Monday, March 14, 2011 - 10:08 am, by: Min Park(Everfree)
I've got both of my rear suspensions playing up recently.
When the engine is on, they (both rear) get pumped and become normal but it goes totally deflated when engine is turned off.
I assumed it's blown air bag first time but it doesn't happen all the time. From my observation for last few weeks, let say about 60% time it goes deflated but for rest 40% time, it stays normal.
I think compressor is fine since front struts are ok ? I just went to local mechanic and they won't even try to diagonalise the problem so I just want to find out by myself before going to another mechanic.
I'm guessing it might be some dodge connection ? Where is the air pump(?) located ? so I can check the connection?
Monday, March 14, 2011 - 10:50 am, by: Vincent Chan(Vincent191)
Hmmmm must be the rear airbags because the front is fine. Can you hear the pump going when you start the car to re-inflate the rear airbags. Listen for the air compressor behind the front driver side wheel. You would think if it is a bad connection it would leak all the time and not just hafl the time. I may have two rear airbags for sale soon if you are interested.
Monday, March 14, 2011 - 03:35 pm, by: Min Park(Everfree)
went down to a mechanic and we inspected roughly but not properly and found out that only one (rear passenger side) air bag is blown up (but how come i hear the air leaking sound from rear driver's side only ? hm.. )
not sure why the other side goes down too, maybe the system trying to even it up somehow ?
Also,I figured that level of the rear suspension is not same always when the car is turned off. let say 100% is the normal height. sometime rear gets deflated to 30% and sometime %10 (not really drivable) so I assume there will be suspension computer involved too ?
Well the mechanic needs to have a look at it further (even though he wasn't sure whether he can fully analyse it or not) and that will be Wednesday so any advice here might help him too.
Monday, March 14, 2011 - 03:41 pm, by: Min Park(Everfree)
Also one another thing is the pump sometime doesn't seem to be working so the rear doesn't rise up. When I go unplug the battery (assuming it would reset suspension computer or something ) for a while, then it works. I will go get it checked by mechanic but just providing all symptoms for the forum as well as the mechanic since he's not fully confident with Soarer (so some experts can give him a tip ).
Monday, March 14, 2011 - 06:40 pm, by: Dave Rose(Sand_groper)
Min ,the rear air bags are connected together , and rise and fall as one , so if one is leaking it will go down one both rears ,they both have there own adjusment rods ..but if you turn L or R rods the bags go up together.(unlike the front)
Monday, April 11, 2011 - 08:33 pm, by: Rowan Mutu(Dadzi)
Good luck with it mate. I've been through the same process and can understand your frustration - it's a big call to let those awesome airbags go, it's just a shame that they're getting up to 20 years old these days and the replacement bags are so pricey!
If you end up biting the bullet and converting to some newer suspension gear, I've got some decent stuff up for grabs in the 'for sale' section.
Saturday, April 16, 2011 - 11:14 am, by: Min Park(Everfree)
Any update Dave ?
I guess it's got something to do with the height sensor on rear wheel (where the hell is it ?) or suspension controller computer (does 'unplugging battery' reset the computer ?) not the pump. If it is the pump, front wheels should have been affected too ? (they are fine)
I pulled my shocker out the other day, connected all back up out side the car, pumped it up, wet the bag no leaks. Reassembled then noticed on low setting it is leaking air from the very top of the strut right under where the sensor bolts on, but not on high setting!
Sunday, May 15, 2011 - 11:50 pm, by: Min Park(Everfree)
Haven't had much time & money spend on the car. Finally, I took the car to a mechanic yesterday. He reckons it's the strut itself and denied to inspect it. Didn't agree but couldn't disagree with it either. So I might get 'another' rear strut and get it replaced but before doing so I just wanna find out few things
1. I kinda don't understand the current situation. If it's leaking strut. Doesn't it stay LOW all the time ? It's going 3 different stages so randomly ...
one day it's like this
one day it's like that (super low!)
one day it goes like that !!! (super high)
but I'd say 50% of the time it stays LOW... I mean, extremely low..
I don't get it... can a faulty suspension computer cause this ? But can't think it's justcomputer. When it goes low, I also hear "shhhhhhhh" sound from rear wheel (rear right)
The mechanic also mentioned that it might be the strut valve half way broken so it open/close properly sometime and sometime it doesn't. Is this possible scenario ?
I just want to get some idea before I make any move (especially stupid one )