Air suspension problem

[jdando]

Hey Gang;

My air suspension light is on and the car is riding low and rough as heck :(

The last time the air compressor ran it sounded really bad, and I am assuming it is shot.

Where do I get replacement parts?

Where is the compressor located?

How hard is it to replace?

Can I "inflate" the system until I get the spare parts?

Lowrider in MN :help:

[03blackvegas]

Have a good mechanic actually diagnose the specific problem, so you don't replace things unnecessarily. In my case it was the Module for the air suspension, and the steering assist. Good luck.

[rayjay]

Good advice. Mine went last year. Driving down the road, hit a small bump, boom I bottomed out and that was all she wrote. I had my friendly FLM service dept replace it. It is under the airbox. I believe there is a way to temp inflate the system, but have no idea how.

[Marauder386]

Here is some help .....


http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=49067&highlight=manual+air+ride



:cool4:

[TooManyFords]

C'mon Jeremyz! Live the low life, y0!

[lincolnpimp]

DO NOT drive it with the air suspension deflated. You will do SO much more damage. And Ford's way of thinking on the air suspesion side of life is a little twisted, so you will thank yourself a thousand times over if you get the car to someone who is KNOWS these air susp. systems well.

Jeff

[ImpalaSlayer]

DO NOT drive it with the air suspension deflated. You will do SO much more damage. And Ford's way of thinking on the air suspesion side of life is a little twisted, so you will thank yourself a thousand times over if you get the car to someone who is KNOWS these air susp. systems well.

Jeff


i would agree i have riddin with the sensor all the wway down and it dos not feel good lol

[jdando]

Thanks to the MM.net community. Posts and searching got me the info to get a temporary fix until I can get the compressor fixed/replaced.

Before:
http://jeremyd.smugmug.com/photos/482287454_HCqZ2-L.jpg


After:
http://jeremyd.smugmug.com/photos/482287500_g8U68-L.jpg


Now I need to repair or replace the compressor.....
http://jeremyd.smugmug.com/photos/482287535_B3vp4-L.jpg

Stay tuned....

[Merc-O-matic]

Take the old system out....replace the air bags/air suspension with
coil springs. $300 dollars or less and rides better the stock!

Gotta Love It!

[Got Diesel?]

Must be the MN cold but mine makes ALOT of noise when it activates...kinda planning on having some issues down the road, but still working for now.


Good luck!! :up:

[hot-rauder]

Jeremy, my brothers MM did the EXACT same thing, looked the same too. Good luck!!!

[jdando]

Well I broke my Torx bit trying to open up the compressor :(

I have ordered a new compressor from arnott air suspension on eBay. $179 for a new compressor vs. $305 from the dealer.

Hopefully it will be 20 degrees warmer next weekend when I have to install the new part!

[jdando]

:woohoo: The new compressor showed up today.
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/gallery/data/5/medium/1S7T6718b.jpg
Since we are having a heat wave (37F) I did a quick install and am back in business!

[Bradley G]

What kind of cookie are you holding?:P

[ImpalaSlayer]

What kind of cookie are you holding?:P

it always amazis me what people find in the background

[Merc-O-matic]

Could be chocolate chip?

[Bradley G]

i'm hungry!:drool:
it always amazis me what people find in the background

[03blackvegas]

If I would have known you were serving cookies, I would have came over and helped.

[jdando]

What kind of cookie are you holding?:P

Chocolate chip. It is my neighbor actually :)

[Bradley G]

I did a compressor and height sensor last summer.
The trip to the drag strip 80 mi. & the passes I made W/O rear support was rough.

[rayjay]

:woohoo: The new compressor showed up today.
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/gallery/data/5/medium/1S7T6718b.jpg
Since we are having a heat wave (37F) I did a quick install and am back in business!

Did it come with everything? Ie: new muffler?

[FordNut]

Did it come with everything? Ie: new muffler?

I believe that's the dryer. Last time I bought one from them for a MkVII it was complete, so I assume this one is also complete.

[rayjay]

I believe that's the dryer. Last time I bought one from them for a MkVII it was complete, so I assume this one is also complete.
Ok, I was curious if you could buy just what you need and save a little $$. My repair dealer replaced mine last year and IIRC, everything came with it.

[FordNut]

I believe you can replace the dryer separately from the pump, but if you replace the pump without a new dryer it voids the warranty.

[rayjay]

I believe you can replace the dryer separately from the pump, but if you replace the pump without a new dryer it voids the warranty.

How often should the dryer be replaced?

[FordNut]

I've never replaced one until I had a failure. My Mom's 19 year old MkVII popped the dryer, but I just replaced the whole pump and dryer assembly.

[rayjay]

Yea I asked the service manager/head tech and he really had no definate answer. I'm thinking probably bi annually. Mine failed at 3.5 years.

[FordNut]

I had a 20 year old MkVII and it still was running on the OEM pump/dryer. The air bags had been replaced many times.

I've never had a problem with the air suspension on either of the Marauders. Bought one in '02, the other in '03, one has 120k mi, the other almost 140k mi.

[rayjay]

I had a 20 year old MkVII and it still was running on the OEM pump/dryer. The air bags had been replaced many times.

I've never had a problem with the air suspension on either of the Marauders. Bought one in '02, the other in '03, one has 120k mi, the other almost 140k mi.

Mine went bye bye when I hit a small bump in the road, all of a sudden I was sitting on the bump stops. May have something to do with road salt 6 months a year.

[GetMeMyStogie]

I believe you can replace the dryer separately from the pump, but if you replace the pump without a new dryer it voids the warranty.

Wrong. The dryer goes with the springs - new springs require a new dryer.
The motor compresses ambient air, including the moisture, and pushes it through the dryer, which then sends dry air into the air lines, throught the air bag solenoids and into the air bags. The moisture is left in the dryer.
On deflation, the dry air passes out of the air bags, through the solenoids and air lines, back through the dryer - picking up moisture on its way - and out to the atmosphere through the vent solenoid.
Leaky air springs mean dry air goes straight out to the atmosphere, with no opportunity to remove moisture from the dryer. Over time, the dryer becomes saturated. Running for a long time with leaky air springs or leaky lines kills the dryer, while overworking the pump at the same time.

As you can see, the motor doesn't care where the compressed air goes.

If you put new air springs in without changing the dryer, the first few compression cycles will send moist air from the compressor through the saturated dryer, potentially picking up more moisture, which then sends un-dried (moist) air into your air lines and into your new air springs. That will void the (Arnott) air spring warranty.

[cy8ercop]

Hey JDANDO, my air compressor has gone out on my marauder as well.. I called Arnott directly to see if I can get one and they stated they don't carry them.. any ideas? Thanks!

[jdando]

Hey JDANDO, my air compressor has gone out on my marauder as well.. I called Arnott directly to see if I can get one and they stated they don't carry them.. any ideas? Thanks!

Try here;

http://www.arnottindustries.com/part_MERCURY_Air_Suspension_Pa rts_yid3_pid20_gid69.html

give them their part number.