Okay, got the opposite problem most people face with the LLS. I have a 2000 Expedition Eddie Bauer, 4WD with LLS.

I have already had the rear-end sag problem (it was the union) and I fixed it temporarily with a hose and 2 clamps - just haven't gotten around to getting the new part. Truck has been good like that since early spring.

Last week, chk susp light comes on and I notice the rear end sagging again. Drive home from work and next morning, I check my "union" to make sure clamps are tight - they are. Noticed that compressor not turning on. Ck fuses - all good. Need to go to work so I remove 50A fuse, remove one side of my union (the side that goes to rear), cross terminals, sensor clicks and air comes out - deflates whatever was left in the bags. Now truck is definitely on bumpstops. DAMN!!! Put fuse back in and start truck, grab my handy shop compressor with a needle attachment, stick in hose and begin pumping air. Get truck high enough so that fenders clear top of tires and then turn off Air Ride switch and go to work.

Next morning, truck is still at height where I pumped it up indicating no leaks. Then I start reading the boards to see if there is a relay and lo and behold, you good fellas point me in the right direction! I pull the harness out, jumper the wires and bang! - the compressor turns on. So I turn on truck, shut doors, and immediately start filling the rear of truck. Once truck is up in the air, I turn off Air Ride switch and off I go to Ford dealer. Pick up a new relay for around $85 (I get a discount !) and put it in. Reset battery, turn Air Ride switch on, turn on truck and no compressor. Tried all kinds of things but I can't get compressor to work. So then I cross terminals again and hear height sensors clicking - and after it appears that truck goes down slightly, turn on truck and compressor turns on. Drive for awhile and chk susp light stays off.

Next day, off to work, and 10 min into drive and chk susp light turns on!!! DOUBLE DAMN!!!! Truck is not sagging. I also do not think I hear the air venting. Could this be the problem? Is there a way to check that vent solenoid? If I turn off truck and restart light goes off but then after about 10 min (like when I get up to speed and the truck should lower) the light comes back on and won't go off until I restart. I do hear height sensors clicking like they should. Does this rule out the module? Could I have gotten a bad relay? Could my old relay not even be the problem?

Any help is sure appreciated at this point! Thanks in advance!

Nick

 

Sounds to me like you have a bad connection somewhere. Does the compressor still run with the chk suspension warning on? Is the problem intermitant or ongoing? Perhaps it is the on/off switch. Sorry that I have more questions than answers.

 

Yes, if I jumper the compressor it will work, regardless if the chk susp light is on or off. I don't think the switch is the prob as it seems to be working normally.

The prob is ongoing now. The light will come on after a short period. Today, however, I noticed that the truck lowered, so maybe it is venting? I had to jumper it again to get the compressor to fill the bags back up. The front has stayed up pretty high, makes me wonder if it could be the front sensors?

Does the chk susp give a code to the OBDII? If it does, I can get a buddy to read the codes. Thanks for the reply.

 

I don't know about the OBD code, but when my compressor went I found that the fron did not sag, even though it owered quite a bit. Only the rear sagged. The best place I have found for advice on air suspension systems is www.americanairsuspension.com. Eddy Spinks knows his stuff and is willing to help trouble shoot.

 

Well compressor is still working because I can jumper it and it will fill the bags. I don't think I have a leak because I've been driving for 4 days now and the bags have not deflated (I have the Air Ride switch off).

Anybody else have any ideas?

 

Hello? No one else has this problem? Anyone have some insight?

 

Hi, if you don't have the union yet, I have one for $22 shipped. Reason is I already have an updated union as I found out (https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/4...ghlight=orleec)
If you got the relay out in one piece, I could send you a used sensor (back and front are the same part) and I'm willing to trade your used relay. I could then tell you if your relay is bad, and you could also try to see if it's one of your height sensor that is going bad. PM me if you're interested.

 

Problem still exists. To tell you the truth, I've been driving with the air ride switch off for a few months as I just haven't had a chance to mess with it. Well, today, I bought a new front sensor thinking that might be the problem. I installed it, reset battery and turned it on. I got nothing from compressor. I shut the car off and tried again, compressor came on. Seemed like everything was working okay. I took if for a drive and no chk susp light. After turning off, the sensor were clicking and I noticed the truck lowering (didn't hear venting from compressor however).

I just tried it an hour ago, started it up, and no compressor. After a short drive, chk susp light came on. I don't understand what's going on. Can the compressor be shot and still come on "sometimes"? Doesn't sound right.

To recap, truck has new front sensor, rear sensor, and relay. I think that leaves compressor and air ride "brain" under dash.

Does anyone have any ideas on what I could check? This prob is driving me crazy and I feel like I just want to sell the truck and not even deal with it. I need this truck to work as I use it to commute to work and it just ain't fittin' the bill!

Thanks,
Nick

 

Have you bounced this one off Eddie Spinks at www.americanairsuspension.com as I suggested above. I am sure he has seen or heard of almost all air suspension problems. If it was me, I would just replace the compressor (at $150 or so) then you would have a virtually new system. Sorry that I don't have any other ideas.

 

Do you think it could still be the compressor? I can jumper it from the relay harness and the compressor turns on and fills the bags.

I don't mind changing the compressor if it's faulty - that's no problem but I just have a hard time thinking that the compressor is at fault.

Does the compressor have any circuitry that would prevent it from not turning on by the signal from the relay yet allow it to still work when jumpered?

I also notice that I don't hear a "swoosh" sound when the car is turned off and the sensors start clicking. Could this mean the compressor is not venting properly and that could be the problem?

Thanks
Nick

 

Just one quick suggestion---go back to that relay under the right front bumper---pull the 4wire plug out of it---carefully look at the plug you pulled off---is there ANY corrosion at all. It sounds as if you have an intermittent connection. I found a lot of corrosion on mine---was able to clean it up--polish the contacts and lube with silicone grease. Carefull one of the large wires is hot all the time unless you pull the battery.

Doesn't cost anything! I've not had a compressor that starts sometimes and not others---ie: sticking compressor; but since it's a motor with bearings--sorry--bushings----it certainly could be sticking I suppose.

On that relay plug---the two heavy wires--one is live 12V all the time--battery voltage. When the relay kicks in from the 'brain' under the dash the other large wire on that connector becomes hot 12V. If that other lg wire turns hot and there is no break in that wire to the compressor and the compressor connector is good then it most probably is a bad compressor motor. You should be able to check with a test light or VOM from ground to both of those lg relay wires when the compressor should run but isn't and check to see that they are both hot.

I also assume you know the compressor will not turn on with a door open?

Hope this helps---