Str|der
New LVC Member
Hello Everyone,
Though I just recently actually joimed as a member I have been reading the forums for over a year and a half. Stupidly, dont know why i thought tech sup at Arnott would be any better than the forums, but I have learned my lesson. I am posting this on the two main forums I read about my lincoln, Linconvscadillac aND Lincolns Online.
I have a 1995 Lincoln Continental. Was a great car at first but then the front air springs went out. The cheapest alternative to replacing the air springs was the coil convertion.
1st did the coil conv frt what a mess and i can't even return them....
conti on lift for over 6-8 mths... well i'll just skip this part for now, if anyone wants to know about that message me.
After the spring conversion failed and the conti was sitting on a lift for about 6 months, I decided to order two air springs and a new compressor, mine was still good but could tell it was getting old from Arnott Industries. When they arrived the air springs looked great and the material felt stronger than the original, well at least 11 year old originals<G>. First problem my machanic couldn't get the top bolt off. He even put a small groove on the struts shaft where he was trying to hold it still to get the top nut off. I called Arnott's tech support and they said to only turn it a little at a time, try to stop before the shaft starts to spin. Great advice that worked, wish they had included it in their manual. Called back and asked if the groove would be a problem and the lady I talked to asked the owner and he said that it would be no problem. I was relieved.
My mechanic continued to work on the front air bags but he just couldn't get the airbags to slide over the two new O-rings and go over the strut. I even helped one of us holding the strut and the other trying to push the airspring on. No luck, there was about 1-2 mm of space. Back on the phone to tech support. What we needed to do now was put the strut and springs into the car and the weight and air pressure would push it on. Again, no luck. Back on the phone to tech support. This time my mechanic talked to her and he suggested using ties to hold the airspring down, which when I talked to her she said was a good suggestion. We were also told to put a lubricant like lithium grease on the shaft over the O-rings. We tried this a number of times, 8 to be exact, and no luck. Needless to say, this did not happen in one day. The mechanic had other jobs to work on and it takes a bit of time to pull the struts on and off.
About a week later I called tech support again and they had received a bad batch of bags. The sleeve was to small to fit over the shaft and O-rings. Nice of them to notify me. Arnott overnighted me the new air springs and they went on nice and easy. Everything seemed to be working fine but a few days later I was out driving and my conti turned into a clown mobile. It would bounce and bounce over the smallest bump. Well I made it home without puking, boy did I feel sea sick. Seems the right front airspring was losing air very slowly. Called Arnott and they said it probably has a slow leak and to put more grease on it. I had noticed that the bump guard, not sure of the name but they are cylindrical hard plastic pieced that fit on the strut shaft. So I asked about those and she said she would look if they had any and would send some if they did. Thought, that is very nice of them. I also inquired as to whether the bouncing would have caused any damage to my struts and was told it wasn't likely. While I waited I took off the shock and airspring put more grease on and reinstalled. While I had the strut out I noticed the shaft would no longer move in or out unless I pulled or pushed very hard. When I had it at the shop and both struts were out they both would slowly go in and then come back out again. The stut no longer did this and when it was pushed in I had to pull it out.
I emailed tech again to ask about the bump guards and no answer for about a week. Still no answer about them but they still think the front right bag is leaking. Ugh what a pain. Since I've put the bags on and usually find the whole right side down in the morning my ps and oil pan are leaking and the hood is offcenter, guess the stress from one side being up and the other down. After driving a while it seems to eventually adjust to the right ride height. Do notice some weird noises from the front end at stoplights and then the car goes higher.
So, finally just wanted you to have a good back ground, how do you test electronic struts? Does it sound like my struts are gone? Any suggestions on how to fix or further tests I could try?
Thanks in advance for any help.
Though I just recently actually joimed as a member I have been reading the forums for over a year and a half. Stupidly, dont know why i thought tech sup at Arnott would be any better than the forums, but I have learned my lesson. I am posting this on the two main forums I read about my lincoln, Linconvscadillac aND Lincolns Online.
I have a 1995 Lincoln Continental. Was a great car at first but then the front air springs went out. The cheapest alternative to replacing the air springs was the coil convertion.
1st did the coil conv frt what a mess and i can't even return them....
conti on lift for over 6-8 mths... well i'll just skip this part for now, if anyone wants to know about that message me.
After the spring conversion failed and the conti was sitting on a lift for about 6 months, I decided to order two air springs and a new compressor, mine was still good but could tell it was getting old from Arnott Industries. When they arrived the air springs looked great and the material felt stronger than the original, well at least 11 year old originals<G>. First problem my machanic couldn't get the top bolt off. He even put a small groove on the struts shaft where he was trying to hold it still to get the top nut off. I called Arnott's tech support and they said to only turn it a little at a time, try to stop before the shaft starts to spin. Great advice that worked, wish they had included it in their manual. Called back and asked if the groove would be a problem and the lady I talked to asked the owner and he said that it would be no problem. I was relieved.
My mechanic continued to work on the front air bags but he just couldn't get the airbags to slide over the two new O-rings and go over the strut. I even helped one of us holding the strut and the other trying to push the airspring on. No luck, there was about 1-2 mm of space. Back on the phone to tech support. What we needed to do now was put the strut and springs into the car and the weight and air pressure would push it on. Again, no luck. Back on the phone to tech support. This time my mechanic talked to her and he suggested using ties to hold the airspring down, which when I talked to her she said was a good suggestion. We were also told to put a lubricant like lithium grease on the shaft over the O-rings. We tried this a number of times, 8 to be exact, and no luck. Needless to say, this did not happen in one day. The mechanic had other jobs to work on and it takes a bit of time to pull the struts on and off.
About a week later I called tech support again and they had received a bad batch of bags. The sleeve was to small to fit over the shaft and O-rings. Nice of them to notify me. Arnott overnighted me the new air springs and they went on nice and easy. Everything seemed to be working fine but a few days later I was out driving and my conti turned into a clown mobile. It would bounce and bounce over the smallest bump. Well I made it home without puking, boy did I feel sea sick. Seems the right front airspring was losing air very slowly. Called Arnott and they said it probably has a slow leak and to put more grease on it. I had noticed that the bump guard, not sure of the name but they are cylindrical hard plastic pieced that fit on the strut shaft. So I asked about those and she said she would look if they had any and would send some if they did. Thought, that is very nice of them. I also inquired as to whether the bouncing would have caused any damage to my struts and was told it wasn't likely. While I waited I took off the shock and airspring put more grease on and reinstalled. While I had the strut out I noticed the shaft would no longer move in or out unless I pulled or pushed very hard. When I had it at the shop and both struts were out they both would slowly go in and then come back out again. The stut no longer did this and when it was pushed in I had to pull it out.
I emailed tech again to ask about the bump guards and no answer for about a week. Still no answer about them but they still think the front right bag is leaking. Ugh what a pain. Since I've put the bags on and usually find the whole right side down in the morning my ps and oil pan are leaking and the hood is offcenter, guess the stress from one side being up and the other down. After driving a while it seems to eventually adjust to the right ride height. Do notice some weird noises from the front end at stoplights and then the car goes higher.
So, finally just wanted you to have a good back ground, how do you test electronic struts? Does it sound like my struts are gone? Any suggestions on how to fix or further tests I could try?
Thanks in advance for any help.