It’s still doing it.

HOTLNC

HOTLNC

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HOTLNC is still whining with a “Check Air Suspension” message in the morning. She pumps up ok. But after driving on the interstate a while, she will “forget” to pump up after slowing down. She stays down until the computer whines. The only way I can get the front pumped up is to cycle ignition power. Sometimes I must leave it off for a minute before the front pumps up.

The following items are new: Compressor, both level sensors and rear bags.

Front bags have about 130K on them.

I cannot hear any air leaks. Front stays up during the night.

Sometimes she may go for days before whining.

Any suggestions???
 
RE: It’s still doing it.

I had a check air ride message. By the time i got it torn down enough to look for leaks, the leaks had gone away. It must have been in one of the air lines. But it works fine now. So i don't really have any suggestions, except try to fix it and hope it fixes itself.
 
RE: It’s still doing it.

Call Eddie and stop wondering. He helped me (was dead on about the problem) and he stands behind his products (so make sure he moves before you back out).
 
RE: It’s still doing it.

Could be the air tube connector O-Rings at the bags. Mine used to leak down over the period of a day, no apparent leaks. I replaced mine with hardware store specials and used that spark plug boot silicone grease to lubricate them. A year later, all is well.

mark
 
RE: It’s still doing it.

That's the problem....there is no air leak. It will stay up all week. It acts like an electrical problem. Like the computer thinks it's turned on the compressor, but the compressor never turns on. Like a bad relay. Only the compressor relay is solid state, and failure should be rare.

Loose wire maybe?
 
RE: It’s still doing it.

Well, it looks like I'm going to have to get a dealer to pull the suspension codes on HOTLNC. I replaced the solid-state relay and checked the wiring. It still does its strange thing.

Yesterday we took a day trip to Austin to test drive the new Ford Hybrid. It wasn't bad. The continuous variable tranny is neat. The power from a 4 banger is v6 quality, with the added boost from the electric motor. The motor turned off and on silently.

I asked why there were no dealer stickers in the windshield showing cost and were told that these cars are SAMPLES and cannot be sold! They do not have VIN numbers. They will be destroyed/crushed when their working sample days are over.

At any rate, HOTLNC was totally slammed up front by the time we got there. While we were test driving, the front pumped back up. Coming back, it was fine for about 175 miles and then it gave me the check air suspension message. I cycled power and it was fine the rest of the way home. <sigh> Could it be the air solenoid valves on the struts???
 
RE: It’s still doing it.

Found it. The left front strut leaks like a sleeve. It looks like I burned out another set of front struts in a little over 100K miles.

This time, I'll be installing second generation struts. They are already on order with Torrie.

Guess what I'm getting for Christmas...

Once the struts are replaced, the entire air suspension system will be new, except for the air hoses and the rear bag valves. <sigh>
 
RE: It’s still doing it.

don't you just love how they crush pre production cars? I wonder how many millions of dollars in iron the big auto manufacturers have sent to the crusher.

i had another air ride problem on my recent trip to florida. somehow my spider valve vent solenoid got stuck open and slammed my front end. Once i cycled it a few times it was good. Hopefully the problem doesn't recur.
 
RE: It’s still doing it.

Yeah, it makes you sick. I did ask the Ford guy if employees got first dibs on the cars. He admitted he'd gotten a couple of race cars out of the sample pile. Ford keeps a sharp eye on these cars as to their deposition after their racing days were over. The guy said he either had to return them or show proof that the cars were crushed. This is not the first time I’d seen OEM being ruthless on new cars/parts

Many years ago we had a GM guy that was in our Corvette club (the wife and I drove/had a '63 327, 350HP) take us on a “backdoor” tour of the GM plant in Arlington. At the end of the production line were several cars with flat tires. He told us this was the area where the cars that got flat tires waited for tire replacement. What they do is remove the wheel and all, and replace it. “What happens to the tire and wheel they remove?” He pointed to a dumpster that sat nearby. They throw them away. “Cheaper that way.”

I volunteered to empty the trash can, but was politely refused.
 
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