Newbie - Air Ride Switch - Off

[leoman64]

Hi Gang,

I just bought a 98 Eddie Bauer Explorer. I am getting a message in the console "Air Ride Switch Off". I don't know if this is good or bad. I guess the questions I have are;

How do I turn it on or have this message dissappear?

I would like to raise the body a bit, what is the best way to do this, based on your experiences?

Thanks in advance ofr all of your help.

leo

 

[rhyno]

Open the rear hatch and look at the left (drivers side) panel. It is where the jack is, and its removable. Open it, and there is a Air Ride Control switch which you can turn on. At least that is where it is on my 97.

 

[SkanlaxJMO]

as for lifting the body do you mean a BodY Lift....a suspension lift.....? either way search with some of these keywords "torsion Bar 101" that it a TT that will give you 2 inches of front end suspension lift.... then "shackels" that is another 1.5 inches of rear lift "add-a-leafs" another 1.5 inches of rear lift......then search for body lift there is a ton of info on this site.....
BTW welcome

 

[ChrisMntr]

Open the rear hatch and look at the left (drivers side) panel. It is where the jack is, and its removable. Open it, and there is a Air Ride Control switch which you can turn on. At least that is where it is on my 97.

I look on my mountaineer but couldn't find the one that show the on/off switch. i see a set of relays. are those them or near to those? TY

 

[Mbrooks420]

If it’s off it’s most likely has bad lines, or the shocks leak.

 

[CDW6212R]

The ARC switch is directly above the jack, in the corner, seen here;

I agree, the system is likely inoperable, due to past owner's neglect. The ARC system is very good at maintaining ride height, but after 10-20 years the air shocks needed replacement, and people let that go until air leaks made the compressor run continuously, which killed that. That is how most ARC systems exist in the older Fords today. You can fix it all, but the neglect makes it expensive, and most people choose to eliminate it and get normal shocks.

 

[ChrisMntr]

The ARC switch is directly above the jack, in the corner, seen here;

View attachment 165866

I agree, the system is likely inoperable, due to past owner's neglect. The ARC system is very good at maintaining ride height, but after 10-20 years the air shocks needed replacement, and people let that go until air leaks made the compressor run continuously, which killed that. That is how most ARC systems exist in the older Fords today. You can fix it all, but the neglect makes it expensive, and most people choose to eliminate it and get normal shocks.

Thanks you for the pic, got it. that looks familiar.