Water Air Suspension Stiff steering

[Gatesfamily]

Dear Community,
Hi my name is Dana, grandmother raising 3 grandchildren, some mechanical knowledge as I retired from being a boat mechanic. I have a 2005 Lincoln Town Car, problems that happened in order. Passenger side floor mat was wet? Could not find a leak? The next day went to start car, heard a slight rattling noise, front drivers side? Drove car, it drove fine, then the Air suspension ligt came on? Car was driving fine. Two days later pulled out of driveway and the steering is stiff? wasn't stiff earlier that day.
FROM what I could find on this site was that the Air suspension module could be the problem? If the community would please offer me some of their mechanical knowledge it would be so greatly appreciated! I cannot afford to take the car in to the shop, children are expensive and SS retirement doesn't cover much. The water all of a sudden, then the air suspension light and now the stiff steering are all pointing to this module, if that is the problem, if the community wouldn't mind, could you please also include the location of the module and how to change it out. THANK YOU for taking your time out of your day to help me! Sincerely, Dana Gates

 

[Action]

Dana,

Likely you have 4 separate issues.

Water on floor mat may have been from a leak in the cowl. Or it could have been a leaking heater core. The cowl leak is a bit common caused by a foam gasket. The foam deteriates over time and a leak happens.

Rattle noise - could be a lot of things

Air suspension warning light. Usually this is from the system not working. It can be from the system shutting down (module) because the compressor is running too long. (Because of an air leak) The compressor is designed to top off the air in the system. Not be a continous running piece that is making up lost air due to a leak. If you have an air leak, the module will shut the compressor down to protect the compressor from over heating from running too long. The module is located under the hood to the RF area in my Navigator. Not sure where in a Town Car. I would not replace without other diagnosis.
Does your car "sink" over night? And on start up raises to a higher level? This is usually due to an air leak in the air suspension system.
When was the last time the air bags were replaced?

Stiff steering. The cheap and easy inspection would be to check the fluid in the power steering reservoir and the check the tire pressure. The air suspension module would have little impact on the steering.

Action

 

[oktowncar]

The air compressor is located on the driver's side and could have been what you heard. Does the compressor still operate ?
If not that may have been the death rattle of the compressor you heard. Start by inspecting all fuses. Replace any that are blown.

If the Compressor still works then reach into the trunk and turn off the air suspension switch. Jack up the rear of the vehicle and spray down the air bags with soapy water then inspect for leaks.
Generally, you should see air bubbles at the very bottom of the bags if they are needed to be replaced.

If the Compressor does not function and the fuses are good then I would verify the voltage to the compressor at the connector then replace the compressor

 

[dave42]

The typical passenger side water leak is the fresh air cowl in front of the windshield, as mentioned. These are a pretty easy fix. But usually a wet floorboard is noticed in the back seat before the front seat due to the shape of the floor panel. Check the back if you haven't.

I don't know if this applies to all years, but on many the air suspension module also has a power steering function (odd combination) and it may have gone bad, affecting both. It is located behind the glove box (again, I'm not sure if all years).

Is it possible your leak and the other problems are related, that is, something leaked and got the air module wet and caused it to fail? I guess so, but I think unlikely.

A shop manual would do you a world of good, especially with your mechanical ability. Pretty easy to find on ebay.

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[Gatesfamily]

Thank you so much for the replies, The power steering fluid is full and no leaks visible. The car does not sink overnight or is one side higher than the other. The Compressor is still running, all fuses were checked before I did this post. I checked the back floor and all mats are dry. I will check the voltage to the compressor tomorrow as it is dark here now and need to get these grandchildren down for the night. I am so inclined to believe that it is the air suspension module that got wet and failed. I am going to clean the pins, grease it and plug it back in and see, I read on another post here about this and I can afford a little "elbow grease" but before I begin I need to get a shop manual!
If anyone has ever dealt with an air suspension module on a 2005 Town Car I would love to hear about your experience with it and any tips or tricks you may have discovered when dealing with the module.
My husband (he had back to back strokes and can't work on the car anymore) ran the car by our local shop and immediately they said that it was the Power Steering Pump?? I don't think so..... I know they were trying to be helpful but he couldn't explain the symptoms to them.
AGAIN, Thanks to everyone who took time out of their life to help, this community is amazing! Sincerley, Dana

 

[oktowncar]

