ABS Pump Goes On at Start and While Driving

[WhatsUpDOHC]

Hi -

Happy New Year to all!

Sorry if the answer to this has been posted (I searched but ABS comes back with beaucoup "hits").

When I start the SB, the ABS pump comes on and resonates through the Air Box (Yes, I still have one) - I can hear it in the cabin.

Also, while I'm driving, I can hear the pump coming on.

I checked the Brake Fluid and all is well there.

Is this normal or something that I should have checked out?

As always, thanks!

Mark

[SC Cheesehead]

Hi -

Happy New Year to all!

Sorry if the answer to this has been posted (I searched but ABS comes back with beaucoup "hits").

When I start the SB, the ABS pump comes on and resonates through the Air Box (Yes, I still have one) - I can hear it in the cabin.

Also, while I'm driving, I can hear the pump coming on.

I checked the Brake Fluid and all is well there.

Is this normal or something that I should have checked out?

As always, thanks!

Mark


Ummmmm, what you may be hearing is the air compressor for the air suspension, and that is normal.

[RoyLPita]

That is not the ABS. That is the air suspension inflating the rear air springs.

[DOOM]

What they ^^^^ said.

[Mr. Man]

That is not the ABS. That is the air suspension inflating the rear air bags.
Fixed it for you:)

[RacerX]

Mine comes on every few days. How often depends on the speed they leak air and how many bumps, pot holes, rr tracks you go over.

[WhatsUpDOHC]

Mine comes on every few days. How often depends on the speed they leak air and how many bumps, pot holes, rr tracks you go over.

As always, thanks all (Glad that it's not the brakes)!

Should I have the shocks checked (Still have 45 months on the warranty)?

I would say that I have a *normal* commute - Residential/highway roads in Southern NJ - I avoid all potholes and take the smooth "line" at all times.

Mark

[Mr. Man]

South Jersey? They even have paved roads down there?:D

[Big House]

Hey folks...need some assistance...I noticed a really rough ride this afternoon. Turns out that I have one inflated bag and one that is not. The compressor does not come on and the light is not on...what could this be?

[fastblackmerc]

Hey folks...need some assistance...I noticed a really rough ride this afternoon. Turns out that I have one inflated bag and one that is not. The compressor does not come on and the light is not on...what could this be?

First you might have a bad bag.

Second a bad compressor. You might be able to fix it or you need to order a new one.

[Big House]

First you might have a bad bag.

Second a bad compressor. You might be able to fix it or you need to order a new one.

What should I be looking for? I know for one there is no compressor sound but looking under the car the bags don't look flat. They ride like crap but not flat.

[SC Cheesehead]

Just a quick check, is the switch in the trunk on? Small item, but worth checking before you go any farther.

[Blk Mamba]

Here try this.....


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..



also, my pump died because of the windshield washer reservior. You cant fill it more than 3/4 full otherwise it will slosh out of the little vent hole in the top of the cap and leak down onto the suspension pump and corrode it until it dies.

[justbob]

Great write up for people not in the know! Kuddos.

[Blk Mamba]

Plagiarism, I don't know where it came from, but I used it when my pump went south, glad I saved it, so it will help someone else.

[Big House]

Got up this morning...pump came on for a moment and the passenger side inflated but the driver side didn't move. Any one out there got a fix for this other than a new bag?

[Blk Mamba]

Bags at Arnott, aren't that expensive really, or they have the whole kit, I would think changing to coils is just as much cash. I would not buy a junk yard bag, dry rot, or anything could be wrong with it.

[Big House]

Well I guess a new air suspension is added to the list.

[Big House]

And did not fix chit!!! Turns out that was not the issue. My front driver side spring broke. Now I got to add springs to the growing list of replacment parts.

[RF Overlord]

If the passenger bag inflated, why did you think there was anything wrong with the air compressor?

Each bag has a solenoid that opens to allow air in or out as necessary. Most likely the solenoid on top of the driver's side bag is bad or it's not getting power.

The bad news is that you have to remove the bag to change the solenoid, so if you have a lot of miles on your car, you might as well replace the bags anyway. Arnott's bags come with new solenoids...