Auto air ride suspension problems

We are all over the country so we do not know any shops to recommend. Before you start removing things, be aware that Ford does not support cars more than three or four years old, so you may not be able to get replacement air springs. This has been a real common problem so the aftermarket industry has done a real good job of making retrofit kits available that use the normal coil springs. You wont notice any difference in ride quality but you will lose the automatic height-adjusting feature. There are also replacement air shock absorbers available for that, but you will have to investigate to see if there are automatic controls available or if you can hook them to the car's compressed air system.

I sent in a question yesterday about an air suspension problem. I am in the process of changing email services so I don't remember which one I provided. either one will work.
I added a donation for a prompt response from a certified professional, which has already been deducted from my account. Can you tell me when I might expect your reply, and what form it will be sent? Will it come by email?

Also by asking a question and donating, am I automatically registered as a member?

Your prompt reply to this and/or my question would be sincerely appreciated.

Dennis

We don't even have a way to find your question so if you have a link to it, please provide it.

Hello Wrenchtech---

Thanks for the tip. I wasn't aware I was in an open forum,but communicating directly with someone at 2CarPros. I'm new at this so I would appreciate your understanding.

I used the name of Bigdennyboy2 to submit my followup question, trying to find out if the answeer was forthcoming. When I submitted my initial question My name was submitted as Bigdennyboy, but I couldn't use it because it was "taken" (by my first submssion)

So, this was the question for which I would appreciate your help:

There is a problem with the air spring system on my 1999 Lincoln TC. The back end sat down over night one day last week. Having had lincolns before I felt quite sure it was a leak in the air spring(s). After new air springs were installed, they wouldn't inflate.
Each time the car is started, the compressor starts and runs for a minute or two then shuts off, without any evidence of any air having entered the air springs. As a test, a used compressor that apparently was ok, was connected to the line and the result was the same as when the original pump was run. The compressor ran for a minute or so then shut off. Also, in both cases, the compressor outlet line was disconnected and was replaced by a connector with a stub piece of short hose to sense the air coming out of the compressor. The air stream at the end of this short hose was very weak, both in volume and pressure. When the engine was run for a while, the compressor continued to to cycle on and off in the same manner as described above, producing a weak air discharge. Is it possible that a control device such as a relay or solenoid ahead of the compressor is stuck in a partially open position, preventing a full flow af air to or from the compressor to the system?
As an additional observation, one side of the electrical connector to the pump has two black wires, one pink wire and a gray wire. A mechanic said that the pink wire that connected to the blue wire on the other side of the connector showed no sign of any power. I don't know whether this is significant, but I thought I'd mention it.
I would appreciate your expert analysis of the problem, given the symptoms above as well as a suggested solution. If you have any questions, I will try to respond immediately.
Thanks in advance for your prompt reply.

Bigdennyboy

The pink is the vent control. It's not supposed to be powered. There are all kinds of things that could make this system act that way. It has a control module, relays and a data bus that feeds data from various other sensors. It should also have height sensors on the differential. This will not be a simple thing to diagnose if the problem isn't obvious.

Thanks Wrenchtech

Thanks for your answer..

Doesn't the fact that the compressor is delivering a very small volume of air at least point to a cause? Could it be such a thing like worn internals of the compressor(s)?

If it was a control problem wouldn't it seem unusual that air in a small volume would be delivered by the compressor?

bigdennyboy

I don't know what you are calling a small amount. They don't blow very hard. You said the compressor is shutting off before the car is lifted. That still leaves it wide open for any possibilities, including the compressor..

Hi Wrenchtech

I'm sorry I wasn't specific using the term "small amount" of air. The volume (cfm) nor the pressure (psi) at the tube outlet were not measured. But I would think that there would be a strong stream of air, both volume and pressure, to inflate two air springs whose volume is about a cubic foot and which support a couple thousand pounds load.

As an expert do you know what the delivery volume and pressure of the compressor should be?

Bigdennyboy

There is no published specification for that. Again, there are a dozen or more reasons for something like that. The line could be leaking somewhere among other things. This is not a problem that you will find a magic answer online. The system has to be inspected to determine the cause of the problem. This system also stores trouble codes that can be accessed with a factory scan tool or equivalent.

I guess I know why 2CarPros calls your rating of urgency for an answer, a donation. A donation is something one gives freely without an expection receiving anything in return. That's about what I got.

If a problem is obvious, it doesn't require an expert mechanic to solve, does it?

I appreciate your patience in communicating with me, so maybe you've earned the $10 "donation". But I sure didn't get what I expected...at least a suggestion that might lead to a solution of my problem.
bigdennyboy

I'm an automotive technician, not a magician. This is a very technical problem which would not be easy for even an experienced tech actually working on the vehicle and using thousands of dollars of advanced diagnostic equipment. We spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in test equipment just so we can do our job and even then it's not easy. I can answer technical questions or I can supply schematics and diagrams but if I could solve problems like this from home, I would never have to go to work. I don't get your money. The site uses that to help other people. I think your expectations are quite unreasonable.

