1989 Buick EW "boxie" air ride Q's

My 1989 Buick EW has the "air ride" option. Would one of the smart pig's take me to school on trouble shooting and upkeep, Please?

Right now, it's all plumbed, but the pump unit is unplugged. The harness shows hot and ground, on the 2 outside pins, nothing in the middle 2. The shocks look to be after market, Gabriel's, with the stock 1/8th in. lines connected.

Any help with how this rig is supposed to work and what parts should be where, would be much appreciated ...

Thanks, Paul

A. did you put the fuse in?

B. is the sensor hooked up at the rear axle?

C. If the above are present and working, you have some troubleshooting to do with a VOM. Generally, you only need power and ground for a system to work. It should have a self contained activation loop. When the "low" switch closes on the sensor, the system runs until the switch opens. When the "high" switch closes, the vent opens until the switch opens.

Thanks Fred,
I have read, that on the B bodies, the 2 outside pins are power and ground for the pump.

Where is the power supplied from for the "control circuit"? I'm guessing the switch over the axle only sends a control voltage signal to a relay or some other switching device.

I will start at the fuse and see if I can find the power drop point. Rollin, Rollin ,Rollin...

Thanks, paul

WELL, after much trouble shooting, poking, prodding, swearing, sweating and eye flushing...

I have discovered why the PO left the pump un plugged. The pump is shot, the filter leaks, the plastic hose leaks, the leveling switch is broke and rusted and both air shocks leak. (all this in 77K miles...)

A little whoring around the web quickly taught me that it was nothing that a bit over a thousand dollars in genuine GM parts, and a weekend crawling in the mud and sand spur's, couldn't fix.

Looks like it's the Munroe severe duty shocks and cargo springs for me. They should give me back a normal ride height, less body roll/sway. I may have to add "in spring" Air Bags with a weight distributing hitch, a little (under 1600 Lbs.) trailer should not be a tail dragger or have a sway problem, but I may need them for anything larger.

Thanks very much for the help and advise. Comments on my solution?


Paul

The air ride is fine if you have it and it works. Otherwise, springs and shocks are fine. I actually went through what you did. I have an '89 Electra Wagon. Recently went through the whole spring and shocks. Also has part numbers and pics:

https://gmlongroof.4umer.com/t9438-front-end-handling-and-shocks

Monroe severe service shocks are good for making the car planted, especially on a straith smooth highway, but (living with NYC roads) the bumps are more prominent and you do lose the Buick feel of the ride. I actually put these on the front, but after a 120 mile drive of highway and stop/start streets in Brooklyn, I swapped the fronts out for KYB Gas-a-Just. I wanted the Buick ride back. It's not floaty as it was before and still comfortable.

I have removed the rear air setup on all three of my wagons, including my '89 Olds Custom Cruiser boxy. Get a set of Variable-Rate coil springs from Rock-Auto, and if I were you I'd put on KYB Gas-A-Just shocks. I removed my Monroe Severe Service shocks and went with the KYB's after I got tired of hearing the change rattle in my ashtray over bumps. The KYB's ride SO MUCH smoother and still give you good body control. Rock Auto has them cheaper than anywhere else too.

Good Luck!

-Mike

The pumps and shocks are known to die early. Once the shocks leak, the pump runs until it is fried. The height sensor should be the same for everything up to 96. The pumps may even be basically the same. A used one from the local junk yard is a lot cheaper than a new one. Just check it before you buy it (most yards have a 30 day return policy). The shocks are another story. Some air shocks can be adapted, and the system can be used with in-the-spring airbags.