suspension sagging

[canadiangator]

2003 Gator

I got a problem with mine that is sags on the passenger side when I park it, It tucks the wheels, the drive side sits good but the passenger side sags, I took the tire off and looked for leaks with water and soap and did not see anything, any ideas?

[Fordace]

PM me your email, I might have something you can use

[LSRX101]

Fordace, are you familiar with the AS system on those trucks? (You're a FLM Tech, aren't you??)

I know they're basically the same as other Lincolns, but I'm wondering about specific differences in operating strategy and common failure points.
The older Expedition and Navigator are getting to the age where the AS develops problems and Air Suspension is foreign to many of those folks. Lincoln owners have a 24 year knowledge base behind them. :D I've been trying to help out on the Ford Truck Enthusiasts forum with what I know about the AS in our Lincolns. I've never laid hands on one of those systems though. I don't want to talk out of my a** or lead anyone astray in their diagnosis.

A lot of Expy\Navi's seem to lean to the left rear when parked, it's a big topic in Ford truck circles. Some folks have mentioned a "squat" or "kneel" function for getting in and out, supposedly told to them by the dealer. This is most probably an urban legend, but I can't find any definitive info either way. Any thoughts on that particular symptom?

[canadiangator]

when I turn my truck off the suspension lowers itself, this started about 8-10 months ago that my truck sags, my wheel touches the wheel well pretty much on the passenger side both wheels. I've been to my lincoln dealer locally and they told me id hafta drive about 4 hours away to get someone who actually knows stuff about these suspension im not really interested in spending 250$ in gas and a night at a hotel cause my lincoln dealer is to incompetant
any help is greatly appreciated

what I did was turn my truck on, let the suspension fill up then i turned the switch to OFF, then watched the truck sag right back to the way it usually does the passenger side right down and the driver's side to normal height, so this makes the think there is a leak somewhere and that my sensors for height adjustment are good? not sure let me know what you think!

[Fordace]

I 'll look into this tomorrow..........sounds like sticky solenoids not closing all the way.
The bags are usually good or bad, no in between.....

[LSRX101]

....what I did was turn my truck on, let the suspension fill up then i turned the switch to OFF, then watched the truck sag right back to the way it usually does the passenger side right down and the driver's side to normal height, so this makes the think there is a leak somewhere and that my sensors for height adjustment are good? ...

Why would a Lincoln Dealer not know about Air Suspension??? It's only been standard on some Lincoln vehicles for 24 years!!! Damn!:eek:

Yep, 'gator, You did the proper test of the Air Suspension. Your conclusions are right on target.
With the switch off, the air "should" be contained in the springs indefinitely by the air solenoids mounted on the springs. If it drops, the problem is within about a 6" area around the spring.
5 years is pretty darn young for leaky air springs, but your "switch off" test pretty much confirms it. Failures happen, but the "normal" life span of air springs is ~10 years.

If you want to test further:
The right side rear air system is leaking. At 8-10 months I would suspect a bad solenoid or solenoid O-rings on the right rear. A leaky spring "usually" won't last that long without getting much worse.
Get it back up to height with the air compressor. Place stands under the vehicle frame to catch it if it drops suddenly!!!! Don't jack it up, just place the stands to catch it if it drops. The bumper supports are handy.
Get the system up to ride height and douse the right rear air spring solenoid with kids bubble soap from Toys R Us, Kmart, etc. If you see bubbles, it's the orings. If not, remove the air line from the solenoid. There may be a rush of air followed by a rapid lowering of the truck. This is a bad solenoid. If there is no rush of air\lowering, the air spring is leaking.

Again, 5 years is pretty darn young for leaky air springs, but your "switch off" test pretty much confirms it. Failures can happen, but the "normal" life span of air springs is ~10 years.

[canadiangator]

ok stupid question what does a solenoid look like ? can someone take some pics and just put a arrow at what im suppose to look for, ill bring it in my work shop tonight or tomorrow night and remove my 2 passenger side wheels then soap everything up again and look for leaks, last time I just sprayed the bags and whatever was around it that wasnt a brake pretty much but now that I think of it my bags might have not had much air in them. I do have a ford ESP warranty on it and it does cover Air suspension electronic (selected components)
but no one around here can find the problem and im not a big fan of spending 89$ a hour for them to look for something they dont even know anything about, if I can send them in the right direction then it would be great

Also when im driving around I find my compressor kicking in alot for 10 secs or so is that normal or is it cause of the faulthy possibly solenoid?

thanks again guys, ill take a picture tonight when I get home from work to show you guys how bad it sags

[canadiangator]

I posted on another forum also, someone just told me this, what do you guys think? these are guys with ford rangers, but they do know alot about air suspension...


