
 
:( Replaced the compressor today. No luck!! Nothing, clicks from the rear, compressor doesn't run, a/r message comes on. The compressor I took off looks new and was supposed to be new replacement, so I guess it was.

So back to the drawing board. Anybody have any other ideas?

Thanks,
Duck
 
Try swapping the compressor relay (located on bracket next to compressor) with the ABS relay. (located other side of car in roughly same area, next to ABS pump)
 
93' Blue on blue said:
Try swapping the compressor relay (located on bracket next to compressor) with the ABS relay. (located other side of car in roughly same area, next to ABS pump)
Click to expand...

This was the 1st thing I did. I replaced the relay. Now that doesn't mean the replacement relay is not bad, how could I check it and see?
 
What year is your car? I'm starting to wonder if it's not the Suspension Control Module. Did you check the connections on the control module? It's located on the passenger side kick panel, up under the dash, it has two connectors a black one and a gray one. Make sure those are plugged in firmly. Remove the panel under the dash on the passenger side and you will see the SCM.
 
It just sounds flaky to me, sometimes it comes on, sometimes it doesn't. You've changed the relay so it's not that. Two different compressors, clicking noise would lead to believe the solenoids are at least half-ass working. I'm going with SCM on this one, now the job is finding one and testing. I'm not sure on the compatibility for the 93's. I would say anything 95 or older, but you might want to check on that.
 
Success, well kind of

OK, the car it no longer sitting on the ground. :) I suspected that the compressor would only run with the tester plugged in, so I went out plugged in the tester, turned on the switch, and got out of the car. The compressor kicked on and the rear started to rise. The rear went to normal height and the compressor shut off. No air in the front bags. :(
I realized that I still had the front jacked up, so I am thinking that the sensors are reading the front as too high. I lowered the front, turned on the key and the front aired up!!!!

Problem is, that as the front was airing up, the rear was airing up higher!! :eek:
Man, is it high in the rear. I opened and closed the doors, seeing if the rear would vent, but no luck so far.
 
if the rear is really high, you have a height sensor problem, either one or more is bad, or they are knocked off their mounts, the front has 2, in front of each strut looks like a mini shock, in the rear, its mounted on the driverside control arm, behind the wheel, check those too. and just fyi, the air ride modules are the same from 93-98 so any of them will interchange with all years.
 
All is good!!!!!!!!!

I realized that maybe I need to run the compressor one complete cycle. I go out start the car, compressor cycles, front rises a little, compressor off, no a/r message :D . I shut off the car, get out, close the door, solenoids vent, everything is at the right hight. :D :D
I am a happy guy!!!!!!!!!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

No members online now.
Total: 956 (members: 0, guests: 956)
Back
Top