Air Suspension

[Mike]

Replaced both air springs and compressor/dryer.Did not work at first,then after several times of turning the car on and off the rear end raised up.Went for a test ride around the block and all seemed fine.After about an hour we(wife,2 daughters and myself as ballest) went to store.At about 1/4 mile from home car became LOW RIDER again.Did our shopping(3 different places)still not raising up in rear.Then about 1/2 mile from home "Check Air Suspension" warning came on and as we drove the "HARDTAIL" feeling went away.Pulled in driveway and the rear was up to normal level.Is there a relay or actuater that could be sticking or bad?How about the "Ride Height Sensor".And is the SENSOR a Dealer Only Item? P.S. The removal and installation of the air springs and compressor/dryer was fairly easy and the whole job took about 1 and 1/2 hours.

[Lscman]

It appears the problem is related to the rear ride height sensing. It could be the rear hall effect sensor or the wiring to the sensor or a connector corroded or loose or shorted. It could possibly be a bad air computer, but that's unlikely. It would not heal itself or reset while driving. The manual has nice troubleshooting flow diagrams that can positively isolate the cause. It is very likely a wire or loose connection is at fault. Throwing new parts at air suspension & ABS troubles without following the factory Ford/Helms diagnosis procedure is sometimes expensive and unproductive. Dryers never need changed, they are self-purging. Sorry, I do not have a Service Manual for your model. Good luck!

[This message has been edited by Lscman (edited April 21, 2001).]

[BLUECOLLAR]

I have to disagree with the mod on this one. Dryers are suppose to regenerate(dry) themselves. There are several that don't do it so well. The Town Car is one of them, as well as the Mark 8. The Town Car is mounted in a valley and is susseptible to more moisture to begin with(thats why the new pumps have a snorkel). I've been remanufactureing air ride pumps for about 5 years now and have seen thousands of dryers. I'd say out of 100 Town Car dryers, 80 is gonna be jam-packed with water and mold and mildew(extremely nasty). Because it is regenerating, it actually spreads the water to other areas of the motor.
Enough said. Now to the problem. I don't know what year Town Car you have, but '90-'92's have a problem with the main air line in the back rubbing a whole. Its kinda hard to get too, but if you take the lines loose on top of the fuel tank,you pull the line down and get to it. there's a kit from Ford to repair the line. I will get the part # if you need it.

[Mike]

Could the air suspension work with a hole in the air line one minute then not work the next time?The car raises and lowers while driving.Each outing has been different.

[BLUECOLLAR]

To test if the line has a whole in it, let it pump all the way up, then turn everything off and listen for a hissing noise around the frame rail behind the left rear tire.(to make sure, spray a soapy water and spray down the line and look for bubbles) I'm kinda wondering about the compressor though. Compressors may pump up to the required pressure one minute, but when they get hot, drop off considerably.
Try this,turn off the suspension switch and drive it. If the rear goes down, one of the air springs are bad. Try this first,then tell me whats going on. (rear sensors go bad, but not that often)

[This message has been edited by BLUECOLLAR (edited April 23, 2001).]

[Richard J. Parker]

Mike,
Glad to see your air suspension renewal came out ok. You are now good for another 7 to 10 years.

Copied from another post:
Mike
Junior Member
Posts: 8
From: Niagara Falls,N.Y.
Registered: Apr 2001
posted April 24, 2001 08:55 PM
---------------------------------------------
I don't know if this will relate to your problem, but this is the experience that I have just been through. My air suspension went, I ordered two air springs and compressor/dryer. Installed with no problems, but car was still a lowrider. After thoroughly cleaning and inspecting the ride height sensor, I noticed that the air springs were inflated, but not raising the car. I decided to look at the compressor, and did the soapy water test where the line comes out of the dryer. Slight leak was detected. After further inspection, I noticed an indentation where the plastic line had been in the dryer before. I cut plastic line 3/8 in. shorter, also cut rubber hose 3/8 in. shorter, re-inserted and now suspension is fine and working great. Seems like a small leak from dryer,line will keep air springs from inflating properly

[This message has been edited by Richard J. Parker (edited July 07, 2001).]

[Lscman]

Thank You Bluecollar. My TC dryer & air suspension experience is zero. I was surely speaking in generalities.