suspension

[mike maluchnik]

When I start my car the compressor runs for about 20 seconds to level out. Once I am driving the compressor gives a short burst (about 5 to 7 seconds) every 10 minutes or so,which seem to be getting more frequent. Any ideas on what to check ?

 

[Conti94]

First things first look for leaks in the bags, check the bags for pin holes, dry rot, and punctures. Use soapy water, spray the bags and look for bubbling, thats probably you're leak if you see the water bubbling on part of the bag. Let us know what you find.

 

[MichiganTeddyBear]

check for leaks as Conti94 says. but that does sound similar to the operation of mine.. however I know mine is just the damn thing feeling like a mexican jumping bean.

I can watch the front of my 91 drop if stopped at a stop light (not slowly either) for very long. it opens the vent valve, and drops the front an inch or so.. then usually withing a minute, it will pump the front back up. then it drops it again (again, opening the vent valve) but not as much. then another small pump up. after that, its fine and dandy until the next extended stop.

I have confirmed mine is using the vent valve and opening the solenoids (you can hear the valves click from outside the car). I am guessing I have a 'noisy' ride height sensor.

 

[Indian1]

The mechanics told me that given a certian age (no necessarily miles) the air bags, etc. will start to leak. I replaced mine with conventional struts which, although nice and will never leak, don't have the ride the original air suspension had. (FYI) --95 continental

 

[MichiganTeddyBear]

yup, the rubber dry rots over time, age is a major player in the condition of the air struts

 

[remote1234]

strut

Air Struts
I had one side go out in my 96 cont. I replaced both fronts with active coil overs from stutmaster. These struts by pass the load leveling in front, but let you adjust the ride frimness. Thats what strutmaster says. I took me 2 years lots of agrivation to get them to work. If the ride is not exactly the same with the coil overs as the air struts, the computer will throw codes and the car rides very stiff, Every tar line shakes the car and passengers! Lincoln dealers will not look at it, speed shops screw arround for weeks at a time, and give the car back basically telling me the car is F...ed up. Strut master says go look at the trouble codes and fix the problem.
Problem codes were left front time out up, right front time out down. This means the ride height sensors need to be recalibrated. This procedure requires a Star Testor ll. This is an expensive dealer code reader. I located one, and the recalibrate procedure requires the suspension to go into the test mode. This will cause the suspension to raise up and lower to test output of the sensors, pump, lines solinoids. Once this is performed, this star tester will allow the suspension height to be adjusted, saved, and thus calibrated.
With the coil over struts, the up down setup test will not cycle and the calibration is over, no adjusting or calibration will be set. In other words Strutmaster said they cannot help me any more. The car rides like a rock, and the computer keeps throwing a code.
I was able to fix the problem my self. Don't ask me why the engineers at strutmasters could'nt figure it out. I placed the car on a level surface, used a volt meter to monitor the voltage out put of the front ride height sensors, reaching in with a 11mm box wrench, I adjusted the sensors to the correct voltage. Turned the car off, reset the computer, start the car, problem solved!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Now the car rides great, I can adjust the ride stiffness, no error codes and the rear leveling works. The bad part is, had I checked the voltage in the first place, I would not have had to replace the air strut with the coil over in the first place, a very expensive mistake.
Some times you just have to tell the EXPERTS, to go jump in the lake, and think for your self. If you have any questions and you think I can help, contact me by e mail.
Christo.
chris.stoffels@comcast.net