I decided a while back to purchase the ASHAM8 module and use it as an height adjustment on my '93. http://members.chello.hu/breda.belarobert/asham8/
What sparked this was the recent addition of exhaust cutouts. The cutouts were frightenly low with the sensor lowered suspension so I put the height sensors back to the stock position to give more clearance underneath.
I received the module last week and was quite impressed with the design and layout. I printed off the instructions from the web. http://members.chello.hu/breda.belarobert/asham8/ASHAM8%20Manual%201st%20ed.pdf
Today, I decided to take on the task.
I knew the location of the suspension computer and from reading the instructions I was prepared for battle. The installation basically requires you to cut 7 wires of one harness going to the suspension computer and splice these onto a small PC board. The task was arduous to say the least. With large hands and contorted upside down body position, it took me quite a while to access the wires, prep the harness for surgery, cut the wires, strip the ends and one by one secure them to the board with the miniature terminal strips.
The small jumper board has 4 small jumper blocks to configure the height sensors to factory or route them to the adjustment module. The first test was to test the installation of the jumper board with the jumper blocks in the factory position. The test appeared to be OK, and no 'check air ride' warning was given.
The next step involved routing the wire cable from the ashtray to the small jumper board, easy enough. Now back to contortionist position and the near impossible task of attaching 11 small wires to yet another miniature terminal strip on the jumper board. The only way I could do it was to again unplug the harness connector and stretch out the 2 inches of available harness to position the board where I at least had a chance to attach the wires. Finally after lots of patience I was able to plug it back in place with all 11 wires attached.
Now I'm supposed to hook the other end up to the module at the ashtray. No way. There was barely enough cable for the wires to reach the ashtray location, let alone enough to pull up and out to be able to hook the ends to yet another miniature terminal block. Back under the dash again to unplug the harness connector from the suspension computer so I could give myself 2 inches of cable at the other end.
With barely enough cable exiting the ashtray opening to allow hookup, once again my large hands fumbled with the small wires and terminal block. I was beginning to get cramps trying to use the mini screwdriver but finally I managed to get all 11 wire ends secured. I gently pushed the assembly into the ashtray opening and proceeded to reconnect the harness connector at the suspension computer.
I finally heard the sastifying 'click' of the harness plug snapping into place and I began to situate the wiring where all the covers would go back in place. In doing so, i discovered one of the small jumper blocks was missing from the board! I looked in the carpet, under the mat, behind the felt liner, finally pulling up the carpet looking for the miniscule jumper block to no avail. In disgust I took a break.
I had recognized the jumper blocks as those one would find on the back of a hard drive. Being the pack rat I am, I knew I could find one and a few minutes later I was back under the dash with needle nose pliers to put the jumper in the correct position. Whew! At last I checked all the connections and proceeded to put the kick panel and carpet back in place. As I did I stumbled across the lost jumper! LOL
Anxious for the task to end, I then connected the battery, switched on the suspension switch and started the car. The good news was there was no 'check air ride' warning. The bad news there was no LEDs lit up on the control module. I hit the up and down buttons without any success and quickly knew something was amiss.
I turn off the car, switched off the air suspension and disconnected the battery.
Back under the dash I pull the kick panel and trim panel off tossing them in the back seat in disgust. I carefully double checked the wiring at the harness connector - all looked good and according to the schematic. Knowing what I had to do next, I disconnected the harness plug so i could have my 2" slack at the other end.
I pulled the adjustment module from the ashtray housing and checked the wiring there. All looked good... except for one fatal flaw. Apparently I suffer from dyslexia as all 11 wires were in reverse order according to the schematic! Arghhhhh!!
Long story short, I corrected my mistake but it still does not work. As a gesture of defeat I positioned the jumpers on the jumper board to the 'factory' setting, presumably bypassing the adjustment module and allowing the air ride to function normally.
I'll be emailing explaining my issues and most likely be waiting on a new module. I just hope I didn't fry something in the suspension computer. At least I didn't get any 'check air ride' warning messages when it was all said and done. :frown:
To be continued...
