Up & Down

[RC]

My newly acquired '90 Continental (last Sat.) has done two strange things which I'm sure will be expensive. Couple days ago, after being parked for a short while, the rear end was up in the air, it settled down while driving, today I parked for a few minutes and the front end was up when I came back, what's up with that?

[BLUECOLLAR]

Thats a good question. Not only does a '88-'94 conti have air suspension like the other lincolns, but it has automatic ride control as well. If that wasn't bad enough, the strategy in the continentals brain has whats known as "Snowbank Logic". This part of the strategy, is to keep the car from venting down and getting "hung-up" on a snowbank. If the car tries to vent down, and doesn't achieve its goal, it will pump back up to a "known good height". Sounds like a good idea until something goes wrong with the car and you have that in the equation.

Your problem may be a clogged drier,solenoid or sensor problem......if its the snowbank logic kicking in! The best thing to do is to watch it while its venting, if it goes down to normal height and stays that way for awhile, its probably not the snowbank logic kicking in. If its venting down o.k., then before it stops venting, it pumps right back up real high, its PROBABLY that stupid logic!

Remember, the air suspension module has power to make any adjustments for 1 hour after the "key off-door closed cycle".

[RC]

I've watched it after shutting down and locking the car and it sort of hisses and settles a bit and that's it. I haven't been able to reproduce the elevated rear or front.

How do I check the drier, sensor and solenoid?

And BTW, thanks for the help.

[This message has been edited by RC (edited August 23, 2001).]

[BLUECOLLAR]

Now you get to experience what a mechanic has to do...."reproduce the problem". Not only do you need to reproduce the problem, but you have to be there waiting and ready to analize whats going on.

IF its a vent problem, whenever it decides to mess up, it will vent down real slow. In other words, its trying to vent for over 90 seconds or so, when it would usually handle the command in about 20 seconds.

If I were you, after each time I drove the car and shut it off and closed the door, I would wait for the clicks of the vent solenoids and stand there till it clicks again. Wait a good 30 seconds after this. If it doesn't jack back up real high after that time, I don't think you have a "snowbank logic" problem. If after 90 seconds or so, the front or rear stops venting and then immediately starts pumping the car up reaql high,you probably do have a problem in the vent area. THIS IS THE FORK IN THE ROAD! This will determine which plan of action to take.

Until you find this out, your wasting your time doing anything else.

[This message has been edited by BLUECOLLAR (edited August 24, 2001).]

[RC]

Well, I "caught" it. Got out, shut the door and within 45 seconds the pump came on and pushed the rear to the sky. No clicks, no settling, just silence 'til the pump came on.

The next two stops were completely normal, vent and settle.

[RC]

Well, it's not getting any better. Today the front won't come down and the "Ride Control" light is on. Does this give a better clue to the problem?

[RC]

This terminally sucks and I'm not going to put up with a bunch of aging airbag crap for another minute. Unless there is some compelling reason not to, I will be riding around on Strutmasters by next Friday.

How much will you pay for my air struts and compressor?

[This message has been edited by RC (edited August 26, 2001).]

[BLUECOLLAR]

Its your car, you can do with it what you want. The problem on your car is not a simple one to fix. If your not totally commited to fixing this car and putting alot of time and effort into it, you should probably go ahead and talk to strutmasters.

If you like the ride of a Continental, rather than a taurus, let me know. It won't be easy, but it can be fixed.

[RC]

What I liked was the ride of my burned up TC. This Continental is interim. It got me out of an expensive rent car and will do nicely until the "right" TC presents itself.

If you have any advice or comments about the Strutmasters I would really appreciate it!

[BLUECOLLAR]

Strutmasters is o.k., I guess, but why don't you just put some regular struts from a taurus on it from a junkyard? Thats all they're gonna do. Its gotta be cheaper than buying it from a company like that. Of coarse its gonna ride like a taurus, but thats how strutmasters stuff is gonna ride.

As far as the Town Car, I'm with you. The ride of a Town Car is hard to beat.

[Richard J. Parker]

RC
Sounds a little extreme to replace your air system with hydraulic struts without giving it the old college try. I am no expert on Continental's system, but it would seem that either a height sensor or the control module must be flakey if it incorrectly goes up occasionally. I would shotgun the thing with used parts (sensor and module) before spending $500 or more on struts.

rjp

[RC]

I'm taking it to the dealer today to try and get an honest diagnosis (bwhahahaha). The Ride Control light has now gone away and it is venting and settling again!