Hi Wrenchtech--

I didn't mean to imply that you get the donation. Sorry.

If you have schematics and/or wiring diagrams of the Lincoln Towncar air suspension system I would appreciate it if you could attach them to a reply. That would be a really helpful reply.

Regards,

Bigdennyboy

,

Here ya go

Own a 1999 Lincoln Town Car 4.3 liter. Bought the vehicle at local Lincoln Dealership same year made.
Have 105,000 miiles on the car with no oil leaks, no a/c problems etc.

Went out yesterday to find that the complete rear of vehicle was lower than the front. AIR SUSPENSION light was activated above odometer.

Opened trunk and turned off air suspension. Waited for a while to let it reset. Turned the air suspension back on then turned on the key without starting vehicle and waited. Did not hear the familiar humming sound heard in past when vehicle was leveling back to front.

Today rear of auto is still lower than front and did not hear the compressor activate at all. Any advice would be appreciated as do not like the Lincoln dealership service repair as did not do very good job of even repairing small items while vehicle was under warranty.

Thank you in advance for your response.

Unfortunatly if you try the fuse and it isn't blown, your stuck! The light is on because the System has stored a trouble code(s)! If you want to avoid the dealer, you will have to find a shop that can read the codes! the other thing to check is, on the rear axle their is an adjustment arm that control ride hieght, see if it came off! The trouble with Linc, is the tubing between the compressor and the air springs chafes on the steel parts of the car, and over time can wear a hole in the line! Then the compressor will run till it burns out...

Wanted to Thank merlin2021 for his courtesy in answering my query. I did check the fuse before read his post. Fuse was blown. Replaced fuse, un-hooked battery, then reset the air suspension switch in trunk. Unfortunately the car has not leveled out. I do not remember hearing the compressor running but looks like will have to go to shop.

Thanks again merlin2021. I would give this person a 10! It is good to be an American when someone who doesn't know you will reach out and try to help.

Thanks again for your time and information.

Hey, I bought a 2000 Lincoln Town Car from a dealership about 2months ago and 3 weeks ago my car stopped leveling out. The rear is sitting on my tires, and my car is so low to the ground that the gas tank and stuff gets banged up if I drive it so I haven't driven my car in 3 weeks. I am a college student and I really need to know how much I am looking at in order to fix it. I need my car. Seems like we have a similar problem. DID YOU GET YOUR '99 FIXED, IF SO HOW MUCH DID IT COST?

Yes I ordered my parts from American Air Suspension.
It is located at americanairsuspension.com. My LTC had a bad compressor, and after buying the compressor for $180.00 with extra dryer from above stated place the car did air up to reg. height. I did wait a few days to see if the car was going to start going down and found out the air shocks were leaking. Ordered the new Arnnot air shocks and remanufatured solenoids from American for $245.00. Out I guess $425.00. If you take it to the Lincoln dealership they will start out at $1200.00 on up. There are instructions on most of the material on lincolnsonline.com for the air suspension system. You could have a bad height sensor located on the air shock. If it were me I would make sure I had the driver door closed with the a/c, radio, etc. off and turn on the key to the spot just before start. If the compressor is working you will hear it come on as soon as you turn on the key and it will run for almost a minute. If the compressor is running you may have a height adjustment missing on the air shock. That is the easy fix. If you don't hear the compressor running, check the 30 amp fuse on the driver side under hood, really need the vehicle instruction manual that should have come with the vehicle. On my car it is the last fuse closest to the firewall marked 30. If you find you have a bad compressor you might as well go ahead and order the whole system as I did and get some of your firends at college to help you. You will need two jack stands and preferrably two hydraulic car jacks. Good luck in you finding the prob. If I can be of anymore help give me a shout.

I forgot to tell you if you go to lincolnsonline.com you have to click on the tech at the top of page and it covers many probs with LTCS. There is even a pictured sequence of how to repair the air suspension system. My compressor as yours will be under the air filter in front of fender welll. You just have to undo the air filter intake, take out the sensor with a left twist and it should slip out of the way so you can snap or unscrew two rubber screws that hold the plastic flap over the compressor. If your fuse is blown and you replace it, the a/c will get very hot quickly if you turn on key with door closed, it is gone so need to turn off switch in trunk or unplug fuse. You will know for sure then that a/c is gone.

Got all the parts from american air suspension. My son and I replaced the arnnot air shocks and rebuilt solenoids in about an hour and half.
Thanks to everyone that answered my questions I saved around $800.00 and now have a happy wife.

