1990 Towncar air bag replacement

[Big-420]

Hi I own a 1990 Towncar I bought the car at 147k the car runs strong body is straight. I
did replace the interior because of the torn leather but I found new seats at a junk yard
for $300. I tuned the car up changed gaskets
fixed window motors everything you can think of now my air bags leak.I been reading this board for awhile and today I finally registered the last post -RJP- mentioned that did the switch himself can anyone tell me how to do it and what not to do so i don't ruin the compressor.All replies will help

[Lscman]

Compressors fail when owners continue to retain leaky bags that will invariably need changed anyway. Air Springs are easier to change than a shock. Excessive run time cooks the pump in a couple months. Arnott rebuilds pumps to "like new" condition for about $130. New costs about $500. Used is almost always junk.

[Big-420]

I know that the compressor will burn out if i don't take care of the air spring soon. That is why I turned the compressor power switch off in the trunk so it doesn't burn out.Do
you know how the bag comes out, and what i
have to do to remove it?

[Richard J. Parker]

To do this job, you will be under the car with no springs or wheels! Be sure to use jack stands under the car and have an assistant. It would be easier on a service station lift. Obviously have the new airbags prior to starting. They should come with new solenoids that are mounted at the top of the bag. Be careful not to break the solenoid clips when removing from bag. I removed the rear wheels to see the solenoid but you remove it from under the car.

The following is from the forum of Bagmaster: www.bagmasterair.com (http://www.bagmasterair.com)
--------------
Replacing bags
Fri Feb 26 20:22:30 1999

Bagmaster parts prices are about 1/3 to 1/4 of dealer installed cost. Ford Factory Repair Manuals describe this repair in simple detail. Spray garden hose on bag to confirm air bubbles. Apply soapy water with brush to top of bag where solenoid is installed, to ensure it's not just the solenoid to bag assy o-rings leaking. Do not consider these instructions complete, but to describe bag removal:

1)Jack up car on frame near wheel with suspension ON, to release pressure from the bag. [use jack stands!]
2)Turn suspension off.
3)Remove electrical connector from bag.
4)Press collar down on air hose & pull out of solenoid. [see note below]
5)Remove solenoid to release air.
6)Remove clip holding bag on lower control arm, collapes bag & remove. [clip is on top of bag]
7)Install basically in reverse order.
Note: total job takes about 1 hour. It's cake. [bagmaster note]
-----------------------------
The Bagmaster
AIRLINE REMOVAL
Sun Feb 28 13:47:06 1999

Take a flat tip screwdriver and press down on the orange plastic cap (or whatever color) attached to dryer or solonoid valve brass compression fitting. When you push down on the plastic cap this in turn pushes down on the compression fitting. While pushing down you must pull up on the air line. If you do not push down on the cap/fitting then the cap/fitting will compress tighter the more you pull the air line. The principle is for the fitting to tighten when the compressed air attempts to blow the line out as it pumps air into the dryer or the solonoid valve.

*********************************************
92 TC Intermittent Air Sus Light DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE
Sat Feb 27 16:23:35 1999

Sounds like you may have a compressor or related problem Warren.

To test for this;
First insure the air system fuse is ok (located in fuse box under hood) then;
Facing front of vehicle, right side nearest headlight, remove the entire air breather assembly. Remove windshield washer cannister. You will see a plastic cover with two plastic snaps, remove cover to expose compressor/dryer assembly. Remove air line from dryer. Turn ignition key to the on position. Sit in trunk to lower rear, flip the air switch off then on (you may need someone to open and close driver door at this point). Compressor shoul kick on, bag solonoid valves should open and car should drop at rear due to air line not connected to dryer.

Go connect air line back into dryer (leaving everything else as is). Rear should raise. While rear is raising sit on trunk again and allow car to raise until it stops. When rear has stopped raising get off trunk. Rear shoild hyper extend. Go turn key off and open and close door. Rear should drop. If not remove air line again and turn key on then off and open and close door. If air releases you have a bad compressor relief valve (will need to replace compressor).
If compressor never came on to drop/raise car you may have a bad compressor or a compressor relay (located in the fuse box).
Height sensor is located under rear of car and attaches to axle center right. With out a code scanner the only way to test this is swap it with a known good one.

It is not very probable that both valves would malfuntion at the same time. If one was bad car would lean from one side to the other at the rear.

Word of caution: use care to remove the air line from dryer so as not to damage line or bend brass compression fitting.
Good luck,