Dead Air Suspension = Kiss Of Death???

[rayjay]

I hit a minor and I mean MINOR bump in the road last night on STR 20. I hear BANG and the rear end bottomed out. Knew instantly the air suspension had given up the ghost. The light came. Just for the heck of it I stopped and flipped the on/off button. All this did was turn off the idiot light. ??? Now I'm PO'd, like big time. Its been one thing after another since my DTR hit 50K, all minor, but none the less annoying. Usually when this starts happening its good bye car. We'll see what the dealer says next week. I'm already narrowed down to: Buick Lucerne, Buick Lacrosse Super, still in the running Mazda CX7. Outside possiblity is a Milan, if I can get the 263 hp engine. :mad2::mad2::mad2: Damn good thing its Sunday and no dealers locally are open.

[Bluerauder]

Knew instantly the air suspension had given up the ghost. .... Its been one thing after another since my DTR hit 50K, all minor, but none the less annoying. ...... I'm already narrowed down to: Buick Lucerne, Buick Lacrosse Super, still in the running Mazda CX7. Outside possiblity is a Milan, if I can get the 263 hp engine.
Ray, hope you haven't given up on the MM totally. However, I didn't see "fixing/keeping the MM" in your list of options. :(

Don't think you or Brittany are ready for a Buick. ;) No Buickvilles scheduled for 2008 anyway. :o

My son and his new wife have a Mercury Milan Premier and they both love it. He's my auto-advisor and got me into the Marauder .... so I trust his judgement and car sense. :up: :twocents:

[Zack]

An air line probably popped off somewhere.

I doubt the bag sprung a leak.
Good luck

[sabtaj1]

just buy the rear coils from PHP. I think they still sell them to convert to coils instead of air bags.

[Dragcity]

Now, Now Ray. Don't do anything crazy.

Take a step back and get a look at it in the AM

If it's time for a change, then it's time for a change..

[BUCKWHEAT]

...if you must, consider the Lincoln MkX. Just bot one for the wife. Good riding car that goes thru the snow and carries people & dogs with ease. Get the tow package for the larger radiator & remote oil cooler.

[Egon Spengler]

My air suspension blew the first week I owned it used... the pump had blown out and eventually the bags deflated and every bump felt like I was riding in a tank... I limped it back to the dealer I bought it from (Lamoureaux Ford in E. Brookfield MA) and they fixed it free of charge... they put in a remanufactured and refurbished one and it has been fine ever since... I don't know how much it would cost without a warranty, but I looked at it and it didn't seem like it would be that difficult to fix myself... I just don't know how much a new pump would cost. Goodluck and I am sure that you blew the pump out... my light came on and everything and I did the same thing that you did switching the switch and everything, but it was the pump, it burnt out!! I was livid!! Let me know if I can help any further... PM me if you want... hope I was some help

[whd507]

I replaced the bags and compressor/drier on my towncar for about $300 and it took all of 40 minutes to do it all. www.americanairsuspension.com the bags have a lifetime warranty and the pump two years I think.

the pumps burn out because people seldom if ever change out the attached drier. most dealers dont even know its a service part. it has those silica gell things like electronics get shipped in, and when they are full, they need to be replaced. burns up the pump trying to suck through it.

[Blackened300a]

Cmon Ray, The car had been very good to you, this is just a minor setback. Its probably something minor and you'll be back on the road in no time.
Dont give up!

[bob6364]

the pumps burn out because people seldom if ever change out the attached drier. most dealers dont even know its a service part. it has those silica gell things like electronics get shipped in, and when they are full, they need to be replaced. burns up the pump trying to suck through it.

Wow ...my pump sometimes comes on a seems (to me) to run to long I wonder if it needs a drier replacement....:(

[Da Dark Jedi]

Call Ray "The Dealer" for the best price on LM parts.

[Egon Spengler]

Where is this drier and how difficult is it to replace... est. price for one as well please

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

The air suspension in these cars is a long term time bomb. When mine blows eventually I'm going w/ the coil conversion kits you see on ebay. I already replaced one air bag and I have 29k miles -- the car was leaning before I replaced it, not sure if it was leaking around the folds or not. W/ the one air bag replaced we're level again, at least for now.

[rayjay]

The DTR is at the shop. Waiting to see what the damages are...

Just talked with the dealer I use for service. Compressor is shot. Parts with new dryer are $270, plus labor. So I said do it. The DTR gets a reprieve for now.

[Aren Jay]

If you want to sell your DTR because of a Dead Compressor I would buy it from you, CHEAP!

[MarauderMark]

Now I'm PO'd, like big time. Its been one thing after another since my DTR hit 50K, all minor, but none the less annoying. Usually when this starts happening its good bye car..

Heh........

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

LOL I got to the "nearly good bye car" point w/ the MM once already, but I have since calmed down. I too usually get rid of cars pretty quickly once I get PO'd frequently w/ them. But it's still here, that must say something

[MarauderMark]

LOL I got to the "nearly good bye car" point w/ the MM once already, but I have since calmed down. I too usually get rid of cars pretty quickly once I get PO'd frequently w/ them. But it's still here, that must say something

you and me both my mm brutha.

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

I have gotten rid of cars due to minor noises that I couldn't fix, minor highway vibrations that changing wheels/tires/cv axles/transmission/etc would not fix, etc. My wife thinks I am crazy. I think I need to buy more expensive cars for the level of perfection I expect. But then if something went wrong with an $80k BMW I would be even more mad then if the same problem happened w/ a $35k American car. At least w/ the American car I'd expect it. LOL. So until I come up w/ a better plan, I will continue to deal w/ the punishment the MM chooses to deal out on me. Luckily I do not drive much at all, and I don't drive to commute. If I did I'd be in trouble and I'd have to buy another car for that.

[rayjay]

If you want to sell your DTR because of a Dead Compressor I would buy it from you, CHEAP!

Thanks, but I'll be keeping her. My wife and Brittany let me know that they would be very disappointed if I parted with the DTR. Although I must say that a Cheby dealer's offer of a fully loaded 08 Impala SS for $27k had me thinking.

[offroadkarter]

Thanks, but I'll be keeping her. My wife and Brittany let me know that they would be very disappointed if I parted with the DTR. Although I must say that a Cheby dealer's offer of a fully loaded 08 Impala SS for $27k had me thinking.


AN impala SS? What that econo V8? Just because it has 1hp doesnt mean its faster, actually its slower, and of course..... Wrong wheel drive :rolleyes:


Just because your car broke your nose, and now the air suspension died, doesnt mean you have to go to new extremes to get revenge by selling it :D

[Aren Jay]

Punched you in the nose?

[offroadkarter]

Punched you in the nose?

Split it in 2 :)

Glad your keeping it