Ride height sensor??

[genghis plow]

Hi every one... Nice to see a great site like this... A BIG THANKS to those responsible!!

I'm new... to this site... and to Continental ownership as well. So I'm a little ignorant on the Ride Control suspension.

I have just adopted a '91 Continental that leans 3/4 of an inch to the passanger side... (And obviously pulls like the dickens to the right).

Could some one give me some insite on this "Ride height sensor" that I keep hearing about?? Could that be the problem??

(More info.... the message computer is a mess also.. other warnings come on and go off periodicaly ... DCL etc... but the ride control light comes on after I put the car into gear... except when its raining... then it takes a little while longer... and it stays on... and I believe the frame may have been welded at some time or another... I don't know if that would do it or not, or if it could be overcame if it has been)

I would greatly appreciate ANY ideas that might help this situation... :Bang

THANX

 

[Pepsi2185]

what is the story on the car. What are the other messages you are getting. Be prepared to do headgaskets if those have not gone out.

One the ride height sensor, i believe there is one on each front wheel and one on the axle. Does it leak when you let it stand for a while???

That conti has an air strut system. I know the air bag system pretty well, but not the struts as much. Post back and let us know some more info on the situation.

 

[genghis plow]

what is the story on the car. What are the other messages you are getting. Be prepared to do headgaskets if those have not gone out.

One the ride height sensor, i believe there is one on each front wheel and one on the axle. Does it leak when you let it stand for a while???

That conti has an air strut system. I know the air bag system pretty well, but not the struts as much. Post back and let us know some more info on the situation.

The message bord does some wacky stuff... the DCL light will come on, than the numbers in the message area will straight line for a while.... than come back on... occasionally the oil light will blink and the pressure level will show absolute 0 (if that were true the car would be dead) for a few minuits than go
back to normal. The car runs verry strong... lotsa power, smooth.

I just talked to the previous owner tonight... he said that he took one of the front tires off and messed around with some of the "stuff under there" and doesn't know if he got it all put back together correctly. I haven't had a chance to look at it yet... but I'm not sure that I would know what looked right and what looked wrong.

It does not seem to leak when it is standing for awhile... And when I turn the ride control off, it still leans and pulls to the right.

Thanx for your response...

 

[aristo1963]

I have just adopted a '91 Continental that leans 3/4 of an inch to the passanger side... (And obviously pulls like the dickens to the right).

a 3/4 lean could just be a sensor out of adjustment.but the pull to the right sounds more like an alighnment problem.have the alignment checked first.esp if the frame has been welded as it may not be true anymore which would really mess the tracking up.
john
:W
:L

 

[genghis plow]

I have just adopted a '91 Continental that leans 3/4 of an inch to the passanger side... (And obviously pulls like the dickens to the right).

a 3/4 lean could just be a sensor out of adjustment.but the pull to the right sounds more like an alighnment problem.have the alignment checked first.esp if the frame has been welded as it may not be true anymore which would really mess the tracking up.
john
:W
:L

Hi John thanx for the reply.
I had the alignment checked, they told me that the lean had to be fixed before they could do anything... can you tell me where the front ride sensors are located... and what they look like... and how to adjust them?? (and do it for me . :biggrin: :biggrin: )

 

[purelux]

Though I don't know if could be this much but it may be a body mount bushing bad/broken. I had a 94 crown vic with coil springs and there was about 3/4 of an inch from left>right. Though a body mount is usually a %^$%^ to change having to do that after replacing a height sensor would be a waste.

 

[inurok]

I had a 1990 Continental that would display Check DCL "Data Connection Link" as well. After banging under the dash it would go away. I think its a old connector that is loose but didnt feel like taking that dash apart. message center will display lines as well.


Personally I would stay away from 1988 thru 94 Continentals. 1995 thru 97 are dirt cheap and ways better. I loved my 95 not one problem with it for 3 years

 

[aristo1963]

I had a 1990 Continental that would display Check DCL "Data Connection Link" as well. After banging under the dash it would go away. I think its a old connector that is loose but didnt feel like taking that dash apart. message center will display lines as well.


Personally I would stay away from 1988 thru 94 Continentals. 1995 thru 97 are dirt cheap and ways better. I loved my 95 not one problem with it for 3 years

http://www.lincolnsonline.com/article86.html go here.
john :dancefool

 

[inurok]

Great link. That should do the trick re: DCL

 

[mabus]

i just replaced my ride height sensor. and it leaned way more than 3/4 of an inch pulled bad. so bad that after replacing it i had to get a new tire cause it was making it ride almost on the side walls of the tire causing it to go bald.

 

[crookshanks]

The 1988-1994 Continentals have 3 height sensors. Two in the front and one in the back. You can adjust them easily, as long as you can get to them.

The ones in the front are located behind the tire and have a plastic arm that goes from the sensor to the body of the car. You will need a 5/16 wrench or socket and will need to loosed the adjustment on the sensor and move it backwards or forwards, whichever way it needs to go, higher or lower.

It is somewhat hard to get to. I would turn the wheel all the way out if it is to much trouble to get the tire off.