Thank you so much for the replies, The power steering fluid is full and no leaks visible. The car does not sink overnight or is one side higher than the other. The Compressor is still running, all fuses were checked before I did this post. I checked the back floor and all mats are dry. I will check the voltage to the compressor tomorrow as it is dark here now and need to get these grandchildren down for the night. I am so inclined to believe that it is the air suspension module that got wet and failed. I am going to clean the pins, grease it and plug it back in and see, I read on another post here about this and I can afford a little "elbow grease" but before I begin I need to get a shop manual!
If anyone has ever dealt with an air suspension module on a 2005 Town Car I would love to hear about your experience with it and any tips or tricks you may have discovered when dealing with the module.
My husband (he had back to back strokes and can't work on the car anymore) ran the car by our local shop and immediately they said that it was the Power Steering Pump?? I don't think so..... I know they were trying to be helpful but he couldn't explain the symptoms to them.
AGAIN, Thanks to everyone who took time out of their life to help, this community is amazing! Sincerley, Dana

Since you mentioned the compressor still runs and all fuses are good then all you would need to do is to open the trunk and turn off the suspension switch. Then jack up the rear of the vehicle and spray down the air bags with plenty of soapy water.
IF you see bubbles then you need to replace the air bags.
Replacement bags can be found online relatively cheap

 

[Wayne A. Pflughaupt]

Here’s a Youtube video showing how to fix the passenger’s side water leak. They show using silicone, but didn’t want to do that as it would make things hard to get apart if ever needed in the future. So I just used adhesive-backed weather stripping, commonly found at any big-box hardware store. It's held up fine for 3 years now.

Good luck with the issues!

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

My 2003 Cartier

 

[Gatesfamily]

Hello Community,
Okay, everything is checking out okay, air bags aren't leaking. I am so inclined to believe that it is the Air Suspension Module behind the glove box, do to the wonderful information from Dave42 ""the air suspension module also has a power steering function (odd combination)"" and the sequence of events, the wet passenger floor mat, then air suspension ligt came on, then steering got stiff and also now the traction control light has been coming on erratically?? Just logic makes me think its the AS module.
So I removed the glove box and this is where I am getting lost! My "electrical" mechanical knowledge is sub par, so once again, I am asking the community for your help. Behind the glove box are what appear to be modules. (I cannot see any writing on any of them). Is one of these the AS module? If so, which one? and what is the part number? I found the following information on ebay... (05 LINCOLN & TOWN CAR Air Suspension Control Module OEM 3W1F-3C142-BD) I believe this is the correct part number?, not sure though. How would I remove either one of these modules? After removal how would I test them?
I know I am asking alot to take time out of your day to help me but any and all help that you can provide will be so greatly appreciated!
Thank you, Dana

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[Gatesfamily]

Dear Community,
Okay, I have done so much reading my head hurts, and have come to the conclusion that this is beyond my mechanical ability. I was a "boat" mechanic from 1979 through 2006 but then the economy collasped and we had to close our boat store, sad, but like many, when the economy went belly up, the first thing to go was recreational family fun, which included boats, so we loss our life long dream of owning our own business. So 2006 was the last time I worked as a mechanic, right before elctronics and computers were on all boat engines, who would of thought that computers could survive in the marine enviroment?!? If its strictly mechnical Im golden, but when it comes to "computers and diagnostics" I'm at a total loss.
So,If the problem is this Air Suspension module, from what I've read and hope I understand correctly, the module would still have to be programmed? Which leaves me out, I thought this just would be swapping out a good part for a bad part, silly me.
I just wanted to say thank you for all the information and help that you all sent my way! I love that there are still others out there, still willing to take their time and share their expertise with me, a stranger, to try and help me out. Thank you so much for being such kind and caring human beings, the world could definitely use more like you Thank you!!!!!
Sincerely, Dana and Family

 

[Gatesfamily]

Dear Community,
Hi again, I thought I would update the status of my beloved Lincoln Town Car named Blitz(we name all of our cars). We bit the bullet and made an appt. to take Blitz to the dealership for Diagnostic testing for $149.99. The morning of appt. went out and Blitz was sitting on its rear tires (not completely, Jm exaggerating) but this was a new symptom?. Through the last 2 weeks the suspension was holding strong, now its not,??. So we started from scratch, testing fuses, all fine, testing compressor-NOT fine??? 2 weeks ago when this started you could hear the compressor running?? So we cancelled our dealership appt. and went and replaced the compressor from our local junkyard, luckily they have an 2005 Town Car in stock that's where we found our Opera lights for our Landau top(those were a really lucky find as those opera lights are impossible to locate) Anyways, Henry at Bridgeville Auto had a used compressor for $160, gave me my old lady discount, lol, sold it to me for $140. cash Henry's great! Temporarily installed compressor and lo and behold it worked! Now everything is working??, which throws me for a loop, because the steering isn't stiff now either and after everything I read the compressor has nothing to do with the steering, so why replacing the compressor fixed the stiff steering also? Or is it just coincidence because cleaning and greasing the modules behind the glove box just starting working also? I don't know, what I do know is my Blitz is running again in tip top shape thanks to the advice of this community. Thank you, Sincerely, Dana and Family

