98-02 Expedition and Navigator check suspension light diy solve

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Sooter6

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I would just like to share this to everyone that doesn't know how to remove the check suspension light off after converting to coil spring setup. Either lowering or lifting your expo and navi. I'm sharing this because I learned it the hard way, and most of the time it happens to most of us!.. granted strut master and other company just give you instruction to cut #12 wire, it even says white or black plug!wow, why make it hard for everyone. you won't be able to see the wires until you take everything out to look at both plugs. Someone here mentioned that it's the gray plug,,,,, that is wrong i'll explain this in a bit. Picture speaks for itself.

let's start.

TOOLS NEEDED.
1. 7MM Socket ratchet or screwdriver style
2. flat head screw driver
3.flash light
4.optional small mirror it helpful to look at the plugs if you don't want to remove half of the dash board

first, turn off the suspension switch and negative ground on the battery. remove the center top dash panel. you can see the suspension module, it's on top of the radio. but even if you remove the radio you can't access the plugs, because the plugs of the module is at the back. just cut that green wire that you can see on the white plug. Note: it's the "green" wire from the white plug. don't be fooled by others saying it's the gray plug. there is no gray plug there, only black and white. and you're done once you cut that green wire, secure both ends with electrical tape. Don't forget to turn on the suspension switch, that way you still get to use the steering assist feature.
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cut this green wire its on the white wire not the black plug
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2.heres other option take half of your dash incase you need to be sure and want to see both plugs

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this is the plug look at diagram from suncore above you can see and match the colors if youll ask if i check it yes i learned it the hard way this is the main power and needs to be cut hope this help others that want to kill the light instead of removing your light on cluster do it once and do it right
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Givenator

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Suspension conversion issues

This is a great thread! I have recently converted my 2001 Navigator using the Monroe kit from Amazon. (Awesome deal, fast shipping, and the same parts as the other kits I am sure.) However, I need to make some important points:

1) Don't pull your instrument cluster! The directions are wrong, because there is no "CK SUSP" light bulb! Sorry, this cluster has an opening where there once was a bulb in a prior design, but it was changed to a LED (I believe) & the bulb-socket is gone. Ouch!

2) My system developed a bad electrical short after a front strut blew. It probably ran the copressor until it burned up, or took out the relay (where ever that is!) Bottom line: Even with the ignition key out, the suspension switch "OFF," the truck on stands, the suspension hanging low - The compressor would try to come on interemittantly until it nearly killed the battery! I had no choice but to pull the 50A fuse (#109,) and disconnect the compressor & solenoids to protect the system.

Now the CK SUSP light comes on after a mile of driving. Wosre yet, my PATS immobilizer is trying to interupt the fuel &/or ignition! It's not throwing any codes, or actually stopping the car, just causing the THEFT light to barely & unevenly flicker, and causing the truck to bog/hesitate for a second. ...very weird.

Something tells me the unattended CK SUSP code has caused the PATS to force the THEFT immobilizer. Has anyone else experienced this?

3) My rear control arms were totally rusted-out, so I knew this was the time to change them. If you wait until the springs & shocks are in, it's a much tougher job. Do this BEFORE reinstallation of the new springs & shocks. Check out the expy-source package on eBay. It is a very nice kit, and I recommend getting the hardware too...the old ones are next to impossible to remove, so just cut them off. ...Trust me, this saves hours of time & your neck & back!
 

98EXPY 5-0

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Is there a hardware kit available for the trailing arms? If so, if rather do that than just buy random bolts.
 

Givenator

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Yes, there are several options for the kits. I got the full set of upper & lower arms, with outstanding hardware for all...top quality stuff!
 

98EXPY 5-0

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Yes, there are several options for the kits. I got the full set of upper & lower arms, with outstanding hardware for all...top quality stuff!

I ordered the top and bottoms on ebay but I dont think the hardware is included.
 

Givenator

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You don't have to cut the wire...

Thanks to Sooter6 for this fine thread. In fact, I just did this to my 2001 Navigator, and it did finally kill the CK SUSP light. However, you don't need to cut the wire! I went down through the top of the dash, and...

1) Disconnect the connector Sooter shows. I used a small flat-blade screw driver to defeat the latch, and carefully worked the connector out of the SCM. (A small mirror helps you here.)
2) Notice the connector has a red contact locking bar in its face. There is a small recessed hole in the center of the red bar, and that is to allow you to pry it up & out with a strong pin. I used a small center punch for sinking brad nails. Remove the red bar.
3) Locate the contact to remove, and notice there's a white plastic contact latch down inside the housing. Carefully deflect the plastic latch back, while pushing the contact backwards out of the housing.
4) Replace the red lock bar.
5) Completely tape the contact with electrical friction tape, to make sure it can't short against anything conductive.
6) Replace the connector in the SCM.
 
