air ride ?

[0311_lifer]

theres a strange noise after i start my car up coming from under the hood. it sounds like a compressor or something under there im not sure what it is. could it be a problem ? i know the car has air ride because its an lx sport so is it the compressor for the air springs in the back ?

[ModMech]

Yes.

[0311_lifer]

god that thing is annoying is there any way to switch it to regular springs and completely get rid of that air ride system ? i dont trust these stupid air ride systems.

[ModMech]

Yes you can replace the air springs with steel, but you will likely be very sorry you did. The ride quality of the Sport compared to the other cars with steel springs is rather dramatic. You will also lose the absolute level ride you now enjoy due to the automatic self-leveling charecteristics of the RAS system. Actually, the RAS is VERY durable and not prone to troubles like the air suspension systems on the Continentals.

[RouterDude]

Originally Posted by ModMech

Yes you can replace the air springs with steel, but you will likely be very sorry you did. The ride quality of the Sport compared to the other cars with steel springs is rather dramatic. You will also lose the absolute level ride you now enjoy due to the automatic self-leveling charecteristics of the RAS system. Actually, the RAS is VERY durable and not prone to troubles like the air suspension systems on the Continentals.

Correct, the air bags are very similiar to the ones used on big rigs. Very durable!! In fact there are no springs in the rear at all. The Continentals have problems because the bags are integrated with the mac[herson strut system, so when the strut goes bad, so does the bag. Last time I looked at a Continental the struts for the front were ~$500 each!

Turn up the radio and ignore the noise, after a while you wont even notice it, but you would notice a dramatic difference in the car if you took it out.