What's that noise???

[bugsyc]

My car has been unused for a few weeks..Parked in my driveway under a cover...Yesterday,my wife called me outside...The MM was making a sound like it does when you first shut it off and get out...The air coming out from the airbags...But,this time it wasn't a continuous compressor like sound...It was like going on and off like one click and then off...It kept going on and off..Very short bursts with like grinding....Sort of like if you were very quickly turning it on and off...Battery is fine...I started her right up...After shutting her down..I didn't here it anymore...I disconnected the battery because it started raining and couldn't stay outside.....It sort of sounded as if a contact was shorting out in the air ride system...
If it ever stops raining,I'll see if it still is doing it and try on and offing the switch in the trunk......Anyone recognize these symptoms????

[Pat]

Critter's?

[bugsyc]

[QUOTE=Pat;1484972]Critter's?[/QU

Thanks for the constructive help...



Is the height sensor electrical????If so,I'm thinking that it may be sort of shorting out....Can I spray some electrical connection cleaner on it????Is the sensor at the end of the adjustment thing on the watts link???"

[Pat]

Your welcome.

[bugsyc]

OK,So I've been researching the system and there are ofcourse electrical components....It sounds as if my problem is in there somewhere...I ran across this article that some may find helpful..http://www.aa1car.com/library/2004/bf30426.htm....

Now my question is....How do I go about isolating which part is at fault???
Sensor,solenoid,wiring etc....Can I diagnose with a scan tool????Volt/ohm meter???

Any CONSTRUCTIVE and USEFULL guidance is appreciated....

[Spectragod]

The noise you were hearing is most likely the air ride compressor, it could be voltage related. Unless you have trouble codes, a scan tool won't be much help, you'll need a ford IDS and a software subscription to test components.

Without physically looking at the problem, I think any solution will either be a guess or a solution based on experience.

[bugsyc]

OK,I realize the noise is from the air ride compressor. The compressor is going on and off after being parked for a week...I'm thinking height sensor or probably module....I know where the height sensor is....Where is the sensor module???In my search,I see one in the right footwell...Is that it and how to test these???? What else should I be checking??? Something is turning the system on and off when it should be dormant...

The only thing other than just wear that I can think of is...I had gone thru a brussless car wash (the one that shoots high pressure water all over including underneath the car) right before I parked her....Possible culprit????
I'm thinking an intermittent electrical connection...

[Spectragod]

OK,I realize the noise is from the air ride compressor. The compressor is going on and off after being parked for a week...I'm thinking height sensor or probably module....I know where the height sensor is....Where is the sensor module???In my search,I see one in the right footwell...Is that it and how to test these???? What else should I be checking??? Something is turning the system on and off when it should be dormant...

The only thing other than just wear that I can think of is...I had gone thru a brussless car wash (the one that shoots high pressure water all over including underneath the car) right before I parked her....Possible culprit????
I'm thinking an intermittent electrical connection...

If it is running, it is adjusting the height, meaning air is leaking out, or it is possible that the compressor is just having a component failure after 12 years of use. IIRC the control module is behind the glove box.

But in this case I would lean more towards a wear type item.

A service manual goes through the procedure to test the components, but I do not have one at my disposal.

[fastblackmerc]

Have you ever cleanout the "well" that the compressor sits in? It is a big collection point for debris that clogs up the tiny drain holes.

[Turbov6Bryan]

The way you wrote your first post in this thread has me asking, is your air ride compressor coming on with the keys not in the car???

If the air compressor is coming on with the keys in your hands out of the car, this will lead you AWAY from the switch on the axle and towards a wet relay that supplies voltage to the compressor

[bugsyc]

The way you wrote your first post in this thread has me asking, is your air ride compressor coming on with the keys not in the car???

If the air compressor is coming on with the keys in your hands out of the car, this will lead you AWAY from the switch on the axle and towards a wet relay that supplies voltage to the compressor

That's what I'm thinking....Car was parked,OFF. for a week when this happened...As I said,I think the high pressure wash under the car or under carriage wash as they call it,caused this....which connections or switches or relays would be suspect????

I will also check and clean and dry out the well that holds the compressor that FBM talks about...

[fastblackmerc]

That's what I'm thinking....Car was parked,OFF. for a week when this happened...As I said,I think the high pressure wash under the car or under carriage wash as they call it,caused this....which connections or switches or relays would be suspect????

I will also check and clean and dry out the well that holds the compressor that FBM talks about...

You'll also want to enlarge the existing drain holes and add a few more.

[bugsyc]

You'll also want to enlarge the existing drain holes and add a few more.