 

[etinpa]

Dana:
Glad Blitz is working but I have concerns that there may still be an issue. I may get long winded here but I want you to understand the system.

The compressor also includes a vent valve. Obviously the compressor runs to raise the car and the vent valve bleeds air out to lower the car. However, right at each air bag there is an additional solenoid valve which isolates the bag from the air tubing. These solenoid valves have to open in order to raise or lower the car. I'm telling you this because I have concerns that Blitz was squatting after sitting overnight. Multiple things would have to fail for that to happen unless there are leaks in the bags. Additionally, a dead compressor is a classic result of leaking bags since the compressor needs to run more.

I know you have already sprayed the bags to leak check but, the leak usually occurs where the bags fold and I've seen them appear not to leak in the normal position as the fold covers the leak while stationary.

I'd suggest you recheck the air bags while they are in a more extended position. Here's how to do that:

Put some weight in the trunk until the rear of the car sinks quite a bit (maybe get the grand kids to sit in there) and turn the key on. Wait until the air suspension system raises the car back to normal height. With the weight still in the car, turn OFF the AS switch in the trunk and then remove the weight. This will cause the car to sit quire high and expose the fold in the bags.

Then, with the car's weight sitting on the wheels (use ramps, not a jack to get working space under the car) re-try the soap test.

When you're done turn the AS back on so the car returns to normal ride height. Note that the doors must be closed for the system to vent - the system doesn't want to set an open door onto a curb.

Whether you decide to do this or not, I'm glad Blitz is working.

 

[Action]

The steering effort may be changed if the ride height is changed.

The compressor will stop working if it runs or operates too long. The compressor is not designed for a long running operation. The compresso will run longer times if the system has a leak or leaks down even on a small basis.

Glad the system is working for now.
Glad you did not replace the module for nothing

Action

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[LincSig]

Dear Community,
Hi my name is Dana, grandmother raising 3 grandchildren, some mechanical knowledge as I retired from being a boat mechanic. I have a 2005 Lincoln Town Car, problems that happened in order. Passenger side floor mat was wet? Could not find a leak? The next day went to start car, heard a slight rattling noise, front drivers side? Drove car, it drove fine, then the Air suspension ligt came on? Car was driving fine. Two days later pulled out of driveway and the steering is stiff? wasn't stiff earlier that day.
FROM what I could find on this site was that the Air suspension module could be the problem? If the community would please offer me some of their mechanical knowledge it would be so greatly appreciated! I cannot afford to take the car in to the shop, children are expensive and SS retirement doesn't cover much. The water all of a sudden, then the air suspension light and now the stiff steering are all pointing to this module, if that is the problem, if the community wouldn't mind, could you please also include the location of the module and how to change it out. THANK YOU for taking your time out of your day to help me! Sincerely, Dana Gates

I had almost the exact problem/symptoms you outlined. I had a new to me 2007 Towncar.....was likely parked in a garage. After first rain, air suspension light came on, day later, light was still on, but now the power steering was not working, or working very poorly as in a noticeable difference. Did my research here. Step 1) I fixed the passenger side air intake. This is a common leak area. Also cleaned the drain for the plastic pan surrounding the intake. There is a little plastic "flap" that stays shut until water is caught below wiper blades. If it is stuck closed (and mine was with mud and leaves), it will cause water to accumulate in the mentioned above pan, and the water will pool up and flow over the gasket to the air intake. This air intake and resulting leak down the air intake, causes water to drip/flow down into the car......but first, it apparently can get the air suspension module wet (and the power steering is tied into this sensor). I located the air suspension module (right behind the glove box and fiddled and pushed the connectors together tighter between the module and the wiring harness). This solved my problem, and has worked fine since the many rains we have had. I did just did a double check of the water flow plastic flap mentioned above, and it already had debris/leaves in it....so I cleaned it out. Hope that helps!