My New Headache
- Thread starter Glorywagon
- Start date
Glorywagon
Well-Known LVC Member
Thank all I took it to a local shop that I deal with all the time to look at it. Sorry for loosing my temper yesterday.
So here what I decided let Dave Check it over .If it cost over $400.00 to fix it it will be converted.Dave has been in bissness for 20 plus years and has everything to check it.
Now I will net be posting any more on this subject.Thank You ALL. Sorry unity but I did have it checked by Lincoln.
I'm gone
So here what I decided let Dave Check it over .If it cost over $400.00 to fix it it will be converted.Dave has been in bissness for 20 plus years and has everything to check it.
Now I will net be posting any more on this subject.Thank You ALL. Sorry unity but I did have it checked by Lincoln.
I'm gone
If your buddy has the Rotunda Star or Rotunda Star II tester it will run the air ride diagnostics...
Also, that relay I pictured above is going for 20.00 on ebay right now from a known and trusted seller {I have purchased many items from him)
Compressor is 150.00 ish dollars and may very well solve all the problems you are having, IMHO 150.00 compressor and a 20 dollar relay is much better than spending 400.00 on converting to springs.
No need to apologize for loosing your temper, I can guaratee that 99% of us here on this board have "been there, done that".
Please update this thread with what you find out..
for 1.. to solve the curiosity of those that "tried to help you.
2, your experience could very well help solve a future users frustration by helping them solve "their issue".
hang in there bro, it aint all that bad.
DONT JUMP!
(lol)
Also, that relay I pictured above is going for 20.00 on ebay right now from a known and trusted seller {I have purchased many items from him)
Compressor is 150.00 ish dollars and may very well solve all the problems you are having, IMHO 150.00 compressor and a 20 dollar relay is much better than spending 400.00 on converting to springs.
No need to apologize for loosing your temper, I can guaratee that 99% of us here on this board have "been there, done that".
Please update this thread with what you find out..
for 1.. to solve the curiosity of those that "tried to help you.
2, your experience could very well help solve a future users frustration by helping them solve "their issue".
hang in there bro, it aint all that bad.
DONT JUMP!
(lol)
Just for conversations sake... the folks here on this board have more experience with these cars than the techs at "Lincoln".
We deal with them "everyday.. all day"..whereas some of the "lincoln techs" probably got their jobs long after the mark 8 had come.. and gone.
I dont trust a Lincoln Dealership to do anything other than "sell a new car".
I danged sure wouldn't trust them to "properly diagnose" a 10+ year old car.
Trust your friends here on LVC, JUST SAY NO TO STEALERSHIPS!
mespock
Marxists - Socialists
Exactly... I've been lucky all three of my Mark VIII have been great runners. My 95 was purchased with 18,000 miles, my 94 with 128,000 miles and my 93 with 159,000. No major problems just typical wear and tear except for the Deer Damage that Scott9050 and 94m5 took car of for me on my 94, and the TC on my 95. The Mark VIII is a great car..
Again well said... I've took my Mark VIII to a dealer once and the tech was like oh one of those.. get something newer. Then again he was only about 24 years old maybe..
chicken
SHEOOOOOOOOT
even i agree with this (9 year ford tech) in my area markviii's were never really popular, so they are few and far between, i only see one every few months (if that) they are a very particular car, and if you dont know all the tricks then you can and will miss something. give me a taurus and i can find every little thing wrong with it, ask midwestbird (my parts guy) he says i have a taurus up sell stamp, then i tell him/cust/service writer/whoever, "if you dont believe me i can show you every failed component"
Glorywagon
Well-Known LVC Member
O k here what Dave found at the shop. The susp. module tha Jamie sent me was bad. Thats why the car would not air up. He installed the old susp. module and the car aired up.
The compressor is working but is not venting.
So the compressor need replacing he said.
The compressor is working but is not venting.
So the compressor need replacing he said.
Compressor is an easy job, normal handtools and about a half an hour will get you up and running.
if I remember correctly you only need an 8MM socket and a screwdriver to do the job.
