Another Check Air Ride Question

Calabrio

Calabrio

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What the hell is wrong with the car?

Replaced the front air struts (came with new solenoids), replaced air springs, new compressor, and I just installed all new O-Rings from Motorcraft on the rear spring solenoids.

I was driving around and the rear end looked low, and twice in the past two days the Check Air Ride message has popped up.

My first guess is to look into the rear solenoids, since they are the only old part left in the system. Do these wear out, and what are the associated symptoms??
 
Yeah, I went around and double checked all the hose connections (in the comressor and into the solenoids).
 
I just replaced the top two 0-rings on the rear solenoids, but now I'm learning that there is a third o-ring that sometimes needs replacing to. I guess it's located behind the orange ring that retains the air line?

What's involved in replacing that and what size o-ring is it?


I figure it must be within the solenoid because everything but the two rear solenoids are new.
 
It keeps doing it-
consistantly when I reach highway speed. After about a minute on the highway, I get the "CHECK AIR RIDE". My guess is that I'm not venting. This is frustrating knowing that I just put in a new compressor just a few hundred miles ago.

Could my compressor/dryer/vent still be good and this problem be related to the rear solenoids?
 
I agree that the rear solenoids are not venting. See about replacing them first as it is the most probable cause. As I have taken my front solenoids off the struts, there are three O-rings on the stem that fits into the strut tower. I would think that the rear solenoids would have the same three O-rings in the same spot. Two located in the middle of the stem and one larger one at the base of the stem. At least that is what the ones form strutmaster looked like.

The orange ring that holds the air line, to my knowledge does not have an O-ring. It is a compression fit connector that holds the line in place.
 
all of the solonoids are interchangeable, well at least on the gen 2's. just a good bit of knowledge i have swapped mine from every bag to every other bag
 
chickenviii said:
all of the solonoids are interchangeable, well at least on the gen 2's. just a good bit of knowledge i have swapped mine from every bag to every other bag
Click to expand...



Good to know...:cool:
 
I'm getting virtually no venting, and it goes off, like clock work, as I'm pulling away on the highway. I'm going to conclude the vent solenoid on the compressor is failing.
 
Calabrio said:
I'm getting virtually no venting, and it goes off, like clock work, as I'm pulling away on the highway. I'm going to conclude the vent solenoid on the compressor is failing.
Click to expand...

Sounds like it!
 
Calabrio said:
I'm getting virtually no venting, and it goes off, like clock work, as I'm pulling away on the highway. I'm going to conclude the vent solenoid on the compressor is failing.
Click to expand...

Sounds like it!
 
I'm having that same issue and I have put new bags, new compressor, solenoids and relay. This week I will be switching out the air ride computer since it's the only thing left.

The only conclusion I could come up with is that I had the leaking problem through the drain in the hood and my blower motor had gotten wet a couple of times and didn't work until I dried it out and fixed that leaking problem. I assume that the same problem is happening with the computer since it's behind the blower motor. (Well that and a couplle members here said that's a problem they have run into as well.)
 
My drier assembly on my compressor somehow got stopped up and the car wouldnt vent... Just a suggestion. I replaced the drier with one from another junk compressor.
 
One way to eliminate the vent solenoid in the compressor would be to extend your height sensor on one of the front wheels and let it pump that side up high. Then remove the air line from the bottom of the solenoid. After you've done that, reattach the height sensor so that the car will vent that wheel because it sees it is too high. The solenoid will open to vent, but now instead of venting through the compressor, it will just vent out of the bottom of the solenoid. The Mark uses the vent solenoid in the pump only because it is quieter, and a common vent for all 4 air lines. With the airline off the solenoid, its going to sound like you have fast bags.
 
Another thing calabrio, when you park your car, do you hear the solenoids click when you shut the door then a hiss? or just the click and no hiss. My car did this, its the solenoids trying to vent, but the air couldnt make it past the drier assembly and to the compressor vent solenoid. I discovered this by removing the drier and putting a vacuum gauge on it... The drier would actually hold vacuum with nothing attached to it, thats how I knew mine was restricted.

Edit: just re-read that you installed a new compressor. A possiblity that maybe the vent solenoid is dead? The method I suggested above should still verify if the rears are venting. I doubt you have a drier problem with a new compressor.
 
DieselDan said:
Another thing calabrio, when you park your car, do you hear the solenoids click when you shut the door then a hiss? or just the click and no hiss. My car did this, its the solenoids trying to vent, but the air couldnt make it past the drier assembly and to the compressor vent solenoid. I discovered this by removing the drier and putting a vacuum gauge on it... The drier would actually hold vacuum with nothing attached to it, thats how I knew mine was restricted.

Edit: just re-read that you installed a new compressor. A possiblity that maybe the vent solenoid is dead? The method I suggested above should still verify if the rears are venting. I doubt you have a drier problem with a new compressor.
Click to expand...

The OP started this thread in Aug of 06 :)
 
DieselDan said:
Another thing calabrio, when you park your car, do you hear the solenoids click when you shut the door then a hiss? or just the click and no hiss. My car did this, its the solenoids trying to vent, but the air couldnt make it past the drier assembly and to the compressor vent solenoid. I discovered this by removing the drier and putting a vacuum gauge on it... The drier would actually hold vacuum with nothing attached to it, thats how I knew mine was restricted.

Edit: just re-read that you installed a new compressor. A possiblity that maybe the vent solenoid is dead? The method I suggested above should still verify if the rears are venting. I doubt you have a drier problem with a new compressor.
Click to expand...

sorry Dan.. my bad
 
Since this thread was bumped, ultimately the problem was the vent solenoid on the car.

Despite being a virtually new compressor, because of the poor design of the system and because I live in an area with high humidity, the moisture had caused problems with the vent solenoid.

I resolved this problem by installing a Spider Valve Extreme.
And fortunately, since the SpiderValve Extreme has a schrader valve that is easy to access, I've been able to inflate the air ride system on several occasions using a compressor after some component failed, despite the legendary "Dependability" that XLRVIII pretends the Air Ride exhibits.
 
Calabrio said:
Since this thread was bumped, ultimately the problem was the vent solenoid on the car.

Despite being a virtually new compressor, because of the poor design of the system and because I live in an area with high humidity, the moisture had caused problems with the vent solenoid.

I resolved this problem by installing a Spider Valve Extreme.
And fortunately, since the SpiderValve Extreme has a schrader valve that is easy to access, I've been able to inflate the air ride system on several occasions using a compressor after some component failed, despite the legendary "Dependability" that XLRVIII pretends the Air Ride exhibits.
Click to expand...



meh, your not even a worthy opponent in a debate...

you cry like a b*tch, and then call me a twat because i called your punkass out for trolling me.

you arent even worth the bandwidth to reply, but i didnt want to dissapoint you....so here ya go trollyboy..

call me some more names and make yourself feel superior
 
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