I had a problem that I ended up solving myself, but this is an appropriate place to mention it. I just got new tires on my '98 towncar, and they forgot to turn off the switch... I didn't even think about it b/c it had been awhile since I'd had the thing off the ground (plus they should have known). Well, anyway, when they were finished the car sat on the ground and although the air pump would run a little, the car remained at rock bottom. I ended up having them jack the car up to a respectable height in the back (matching the front), and then removing the battery cable to reset the computer. We let the car run for a minute at this height, then lowered it slowly, and about 60% of the height came back. It was back to normal after another 5 minutes driving.

Randy

I have replaced the air suspension with coil springs and turned off the air suspension system in the trunk.

How do I turn off the suspension trouble light?

You should be able to totally disconnect the control module. It's located under the dash o the passenger side.

replaced air bags. ran 2months light came on, deflated. checked air bags,tested trunk switch(pos.), checked fuse box (good), by-passed fuse, air comp.activated but didn't inflate bags. No leaks observed or found.

Check the ride height sensor, it connects to the axle with a ball and socket connection, these can pop off, and there rear will drop down. jack up the car by the frame with the switch in the trunk OFF, attach the arm, put car back on the ground, turn the switch on and start the car. If it pops off again, you will need to fasten it together with a screw, or replace the sensor.

This fine auto was obtained by me 5 yrs ago from a limo fleet...always stored indoors, detailed and waxed, so it looks as new in and out...very proud of it so far. Just installed the Dorman intake manifold too.
"Ck Air Suspension" light is on.
-Car is below normal ride height now, but not completely out of air yet.
-Compressor is operating w/made to run via relay jump across test.
-Air control module behind glove box tests OK
-Height does not change w/compressor is forced to run.
-I don't want to perform the vent test to see if height lowers as I need to drive the car to work.

Question: Should I disconnect the airline connection @ the compressor and force it to run to ck for air output next?
What would you recommend from this point?
Thanks a bunch...Gary in Louisville, KY.

I would check the ride height sensor at the rear, it connects to the rear axle from above the axle, the levers tend to wear at the ball stud on the axle and pop off.

To figure out whats wrong without a scan tool requires knowing how much time goes by after the ignition is turned on. 5-10 seconds after?....45 seconds after?....90 seconds after?

BTW, even though your bypassing the relay and making the compressor come on, you still have to either wait for the system to -OR- manually open the solenoids to allow the air to flow into the air springs.

Just wanted to say that our 1997 Lincoln TC Executive was having issues with the air suspension system. Car would "drop" when it was parked. But would only do this on some occasions - not all the time. We could not locate any leaks in the air lines and eventually opted to just replace the system with an aftermarket spring suspension kit. Car drives very well and no-longer "drops". The only issue is that the message center now displays "Check Air Suspension" - does anyone know how to turn this off or is this something that only a dealer could reprogram? I really don't want to spend money and will just live with it if it is going to cost a lot. Thanks for the forum!

I need a wiring diagram for the air ride.

Good morning,

I attached the diagrams you requested for the air ride system.

Let me know if you have any questions.

What is the issue with the system?

Roy

How do you adjust the height of the the rear of the car?

Its a simple task. First, make sure you turn the suspension switch off before making ANY adjustments. Having the car lower on you accidentally would be a major drag.
Simply locate the 1 sensor in the rear and loosen the adjuster.
To raise the rearend a little higher, move the sensor together.
To lower the rearend, extend the sensor.
Turn switch back on and see if your adjustment was enough.
REMEMBER: A little bit goes a long way, so adjust a little, then see if its enough!

Where is the air compressor for the suspension? Only thing I find that looks it could be the compressor has some lines routed to the brake master clylinder and is located under the engine air filter. I have the air springs out, the height sensor collasped, all fuses good, and suspension switch in trunk on. Trying to test the compressor before ordering parts. None of the air suspension fuses were blown. The right air spring had started leaking down and I have elected to replace both. I don't see any type air dryer near the unit I described above as is pictured in some parts houses.
Thanks Ken

Hi cdbluhog, Welcome to 2carpros and TY for the donation Its on lower left front of engine compartment-see item no. 23 1. Disconnect battery ground cable. 2. Turn air suspension switch to OFF position. 3. Remove air cleaner housing assembly as follows: 1. Loosen air tube to throttle body clamp, then remove air tube end. 2. Unfasten air cleaner lid attaching clips, then remove air cleaner lid. 3. Remove air filter element. 4. Remove 2 outer and 1 inner lower air cleaner assembly attaching nuts. 5. Remove lower air cleaner assembly. 4. Remove air compressor and dryer assembly splash shield and pushpins. 5. Push dryer air line retainer inward, then pull air line outward to remove. 6. Disconnect compressor electrical connectors. 7. Raise and support vehicle. 8. Remove compressor to fender apron attaching nuts. 9. Lower vehicle. 10. Remove compressor and dryer assembly. 11. Reverse to procedure install.[img]