How do I reduce air in rear shocks of air leveling shocks

Tiny
FUNFARM
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 BUICK LESABRE
  • 80,000 MILES
Mechanic lifted vehicle with key on and rear shocks fill with air and will not reduce.
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Friday, December 9th, 2011 AT 10:06 PM

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Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,699 POSTS
By lifting the car, the shocks extended, so the computer would have tried to deflate them while it was in the air, not inflate them. The car would be sitting too low when it was put back on the ground.

To be sitting too high, I suspect, is not the clue. The problem is it is not adjusting. That suggests a problem with the rear height sensor. I would start by looking at the link between the rear suspension and the body. If that link is broken, disconnected, or rusted apart, the sensor could be telling the computer that the car is at the correct height and no adjustment is needed. Those links typically first cause a problem right after hitting a big pot hole or from raising the car, (even to change a flat tire on the side of the road), because that causes the sensor to travel beyond its normal range. If a problem with that link occurred while the car was on a hoist, there is a really good chance the mechanic did not do anything to cause the problem. There was a problem just waiting for the right set of circumstances to occur.

Depending on what work was done, it is also possible the mechanic disconnected the link to prevent the system from performing an undesired operation while in the air, and he forgot to reconnect it. Depending on where the sensor is positioned, the system will then either try to constantly lower, or constantly raise the car, or constantly leave the car where it is.

That will eventually correct itself after drive down enough bumpy roads. That happens more commonly with front struts, but shocks are built essentially the same way, just smaller, so the same thing can happen. Once a stuck strut or shock releases, it will not cause a problem again until maybe the next time the car is raised on a hoist because they do not travel to that fully-extended position during normal driving.
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Friday, December 9th, 2011 AT 11:04 PM
Tiny
RICKY E KNOWLES
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  • 1 POST
  • 2001 BUICK LESABRE
  • 4.0L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 80,000 MILES
How do you ajust air shocks?
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Tuesday, November 26th, 2019 AT 7:20 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
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They shold adjust by them selves as they have sensors in them if not like when you put a load on the car then it will have to be scanned for codes to see what is wrong. Of course that is assuming fuse and relay are ok under hood fuse box.
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Tuesday, November 26th, 2019 AT 7:20 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TODDPELOQUIN
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  • 1 POST
  • 2001 BUICK LESABRE
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 168,000 MILES
The load leveling compressor on my 2001 LeSabre does not run to pump the shocks any more
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Tuesday, November 26th, 2019 AT 7:20 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Check fuses both in the vehicle and under the hood. If all are good, check for power to the pump. If there is power, the pump is bad. If no power, you need to trace the wiring to check where the power is lost.
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Tuesday, November 26th, 2019 AT 7:20 PM (Merged)
Tiny
IAPOPPEE
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2000 BUICK LESABRE
Suspension problem
2000 Buick Lesabre 6 cyl Automatic 67000 miles

shocks are fully extended. After releaseing the air from shocks, the compressor refills the shock to their limit.
Where are the sensors located? I have removed the relay to stop them from refilling.
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Tuesday, November 26th, 2019 AT 7:20 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DENNYP
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,824 POSTS
The sensors are connected to the rear lower control arms. You probably have a release valve on the pump that isn't working.
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Tuesday, November 26th, 2019 AT 7:20 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LAMBER
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  • 1 POST
  • 2000 BUICK LESABRE
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 130,000 MILES
Rear of car set high shocks extended. Found regulator in compressor bad, part of compressor replaced air level compressor: $800.00 (Wording on their invoice)

Now, two weeks later, my car is doing the same thing (Sounds like brakes are rubbing and back end up in air). Called dealer--have appt next week. Other than a bad replacement part, how much more can they replace and charge me with? Their bill said "PART" of compressor replaced.

Thanks--
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Tuesday, November 26th, 2019 AT 7:20 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
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This can be a plugged drier, pinched lines or an out of adjustment height sensor. That all shold have been checked when the compressor was fixed. Also the rim module may have to be reset as well. Pic of sensor included.
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Tuesday, November 26th, 2019 AT 7:20 PM (Merged)
Tiny
Q45T
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1999 BUICK LESABRE
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 126,000 MILES
The shocks have pumped up all the way, making the rear of the car stick up in the air. What is the problem?
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Tuesday, November 26th, 2019 AT 7:20 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BILLYMAC
  • MECHANIC
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Hi, on each side of your car in the rear mounted under the car there are leveling rods connected to level sensors these are malfuntioning. Some cars only have one. Sometimes they just come unhooked. This will cause them to overfill. Billymac
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Tuesday, November 26th, 2019 AT 7:20 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JIM56001
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  • 1 POST
  • 2000 BUICK LESABRE
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 91,000 MILES
My shocks on the rear of the car are as high as they will go. Rides like a lumber wagon. There stuck there. And the pump still kicks in. Is there a bypass?
Thank you!
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Tuesday, November 26th, 2019 AT 7:21 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DENNYP
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,824 POSTS
Hello,

it sounds like the ALC (#55) relay is stuck on here is the wiring diagrams so you can see how the system works and a guide to test the relay with the relay locations as well, below.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-an-electrical-relay-and-wiring-control-circuit

Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know what you find. We are interested to see what it is.

Cheers
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Tuesday, November 26th, 2019 AT 7:21 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LISADEXTER40
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I had the same problem I replaced the ALC relay it cost me $23.00 fixed
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Tuesday, November 26th, 2019 AT 7:21 PM (Merged)

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