Blew air suspension

[boatmangc]

I just got this car and I am really enjoying the Trilogy a lot, maybe too much.
I just took a high speed run down a fairly rough road and now the car is vented all the way down. I started it up and didn't hear the compressor run. I haven't looked for a fuse but I figured I would see if anyone else has had a similar experience. I was on it hard and the rear wheels came off the ground and got a little sideways when it came down, I was on asphalt.

[jdando]

Sounds like a dead air compressor.

Here is some info from a previous post.

When my compressor went out I was able to un-hook the compressor, re-inflate the bags and then turn the air suspension switch off. This allowed the bags to stay inflated until my new compressor from arnott arrived.

Driving with the car on the bump stops is no fun and potentially dangerous.

The temporary fix how-to;
Thanks to "Grifter"
OK, heres what you do to get the car back up to ride height (if its the compressor that died, not the bags that blew.)

This works a little easier w/ 2 people, and an air compressor with a rubber tipped air nozzle (worked well for me, the tube type may as well if thats all you have) a small 5 gallon (@ 80ish psi) tank should have enough air in it. It doesnt take much air to get the bags back up

Pop the trunk, you will need access to the air ride switch. Remove the air box (if you have it, or other intake assembly) to reveal the suspension compressor beneath. locate the air line coming out of the small tank attatched tot he pump. remove the air line. Push the colored ring in and pull the tube out to remove it.
with the air ride switch in the on position,and the air compressor all ready to go, have a buddy hop in the car and turn the key to 'On' but dont start it. in a couple seconds you will hear the compressor kick on/grind/howl (whatever noise it makes if any) and/or you will hear the solenoids 'click' from the rear bags. once you hear either of those, start pumping air from the compressor into the air line you removed. that will start to inflate the rear bags. keep filling until the suspension pump stops, or the rear solenoids click shut, or until you get whatever rear height you want.
once you get to the desired height, go to the trunk and flip the air ride switch off so that the computer doesnt make the solenoids open again and you lose all your air. FYI having the air bag switch off will also make the 'air ride' light come on in the dash.

thats how you can manually add air to the bags and still drive around with a broken compressor. I did that for a week when mine went out..

My adventures;

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forum...ad.php?t=51567 (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=51567)

[boatmangc]

The compressor was replaced by a dealer a few months ago for the previous owner.
I'll check it out tomorrow Thanks for the info.

[TiTo35]

Well looky what we got here...
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=56674

[Rocknthehawk]

Mike (KB-Marauder-S) is also selling the air compressor from his totalled MM.

[RoyLPita]

The compressor was replaced by a dealer a few months ago for the previous owner.
I'll check it out tomorrow Thanks for the info.

If you can get the receipt for the repair, then Duncan in Key West can help you with a service parts repair if it is the cause.

[boatmangc]

OK I don't think it's the compressor, I disconnected the air line (which still had a little air pressure in it) and hot-wired the compressor, it sounds fine. So I tried powering up the car and hot wiring the compressor at the same time. compressor ran until it built pressure in the lines and slowed down, I killed the power because I didn't want to burn it up. when I disconnected the hose again it had air pressure. I did not hear solenoid/s in the rear of the car.
So here is what is not happening IMHO so far. The compressor is not turning on via the computer and the solenoids are not working. Is there a main relay for the system.
I also jacked the car up and made sure I hadn't knocked the ride height sensor loose. It was OK. I popped it off and moved it and didn't feel anything binding.

Ideas?

[jdando]

Humm, interesting. I assume you pumped up your suspension and turned the switch in the trunk off. This will allow you to have some manner of air suspension while you diagnose, solve the problem.

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

[boatmangc]

I printed his schematic this morning. I was not able to get the suspension pumped back up I don't think the solenoids are opening.
I figured I would use his color codes to see if I can open the solenoids to get some air in it anyway plus give me a little more clue what is not working.
I might just put in a rocker switch and run it manually.
First I just want to know what broke to see if I did it or just a coincidence.

