Montana Load Leveling Suspension System

[OlePa57]

I have a '99 Montana, that I purchased 2 weeks ago, and the load leveling suspension system is dead. Long story short, the compressor (which I disassembled, broke, epoxied a new brush spring retaining boss in, and re-assembled) and relay run on the bench. There is travel in the level sensor, but I have not had time to check functions with an ohmeter (nor do I really know what to check). The air shocks were shot, so I replaced them with an equivalent pair of Monroe air shocks, and until I can get the compressor running, I have installed a Presta valve and can regulate the system manually using a gage and garage compressor.

There appears to be no power to the system, but the fuses test fine. I am guessing that there was a leak in the system (the hoses that lead to the outlet in the back were completely rotten, and the shocks may have been leaking), and someone disconnected power somewhere under there to suppress the compressor.

To make matters worse, I had a trailer hitch installed the day after I bought the car, and there is an orange wire dangling next to the trailer lighting harness that looks suspiciously like one of the grounds to the compressor system.

In order to figure this out more quickly, I need both a pneumatic (the hoses were so rotten that they fell apart, and I can't figure out why there is a tee in the remote system that is found in the rear?), and electrical schematics. Does anybody out there know where can I get this information? I could find nothing in my Chilton's manual, schematic or otherwise.


Thanks in advance...

[463]

The orange wire dangling next to the trailer lighting harness should be straped up out of the way. it is a fused 25 amp constant 12 dc power not a ground. the "T" in the air line i think it goes up into the rear compartment on the left hand side to run the air outlet for blowing up tires balls ect. it will look like a air valve stem with a cap on it.( the owners manual will explain more) here is Greg A link- I have a diagram of how the wires are supposed to connect here.

I hope it helps.

Take Care,__________________
Greg A.
2001 Chevy Venture w/some "enhancements" ~ 72K Miles (July 2007)

[OlePa57]

Thanks for the information, the schematic will certainly help!

There are two connections exiting the compressor, one from what appears to be an air filter is routed via a tee to the shocks. The other exits what appears to be a valve that routes air to the auxiliary air supply (for tires, balls, etc.), to a tee. So, one side of the tee goes to the auxiliary air, but I can't figure out where the other side of the tee goes. It was rotted (disconnected), when I removed the compressor for test and repair, so I don't know how it came apart. Its a good mystery. Maybe a pressure sensor? I'll have to get another look at it when I get some time.

Thanks again

[OlePa57]

I finally got back to this. I used a meter to create a schematic for the compressor and valve, and bench tested them (OK). The compressor had an air leak, I replaced an O-Ring and it is now a very slow leak, that I need to find and fix. The guys from U-Haul cut my positive power to the compressor and left it dangling (my second bad experience with them, the first was with a different car). When I connect a fused jumper from the battery to the dangling wire, the compressor works as advertized. Now, I have to go see if U Haul can help me find the other half of the cut wire. If I can figure out how, I will attach the schematic to this post in the hope that it might help someone else.