What sparked this was the recent addition of exhaust cutouts. The cutouts were frightenly low with the sensor lowered suspension so I put the height sensors back to the stock position to give more clearance underneath.
I received the module last week and was quite impressed with the design and layout. I printed off the instructions from the web. http://members.chello.hu/breda.belarobert/asham8/ASHAM8%20Manual%201st%20ed.pdf
Today, I decided to take on the task.
I knew the location of the suspension computer and from reading the instructions I was prepared for battle. The installation basically requires you to cut 7 wires of one harness going to the suspension computer and splice these onto a small PC board. The task was arduous to say the least. With large hands and contorted upside down body position, it took me quite a while to access the wires, prep the harness for surgery, cut the wires, strip the ends and one by one secure them to the board with the miniature terminal strips.
The small jumper board has 4 small jumper blocks to configure the height sensors to factory or route them to the adjustment module. The first test was to test the installation of the jumper board with the jumper blocks in the factory position. The test appeared to be OK, and no 'check air ride' warning was given.
The next step involved routing the wire cable from the ashtray to the small jumper board, easy enough. Now back to contortionist position and the near impossible task of attaching 11 small wires to yet another miniature terminal strip on the jumper board. The only way I could do it was to again unplug the harness connector and stretch out the 2 inches of available harness to position the board where I at least had a chance to attach the wires. Finally after lots of patience I was able to plug it back in place with all 11 wires attached.
Now I'm supposed to hook the other end up to the module at the ashtray. No way. There was barely enough cable for the wires to reach the ashtray location, let alone enough to pull up and out to be able to hook the ends to yet another miniature terminal block. Back under the dash again to unplug the harness connector from the suspension computer so I could give myself 2 inches of cable at the other end.
With barely enough cable exiting the ashtray opening to allow hookup, once again my large hands fumbled with the small wires and terminal block. I was beginning to get cramps trying to use the mini screwdriver but finally I managed to get all 11 wire ends secured. I gently pushed the assembly into the ashtray opening and proceeded to reconnect the harness connector at the suspension computer.
I finally heard the sastifying 'click' of the harness plug snapping into place and I began to situate the wiring where all the covers would go back in place. In doing so, i discovered one of the small jumper blocks was missing from the board! I looked in the carpet, under the mat, behind the felt liner, finally pulling up the carpet looking for the miniscule jumper block to no avail. In disgust I took a break.
I had recognized the jumper blocks as those one would find on the back of a hard drive. Being the pack rat I am, I knew I could find one and a few minutes later I was back under the dash with needle nose pliers to put the jumper in the correct position. Whew! At last I checked all the connections and proceeded to put the kick panel and carpet back in place. As I did I stumbled across the lost jumper! LOL
Anxious for the task to end, I then connected the battery, switched on the suspension switch and started the car. The good news was there was no 'check air ride' warning. The bad news there was no LEDs lit up on the control module. I hit the up and down buttons without any success and quickly knew something was amiss.
I turn off the car, switched off the air suspension and disconnected the battery. Back under the dash I pull the kick panel and trim panel off tossing them in the back seat in disgust. I carefully double checked the wiring at the harness connector - all looked good and according to the schematic. Knowing what I had to do next, I disconnected the harness plug so i could have my 2" slack at the other end.
I pulled the adjustment module from the ashtray housing and checked the wiring there. All looked good... except for one fatal flaw. Apparently I suffer from dyslexia as all 11 wires were in reverse order according to the schematic! Arghhhhh!!
Long story short, I corrected my mistake but it still does not work. As a gesture of defeat I positioned the jumpers on the jumper board to the 'factory' setting, presumably bypassing the adjustment module and allowing the air ride to function normally.
I'll be emailing explaining my issues and most likely be waiting on a new module.
I just hope I didn't fry something in the suspension computer. At least I didn't get any 'check air ride' warning messages when it was all said and done. :frown:To be continued...
