Things that do Not work.

[tylerdurden2816]

So, after doing my rear brakes and not turning off air ride, and having my car sink to the ground, here's some helpful advice that DOES NOT WORK from many sources ranging from the internet to Ford themselves via phone.

1. Turning the key from off to accessory a bunch of times in a row.

2. Starting and stopping the car a bunch of times.

3. Disconnecting the battery with Air Ride button on.

4. Turning off air ride, disconnecting the battery, reconnecting after a half hour, starting, and turning Air Ride button back on.

5. Turning key to accessory and holding gas pedal to the floor.

6. Lifting rear end just enough so sensor gets into a "readable range", bc apparently to the f#&?$@g ground is too low to tell the system to turn on, and then starting the car. Varying the level of lift until it's in a sweet readable spot.

7. Turning the car on, opening and closing a passenger rear door, and then opening and closing the driver door.

NONE OF THESE WORK. Might wanna make this a stickie and save someone else a lot of time...

[Comin' in Hot]

Have you tried putting 12v to your compressor to make sure it works?

[RacerX]

^ What he said! The compressor tends to rot over time. I had to rebuild mine. If you drill a couple of holes in the plastic basin under it, it allows water to drain out from rain, etc.

[tylerdurden2816]

Compressor, bags and solenoids were all replaced last year. And I don't think it's a coincidence the air ride stopped right after doing my rear brakes without turning the air ride system off. And even tried filling the bags manually with an air compresssor, the solenoids aren't even opening. It's just not getting the message to do it's one simple job. I also looked at the ride height position sensor (also replaced just last year) and the bags themselves, all appear in working order. It's gotta be a software sort of issue. And tomorrow when I let Ford fix it, I'll find out how much it costs to be stupid, and not think to turn the system off before jacking up my car😖

[Zack]

You deserve a high bill for not properly troubleshooting

[Badass_forever]

Compressor, bags and solenoids were all replaced last year. And I don't think it's a coincidence the air ride stopped right after doing my rear brakes without turning the air ride system off. And even tried filling the bags manually with an air compresssor, the solenoids aren't even opening. It's just not getting the message to do it's one simple job. I also looked at the ride height position sensor (also replaced just last year) and the bags themselves, all appear in working order. It's gotta be a software sort of issue. And tomorrow when I let Ford fix it, I'll find out how much it costs to be stupid, and not think to turn the system off before jacking up my car😖

Anyone that has EVER worked at a garage or even on there own car for that matter will understand this... JUST because parts are new, DOES not mean they are good.

[EMAS]

Anyone that has EVER worked at a garage or even on there own car for that matter will understand this... JUST because parts are new, DOES not mean they are good.

NEW stands for Never Ever Worked. So in this case that is not likely the problem since it sounds like they were not replaced as part of the brake repair.

To the OP Jack the car up from the frame on both sides until it is slightly below the regular ride height. Then open the trunk turn the switch on close the trunk get in the car close the door and start the car. It should make it work. If not and from the other description it sounds like the ride height sensor was damaged by being allowed to drop so low.

[tylerdurden2816]

You deserve a high bill for not properly troubleshooting
We're not all mechanics. Thanks for the kind words though. I can always count on you for that.

[tylerdurden2816]

Anyone that has EVER worked at a garage or even on there own car for that matter will understand this... JUST because parts are new, DOES not mean they are good.
You may be right, but they did work fine for a year straight. So I'm under the assumption they didn't randomly quit after doing brakes.

[tylerdurden2816]

NEW stands for Never Ever Worked. So in this case that is not likely the problem since it sounds like they were not replaced as part of the brake repair.

To the OP Jack the car up from the frame on both sides until it is slightly below the regular ride height. Then open the trunk turn the switch on close the trunk get in the car close the door and start the car. It should make it work. If not and from the other description it sounds like the ride height sensor was damaged by being allowed to drop so low.
Maybe the ride height sensor, it looked fine crawling under there, but maybe it's still broke. Bc I tried your way lifting it a bit and starting it a bunch of times at all different heights.

[RacerX]

? Why would jacking UP the car at all help??? You need to pull the frame of the car DOWN to activate the switch. We forgot to turn off the switch on the dyno once and when it got strapped DOWN, that compressor over compressed my bags.

[tylerdurden2816]

? Why would jacking UP the car at all help??? You need to pull the frame of the car DOWN to activate the switch. We forgot to turn off the switch on the dyno once and when it got strapped DOWN, that compressor over compressed my bags.
Supposedly the sensor only works within a certain range, and perhaps mine was so low that it was out of range to activate. That load of crap was an idea directly from a service writer at Ford...

[fastblackmerc]

Supposedly the sensor only works within a certain range, and perhaps mine was so low that it was out of range to activate. That load of crap was an idea directly from a service writer at Ford...

I'd pull the switch off and look at it... but that's just me... :D

[tylerdurden2816]

Just talked to Ford. They say the compressor is bad, the bags may not have come down on the posts properly and it ran till it burned out. They wanted $1150 for parts and labor!!! I obviously declined.

[Comin' in Hot]

If the bags are deflated, I would gain access to the compressor and pull off the plug. Then roll down the driver's window and make sure the doors and trunk are closed. Next reach in and turn the ignition on to run but do not start the car. Take a test light or multimeter and hook on a good ground. Stick the other end in the plug, if you get twelve volts, the compressor is bad. if you get nothing start looking elsewhere. Once you know which side is power, you could also hot wire the compressor to eliminate it from being a problem.

[Comin' in Hot]

You could empty the bags by these three steps.

1. disconnecting the air line coming off the compressor

2. jack the rear wheels off the ground

3. turn on the key with the doors and trunk closed, it will open the solenoids and deflate the bags by feeding out the compressor line.

[Badass_forever]

Just talked to Ford. They say the compressor is bad, the bags may not have come down on the posts properly and it ran till it burned out. They wanted $1150 for parts and labor!!! I obviously declined.

I'll take my +1 and leave, thanks!