""on the passenger side floor either under the kick panel, or just under the dash(I can't remember for sure) there is a control module for the air suspension. On it there is a reset button, press it, that may be your problem.

The way those are designed if the navi. has been up in the air high enough for the wheels to go to full droop, it screws with the air ride control sensor. Normally it only effects it from front to back but its still possible that this is your problem.""

[SignatureSeriesOwner]

ok stupid question what does a solenoid look like ?



http://www.arnottindustries.com/part_LINCOLN_Air_Suspension_Parts_yid2_pid116.html < SOLENOID
keep in mind this is a rebuilt one, but it looks just like yours. (yours might be creme though, not sure :) But look for that, it is connected to the top of the air spring, and it sticks out a few inches :)

[canadiangator]

how do I test my solenoids to see if they are doing what they are suppose to do? is it a big job to change one? I found out today they are NOT covered under my warranty so maybe I will try this one myself.

[canadiangator]

ok I went to my shop last night to check things out I didnt have my tools with me so I couldnt really take anything apart, but this is what I found.

I started the truck made it go to ride height then turn it off, almost imediately after turning it off (10-15) seconds I could hear some air leaking and the truck lowering itself to kneel height witch is about 1" lower then ride height, I could live with this BUT about a hour after my truck sags both front and back and the passenger side.

I did check to see if I could see air comming out with soap and water on the solenoids and could NOT see anything?

What I came up with is that my O-rings are going and there is a very very small leak causing the truck not to be able to hold up its kneel height?

How big of a job is it to change the solenoids? There is a power wire going in and a air line there and thats it but I couldnt see how its holding up


thanks !

[Fordace]

did you check the height sensors for disconnected arms?

Some 2003-2006 Expedition and Navigator vehicles equipped with an air suspension may exhibit an air suspension height sensor linkage arm disengaging from the suspension ball stud or height sensor rotating arm. This concern typically occurs with the rear sensor (Figure 1) but may occur with the front sensors as well. If this occurs, the symptom will typically be the vehicle leaning to one side, the vehicle sitting too low/high, a harsh ride, and/or an inoperative air suspension. In addition, this concern may result in diagnostic trouble code (DTC) C1725 (air suspension front pneumatic failure) or C1726 (air suspension rear pneumatic failure).

I sent you that TSB.......

[Fordace]

I'm going to email you more stuff.......if one of those air springs is no good, the solenoids can freeze partially open. I see it's still COLD up there by the pictures you sent me....

[canadiangator]

I did check the little arm for the height sensor as per your email and it does move back and forth but seems to be ok?

[SignatureSeriesOwner]

You stated that you sprayed the solenoids and did not see any leaks. You will want to do the same test with the air springs. IF you can get it on a lift, turn off the A/S, lift it up to a comfortable height (so you can be under it) and see if the air springs have any cracks. Yours might not, OR, like me, the air springs have a lot of little cracks, and when you completely lift the car of the ground, they are ALL noticeable, and when the car is lowered, the rear of the car is almost of the ground! :eek: the only fix for that, is new air springs. As far as install goes (for future reference) a lift makes it SOOOO much easier. :D

[canadiangator]

I checked my air bags with soap and the water and there is no leaks or cracks or nothing in the bags.

Tonight I went back with a guy who seemed to know enough about this system and he said to change the 2 solenoids on the passenger side front and rear and while we where at it I will also change the height sensor arm because it is still the old style and there 13$ for the set of 3

I ordered my solenoids from arnott industry's thanks SignatureSeriesOwner

they where 20$ cheaper shipped for the both of them as to 1 of them from my dealer

when they arrive we will install and I will let you guys know how it went
thanks for all the help
hopefully I dont need to talk to you guys about this suspension ever again ! :P

[Fordace]

no, we want to know what fixes this.......I hope you guys aren't guessing without testing with OMH meter. You can pump a lot of money into parts guessing....

[SignatureSeriesOwner]

no, we want to know what fixes this.......I hope you guys aren't guessing without testing with OMH meter. You can pump a lot of money into parts guessing....

Completely agree. A simple fix turns into something complex by replacing everythign you can conceive to be regarding the issue. I think your solenoids were fine, but since you already ordered them, just install them, replace all the O-rings for the solenoids, (Arnott has those too) and make sure you put sole dielectric grease on the O-rings to help them seat, and see what happens. Unless someone else has a better idea?

[canadiangator]

fordace, thanks for the how to's you sent to my email
do I need a special tool to remove the air solenoid clip?