master mechanic??

[MichiganTeddyBear]

Well, just got done putting the right rear of my 91 back together... take a look at what I took out...:eek:

http://x4.putfile.com/1/2816231243.jpg (http://www.putfile.com)

black duct tape sealing the bag near the top of it. I drove it for 5 months, and it was parked 2.5 years before I got it.... its amazing it lasted the 5 months of driving I did on it.

[pro-five-oh]

Sweet...I'm gonna put that on my springs when they start to leak. ;)

I can't believe that actually worked!

[MichiganTeddyBear]

I have a pic that is much more detailed of the 'repair', but it won't upload for some reason.. will try to get it up loaded again!

still won't upload.... either here or my putfile account... :(

[MichiganTeddyBear]

ok.. 3rd off-site host was the charm... :)


http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e297/michiganteddybear/Tape1.jpg

here it is in detailed glory....

Amazing, isn't it....

I think the left rear is the same way, from what I remember when I had the tire off last...

[Steve Moran]

Red Green would be proud;)

[Sysanalyst]

You must add it to the duct tape fashion site at -->

http://www.ducttapefashion.com/

[MichiganTeddyBear]

I still cant believe that it lasted for 5 months of driving up here in NW michigan.. where a smooth road has only moderatly sized pot holes... that is if you can find a paved road...

[towncar95]

that is scary looking michigan :)
know whats amazing to me, on my 1989 the air suspension is still working , no leaks . just the strut portion is worn out, figure that one out. for all the problems connies have and the air ride on this one is still not leaking.

[MichiganTeddyBear]

yea, your lucky there. but the repair on the shock portion of the airstrut, of course requires replacing the airstrut!... one other problem it COULD be... it could be a failure in the electronic actuator for the dampening control... these things are normally marshmallow soft, but under some conditions, the suspension computer tells the shocks to stiffen up... only really seem to have 2 settings... (soft and firm), but it could be in 'eterna-soft' mode...

[towncar95]

ahh see im learning more every day. so this electronic actuator thing could be bad, is there a test for this? i think i really have to get a shop manual for this car. so evenif i got the rebuilt struts it might not cure it ? do you have a pic of this actuator thing .thanks MTB

[MichiganTeddyBear]

on the rear, the actuator is part of the strut. the front have removable actuators if I recall correctly.

In the first pic I posted, the gold colored part on the top is the actuator.

as long as the suspension computer is working right and all the wiring is ok, new struts (or rebuilds) should be ok.

[towncar95]

i think your right on the actuator being removable from the front ones as they have a price list from a ford site as left and right $132 each but when i searched the rear suspension they had no part for the actuator.im going to double check to see if all is working right.
as sometimes i dont here the solenoids click when the door shuts. and everonce in ahwile the front looks slightly higher then the back. would the air warning light come on if the car didnt vent properly?

[MichiganTeddyBear]

the warning might come on if it didn't vent properly...

the actuator is not the same as the solenoid... the solenoid is strickly for the air in/out. it goes into the round hole in the 2nd pic that faces downward.

I don't know if there is a way to test the actuators. I know the towncars have a diag mode for the air suspension, but not sure about the Conti's.

[98TC-Cartier]

There is a code reader connector in the trunk for the Cont air suspension system. It will test the whole system and display codes for any problems.

[MichiganTeddyBear]

right, the diag plug for it. But it doesn't use a standard off the shelf reader, does it??? and if so, how does one select the appropriate tests?

The diags routines on the cd manual I have (for 92) show them using a FoMoCo tester of course.

[98TC-Cartier]

On my 88 it runs all the tests in zequence and then gives the codes. Also recommended to have a battery charger connected so the battery doesn't go down and the compressor is run alot. I found the codes somewhere on the net a few years ago, I'll see if I still have them. Uses a regular $30 tester/reader. Key on, engine off.

[MichiganTeddyBear]

wow, while searching for an old thread from me, I dug this one up...

wondering if there is a way the mods can put the detailed pic of this wonderfull piece of work that was on my conti.. and an update, both rear struts where like that! :)