How to externally power air bag compressor?

[Infinity00]

My air bags went flat. They are new as of 1.5 years ago. I didn’t hear anything hissing, I lowered the truck and it wouldn’t air back up. The green light was flashing, when I moved the switch between low neutral and high. I checked the 50 amp fuse and the other fuses under the hood and all the fuses under the dash were good. I bypassed the relay, by jumping the socket after pulling the relay, using the sockets where the two largest tabs of the relay would fit, that’s where I attached my jumper wire. It just sparked and smoked a little bit but the compressor didn’t come on (1.5 years ago this worked and the compressor started). There were no codes except 41 only after I pulled the relay. After the relay was in and I reset the ecu there were no codes present even though the lights were still flashing and the compressor won’t turn on. All the height sensors look fine but to be honest I haven’t inspected them thoroughly. I removed the compressor and I plan to put 12 bolts across the two largest wires.

I’m wondering if anyone has done this? Just the two largest? What are the other two smaller wires for that are in the same connector? Then there’s a solenoid looking connector at the bottom of the compressor, what is that for?

Any help is apreeciated!

 

[Infinity00]

With a lot of fighting I got the compressor out of the car and tested. It works fine!

Here’s how to remove it:
remove the mud flap using: t25 torx, a philips and a 10mm, then remove the round filter thing, it has two 10mm bolts, then remove the three 10mm airbag compressor bolts. Remove the solenoid connector from below, then remove the large compressor connector from the awkward position above the frame. The pinch point is on top of the connector. Then give the air line a little slack and get the compressor lower. A tiny spring clamp holds the air line on. Take the tiny spring clamp off and twist the air line right out. I covered my air outlet so dirt didn’t get in there and it acted as a balloon when the compressor turned on. Below is a picture of how I hooked it up to my battery. I did not engage the solenoid, it was not needed to operate the compressor.

Alternatively, if you have really long wires, just run them to the back and directly hook up to the red and black wires on the compressor after you pull the large connector off at the top of the frame.

 

[Infinity00]

Okay so what to check next... solenoids? Sensors? I forgot to bring my FSM down, dangit

 

[101]

Inspect those height sensors at once!

I was chasing a similar problem. I found that the linkage arm on the right side height sensor had broken away from the suspension member.

What was happening was that the broken arm was causing the sensor to tell the computer that the truck was at "full high" - and the compressor would never turn on. The air springs went flat and the truck was riding on the bump stops. In the 100 mile ride home, the bump stops took a lot of abuse and will have to be replaced.

The linkage arm is available separately from the sensor.

I hope your issue is equally simple!

 

[Infinity00]

I was just looking over there and noticed it has a different bracket leading up to the sensor. The left one looks good. I just came in to cool off before getting fully under the right side and to check if there are specs for the sensor itself - like ohms reading I could take. Thanks for the feedback. I’ll let you know what I find

 

[Infinity00]

I only had to drive 1 or 2 miles. It got me thinking I don’t want airbags anymore since I plan on going into the backcountry a lot more. I can’t imagine that bouncing for 100 miles!!!

 

[Infinity00]

Yep yep you are right!!! Thank you so much

 

[Infinity00]

There’s no rust, but the threaded piece just snapped in half. I wonder what happened.

Do you have a part number? Maybe a toyota part number where parts are a third cheaper?!?

 

[Infinity00]

Part # 48906-35010
$96 from Lexus
$60 from Toyota
$40 online mcgeorge

 

[101]

Yep - mine was broken at the lower ball socket - but same failure!

I confirm the P/N is 48906-35010. I paid $45.69 delivered form Larry Miller Toyota

 

[Infinity00]

My Larry Miller Toyota charges more! Geez. But yeah, after I got it off I could see the ball in socket is frozen, that’s what caused it to break I believe. The left side is still loose how it is supposed to be. Thanks for the help.

 

[Infinity00]

I put the compressor back in today and taped the sensor bracket up to fake out the sensor. The compressor kicked right on and blew the air bags up to neutral on both sides. I hit the off button and all is well until my part comes in and I can fix it properly