Got it...Will do and report back....Thanks.....I was looking for your opinion,always on the mark....:bows:

[bugsyc]

We finally got a nice day today...I checked the compreesor well..Some leaves and debry in there but,no water,made sure the drain thing was clear...I blew out the area,sprayed some electrical connection stuff on it...I took her out for a ride and after about 2 or 3 minutes I could hear the compressor come on and fill the rear air bags...I could hear the rumble from the rear.....When I got out and shut her off though there was no emptying of the air...Silence...So,I still don't know what is what....The car is parked and she is high and level...

Just a quick question,When disconnecting the battery,do I lose the tune???

[RubberCtyRauder]

no you do not lose the tune, it is in the pcm until removed by the sct unit.

[fastblackmerc]

We finally got a nice day today...I checked the compreesor well..Some leaves and debry in there but,no water,made sure the drain thing was clear...I blew out the area,sprayed some electrical connection stuff on it...I took her out for a ride and after about 2 or 3 minutes I could hear the compressor come on and fill the rear air bags...I could hear the rumble from the rear.....When I got out and shut her off though there was no emptying of the air...Silence...So,I still don't know what is what....The car is parked and she is high and level...

Just a quick question,When disconnecting the battery,do I lose the tune???

No.................

[bugsyc]

Car's been parked for a week,compressor came on..I just happened to hear it...I don't know if it's come on in between....I turned off the switch in the trunk,didn't stop...I had to disconnect battery again...I cleaned out the compressor well...I still think it's the leveling sensor...I can't really crawl under the cat to check it.....I guess I'll take it first to auto electric guy..I know where one is although I've never used him...Maybe it's the switch it self or the sensor underneath...I'm lost on this one...:violin:

[Turbov6Bryan]

Are you sure it's the compressor coming on?

[bugsyc]

Positively the compressor...I was under the hood to disconnect the battery and it was definetly the compressor....Will something blow (air bags,lines,connection)if the compressor is pumping non stop????Is there some kind of relief valve if the pressure gets too high????

[Zack]

Positively the compressor...I was under the hood to disconnect the battery and it was definetly the compressor....Will something blow (air bags,lines,connection)if the compressor is pumping non stop????Is there some kind of relief valve if the pressure gets too high????

If it's going non-stop, the ride height switch on the watts link is the culprit. Usually the arm falls off and just needs to be re-attached.

[fastblackmerc]

If it's going non-stop, the ride height switch on the watts link is the culprit. Usually the arm falls off and just needs to be re-attached.

Probably this ^^^^^^^^^^^^

Easy fix once you crawl under the car.

[bugsyc]

The noise you were hearing is most likely the air ride compressor, it could be voltage related. Unless you have trouble codes, a scan tool won't be much help, you'll need a ford IDS and a software subscription to test components.

Without physically looking at the problem, I think any solution will either be a guess or a solution based on experience.


what about this???http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=70856

Anyway,Should the compressor stop pumping when the trunk switch is pushed to OFF while the compressor is going???

[bugsyc]

If it's going non-stop, the ride height switch on the watts link is the culprit. Usually the arm falls off and just needs to be re-attached.
Easy for you...My crawling under a car are long gone...I do think you are right in your diagnoses...Off I go to have a local mechanic put her on the lift...

Any answer about the compressor blowing up the bags???Is there a relief valve that will not allow too much air????

[Spectragod]

what about this???http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=70856

Anyway,Should the compressor stop pumping when the trunk switch is pushed to OFF while the compressor is going???

Yes it should not run with the switch "off".

[bugsyc]

I'v done the research...You may want to put it in the DIY resourse forum.....https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/91174912/airsusp.pdf

[bugsyc]

I've done some research...You may want to put it in the DIY resource forum....https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/91174912/airsusp.pdf

Also Autozone has all the schematics on this system....Suspension...Hope it helps others...

Sorry about the repeat post

[bugsyc]

OK,I looked at the sensor connected to the watts link...Everything is where it is supposed to be...Again,the problem is the compressor coming on after being parked for days...One day when I heard it come on,I went out and turned the trunk switch OFF....Nothing happened...Compressor kept running until I disconnected the battery...
This is (I'm guessing) either the switch or a relay sticking...OR an intermittent short some where..
I spoke to an auto electrical mechanic and he didn't even want to go near it...He said he had no experience with air ride and referred me to a mechanic that I used before..He tuned up my El Camino and it cost almost $400...for plugs and wires +timing and carb. adjusting...I can't imagine what he would charge me for this...

I have an ad in the parts for sale forum for the trunk switch and control module...Thinking maybe I'd get lucky and change out some parts ...I'll change the relay and fuses first and see if that does it...
Any and all help would be very welcome....:violin: