Suspended Air Ride Suspension

[Red Box Rebel]

My '97 Mark VIII has been in suspended animation since August 2013. After returning from several years in Ukraine assisting in the Resistance to Russian aggression, I came home only to find my air ride system totally laying down on the job. Where to start?

I hear the compressor making noise, but I am not sure it is actually pumping air. I do not mid replacing it, but want to know how to determine what the real problem(s) is/are before spending money replacing parts. Any suggestions?

I want to keep the air ride system and do not want replace it with a non-air ride suspension. Thank you

Слава Україні! Смерть російським тиранам!

 

[ONLYTONY]

Jack the car up a couple of inches, and try it again. You might have to shut the car off, and re-start it a couple of times

 

[BlackIceLSC]

sitting that long without cycling the compressor and venting the air has most likely caused the trapped moisture to corrode a lot of valves/solenoids.
I'd start by removing the compressor, opening up the drier and pouring the dessicant on to a paper towel and leaving it outside to dry in the sun for a couple days...bring it inside at night as it absorbs moisture.
clean out the dirt/debris from the driver and pour the dessicant back in and seal it up.
you could remove the solenoids from the air springs, replace the o-rings and lube them nicely and re-install them.
jack up the front of the car about an inch and cycle the ignition to see if the compressor comes on to lift the front.. now jack up the rear an inch and do the same.

I've even had to remove the ride height sensors and move them through full travel a few times to wake them up...do not over-extend the rear sensor or it will fail.

sitting for years with trapped moisture might have caused the compressor's vent solenoid to seize and might mean you need to rebuilt/replaced.