Air Ride Not Working In Cars That Sat A Long Time

[cat in the hat]

As a result of some unfortunate drama, my cars sat for over a year and a half.


Got new keys made, one new battery plus one on a charger overnight, 5 gal. can of fresh 93 octane gas each.


One is running fine. Got the other one running with another can of fresh gas, some Heet gas drier and a shot of ether. It ran rough and eventually crapped out. Gonna try it again tomorrow with another round of fresh gas, Heet drier and ether.


But the air ride isn't working on either car ?


Is there something about sitting a long time that craps out the air ride ?
Are there any recommended fixes ?
I never had a car with air ride and don't know a darn thing about it.

[03Merc]

I'm in the same boat! Think the bags got dry and collapsed. Compressor kicks on but it's original. Probably gonna Swap the bags first and go from there. They range from $50 a pair to $100 each.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190616/3a1045d8d9dc9943280e38b204e4a1 02.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Mr. Man]

Did you ever drill the teeny weenie holes Ford supplied under the compressor with real holes? If not, my guess is the pit filled with water and crapped out the compressor. Does the compressor come on when you turn the key?

[cat in the hat]

Did you ever drill the teeny weenie holes Ford supplied under the compressor with real holes? If not, my guess is the pit filled with water and crapped out the compressor. Does the compressor come on when you turn the key?


I don't think so.


Whatever is causing this, is from sitting too long. It was fine prior to that. Has anyone every heard of that ? Maybe they bled down so far, the switch on the suspension is out of travel ?


I can tell you one thing, it makes it hella hard to drive. I might be able get them to a shop.

[Turbov6Bryan]

My guess is since the motor housing is alumi, it corrodes and locked up the air ride compressor motor.
First I would start the car and have the doors shut, check for power and ground on the red and black wires on the motor.
If no power I would swap the relay.

Most likely failed motor, I would pull the motor addy out, bench test it with 12 volts and see if I could MANUALLY free it up

[cat in the hat]

My guess is since the motor housing is alumi, it corrodes and locked up the air ride compressor motor.
First I would start the car and have the doors shut, check for power and ground on the red and black wires on the motor.
If no power I would swap the relay.

Most likely failed motor, I would pull the motor addy out, bench test it with 12 volts and see if I could MANUALLY free it up


Ok. The air ride motor always sounded like it was coming from the front of the engine bay on the driver's side, but I never actually looked at it before.

[RubberCtyRauder]

It is, below the air intake box

[offroadkarter]

Its possible the pumps seized up. If both of your cars have this issue, I'd buy one new pump (think I put a suncore in my black car), and test it in both cars.

I highly doubt its the airbags.

[Mr. Man]

Do you hear the compressor pump or not when you turn the key on? Buzzing in the back is from the fuel pump, louder buzzing from the front is the air compressor.

[cat in the hat]

Do you hear the compressor pump or not when you turn the key on? Buzzing in the back is from the fuel pump, louder buzzing from the front is the air compressor.


I don't think the compressor is coming in in either car. Devil Girl has some other issues, so it's gonna be a trip to the shop.

[cat in the hat]

The shop says the compressor motor is shot, so that explains that.


Fuel pump is also getting replaced, which explains a lot too.