Continental Airline Tickets

I have a 95 Lincoln Continental and the air ride suspension keeps giving me a fault on the dash monitor.?

My 95 Continental has a problem with the air ride suspension. It tells me to check the air suspension on the dash monitor, but everything seems to be working properly. Also is it normal to have to wait for it to inflate everytime you start the car? I can't believe that any company would build a car that you would have to start and wait until the suspension was inflated. I have only had the car a short time and I do love it other than the air suspension that I have to wait for. Thanks for any help that I might receive

Public Comments

1. The answer to your question-s is no, it's not normal for this car to be adjusting the suspension every time you start up the car. Unless your weight fluctuates by 50-100 lbs. between rides, there is something wrong. Most likely you have a slow leak in the air suspension, if you have the original air bags/ shocks, they are most likely culprit. There also is a whole range of possibilities such as leaking lines, compressor, bad height sensor, broken or frayed wires. Bring your car to a qualified Ford/ Lincoln service department and have the system properly diaged.
2. Eric: The air ride suspension is well known for failing on older Lincoln (and Cadillac too). There is a 100% failure rate for the air bags after 'XX' years/miles. Two solutions: replace the leaking air bag (expensive) or retrofit the system (expensive). The kit and install labor is around $1,000. Monroe makes a complete retrofit kit. The cost of kit and install is about the same as repairing the original system (gee, do you think this is a coincidence?). However, once retrofit is applied, the system will not fail again. The only component that then needs replacement is the strut cartridge, which should last many years. So the question is: do you want to make this investment. If you intend to keep the car for several years, it is worthwhile. Good luck, Marc
3. my dad had almost the same car different year ....SAVE YOUR MONEY go to the ford dealership and get a conversion kit to put springs on it not airbags because one the air bags like to freze in the winter and 2 if the sign is coming up on your dash it meens the air ride motor is faling so switch it over or the car will me almost on the ground and when the air ride motor starts to fail it make your real motor work harder and it gives that damage
4. EDDIE is wrong, he is all wrong. These cars do adjust themselves every time you turn them off and start them up. I have a 1998 (i wonder what year EDDIE has) i bought it in 1999 and I have owned several others. What I have done because i agree with you its a stupid design I think so I have turned mind off you do not have to have it on. Also you don't have to wait for it to level before driving. Here's what I have done to mind i stopped on level ground and get out of the car but don't shut the door go to the trunk and turn the switch off. The car will stay at that height providing you have no leaks. The light will stay on like it is now but you don't have to worry about it air up and down all the time. Now if you do load it up like with a few people you will need to turn the system on but other then that just leave it off.
5. They all pump up a little bit when you start them. The suspension drops about 1/2 when you turn off the car and get out and close the door. If the pump is weak it will time out after 90 seconds and trip the check suspension light to keep from burning up the pump. It could also have a bad height sensor as well. There is a test connector that you can have a scanner hooked up and the codes read. It will also let the system go thru a self test if you have the procedure and proper scanner.
6. you should not have to wait for the suspension to inflate you have a problem , I have a 98 with just rear air , I put new shocks on mine and it keeps the bags up better now than before
7. I agree, you probably have leaking air bags. Unfortunately, those air bags are quite expensive, however, there are cheaper options, such as using the suspension parts from a Taurus.