(New) Suspension compressor only coming on for a few seconds

[95lincoln55]

I have been working on my 95 lincoln continental for a while now. I have already replaced the front air bags a couple of months ago and have been manually pumping up the air system about once every 4-6 weeks. I just installed the new compressor and the "check ride control" comes on at key start up. The compressor does not come on with key on, only when the switch in the trunk is turned on and then it only comes on for a few seconds. I have checked the wiring from the solenoids to the (under the fender well) wiring collection point. I guess my question is "Is the air suspension pump relay fried (as was the compressor) and how would I check it with an ohm meter to see if it is good or not"?

Also, I checked the two wires to the solenoids with an ohm meter and one is grounded and the other is not. Is this the way it should be or is the front two solenoids grounded where they are not supposed to be?

Thanks for your time,

[ekooke]

On the solenoid harness; one's hot & the other is grounded, maybe even "ground-switched". When checking the harness leads from the solenoids to the fenderwell, look for the splices. EVERY '95 and '96 Conti had front splices from the factory (to allow for previously unplanned suspension travel) and they go bad all the time. The cure is a new pair of harness pigtails spliced in, or re-splice the existing ones.

[95lincoln55]

One side is spliced in (where the plastic cover is inside the fender well) and the other is not. I spliced in about 6 more inches of wire on the side that was not spliced. Using an ohm meter, I check the wire before the splice on each of the two sets of wires to the end of the wire at the connector. All wires show to have a good connection between those two points.

Do you know of a way to check the compressor relay with an ohm meter to see if it is good or bad. The relay has four connections from A to D.

Thanks

[ekooke]

If the compressor comes on at all, it's good, since the relay is a solid state one with the contacts being;
power in from battery
control wire for switching
ground for switching current
power out from battery, via relay

I'm not that familiar with the later Conti AS, but the place to post question on this is at: http://disc.server.com/Indices/37091.html

[scottsdale96continental]

I am having some of th same problem s as you, what did you mean by "pumping up the airbags manually"? Did you install a schrader valve on the compressor?

[v8_dave]

http://www.lincolnsonline.com/tech/00122.html

I wish I could help you more with your car. :(

[mrtea]

I have responded to a similar problem below... If it is your relay, the system will detect the fault, and never even attempt to start the compressor -- "Check Ride Control" will appear immediately. You say that by toggling on the trunk switch you have been able to get the compressor to come on... if that is the case, it is not a relay problem. By the way, you can get relays at a junkyard for $15, Ford will charge you about $150. I keep a hot spare on hand just to be able to check it when the system goes South.

[TheSweetRossLg]

iv been gone for a whyll but im bringing back my sences for this veicle i hate to see a airride problem its so sad :(

check the relay or perhaps
you need to get the pigtial harness