Air Suspension Question

[sking]

Hi guys I lurk here quite often and have picked up a lot of great information. I have a 03 MM that I picked up with 120k on it and is now approaching 200k (193K). Here is the question, the air compressor has been running more often and louder. The yesterday day the pump ran intermittently and quit and the air suspension light came on and the rear end is hanging low. Now when I start the car the compressor does not come on and the air suspension light is NOT on, there are no fault codes stored in the computer. Do you think it is the compressor or should I be looking elsewhere? Swapping in a Arnott P-2234 seems a pretty easy fix but I don’t want to be throwing parts at this problem. I am going add air manually to the system as detailed here: http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=55431 until I get this figured out.

Also if it the whole system (bags, compressor, sensors) needs to be replaced thoughts on replacing them with coils.

Thanks Steve

[jstevens]

Some have switched to coils however usually the pump is the only thing that gives.

Others have said the pump gets louder when it gets ready to take a dump.

[Mr. Man]

If the air pump doesn't cycle when you turn on the key (especially if the rear end is sagging)the motor has probably given up. Swap it for a new one and before you install it drill some 1/4-5/16" holes in the bottom of the tray. Water sits there and eventually works its way into the motor and kills it. As long as you have the drill out might want to drill a couple of larger holes under the battery and if your really feeling industrious pull the wiper cowl and clean out the gook that has built up and drill those holes bigger too so you can hopefully avoid the wacky-wiper syndrome.:)

[sking]

Thanks for the responses. I’ll order up a new pump and add air to the system manually until I get the part and have time to put it in.

Thanks

[SilverSport]

I can almost guarantee that you need to replace your bags also. Leaking bags will kill that new compressor in short order. If you add air manually and the rear still sags after a while then the bags are leaking. Non leaking bags will hold the air for quite a long time with no sag.

[jwibbity]

anybody know a place for rear bag replacement, i just noticed a leak on my right side:(:(

[RF Overlord]

sking, after you get the rear end at the proper height, be sure to turn off the RAS switch in the trunk, that way the system won't attempt to vent or add air until you get the new compressor installed.

[RF Overlord]

anybody know a place for rear bag replacement, i just noticed a leak on my right side:(:(http://www.arnottindustries.com/part_FORD_Air_Suspension_Parts _yid1.html

[sking]

Got the pump and installed it, works great. I can’t believe how quite it is the old one must have been dying for some time, I thought it was supposed to be that loud. I’ll have to change the air springs next I have a small leak somewhere it takes a day or so for the car to go down. How long should the air springs hold before they need to be pumped back up?

One odd thing is the old pump had a little hose (not the air input) that went from the motor housing to the manifold/electrical box. The new pump had the had the same fittings in the casting but they weren’t drilled out in any event I transferred it to the new pump just so in the future some collector will go “Look it even has the little hose on the pump”

[sking]

Advance Auto Parts has the pump and they do order online pick up in store. If you order online you can get $30.00 off (code AP30)

[Dr Caleb]

How long should the air springs hold before they need to be pumped back up?

When I store my car, I disconnect the battery. The rear end sags very little, perhaps 2 inches in the 6 months between when I park it for the winter and when I revive it in the spring.

[Marauder386]

Lest we all forget, there is three or four different "airbags" for the Panther platform. I suspect the ones shown on the Arnot site are not specific to the MM...


:bob:

[jwibbity]

http://www.arnottindustries.com/part_FORD_Air_Suspension_Parts _yid1.html

thanks!!!!!

[RF Overlord]

How long should the air springs hold before they need to be pumped back up?The Blackbird sits for a month or more at a time (in the winter) without being driven and the airbags don't go down.

[vegasmarauder]

Quick test for leaking bags is to mix up a spray bottle with some dishwashing soap soapy water. Then spray a lot on each bag. Even a small leak will start to blow bubbles after about 30 seconds to a minute. Did that on my brother's Expedition that would sag intermittantly every 1-2 days and he was amazed at how much air was coming out of the bags. They tend to leak where the bag rolls back up under from the outside to the inside since this part flexes the most when the car is moving.

[EMAS]

Often times it's not the bag that leaks it's the O-ring sealing the valve to the bag. The O-ring kit is much cheaper than the bags.

There are 2 different bags for the Panther chassis, the "standard" and the HPP/Marauder/Limo. Arnott carries both.