Airride driving me insane.....

[TJKashin]

Well, I replaced the air struts on the front, was doing great for the last few months with that and then VOILA, I hit a bump on the highway the other day and instant "Check Air Ride System" flashes on. The car is up but the compressor stopped kicking on. Every once in awhile over the last couple weeks I start the car and the complressor comes on and jacks the front end of the car into monster truck mode and everything seems fine, then when I get to highway speed, I get CARS message again and go a couple days with that message and no compressor.

The height sensors are all in place, none are off the ball stud mounts.
The whole front end is new, I had replaced the control arms, tie rods/ends, strut rod bushings and had an alignment done about 3-4 months ago as well as putting in new front struts.
I've checked the fuses, I haven't had the time to check the relay for the Air ride though, this is Chicago, it's friggen cold out and I don't have a garage to work in. The compressor does kick on when it wants to though.

I am just going to order the $564 Coil Conversion with new rear shocks from American Air, so I will be putting the air ride parts up for sale to the highest bidder I guess, unless of course there is someone local who has some miracle way to diagnose this problem with out costing me another small fortune. LOL

If anyone has any quick suggestions besides swapping the relays, cause again, I have no where I can work on the car for the most part and will probably be paying my friend to do the swap for me.

THanks in advance....

 

[unity]

Just the fact it goes into front end 4X4 mode means its a sensor most likely. But the other problems point to a relay. If the rest of it is pretty new or in known good condition, thats about it.

The air ride is not a complex system like it may seem. There are some trouble shoot guide that someone will post. I dont have the links.

 

[Roadboss]

You may have a compressor failure due to the vent valve rusted up or frozen due to moisture. You can always turn the air ride off and wait for warmer weather to better analyze the problem (Loose ball studs?), or just replace the compressor with a rebuilt one along with a Spider Valve from American Air.

 

[TJKashin]

I have thought about replacing the compressor, but with the spider valve it will cost more than doing a coil swap, I'm not a purist, I am not attached to the air ride system and the fact that I just put near $1000 into the control arms, tie rods, bearings, brakes and calipers and air struts just makes me shy away from investing any more money into a system that is going to inevitably fail again. If there is anyone in the area (Chicago west burbs) that might have the time and energy and parts such as the relay or sensor to help me out, I'll diagnose it and repair it. I can do the work but don't have the place to do it in this damn weather LOL.

 

[TJKashin]

I'm giving it one more shot with the Airride. I ordered a compressor and relay from American Air, the only thing I might need to search out are ride height sensors all the way around. I'm crossing my fingers.

 

[LSC HUNTER]

I know Laser has a coil conversion kit for sale and maybe even the compressor and relay from his damaged 97. Should look him up I know he is in remove and ship mode right now

 

[Lownslowlsc]

i'm north of chicago but can do the comp free of charge. never did a relay though. can't be that hard though. i have a arnnot comp too. guess i was a bit late responding.

 

[TJKashin]

Unfortunately after a divorce, this is my daily driver so time is not a luxury I have. Thanks for those offers, not complaining at all, just stuck between a rock and a hard place. I did find I have a friend that can let me use the autoshop at the local trade school one night a week, so next week I hope to have gathered all the right parts. Only suspect parts I don't have are the height sensors, but I'll start with the comp and relay and go from there.

Hey, at least I got to keep my Lincoln

Thanks again and cross your fingers