04 navigator air suspension question

[Fordgirl01]

I just bought an 04 navigator. I haven’t really driven it yet (not putting it on the road until I sell my expedition). It drove great when I brought it home-no warning lights on the dash and it handled and rode very well. My question is-after sitting for a few days the air seems to go out of the suspension and it looks like the body is sitting on the tires.....is this normal, or should it hold its air? I’ve also heard something running while it’s sitting in my driveway. I assume it’s the compressor I hear (my old navigator has the conversion kit so no more air so I am not familiar with the air)? The whole thing settles-not just front or rear so I’m thinking it does not have a leaky air bag.

I searched the forum but mostly found rear or front settling and not both. I have not yet listened for an air leak. I will start it today and let it get to normal height then see if I can hear anything leaking.


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[John Christopher]

I have a 13 Nav. and it doesn't sit low when it's turned off. The compressor will run when I start it but the adjustment is very small.

 

[Quadmaniac]

Gen 2 with air suspension is supposed to 'kneel' (drop an inch or so) when you park to make it easier to exit. It then rises again when you start up and remove the parking brake.

If it's sitting all the way down at minimum suspension height it is leaking out. Mine tends to do this when it's cold outside - I suspect the old o-rings around the struts have hardened with age, get even harder when cold and leak.

Each airbag has an electrically controlled valve... so a leaky compressor won't cause the bags to lose air. If they all drop, they all leak somewhere locally.

 

[Fordgirl01]

Thank you for the replies. I haven’t put this on the road yet (have to sell my expedition first) so I haven’t had a chance to really see what the airbags are doing. I will update if I find a problem now I know about a few things to look for.


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[1955moose]

The air springs or bags some call them rot out and go bad. 10 years is the average. Your at 14 years. Let it pump up, spray down the bags, the solenoids, air lines, look for bubbles. 9 out 10 it's the bags themselves. Their not cheap, and quite a few opt for coil spring replacement.

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[Fordgirl01]

Yes-my old 99 navigator has the coil replacements. I will probably do that to the 04 if the air bags are bad. Thank you.


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[1955moose]

No problem, where's St Lawrence County?

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[Fordgirl01]

Almost in Canada!!


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