OP
OP
S

Sooter6

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Glad it help you out! i had to post this coz I notice no one ever had post 1 and i know it will be usfull
 

wyo_vr4

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The green wire does not correspond to the wire location in the diagram. Am I missing something?

NVM, it worked. Thanks OP! Kudos to anyone who did this by only removing the top of the dash. Now my steering feels normal again.
 
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wyo_vr4

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The compressor kicked on this morning in spite of me having cut the wire. I pulled the fuse and will see how it goes.
 

jbanks

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Done! Light's out....

I did as Givenator described above.

The hardest part was getting the plug out. After I found it in the first place. It was easiest to see laying on the hood, pointing a flashlight. I googled around to see exactly what the plug release looked like. Once I realized I needed to push the release down on the top of the plug it was no problem to disconnect. Would have been easier to cut, maybe....

Why isn't this thread sticky?
 

kernhills

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I have a 2003 Navigator. Does anyone know if the instructions and wire colors are the same? Strutmasters gave me instructions on resetting the ride height with a ford computer but the dealer wants $180 to do it... Theres got to be a better option. Any pointers are appreciated!! Thanks!!
 

mhowington

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Is this connector flat between the radio and cluster? I have an "extra" connector that I have no idea where it goes. When you pull the radio bezel off, there is a space between the instrument and radio areas. My Check suspension light is also on... now that I replaced the bulb- searching for what it means brought me to this thread so perhaps this just needs to be plugged in? I just dont know where!
 

jbanks

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This connector is horizontal ABOVE and near the back of the radio.

Do you have an extra connector because of some work you did, or just an extra in there? The connector here is usually plugged in. Did you convert from air suspension to springs?
 
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mhowington

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No not at all. I just noticed this connector when I pulled the dash to repalce the bulbs. It is a small flat connector (gray but has a black piece around it) with 4 wires. Going by memory the colors are bluish (two in centre) gray and black on the outside. It doesnt seem to be able to reach above/behind the radio. the check suspension spot was taped over so being the idiot I am... I replaced the bulb and now the check suspension light is on (this truck hasnt had the best history....). I just came across this post and thought perhaps the two were related. If not- Ive no idea where this connector goes. I would assume it needs to be plugged in.. somewhere.
 

hjackson05

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Sorry about dredging up this old thread. I purchased this 2001 Nav that has the coil springs and the chk suspension light on. I believe I see the connector under the dash access panel, however , there is a white plug and a black plug, both of which plug into the same white socket side by side. I cannot get to the plug to pull it out, if there is a green wire it is on the under side of the connector and there isn’t enough slack to see it let alone cut it. I can just barely touch the white plug with a finger tip, I can’t even touch the black plug. Are there any other ways to get rid of the light?
 

Yudaman

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So I guess pulling the lightbulb wasn't the correct fix?
Oh well, no lightbulb = no check susp light!
Still better than a piece of black electrical tape on the dash... LOL
 

hjackson05

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Still working this.

Why isn't this thread sticky?

I've literally searched a thousand sites and thius is the only result I have found.

Still working on this. The Suncore instructions show that you can cut the wire or leave the solenoid connected. Does anyone know which solenoid and where it's located?

The only other option is to remove the dash. If I remove the lower dash panel and steering column only (the panel with the storage slot in it, below instrument cluster) would I be able to get to the wire to cut it?
 

navair

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You have to remove center Dash panel 01 Navigator

anyone doing this .........remove all shrouds....carefull clock removal or break bezel.....remove right side first.....then 7mm remove everything...screwdriver firston on light controls on left gently remove take off connectors ...work your way from left to right when you get center dash panel.....stainless supports above radio.....with phillip heads....remove that to obtain access to plug mentioned......you cannot get at it by just removing radio......once you have a thousand 7mm off you will get it two sets of plugs on module......it is not the modules u see when looking in clock hole.....this unit(module is physically 4x6 inches an sits reside under dash hidden above radio and the plugs come into the unit from the engine side.....remove...around steering wheel gentle pull
remove shround below steering wheel with 7 mm and two 8mm steel plate lower left...then upper plastic around cluster........7mm around ....then genly pull air around radio...to get that off.....also two plastic sloping ashtray retainers will need light and push down 6 inch apart one on left and one right ...get ash tray out of the way........green and light green
 
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