Air ride control/ air suspension?

Tiny
BLACKSMITHBROWN
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL
  • 4.6L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 242,000 MILES
Hello, when I bought this car, it had 96,000 miles on it, and it was in mint condition. An old lady had owned it. I have always done my own repair work on it other than the new transmission 30,000 miles ago. I own the two repair manuals for it as well. So, the car's air suspension is not operating properly. It airs up the air bags on the car but not to ride height. The compressor runs its cycle to are up the bags and quits and the check air ride message comes on the dash. Back in 2019 I replaced the air bags, compressor and the dryer. And it worked great until about 3 months ago when it wouldn't start airing the bags up all the way. I could get by, by starting the vehicle twice to air up the bags to ride height, but it slowly got worse. Now it doesn't work at all. This is what I have done so far with no avail. I have checked the air pressure from the compressor to the connection in the trunk, and I have good pressure. I was reading the shop manuals and thought it might be the solenoids on the air bags, so I changed them. No fix. Question, is there a separate diagnostic plug in for the suspension? Do you need a special scanner? I don't really like throwing new parts at it until I find the actual problem. I have cleaned all the plugs with an electrical cleaner and a small file to get rid of some possible corrosion. I have checked all the fuses. I am stumped, need your help, thanks in advance.
Saturday, September 3rd, 2022 AT 5:19 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,885 POSTS
Hi,

In response to your question, there isn't a specific connector for the air ride. The best thing to do is have the can-bus scanned. CAN stands for controller area network. Basically, all the computers/modules are tied together via a few wires. If there is a code stored, this type of scan should retrieve it regardless of the module storing it.

Here is a link that explains how it's done. And yes, you need a scanner designed to read all modules.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/can-scan-controller-area-network-easy

This vehicle does have a suspension control module. Hopefully, scanning the network will get codes.

Let me know what I do to help. Also, just to confirm, you do hear the compressor, correct?

Take care,

Joe
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Sunday, September 4th, 2022 AT 7:36 PM
Tiny
BLACKSMITHBROWN
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Yes, the compressor is running. And I have Cen-tech OBD2/E obd+ abs Scanner will that work, or do I need to purchase another one? I attached a picture of it.

Nathan
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Monday, September 5th, 2022 AT 7:30 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,885 POSTS
Hi,

I'm not familiar with the scanner. If it could read the can-bus codes, it would likely say it on the scanner.

You can get them on Amazon for good prices. However, you may want to contact a shop and ask if they would do it for you. The lower-end scanners may not do the job.

Let me know.

Joe
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Monday, September 5th, 2022 AT 7:30 PM

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