I wouldn't pay more than 1 hour labor for someone else to do a job that I can do in 30 minutes.
Paying 1 hour labor is worth not having to perform 30 minutes of labor yourself..IMHO.
So if your mechanic can install the compressor for 1 hour labor or less..then I'd just "GO FOR IT".
if I remember correctly you only need an 8MM socket and a screwdriver to do the job.
I wouldn't pay more than 1 hour labor for someone else to do a job that I can do in 30 minutes.
Paying 1 hour labor is worth not having to perform 30 minutes of labor yourself..IMHO.
So if your mechanic can install the compressor for 1 hour labor or less..then I'd just "GO FOR IT".
Glorywagon
Well-Known LVC Member
I have the car home not fixed yet. Here is what we know now .
All sensors are good and getting fire. The Susp module that I installed was bad thats why it dropped to the ground. Installed the old Susp. module and it aired right up.So that put me back to ground zero.
We are getting fire to the sensor that works the vent. But the vent is not working. Cost today $90.00 so total $180.00 still not bad I can at least drive the car again.
Now1- I just need to install new compressor or 2- Convert it over. Leaning to new Compressor 3-Maybe just drive this way.
I might have my comp Im willing to send you.
As far as kits, I dont have anything planed to produce the brackets because of cost of metal, it would make the cups rediculously(sp) expensive but if someone wants a set they would be in the $600 range. and I'd need a set of lower C arms, preferably not from ebay. and thats just for the front.
the rear cups you can buy off shelve generic for S-10 front cups and make them work easy.
Fast bags are not for the novice fabricator on this car. honestly it was a B!TCH to get the 14" front cups correct. and be able to run a shock.
The rear was cakewalk I did the rear in 2 hours including plumping the valves and wiring them up.
I can offer you guideness for free if anyone is interested in the conversion.
As far as kits, I dont have anything planed to produce the brackets because of cost of metal, it would make the cups rediculously(sp) expensive but if someone wants a set they would be in the $600 range. and I'd need a set of lower C arms, preferably not from ebay. and thats just for the front.
the rear cups you can buy off shelve generic for S-10 front cups and make them work easy.
Fast bags are not for the novice fabricator on this car. honestly it was a B!TCH to get the 14" front cups correct. and be able to run a shock.
The rear was cakewalk I did the rear in 2 hours including plumping the valves and wiring them up.
I can offer you guideness for free if anyone is interested in the conversion.
Glorywagon
Well-Known LVC Member
Was looking at repair manual and it says I need to remove the front bumper cover. The shop says its a 3 hour job to replace the compressor or you know a trick to it. Danny
Glorywagon
Well-Known LVC Member
Decision made I ordered conversion kit from Eddie at American air susp.
Reason I drive a lot on gravel roads a lot.and the conversion kit has life time warranty. And my son in law will fix it for me
Thank You all. Danny
Edit/Delete Message
Wife had a lot to say about it also.
Reason I drive a lot on gravel roads a lot.and the conversion kit has life time warranty. And my son in law will fix it for me
Thank You all. Danny
Edit/Delete Message
Wife had a lot to say about it also.
ford nut
Local nut case
Decision made I ordered conversion kit from Eddie at American air susp.
Reason I drive a lot on gravel roads a lot.and the conversion kit has life time warranty. And my son in law will fix it for me
Thank You all. Danny
Edit/Delete Message
Wife had a lot to say about it also.
Hats off Danny you did your best to fix it......call Jamie I am sure he will do something about the bad module he is a stand up guy.
These dam cars can be a pain.
Coils are ok I have them in my 93.... I have no air ride problems EVER.
Glorywagon
Well-Known LVC Member
Hats off Danny you did your best to fix it......call Jamie I am sure he will do something about the bad module he is a stand up guy.
These dam cars can be a pain.
Coils are ok I have them in my 93.... I have no air ride problems EVER.
You know sometime things just wear out in a 13 year old car expecly if there rubber. I wasn't trying to restore it just make it drivable . After all it was an old $1300.00 dollar car. (now $1800.00) Its kinda like me old and taird. thanks all Danny
For future reference.. the bumper cover does not need to come off.
