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How Often Should You Replace Airmatic Springs?

Author: Rajeev Garg
by Rajeev Garg
Posted: Jun 05, 2022

About airmatic

Springs are electrically adjusted, resulting in the perfect mix of comfort and control during a long drive. For better aerodynamics, stability, and fuel economy, the airmatic system automatically lowers the suspension at incredible speeds, and the airmatic system provides automated four-wheel level adjustment. In terms of air-ride systems, this one is the most evolved and provides the best comfortable. The air-ride system has one of the fastest response times on the market. With an average lifespan of 120,000 miles, airmatic systems are built to fail at some point.

As long as they are properly maintained, most airmatic systems will last for 120,000 miles before needing maintenance. Relays, compressors, and leaking airbags are three of the most common issues with airmatic suspensions.

Fuse Issues

In addition to the relays and the compressor, check the high-amperage fuse for the compressor first when an airmatic suspension has a problem (i.e., it's dead or occasionally leaves the vehicle on the bump stops). The fuse blows when the device is in the "on" position, and the device will shut down. They won't go off as long as the fuses are in the "off" position. Either the "on" or the "off" function of the relay is susceptible to failure.

Relay Issues

An unfortunate side effect of the relay is that it often gets stuck in the "on" position. An empty battery and possibly a worn compressor could result from this. The relay malfunctions as well. The bypass valve and exhaust line push open to release the extra pressure, and the owner will hear a hissing noise from their front end and see the compressor running. Constant-run mode can damage the compressor in some circumstances.

After a certain amount of time, the compressor's output will fall short of what is required for the reservoir(s) to be refilled to its total capacity. A notice will appear on the instrument panel to reduce compressor runtime, and the suspension will enter "safe" mode. It's not a sign that the system is leaking. The compressor will need replacement if all four airbags are replaced in your car.

Some early versions of airmatic units frequently leak. Even though subsequent models have a better air spring design, leaks can still occur over time with these models. Leaks on the strut tops are common on W220 S-Class cars. Cracks can form in the soft rubber substance seen through the top of the strut towers. A few owners have used epoxy to cover leaks on the strut. However, this may only work for a short period. The top-cap section of several aftermarket air-ride manufacturers needs altering to lessen the risk of leakage.

Rear Spring Issues

Some airmatic suspensions need a lot of effort to replace the rear springs, while others are as simple as replacing a strut. It is most common for leaks to develop in the spring clamps that connect the upper and lower caps. Rear spring leaks are standard on the 2003-2009 E-Class (W211). The lower control arm and sub-frame are where these springs are mounted. Repairs to the front airbags of GLE Series SUVs can be completed without the requirement for a new strut.

The rear sub-frame needs to be lowered to replace these springs. The exhaust, driveshaft, and parking brake components must be removed to access the airbags and reservoirs. It is possible to design aftermarket airbags that do not require a separate reservoir. This decreases the risk of leaks in the future by eliminating another component.

Other issues

The compressor is equipped with a valve body adjacent to it to activate the air springs. This component's pressure sensor can be replaced if it fails due to water contamination, but the valve body contains the solenoids for air ride systems and cannot be serviced. The compressor and reservoir pressure are tightly regulated by these sensor (s). If the sensor is defective, the code C1144 will be shown.

Airmatic systems employ three or four-level sensors. Sensors in the front and back of most systems usually are two and one, respectively. As a result of a problem with these sensors, the vehicle's diagnostic system will display error. When a sensor fails, the vehicle may attempt to level itself to match the defective sensor's readings.

It is common to see accelerometers attached to or near the shock towers in most airmatic systems. These sensors can detect body movement and unexpected impacts on bumpy roads. Accelerometers monitor the road surface and adjust the suspension accordingly. Codes are generated when these sensors fail.

Coil conversions

Customers with airmatic suspensions may consider switching to coil springs if their repair costs are prohibitive. These kits can prevent future air-ride issues from occurring for a fraction of the expense of all four air-ride unit replacements.

It would help to ensure that the electronic bypass module in an air-ride conversion kit provides signals so that the instrument panel does not light up. All Mercedes-Benz airmatic automobile adaptations necessitate a bypass, which gives the correct simulated signals for the Automatic Damping System.

Now that you are aware of the possible issues, you surely want your luxury car to run smoothly and face minimum issues with its airmatic systems. To ensure quality auto parts, you must by from the best airmatic springs dealer in India.

About the Author

I am a freelance writer. I used to write articles and blogs to help people to gain knowledge. I have posted many articles about diffrent topics. I have more than 5 years of experience in content writing.

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Author: Rajeev Garg

Rajeev Garg

Member since: Sep 28, 2020
Published articles: 20

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