desperatly seeking answers

[LadyinDistress]

Wed. evening, I was sitting in my 2001 LTC,(123,000 mls.) waiting for my son, car off but listening to the radio, when, no warning, bam! it felt and sounded like someBODY ran into my car, there were boys throwing a football so I thought maybe they accidentally hit the car. Well about three mins. passed and it happened again. Then I noticed the rear of my car was sagging. I drove the 8 miles home, the next morning, all was fine.
This evening, Friday, I leave in the LTC and realize, the rear is once again about 6ins. from the ground. I flipped the switch to turn the suspension off and on again and restarted the car, no luck. I had to drive it, UGH! I am at my destination for about 3 hours still low when I head home, about a 15 ml. trip, still embarrassingly low. The air suspension light was on for about 10 mins. during this episode. I am home, I just went out to turn the switch off, so the compressor does not burn up and the dang car is as high as ever. What is going on?? Can it really be the fuses or is it the bladders? This is very confusing. An auto shop said they recommended changing out the suspension, $1000, but if I wanted a regular suspension, I would not have a Lincoln. I really do not trust auto shops and do not know where to turn. There is not a Lincoln dealer service within 35 miles of Vero. Any ideas??

[Kitt1993]

Vero HUH? If this a legitamate person. They would know that Vero Beach Lincoln Mercury off of US1. Just south of 12 st. Everybody know that..
Where did you take the car to the first time?

[Towncar]

Originally Posted by LadyinDistress

...I just went out to turn the switch off, so the compressor does not burn up and the dang car is as high as ever. .... Any ideas??

If it's still "up".. leave the switch off for a few days to see if it leaks down slowly, or drops again quickly... this will help the diagnosis.

I can leave mine off for weeks before it gets a bit lower.

When the springs get old, they stress crack at the bottom first where they fold inward.. as they fold they cover the cracks so they might not always leak. In this case, if this happens, the springs are more likely to leak quickly after their fully inflated (cracks showing).

There are other possibilities that can cause the "vent" solenoid to rapidly purge the system, but that's where someone familiar with this system is a must.. mechanics trying to diagnose these and don't know the system wind up throwing out good parts trying to find the problem.

$1000 for a conversion is about $700 too much. Some folks here claim their conversion is as good as the air springs were, and others want their air springs back. The key, in my opinion, is to get a good set of progressive coil springs if you convert. These will ride soft, then offer load carrying capabilities as the load increases.

You might just have a loose height sensor, solenoid, or something simple like that... seems a bit too soon for bad springs

[LadyinDistress]

Steven, Thanks so much, I'll try that and see what happens.

Kitt1993, you are right about VBLM, the car was purchased at Courtesy LM in Tampa. I must have been thinking about my Toyota I took into the dealer for something, I do not remember for what, paint or service, and was told they do not have that department here in Vero. Thank you for correcting me and it was Superior Auto on 23rd St. that gave that quote for a conversion. I will take it to let VBLM look at it. Any other recommendations?

[danielsatur]

There's alot of good Information under Thread ''Air suspenshion problems''
It's real on Automotive Forum ! Towncar pg 2 of 39.

$110 each and good for Life!


MCGIVER

[Kitt1993]

I know a few people at the dealership. They will take good care of the car. Stay away from Supiorer.

B