That is how Stealerships STEAL EXTRA MONEY from you.
It's a 30 minute job, you take the passenger front tire off.
Drop the inner splash sheild 5-6 screws.. and wala.. the pump is right there.
Unbolt 4 8mm bolts and one electrical plug, disconnect the 4 air lines.. and bam the compressor is in your hand.
I've done compressor jobs on the side of the road, at the dragstrip and at the shopping mall.. it's roughly as hard as "changing a tire".
Sorry to hear you've tossed in the towel on such a minor EASY job.
Be forwarned that there are OTHER mechanical GREMLINS with these cars that ARE NOT as easy to fix as the Air ride.
Short list
second gen blend door
first OR second gen heater core
and... the one that most people really hate.. FUEL PUMP.
your car could be fixed for as little as 150.00.. but feel free to spend 3 times that much, so long as it gives YOU a warm fuzzy feeling.
IMHO I wouldn't spend 400.00 + labor for install.. to circumvent an EASY job like replacing the compressor.
Hell... my 100LB girlfriend removes, and rebuilds (from junk parts) the compressors and never breaks a fingernail.
no.. most of the time ALOT of things wear out, that's "just the way it is".
Glorywagon
Well-Known LVC Member
We have put heater cores in my 88 TC .Not no big deal on fuel Pump .
I didn't go with the air ride because it was hard or easy to change the compressor.I'm gonna travel a little in this car and I don't want to be setting beside the road with this problem. The ride would have been nice but hell I drove a ruff riding semi truck for 40 plus years so it can't be that bad. So why should I have to wonder if it gonna brake down.
Sorry I didn't do it your way but after all it is my car right.And I do thank you for all your HELP.I'm only sorry that I didn't do this first I would have been $180.00 ahead.
Take Care Friend Danny
Danny, I agree it's your car.. and you can do what you will with it.
I was only hoping to steer you in the "correct" direction, which might not always be the "cheapest or easiest" direction.
on my 95 mark 8 I got 200K out of the original air ride and 200K out of the replacement bags I put in the car.
Never, not on a single occasion in 400K miles did my car "strand me" with an air ride problem.
reason being, I didn't "ignore" trouble signs and promptly corrected issues as they arose, rather than "waiting/procrastining" until the system simply self destructs due to neglect.
I feel your air ride wasn't "self desctructing" it just "needed some attention".
If you think putting coil springs on the car will be an "forever solution" your mistaken.
Be it Tbird coil springs or Air ride.. you are going to have to replace them at sometime.. I consider my 200K a "end of life" for either system.
thinking about the springs.. usually they are merley Tbird parts.
I wonder if the "lowered coil sping conversions" aren't simply v-6 Tbird springs.
Mark 8's are signifinaly heavier than Tbirds in most cases...
Would "I" want springs from a lighter car in my car? absolutley not.
and.. just because "the parts fit the holes" doesnt mean they are correct.
again, this is my opinion based on nearly a half a million Mark 8 miles.
I was only hoping to steer you in the "correct" direction, which might not always be the "cheapest or easiest" direction.
on my 95 mark 8 I got 200K out of the original air ride and 200K out of the replacement bags I put in the car.
Never, not on a single occasion in 400K miles did my car "strand me" with an air ride problem.
reason being, I didn't "ignore" trouble signs and promptly corrected issues as they arose, rather than "waiting/procrastining" until the system simply self destructs due to neglect.
I feel your air ride wasn't "self desctructing" it just "needed some attention".
If you think putting coil springs on the car will be an "forever solution" your mistaken.
Be it Tbird coil springs or Air ride.. you are going to have to replace them at sometime.. I consider my 200K a "end of life" for either system.
thinking about the springs.. usually they are merley Tbird parts.
I wonder if the "lowered coil sping conversions" aren't simply v-6 Tbird springs.
Mark 8's are signifinaly heavier than Tbirds in most cases...
