Help a lady with an air ride issue?

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Ready4Wings

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Hi everyone, this is my first post outside of the Welcome Wagon forum. I used the search feature and didn't quite find what I needed.

I have a '98 Mark VIII LSC. My husband recently had a devil of a time replacing the passenger side lower ball joint, and the car was on a jack stand for one week (we did shut off the air ride switch in the trunk first).

When he flipped the switch back on and started the car, the compressor kicked on, the front end rose, and he drove it around the block. However, the "CHECK AIR RIDE" message appeared. He brought it back, let it sit for a while, and tried it again. The compressor came on, but the front end stays low.

While he was working on the ball joint, he noticed that the air bag looked "deformed" (his words). He sprayed some WD-40 around the clamp.

He's thinking there could be a short in the sensor. Any ideas? Some background: even before he started work on the ball joint, the front of the car would drop if it sat for any length of time (say, more than 4 days). However, the air ride would kick in just fine until then.

Thank you! :steering
 
Have your husband check the solenoid. That is what twists into the air strut to air it up. He needs to remove the solenoid, and inspect it to make sure that there are two o-rings on it. Also, it is a good idea to lube it up with something before inserting it back into the air strut.
 
Your front air shocks are leaking/bad, and most likely your compressor has went bad also from working so hard. Even if the compressor is coming on, it doesn't mean its pumping air.
 
chris2523 said:
do you have, or can you get, a picture of this "deformed" air bag?
Click to expand...

I'm wondering if he meant the bag was deflated when the car was lifted off the ground with no weight on the front end..I see this at the junkyard all the time when the air shocks are deflated and the suspension is hanging..looks like a basketball that you sucked the air out of.
 
Could be something simple like the sensor popped off while he was doing the lower ball joint?
 
keVIIIn said:
I'm wondering if he meant the bag was deflated when the car was lifted off the ground with no weight on the front end..I see this at the junkyard all the time when the air shocks are deflated and the suspension is hanging..looks like a basketball that you sucked the air out of.
Click to expand...

that makes sense.

chargerxr said:
Your front air shocks are leaking/bad, and most likely your compressor has went bad also from working so hard. Even if the compressor is coming on, it doesn't mean its pumping air.
Click to expand...

this seems most likely.
 
It takes several cycles of the compressor to re-inflate the bags. He may have to raise the car slightly to get the sensors in range.
 
Some background: even before he started work on the ball joint, the front of the car would drop if it sat for any length of time (say, more than 4 days). However, the air ride would kick in just fine until then.

Thank you! :steering[/QUOTE]


Your air bags need replacing. If not taken care of soon they will cause the compressor to over work and need replacing as well. For your air ride parts use American Air.

http://www.americanairsuspension.com/
 
Air shocks in front and air bags/springs in the rear..some people call them air "struts" in front but this is false they are air SHOCKS..we'll let thaywood elaborate.
 
I've read thaywood's explanation on the difference. :)

$435 just for one! :eek: Wouldn't it be less expensive, and more sensible, to get a conversion kit?
 
Possibly falls under the category of stupid question, but shouldn't there be some sort of an air line running from the compressor to the air bag? Because there's nothing there. :confused:
 
Ready4Wings said:
Possibly falls under the category of stupid question, but shouldn't there be some sort of an air line running from the compressor to the air bag? Because there's nothing there. :confused:
Click to expand...

the line runs from the pump to throught the car to the solenoid on the top of the bag, look at the sides of the front Shocks and you will see them on the side should be a airline running to it.



Insert Pic of NoLimits shinny air shock:

2012-06AirShockInstalled_zpsee298eb1.jpg


The red circled area is where the solenoid should be with a line coming out of it.
 
Ready4Wings said:
I've read thaywood's explanation on the difference. :)

$435 just for one! :eek: Wouldn't it be less expensive, and more sensible, to get a conversion kit?
Click to expand...


Don't spend no $435 on another air shock. I would strongly advise to buy these in the pair and be done with them for an easy 10+ years. Well, look how old your car is now and how long they lasted.... They're really easy to put in if your husband has an air compressor and an impact. Both can be done for a first timer within 2 hours, if he stays right there with it.

[url]http://www.amazon.com/Motorcraft-AVS16-Spring/dp/B0011DSB6K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364053206&sr=8-1&keywords=AVS-16[/URL]

[url]http://www.amazon.com/Motorcraft-AVS17-Spring/dp/B0011DTY2U/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1364053347&sr=1-1&keywords=AVS-17[/URL]

Price for both: $590.20 and free shipping and they are true Motorcraft and new in the box.
 
