front bags inflate, but will not raise car

isaiah3g

isaiah3g

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I have no idea what's going on.

I have a 1 month old OEM pass. side air shock and a 2 1/2 year old drivers. O-rings are perfect on both sides and both sides are getting air and venting properly.

Neither side will raise the car. They both inflate, but that's it.

Does anyone have any idea what is happening?
Please, none of the "swap to coils, this is why im on coils" crap. I've heard my fair share of that.

I'm on air for a reason just like your on coils for your reason.
 
Tried swapping another set of solenoids in the front? Have your height sensors came loose or something like that?
 
More detail please. Is the compressor timing out? Check air ride message? Etc?
 
I have another solenoid. That's a good idea.

The sensors are in their correct area.

I hacked the front of the car up some and the front inflated a little more. The compressor is putting out the same amount as the one I just swapped with today (I thought it was burnt b/c it wouldn't come on)
 
Sounds like a bad relay/connector at relay. Have you swapped them? You can swap in the ABS relay for testing, its the same and easy to get to.
 
The compressor will run for the full 90 sec then check air comes on.

I just jacked the rear up and the compressor ran then shut off again after 90 sec. I let it down, nothing, except for the front has dropped all the way again.

I sprayed soapy water at the front solenoids and saw nothing. I did it at the compressor input lines, nothing, all over the front bags, nothing.

I've yet to try with the rear though.

The sensors are neither stretched all the way nor squished all the way down. They were disconnected from their mounts and set where they are during every day use.
 
Where is the relay for this? All of this started about 3 weeks ago. Check air rode came on and I noticed after that my comp was running allot, a whole whom. But why wont the front pick itself up?
 
Well if the compressor is running nicely at full speed and nothing is happening, then the relay is probably fine. So one of these three probably.

• The vent solenoid is stuck open.

• You have a break in a line somewhere, anywhere. Even inside the cabin along the passenger rocker panel.

• Your drier o-ring or interface point at the compressor is cracked. A more common issue in freezing temps up here.
 
I'll check with the solenoids and line tomorrow. I'm just coming inside after working with workings small flashlight.

I checked the O-ring where the drier and compressor meet up, it was fine, as well as the interface.
 
Not solenoids, solenoid. Just to be clear, the vent solenoid on the compressor itself. If stuck open or partially open the compressor will just vent out. This vent solenoid normally opens when the car is venting to a lower position. But if stuck open, you can see the problem.
 
unity said:
Not solenoids, solenoid. Just to be clear, the vent solenoid on the compressor itself. If stuck open or partially open the compressor will just vent out. This vent solenoid normally opens when the car is venting to a lower position. But if stuck open, you can see the problem.
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X 2

Been there before.
 
im going to check as well if anything is clogged.

If I spray that vent solenoid on the compressor with soapy water it should tell me if that's my problem. If it doesn't nothing im putting the old assembly in and going to troubleshoot from there. I can hear the front solenoids opening up when the compressor kicks on.

Would the shocks internally when compressed all the way down bind and keep the car from lifting?
 
What unity said about the vent solenoid, or possibly the compressor is bad. I've had several compressors that would run and pump some air but not enough to raise the car. Is the compressor you put on a known good one?
 
Sees like this guy had the same problem. http://www.markviii.org/htdocs/dc/d...&forum=25&topic_id=34810&mesg_id=34810&page=2

Its not a known good one, just a low mileage one. I'm swapping back to my original one and if still nothing I'll have to break down and buy a new one. This sucks too because im getting married in April and have missed almost a weeks worth of work because of holidays.
Just gotta keep my head up and move on.
 
isaiah3g said:
Sees like this guy had the same problem. [url]http://www.markviii.org/htdocs/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=25&topic_id=34810&mesg_id=34810&page=2[/URL]

Its not a known good one, just a low mileage one. I'm swapping back to my original one and if still nothing I'll have to break down and buy a new one. This sucks too because im getting married in April and have missed almost a weeks worth of work because of holidays.
Just gotta keep my head up and move on.
Click to expand...

Make sure your "Rays Switch" isn't interfering. I have one too but it's not the original from Ray. I haven't had any problems with it but with the way those things wire up in that bunch of wires, while you stand on your head in the floor board, I would check to make sure everything is still connected as it should be and if it's easy for you, disconnect it and then test to see how your system works. I'm thinking weak pump honestly but that means you have tried 2 weak pumps. 2 weak pumps is possible but a Rays switch malfunction is also possible. I really don't use mine that often. Maybe three times every 6 months. I have the updated version but don't know if yours is an original or the same as mine. I'm not saying it's the problem, just saying it could be a culprit! I'm more along the lines of you having a weak pump, even two of them. Just think about how many times you have made that pump raise the car from a slammed stance.:confused: That's another reason I don't slam mine often. It's a lot easier for the pump to get you from parking height, up to drive height. Only you know how hard you have worked that pump.
 
I thought that mightve had something to do with it so me and my handy dandy flashlight checked it out. Everything is properly in as it should be.

I'm biting the bullet and freakin going coils. I hate to do it, man do I hate to. But if im going coils, I'll be the lowest on them. I used my ray switch at a car show early Oct. And once since then 2 weeks ago. Its the one built by Adam.

I have a pass sidefront air shock with no more than 1,000 miles I paid 350+ for.

This sucks.
 
Coils suck. But thats besides the point. The vent solenoid can be cleaned with CLR and water. Wish I had one on hand to take apart and take pics. The compressor is not too hard to work on.

I wonder if the vent solenoid can be blocked to get the car up to ride height, then kill the switch in the trunk for now.
 
isaiah3g said:
I'm biting the bullet and freakin going coils. I hate to do it, man do I hate to.

I have a pass side front air shock with no more than 1,000 miles I paid 350+ for.

This sucks.
Click to expand...

Then don't do it. I think your fix will be cheaper than switching to coils. It's probably something simple and most likely what (unity) is telling you. Bite the bullet and get a compressor from Eddie. Mine came from him and was installed in Jan 2010 and still running strong and quiet. It pumps the car up from a complete slam with only one reset of the "Ray's Switch" and no time outs.
 
chris2523 said:
can he hook an air compressor up to the lines?
Click to expand...

Yes you can, one of the parts cars I have has a Schrader valve that spiders off to each solenoid. There are direct lines running to the solenoids from a switch next to the battery. I just open the valves and hook up an air line.

Granted that was just to move the car around because the bags are shot. But it can be done. I have another compressor/dryer laying in my garage somewhere if you want to try a used one. Or I'd swap a coil conversion for your air ride :D.
 
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