Would "I" want springs from a lighter car in my car? absolutley not.
and.. just because "the parts fit the holes" doesnt mean they are correct.
again, this is my opinion based on nearly a half a million Mark 8 miles.
Glorywagon
Well-Known LVC Member
Yes and you and Your mark has been blessed. Then the next guy will tell ya they have had lots luck with springs.
I did go with my mechanic he said if I was gonna keep the car Convert it over .Not that he knows everything but I do trust him.
My soninlaw said it will only cost me a six pack or two to install it.
And final but NOT LAST THE WIFE SAID JUST BUY THE DAM SPRINGS. I'm happy she's happy and if it was right or wrong its done. and thank you again. Danny And thats all I got to say on this post.
I did go with my mechanic he said if I was gonna keep the car Convert it over .Not that he knows everything but I do trust him.
My soninlaw said it will only cost me a six pack or two to install it.
And final but NOT LAST THE WIFE SAID JUST BUY THE DAM SPRINGS.
I'm happy she's happy and if it was right or wrong its done. and thank you again. Danny And thats all I got to say on this post.Glorywagon
Well-Known LVC Member
Thank you all for buying my parts. My IRS check $600.00
96hotrodlincoln
Dedicated LVC Member
Alright guys
We've been through this time and time again, some guys just don't want the worry of having the air ride go out. Those systems can be pretty unpredictable at times, especially if you're not all that familiar with them. Not to mention that when they break, it is somewhat expensive to repair.
I have a 96 on 1.5" lowered coils and a 97 on air, I like the handling of the coils on the 96, gives it a little bit more of a sports car feel. I also, like the smoothness of the ride on the 97 with the air, not to mention the "Ray Switch" so I can slam it.
What it comes down to is a matter of comfort. The comfort of knowing that you don't have to worry about the air ride just suddenly going out. I worry about the 97 all the time, just wondering when it's going to start causing me problems and if I'll have the extra money laying around to fix it quickly. It is my daily driver after all. Once I have the 96 fixed back up, I won't worry so much cause I'll have another car to fall back on, but until then, I will continue to hope that it works error free.
It's a tough decision to make, air or springs, but then again it was Glory's decision, quit giving him such a hard time over it.
If you like air, then keep it, but keep it to yourself, we get tired of hearing the arguments back and forth about it.
We've been through this time and time again, some guys just don't want the worry of having the air ride go out. Those systems can be pretty unpredictable at times, especially if you're not all that familiar with them. Not to mention that when they break, it is somewhat expensive to repair.
I have a 96 on 1.5" lowered coils and a 97 on air, I like the handling of the coils on the 96, gives it a little bit more of a sports car feel. I also, like the smoothness of the ride on the 97 with the air, not to mention the "Ray Switch" so I can slam it.
What it comes down to is a matter of comfort. The comfort of knowing that you don't have to worry about the air ride just suddenly going out. I worry about the 97 all the time, just wondering when it's going to start causing me problems and if I'll have the extra money laying around to fix it quickly. It is my daily driver after all. Once I have the 96 fixed back up, I won't worry so much cause I'll have another car to fall back on, but until then, I will continue to hope that it works error free.
It's a tough decision to make, air or springs, but then again it was Glory's decision, quit giving him such a hard time over it.
If you like air, then keep it, but keep it to yourself, we get tired of hearing the arguments back and forth about it.
poniesviii
Dedicated LVC Member
I think that car'll be sold by years end, with or without coils.
Glorywagon
Well-Known LVC Member
(Bets on) I don't sale cars I just drag them out in the field and let them rust away.I have 4 Lincolns inthe field 2 under the carport and one in the drive way.
plus I have a 1970 deville under the tarp.2 -1985 300zx's one turbo and one non turbo.in the shop here.
81 Mark VI I'm restoring 2 door coupe.98,000 miles
88 TC 120,000 miles driver
95 Mark VIII 124,000 miles my wife drives
96 jeep beater car
I don't sale cars When I get done with them I crush them.This is the end of the line for my cars.And I will fix the car .You can ask Eddy the conversion kit will be here on the 20 th.