If they start in with how I need about 2500.00 worth of work, It'll be strutmasters by Friday.

[BLUECOLLAR]

Like I said, this is no easy problem to fix. I myself have worked on about 3 with the same problem. It wound up being 3 different things.

The continental is a 3 channel system, which means 3 sensors,2 in front and 1 in front.

How can it be a sensor in ....say the front, if it jacks up real high in the rear sometimes or jacks up real high in the front...both front? 2 sensors bad at the same time?....I dought it. I would bet money its going to be in the wiring, which is going to take some time to find and repair.

The dealer is going to want to replace the module. (unless the tech is experienced)

After module replacement, only time will tell if its fixed.

[This message has been edited by BLUECOLLAR (edited August 27, 2001).]

[RC]

I just spent all day at Eagle LM here in Dallas and they have no clue what is wrong, absolutely no clue! They wanted me to leave it overnight, I guess they thought the suspension fairy would come in the night and leave a note telling them what they couldn't find today. I paid 54.00 for the privledge.

That's it, I'm going to put Strutmasters on it as soon as I can find a mech here to do it.

[TW/92LSC/SE]

This may be of help to you. Ford TSB No.90-7-7 states the technician may not know turning ignition on will erase the control modules code memory therefore losing diagnostic codes. The module will retain code memory up to 55 minutes after ignition is turned off. They say drive to a ford for a Star II test Prior to turning the ignition off if the Ride Contol lite is still flashing periodically. If the ign. has been turned off, run the Star test before turning ign. switch ON to move the vehicle or the fault code will be erased.

[RC]

TW/92LSC/SE,

I really appreciate your response, but it kinda reinforces my decision to get rid of the air suspension. I just don't want to have to point out stuff to the dealer that they ought to know.

Millions of people ride around in Taruses every day, how bad can the ride be?

[BLUECOLLAR]

I really think most Ford/Lincoln suspension techs know to leave the car running so you can get the code before its had an ignition cycle.

About 90% of all suspension problems can be diagnosed WITHOUT the use of a scanner anyway!

Sometimes,when you get a code, it just tells you basically what you already know. IF it gave a code, it may say something like "unable to detect raising or lowering of vehicle"....duh. "We already know we had a problem there". It does not check for circuit integrity, like I beleive is the problem here.

[invisik]

> Millions of people ride around in Taruses every day, how bad can the ride be?

Millions of people don't know what they're missing. Even you know what you're missing, with your comment of previously owning a Town Car. Too many of them wait until they're 50 years old to discover it! (I had my first TC at 18)

Personally, I'd rather have the car returned to the factory state and as a buyer hear that the air suspension has been fixed. I generally don't like cars that have third-party fixes to them--who knows what other things have been done to them.

Either way, good luck in your search for the perfect TC. You'll find it!

-m

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96 Town Car, Diamond Anniv
91 Alfa Romeo 164L
http://lincolntowncar.org
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[RC]

Wow, how'd I get demoted to Jr.? Anyway, the Strutmasters are going in even as I speak. I should get the car back tomorrow and I can't wait to be air bag FREE!!! I'll post a report next week!

[RC]

I did it! I did it! I did it!

I could not be more pleased with the results of the Strutmasters! It isn't just OK, it's fantastic! Don't let 'em screw you on fixing that old air suspension, GET RID OF IT!

Seriously, the car rides just like it did on it's best day with the airbags, kiddies, you're just 524.00 away from FREEDOM!
;) ;)

[RC]

Well, I've had the Strutmasters for a couple of weeks now and have had a chance to drive under all circumstances that I'm used to driving in and my initial assessment remains the same; if you need 'em get 'em.

The ride hasn't suffered at all that I can tell. I think the Conti has better insulation/soundproofing than a Taurus because it seems just like before.

The computer went insane on my car and the bags would inflate or deflate on a whim. After I found out that just diagnosing the car was torturous and expensive, never mind how much the parts might cost, the Strutmasters made perfect sense because
even after I fixed the computer, I would still have had old bags and an old compressor that could go out any minute for more hundreds of dollars plus down time.

For 449.00 plus shipping, I got assembled, tuned spring/shock struts that have a five year guarantee. If you are at all handy, you could install them yourself. I paid 300.00 and had the local Goodyear store do it.

My car has 82k miles on it and the paint and leather are perfect. The air ride was the only prob I had with the car so it was worth it to me to get the Strutmasters and be done with it. I will never screw around with old air suspension again!

[RC]

ToTheTop so Carol can read this.