While I like NoLimit's idea, husband has decided he wants to replace the air shock. We can't afford it right now, so the Lincoln will be sitting in the garage for a while. :mad:
 
dont forget,,, you will have to change the dryer on it when you replace the airbag.
There is a company in fort lauderdale and they are great... they do replacement airbags and whole systems...
For Technical Support or Questions Call Us At:1-800-260-5175

9AM to 9PM Mon-Sat
For All Your Air Suspension Needs!!!
Suncore Industries Inc.
1631 South Dixie Hwy Building B
Pompano Beach,Fl. 33060
 
98cobraLSC said:
dont forget,,, you will have to change the dryer on it when you replace the airbag.
There is a company in fort lauderdale and they are great... they do replacement airbags and whole systems...
For Technical Support or Questions Call Us At:1-800-260-5175

9AM to 9PM Mon-Sat
For All Your Air Suspension Needs!!!
Suncore Industries Inc.
1631 South Dixie Hwy Building B
Pompano Beach,Fl. 33060
Click to expand...

I bought 2 entire sets from Suncore. They are great. I couldn't be happier.
 
In the past they had problems supplying consistent quality rebuilds as they were not rebuilding the strut portion. There is a big difference in ride quality between new and rebuilt. I have had them both and would stick to new FOMOCO.
 
Roadboss said:
In the past they had problems supplying consistent quality rebuilds as they were not rebuilding the strut portion. There is a big difference in ride quality between new and rebuilt. I have had them both and would stick to new FOMOCO.
Click to expand...

And on my 94, The shock (strut) is what is wrong with it, not the actual air bladder. So if they are not rebuilding the strut part, you could end up with a bouncer like mine.
 
Ready4Wings said:
While I like NoLimit's idea, husband has decided he wants to replace the air shock. We can't afford it right now, so the Lincoln will be sitting in the garage for a while. :mad:
Click to expand...

Make sure to turn the air ride switch off in the trunk or you can kill the compressor and or your battery.
 
NoLimit95 said:
Don't spend no $435 on another air shock. I would strongly advise to buy these in the pair and be done with them for an easy 10+ years. Well, look how old your car is now and how long they lasted.... They're really easy to put in if your husband has an air compressor and an impact. Both can be done for a first timer within 2 hours, if he stays right there with it.

[url]http://www.amazon.com/Motorcraft-AVS16-Spring/dp/B0011DSB6K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364053206&sr=8-1&keywords=AVS-16[/URL]

[url]http://www.amazon.com/Motorcraft-AVS17-Spring/dp/B0011DTY2U/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1364053347&sr=1-1&keywords=AVS-17[/URL]

Price for both: $590.20 and free shipping and they are true Motorcraft and new in the box.
Click to expand...

Thank you no limit!!!! I cant believe these were this cheap on there. You saved me almost 300 bucks!!!!!
 
Roadboss said:
Make sure to turn the air ride switch off in the trunk or you can kill the compressor and or your battery.
Click to expand...

I did shut off the air ride switch in the trunk. I'm still not happy with Doofy McKnucklehead's (pet name for husband) decision. We don't need another project car -- I want a car that actually functions! :mad: I miss my stinkin' Lincoln!
 
Ready4Wings said:
I did shut off the air ride switch in the trunk. I'm still not happy with Doofy McKnucklehead's (pet name for husband) decision. We don't need another project car -- I want a car that actually functions! :mad: I miss my stinkin' Lincoln!
Click to expand...

The project right now for you is to come up with $590 and get both of them and you'll be good to go. They should last you longer than you'll be driving the car or own it. If anything else goes wrong, it would likely be your compressor and dryer. Mine was bought from American Air Suspension in Dec 2009 with a new dryer and everything is working perfect with the air ride. I also have a spare set of rear air bags that have been wiped down real good with rubber conditioner and then put back in the box they were shipped in. If something happens with one of the rears, I'll have two to fall back on, when that does happen.
 
NoLimit95 said:
The project right now for you is to come up with $590 and get both of them and you'll be good to go. They should last you longer than you'll be driving the car or own it. If anything else goes wrong, it would likely be your compressor and dryer. Mine was bought from American Air Suspension in Dec 2009 with a new dryer and everything is working perfect with the air ride. I also have a spare set of rear air bags that have been wiped down real good with rubber conditioner and then put back in the box they were shipped in. If something happens with one of the rears, I'll have two to fall back on, when that does happen.
Click to expand...

Tell me more, NoLimit. Is this what you have on your '95 in the photo? The reason I ask is that the car looks awfully low to the ground, and I would like to be able to back out of the driveway without bottoming out.

I like the sound of your option sooo much better. How does the ride differ?
 
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