Intermittent Air Spring Failure to Inflate (1 Viewer)

[bap5340]

I have a 2005 GX Sport which is experiencing a failure to inflate the air springs on an intermittent basis. When the air springs are working the ride is amazing, smooth, and responsive. My wife loves the truck and the ride (when it's working as it should).

Does anyone have any recommendations on where to start troubleshooting. Clearly the airbags hold air. The pump works, but I don't always hear it turn on. Intuitively it seems as though there is a sensor that is not telling the pump to fill the airbags. Please jump in if you have experience this in the past.

I have contemplated doing a coil spring conversion, but the boss tells me that maintaining the smooth ride is a must. We are not looking to do a lift much more than an inch or two. Does anyone with a KDSS equipped GX have a combination of springs and shocks that they absolutely love? That combination would need to come close to the OEM ride.

Very Respectfully,

Bruce

 

[cheeze]

Have you checked the fuse Bruce?

 

[bap5340]

Fuse is good. Reminders like that are always helpful. Sometimes we can overlook the simple things.
Blessings,
Bruce

 

[Fubeca]

What exactly are the symptoms - does it deflate? or stay at whatever level it is set and just won't inflate to a higher level?

 

[bap5340]

The symptom is that the system will have deflated while the truck is sitting (sometimes). Once the ignition is on, the air springs may or may not inflate. If they inflate, all is good. If they don't the truck has only the shocks for suspension (ie no suspension).

 

[Fubeca]

It seems like a control issue - maybe a faulty connection or one of the sensors intermittently not communicating or sending false data. Definitely the worst kind of issue to troubleshoot in my opinion. If the airbags aren't leaking, the system is telling it to deflate.

 

[BlackCat]

When my system failed, it wasn't the bags. It was the compressor. It kept throwing an exhaust valve solenoid code, it would either stick open or closed, not allowing proper inflation OR deflation. Luckily for me I was junking the air suspension anyway. Mine seemed to happen after a creek crossing in Northern California.

 

[bap5340]

All fixed thanks to Will and his team at Sierra Expeditions.
Air bags deleted, yet the ride is remarkably smooth. It feels like 95% stock, which is what we wanted.
Lift is about 1.5". We love the result. With the number of spring and shock combinations out there, the outcome could vary wildly.
Hats off to Will for picking a combination to meet our desires!! He takes great care of our community!
2005 GX470 Sport (KDSS - With no nav)
OME 2895E springs in back.
2.0 Fox remote resi shocks in back
2.5 Fox coilovers in the front

 

[Fubeca]

That's great - love to see some photos if you get a chance. Also - I'd love a photo of the rear axle showing the spring, secondary isolator (if it has one) and the bumpstop - I'm trying to get an ideal of which spring configurations in the rear are giving the best ride with the least lift.

Thanks!

 

[bap5340]

 

[Fubeca]

Looks good - I'm glad it turned out well! How much space is there between the frame-mounted bumpstop and the rear axle?

 

[bap5340]

The spacing between the frame-mounted bumpstop and the axle is just over 4".
Here are some additional photos.

 

[Fubeca]

The spacing between the frame-mounted bumpstop and the axle is just over 4".

That looks good! 4" seems like it should be enough.

 

[NMBruce]

Guessing you got the 4” in shock travel?