Right now it is slammed. I'm afraid to move it in the driveway,it's got widened rear wheels and it is TIGHT!

I guess I need to buy a manual for this car to add to my library...

[boatmangc]

Ok, I have learned that just because the compressor makes some air it still can be bad.
I was unable to do the air tank trick so simply so I used Magindat's manual override to fire the solenoids and then blew air into it with my tank that worked fine.

But first I hot-wired the compressor and manually fired the solenoids using jumper leads straight to the compressor. I went back to look and see if it was coming up and it wasn't so I went back and caught my jumper leads just before they melted together....So I guess it was bad after all.

I guess maybe the solenoids were not working because the compressor was loading the system?

[Rocknthehawk]

Ok, I have learned that just because the compressor makes some air it still can be bad.
I was unable to do the air tank trick so simply so I used Magindat's manual override to fire the solenoids and then blew air into it with my tank that worked fine.

But first I hot-wired the compressor and manually fired the solenoids using jumper leads straight to the compressor. I went back to look and see if it was coming up and it wasn't so I went back and caught my jumper leads just before they melted together....So I guess it was bad after all.

I guess maybe the solenoids were not working because the compressor was loading the system?

I've had this problem in my truck before. Mine was due to too much pressure though.

and yes, the compressor may still pump, even though it is bad.

[boatmangc]

OK after further examination I found that the right side inflated way higher than the left.
I tried to manually vent the right side and although I can hear the solenoid click and a small puff of ait the right side really didn't come down.

Any clues?

[boatmangc]

My niece works at a LM dealership in MN. She is getting me a compressor under warranty. I would rather put it in myself.
The dealership that put in the last one stabbed the wiring going into the compressor on the car side of the connector with their test light.
Nobody gets a chance to do that twice.
The dealership in Key West totaled my 98 Mark VIII in 98 with only 1200 miles on the clock. :bigcry:
They don't get to work on my lawnmower!

[boatmangc]

Newest update,
Picked a compressor from Ed. nope..
Put it on my buddies Modis and I have no output from the sensor. I guess I stuffed it pretty hard when the A** end went airborne (or more like when it landed).
I pulled it off and found the stop broken and I think the actuator arm is bent.
More will be revealed when the replacement comes in.

[MrBluGruv]

did you have a price on that compressor?

I'm having exactly the same problem myself and a shop told me it'd be pretty ridiculous in terms of price and that I should just go for shocks and springs in back, which I'm considering but that's beside the point.

/ramble over.

price?

[boatmangc]

OK.
Here's the final lowdown.
The ride height sensor was bad, the sensor arm was bent. Replaced that and still no go.
Pulled the big fuse relay box out and found no power to feed side of relay. Fixed that. air ride again!

[Hoodfella73]

where is the compressor located?

[Blackmobile]

where is the compressor located?

Under the air filter box.

[MrBluGruv]

I ended up getting the heavy-duty coil spring conversion from Suncore Industries. Worked like a champ. Car feels very firm, but doesn't ride rough at all. In fact, given that my air suspension was probably in a crappy state before it stopped working altogether, it seems to rider smoother now than ever.

[justbob]

Why is smooth good? Thats what CV's are for.

What does the ride height look like? Just curious as to why you didn't just fix the issues at hand with all the info around here?

Do you have any aftermarket goodies that will not cooperate with the smooth ride?

[MrBluGruv]

lmao, man I like the feeling of a sport-tuned suspension as much as the next guy, but seriously, why not have a smooth ride that handles as well if not better than stock?

Essentially the tail end is as high as it could end up going if the air springs were fully inflated at all times. I like the look, rakes it forward a little more and reminds me a bit of the built classics that you can almost see the rear-dif from behind.

and I didn't "fix it" cause for about 170 I've got the problem solved, got a smoother ride, tighter handling, and the relief of knowing I'll NEVER have to worry about those air springs again. Personally, I consider what I did as "fixing" it.

[Hoodfella73]

thanks to you all i changed the compressor. now i need to know how to reset the check engine light?