1993 Town Car-Air Suspension Problem?

[annegosh]

I have a 1993 Town Car (Presidential), and the ride was as smooth as butter--until today. I got about 2 miles from home, and all of a sudden, the car was bouncing up and down when driving over anything but totally flat & smooth road. It almost rattled my teeth! I got out and checked the tires, which looked fine, but I noticed the back end was about 5" from the ground--very low. I checked the manual, and read about the air suspension switch in the trunk. I checked it, and it was on. I turned it off then on a few times, but it made no difference. Needless to say, I drove back home--slowly.

Since this is Saturday, I won't be able to have my mechanic (20 miles away) check it until Monday. So here are my questions:

1.) Would it be safe for me to drive the car those 20 miles, or is it likely to do damage? Should I have it towed in?

2.) Any ideas as to what is likely causing the problem? Is it just a fuse or something simple, or am I looking at laying out some big bucks?

Thanks--I appreciate any and all answers.

[DropZone77]

You can drive the car with not much problems that short of distance, and yea it will cost you a pretty few $$$ when you replace the air ride system..you can opt for a regular non air system which is only about a third of the cost of the OEM...

DropZone77

[wafrederick]

You can convert this air ride system to convental springs in the back which there are conversion kits to do this

[danielsatur]

I like Google ads @ the bottom of this page,see
http://www.suncoreindustries.com
Air Spring $89

http://www.arnottindustries.com
Air Spring $100, for a Life time warrenty!
1) Check the switch in the trunk.
2) Check the fuse/Relay.

If the Air springs are gone, the Air compressor cannot pump up the Air springs, so the fuse or the Air compressor could be fried.

Caution - Don't let the Air-compressor run more than 20seconds, turn the switch in the trunk off.

[annegosh]

Follow-up:

Well, I drove the car to my mechanic today (with its back end still dragging). He put it on the lift and started checking things out. It took a while, but he finally located some sensor or such related to the air suspension, under the car. Apparently, there was some rust, and it had slipped. He explained that because of this, the car was "thinking" that the back end was up too high, and so lowered it. He put it back in place, and also secured it with a plastic "twistie" so it can't slip again. Sure enough, the air suspension kicked in again, and all was well. Total cost was $32.50 for 1/2 hour of labor.

[junk yard doggie]

Yes there is a ride height sensor back there. It attaches to the right control arm and a tab on the frame. The connection on each end is a ball and socket type. They usually hold on tight, I haven't heard of or seen one coming loose untill now. Never the less it needs to be connected for everything to work properly. Good deal on the easy fix. Here is a picture of that part below. I have plenty of them is any one needs one.

http://www.cmasalvage.com/93tc_air_ride_sensor.jpg

[danielsatur]

Is there a bypass valve stem somewhere, were you can pump 40psi into the system
without the lincoln compressor?

Yep! Just like air shocks, we disabled the compressor, and put some Air psi in the back.

[All2kool]

I experienced a failure of the Air Ride Suspension yesterday in my '96 Cartier; a low-rider I do not want. Not wanting to spends billions at the dealer, I decided I would not bother to even diagnose the problem; I just went to the AutoZone and paid $82 for a set of Coil Springs for a 1993 Town Car. It actually took longer to get the freaking car off the ground and get the springs compressed via the (free rented) Coil Spring Compressor than it did to remove the 'may be perfectly fine air bags' and insert the coils. With so many damn components that could have been wrong, this seemed the best solution; and boy it was. I'm pulling the glove box tomorrow and deactivating the 'Check Air Suspension' warning light, which I understand is behind the glove box.

For anyone having to drive a LTC with a failed ARS, just install springs; a headache over the ARS you will never have again.

[Towncar]

And for my 1996 Cartier..

$28 each for Firestone Rubber springs and she's still floating on air for her 14th birthday.

Not to mention, I can pull a full size trailer, load my trunk full of shit, and carry four passengers with a completely level and smooth ride..

[junk yard doggie]

You won't find the air suspension module behind the glove box on a 93 model. It's in the trunk, passenger side behind that on off switch. Just unplug both of the connectors and the light on the dash will go off.

I've never used the spring compressors for the rear springs. The key is to un bolt the shocks so that rear end can hang down as far as possible.

[All2kool]

Originally Posted by junk yard doggie

http://www.cmasalvage.com/93tc_air_ride_sensor.jpg

This is mounted at about a 45 degree angle is it not?

[junk yard doggie]

I guess I'm lucky. I have a specific test car to test components on to determine if parts are good or not. I have tested all my air suspension components on it.


I wasn't talking about spending any money, just diagnosing the problem. I would think that it would cheaper to replace something like a $10 relay, or reconnect a sensor rather than running out and buying springs right away.

I changed to the springs on my car because I had two sets of springs already. The only thing wrong was one of my air bags had a leak. I figured I could sell the rest of the good components to some one who needed them. I could have just as easily replaced that one leaking air bag, with an extra one I have laying around.


Some people are really funny about keeping their cars with the original type of equipment no matter what. In my business I've had many people refuse the exact same part, because it didn't come from their specific make or model.

[All2kool]

Originally Posted by junk yard doggie

Some people are really funny about keeping their cars with the original type of equipment no matter what. In my business I've had many people refuse the exact same part, because it didn't come from their specific make or model.

Silly really. Unless someone were to raise the car or start checking components, they would have no way of knowing that the ARS had been replaced with (reliable) Coil Springs; unless I were to tell them.

[danielsatur]

Just like other bells & whistles!

It's quieter, because of no Air compressor pump.

Actually you are doing a favor, because a new owner would get raped for parts + service.

[All2kool]

Originally Posted by danielsatur

Just like other bells & whistles!

It's quieter, because of no Air compressor pump.

Actually you are doing a favor, because a new owner would get raped for parts + service.

Exactly. I did place adhesive sticker notes near the ON/OFF Switch in the Trunk, under hood Fuse Panel and Heater Core. Were someone to wonder why the Air Compressor was not coming on and were to check a fuse, they would know why instantly.