GX Air Compressor questions

[Saabstory03]

I removed the OEM spare tire and am now left with a lot of room to play with.

I left the factory air compressor and tank thing installed when I did the coil spring swap because I thought maybe I'd be able to use it somehow.

Does anybody know what that compressor is rated for and how I might be able to tap into it to use it as a traditional aftermarket OBA compressor? I do a lot of SCCA racing, so I'd like to have a single air line for filling up tires as well as use it to fill the coil air bags when I do tow.

I'm assuming it's a very light duty compressor, but if I can make it work it'll be cheaper than buying one.

 

[orion]

It's been debated here before...the consensus is that it is way too small / can't handle the duty cycle to fill a tire, much less 4.

What do you drive? Auto-x or wheel to wheel? I used to do a fair amount of both...owned a '96 240SX for 19 years, had a few others along the way.

(sorry for the thread drift)

- Brian

 

[wingysataday]

^ what he said. to weak

 

[Kidscollegefund]

I was on my first camping trip after my lift, air bags removed. Sleeping in the GX I could hear the compressor kick on. Pulled relay and fuse so that won't happen again.

 

[GXO]

Yep. Pull the 50A relay in the engine fuse box, 10A air system fuse in there too, and the tems fuse from the cab fuse box and good to go.

 

[Scat Adams]

Ah good reminder that I still need to remove mine and trash it. Just taking up space and weight at this point

 

[Saabstory03]

Okay good to know. I was thinking that would be the case, but I figured i'd ask before tearing perfectly good parts out of the vehicle.

As for my racing... I AutoX a Saab 9-5... no wheel to wheel stuff in that car... it's my baby.

 

[teejnut]

Yep. Pull the 50A relay in the engine fuse box, 10A air system fuse in there too, and the tems fuse from the cab fuse box and good to go.

The 50A relay in the main engine fuse box? This one looks like a fuse. Or is the relay in the side box next to the main fuse box?

 

[GXO]

Correct. 50A is big. The rest are little fuses.

 

[teejnut]

Correct. 50A is big. The rest are little fuses.

Thanks so pull the fuse and not the relay. Or it probably doesn't matter? The 50A fuse is a maybe 1/2" square with a clear top. The relay is 1.25" square with the red/orange top.

 

[co4wheel]

You are pulling three things. 50a in the engine. The 10a in the same box or right next to it in a separate box. Can't remember. Both those in the engine compartment. And then the TEMs in the cab.

 

[teejnut]

My confusion or question is with pulling the 50A fuse for the "AIR SUS" or pulling the relay for the "AIR SUS". I'm guessing it probably doesn't matter as both will end up with the same results. See attached pic circled in red.

 

[GXO]

I clearly described pulling all three. They all have a function that has to be disabled to prevent flashing indicators/compressor running.

Pull ALL of them. Not one, not two. THREE.

 

[Brian DeLoach]

I clearly described pulling all three. They all have a function that has to be disabled to prevent flashing indicators/compressor running.

Pull ALL of them. Not one, not two. THREE.

Too funny! lol

 

[BlackCat]

Just buy a Viair portable compressor. I carry their 450P everywhere I go.

 

[Lexus Laro]

The verdict seems clear on the original question but regarding the fuses, etc...I think I just adjusted the screw that originally trickered calling for air. Never pulled any fuses or relays and it hasn't kicked on since. I do plan on trying to use the compressor with the Firestone air bags I put in with the coil swap but haven't gotten to that yet. Will report when I do.

 

[BlackCat]

The verdict seems clear on the original question but regarding the fuses, etc...I think I just adjusted the screw that originally trickered calling for air. Never pulled any fuses or relays and it hasn't kicked on since. I do plan on trying to use the compressor with the Firestone air bags I put in with the coil swap but haven't gotten to that yet. Will report when I do.

Probably because the coil springs are keeping it at a level the ride height sensors are happy with. You're still going to have to trick the compressor on, or take the ride height sensor input out of the equation to get it to operate to fill the firestone bags. If you're going to keep it a closed system, you're also going to then need to figure out how to let the air out of the bags when it's no longer needed, aka operate the vent solenoid portion of the compressor. IMHO, it seems like a ginormous hassle when there's so many portable air source options nowadays.