Air suspension pump leaking?

[Nickmg555]

Hi everyone new ecodiesel owner here(2015) Been doing my research and learning about the features and maintenance but one recent thing I noticed has caught my attention and I can’t seem to find any information about diagnosing air suspension. Maybe I didn’t notice it at first but I really didn’t hear the compressor running all that much but now it runs quite often. When set to entry mode and engine running the pump cycles on and off for a few seconds and back on and keeps cycling all while the rear moves up and down slightly. When set to other height modes the truck stays at the level but the pump shuts off for about 30 seconds and kicks on again and keeps cycling. One would assume there’s a leak... when engine is off the pump is off and no leak can be heard or found and the truck maintains its level(tested overnight) it’s also very slow to raise Sometimes or just stubborn in general and I have to set it to a lower mode and then back up and I will usually be stuck with a raising indicator for several minutes even though nothing is happening. I have let the truck run and pump up and then once the pump shuts off I immediately shut the truck off and check for leaks and I have noticed in the area around the pump occasionally I catch a significant hissing that sounds like there’s a good amount of moisture in the airflow. This system is all new to me and with work all day and work all night I unfortunately don’t have the time to jack it up and soap up everything and check the entire system as much as I would love to fully understand the functions and layout of the entire system. Any ideas on possible leaks or is it common for frequent pump running?

Thanks

 

[carlhenry]

Welcome. They usually only have problems in colder climate

 

[Nickmg555]

Welcome. They usually only have problems in colder climate

I am in NH but it’s certainly not all that cold right now. So whatever the issue is currently I can’t really pass it off to the weather.

 

[carlhenry]

The pump is available after market but I think it is pricy

 

[Mark64]

Hello all! Former RAM owner but first time buying a 1500 (with air suspension) So I purchased the truck used, it's a 2014 in July of 2019. I picked the truck up from a small dealer in Hartford Conn. Drove the truck home to Pittsburgh with no issues at all! The suspension worked as it should even putting it in AREO mode at highway speeds however once on the way home it flashed for only a few seconds that the air suspension needed immediate attention. This message went out by itself and didn't come back on for the remainder of the trip home. It was only a few days later that the suspension started to have issues. It is on the bumper stops now and will not raise up. The compressor is running but not raising the truck. The dash display will have a number of different messages. One is that the truck is raising and the lights on the buttons will flash confirming this but nothing actually happens. Now it is stuck in Off Road 2 but still sitting on the bumper stops. I have changed all the fuses and the relay but nothing seems to make the truck raise. The weather has been 80 to 90 degree fahrenheit so its defiantly not the cold weather causing this. Does anyone have any ideas? Also, I already started looking at replacing the air with spring/struts. I found a company that makes a conversion kit and am wondering if anyone has tried it. Any advice would be appreciated!

Mark

 

[carlhenry]

The air ride is the worst option an the eco other than the 3.0motor

 

[GearHead]

Hello all! Former RAM owner but first time buying a 1500 (with air suspension) So I purchased the truck used, it's a 2014 in July of 2019. I picked the truck up from a small dealer in Hartford Conn. Drove the truck home to Pittsburgh with no issues at all! The suspension worked as it should even putting it in AREO mode at highway speeds however once on the way home it flashed for only a few seconds that the air suspension needed immediate attention. This message went out by itself and didn't come back on for the remainder of the trip home. It was only a few days later that the suspension started to have issues. It is on the bumper stops now and will not raise up. The compressor is running but not raising the truck. The dash display will have a number of different messages. One is that the truck is raising and the lights on the buttons will flash confirming this but nothing actually happens. Now it is stuck in Off Road 2 but still sitting on the bumper stops. I have changed all the fuses and the relay but nothing seems to make the truck raise. The weather has been 80 to 90 degree fahrenheit so its defiantly not the cold weather causing this. Does anyone have any ideas? Also, I already started looking at replacing the air with spring/struts. I found a company that makes a conversion kit and am wondering if anyone has tried it. Any advice would be appreciated!

Mark

I apologize for the delayed response. It appears that you have lost the Nitrogen charge. Definite leak. The system is a closed type that moves Nitrogen gas from a storage tank to the bags as necessary and back. That being said once you selected OffRoad II the system will attempt to achieve that setting until it is successful or it burns out. A good dealership mechanic is a must, for any vehicle or system. I and my wife love our air bag systems, my RAM 2014 and her Jeep GC 2015, only had a weak fuse. Finding and fixing the cure can be expensive. If you have already replaced with spring system good luck and happy driving. I have experience with replacing older model Land Rover air bag systems but they are a true air compressor system and subject to atmospheric contamination, salt/dust/moisture, and most people are happy with the switch.

 

[Nickmg555]

Just an update. There was a leaky bag I replaced it and new bag lasted a week then blew out with only about 300 pounds worth of logs in the rear and that was my cue to ditch the air ride. Extremely unreliable. Switching to conventional suspension was very easy. And anyone coming here and pondering removing air suspension I opted to replace the rear bags with icon 1.5” progressive springs (also have to buy the rubber isolater pads on top). And rancho quick lift for front. Very easy switchover and inexpensive. Now the rear is about the off road 1 height and front is about slightly above off road 2 so truck has a bit of lift and very close to level so it worked great and the ride quality is a thousand times better than any configuration of the air ride settings.

 

[carlhenry]

Glad to hear that u saved a lot of money rather than pay fmc a few thousand dollars