2007 Navigator/Expedition 4wd, rear left side air shock does not inflate

[taqi nasir]

Hi all, my first post here, i will really appreciate if you guys could please help out.
My Navigator which is almost similar to Expedition for air suspension is having and issue with left rear air shock.
Its not inflating.
This started about 3 weeks ago, when i came back from a short trip and parked it, only left side went down, so i decided to check for leaks with soap and water, but found none, the compressor works because when i make a short trip i can see the height difference before i park, as soon as i park left side goes down upon closing the doors.
It looks like only right side air bag inflate to keep truck in driving height which basically lift the left air shock and when i park, truck goes to parking height making left side all the way down.

So far i have changed the left side height sensor with OEM, drove the truck no effect.
I thought the sensor might be bad, to check i took off right side height sensor and plugged the new left height sensor there and manually moved the lever to see if right side shock goes up, and it did went up.

My understanding is left side is not getting any signal to fill the air shock.
Are there separate systems for each side or only one to control both sides? i mean fuses relays stuff?

want to know if you guys experience something like that?
i searched but only found problems with both rear sides sagging.

Would really appreciate if you guys could please help out.
Thank you

 

[Aspen03]

The ride height sensors output a voltage signal to the VDM that you should be able to meter to see if it's making it's way there. I dont know the specific range off hand but its fairly low and decreases as ride height increases. Perhaps it's a problem with a wire or connector?

I dont think the 3rd gen is vastly different from the 03 we have but it should be a single "system" as there is only one compressor, controller, etc. There are solenoids at each shock that control air however if you saw no leaks and didnt hear it venting I'd venture to say they aren't at fault unless they are doing nothing.

 

[taqi nasir]

Hi Aspen, thank you for the info, just to confirm voltage should be measured at connector while its connected to the sensor or somewhere like at Vehicle Dynamics Module? if at VDM do you know where its located?
I think the voltage should be in the range of between 0.5 and 4.5 volts, as you said depends.

just in case, are solenoids easy to remove, i was thinking of swapping them from right to left and see if anything change, since right side air shock inflate and deflate.

Please advise

 

[07navi]

Hi all, my first post here, i will really appreciate if you guys could please help out.
My Navigator which is almost similar to Expedition for air suspension is having and issue with left rear air shock.
Its not inflating.
This started about 3 weeks ago, when i came back from a short trip and parked it, only left side went down, so i decided to check for leaks with soap and water, but found none, the compressor works because when i make a short trip i can see the height difference before i park, as soon as i park left side goes down upon closing the doors.
It looks like only right side air bag inflate to keep truck in driving height which basically lift the left air shock and when i park, truck goes to parking height making left side all the way down.

So far i have changed the left side height sensor with OEM, drove the truck no effect.
I thought the sensor might be bad, to check i took off right side height sensor and plugged the new left height sensor there and manually moved the lever to see if right side shock goes up, and it did went up.

My understanding is left side is not getting any signal to fill the air shock.
Are there separate systems for each side or only one to control both sides? i mean fuses relays stuff?

want to know if you guys experience something like that?
i searched but only found problems with both rear sides sagging.

Would really appreciate if you guys could please help out.
Thank you

I hate to change the subject but were those airbags optional in the rear on that year Navi? I have one but I think the seller changed them to springs at some point since it has every option on it you can imagine.

 

[taqi nasir]

I am not sure, but i believe in Navi they were standard.

 

[07navi]

I am not sure, but i believe in Navi they were standard.

I don't think they were but does anybody else know for sure?

 

[CaptainKrunch]

Do yourself a favor and replace the air bags with springs

 

[07navi]

Do yourself a favor and replace the air bags with springs

I think the air bags ride better and I don't mind working on them. I know someone that put his bags back in after putting springs in.

 

[Aspen03]

Im not a lot of help on the 3rd gen as I dont own one and only working a couple days a week at the moment I have limited access to resources. I can check wed if you havent figured it out by then.

Bags are standard on the navigator. I've never seen one in 2nd or 3rd gen that didnt have them unless it was converted. Our 03 navigator has them and ride is notably superior to the 03 expedition though it also has 100k less miles and brand new tire so that likely helps. That being said if I ever have a major failure in the system...like something more than probably $500 they'll be converted. The ride is nice but not $4k to replace 4 corners nice. I'd rather use that towards a down payment on an L or EL.

 

[taqi nasir]

Im not a lot of help on the 3rd gen as I dont own one and only working a couple days a week at the moment I have limited access to resources. I can check wed if you havent figured it out by then.

Bags are standard on the navigator. I've never seen one in 2nd or 3rd gen that didnt have them unless it was converted. Our 03 navigator has them and ride is notably superior to the 03 expedition though it also has 100k less miles and brand new tire so that likely helps. That being said if I ever have a major failure in the system...like something more than probably $500 they'll be converted. The ride is nice but not $4k to replace 4 corners nice. I'd rather use that towards a down payment on an L or EL.

Hi Aspen, i saw one guy converted his air shocks with spring shocks, when he took out he disconnected the solenoid which was not that hard. However i am not sure how hard it would be to swap them while air shocks are still mounted. I don't want you to spend extra time if your sources are limited, but if by chance you find out please let me know.
Thank you so much for the follow up.

 

[taqi nasir]

Do yourself a favor and replace the air bags with springs

definitely if its something costing that much money as Aspen mentioned, i would change them to spring, just wanted to see if anyone have such problem before and found out the solution, height sensors and solenoids sounds cheaper fix, but if other things are involved then i guess spring would be better.
Thank you for the reply.

 

[Adieu]

I hate to change the subject but were those airbags optional in the rear on that year Navi? I have one but I think the seller changed them to springs at some point since it has every option on it you can imagine.

My former 2012 Gator L had springs