How I solved my Air Suspension Problem

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Curt Gobbell

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2014
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My truck (2014 with factory air suspension) would randomly lower both rear corners evenly to the bump stops
  • Usually happened at night
  • It would correct itself after I started the truck
  • Frequency of occurrence was 1-2 times per week
It would look like this :(

upload_2021-5-28_11-21-57.png


So, over a several week period I documented several approaches to isolate the issue and I have attached them to this thread.

I'm happy to report that the issue was a faulty air suspension manifold (also called a valve block). These manifolds cost $250 new, but I found one on eBay for $60 used and it has worked perfectly for several months.:banana-mario:
 

Attachments

  • Ram Air Suspension Troubleshooting.pdf
    1.6 MB · Views: 712

Smikey

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I had the same problem on my 2015 after the freeze here in Texas. FCA refused to fix a know problem with their product (none of the air springs have a leak. I will be selling those). I had fought with it for 9 months and decided to have the suspension changed out for a conventional coil over system. Best decision. Truck rides at a normal height, I still can haul our BSA scout trailer and I never have to worry about it every again. I will be joining the class action lawsuit regarding this issue as it is a safety issue stated in their service bulletin. Dealer wanted over $4,000 to troubleshoot and fix the problem. I took it to Allout Offroad and had it all replaced for just over $1,800. Again, best decision.
 

MaxGig

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Curt thank you for the pictures and diagram, they are extremely helpful.
 

corneileous

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I had the same problem on my 2015 after the freeze here in Texas. FCA refused to fix a know problem with their product (none of the air springs have a leak. I will be selling those). I had fought with it for 9 months and decided to have the suspension changed out for a conventional coil over system. Best decision. Truck rides at a normal height, I still can haul our BSA scout trailer and I never have to worry about it every again. I will be joining the class action lawsuit regarding this issue as it is a safety issue stated in their service bulletin. Dealer wanted over $4,000 to troubleshoot and fix the problem. I took it to Allout Offroad and had it all replaced for just over $1,800. Again, best decision.
What service bulletin? Didn’t know there was one unless this addresses older models than my 18 but then again, my lifetime Mopar MVP warranty I bought when it signed the paperwork on my new truck was bought pretty much specifically because of this air suspension. I guess that’s why I still like mine….lol.
 

MORTIMER

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Curt THANKS for the information as I am deciding if to repair the system for the second time or just replace it with coil overs.
Just a couple of questions regarding the 2014; How do I join the class action law suit and what are the problems that I will find
if I decide to go with conventional shocks? Will there be any other suspension components to change or can I just go to NAPA,
OREILLYS.. and get shocks? Thanks again.
Mort
 

jr27236

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This is one of the best write-ups I've ever seen on a forum. A BIG thanks to the OP. Thankfully I have no issues with my air suspension and love it. I have 3 trailers that at times I need to jockey around. Also have different ride heights and the ball on one is 2- 5/16" so in combination with my Curt 45900 hitch (best one out there) and the air suspension I'm able to pick up and drop my trailer's with the least effort. Also loading and unloading large heavy items or machines on ramps is unreal especially when I back to the driveway apron and find the lowest tailgate angle. I live in lower NY so MN temps are a never here lol. I was thinking about getting the 2500 with the air rear but never looked into the ability to dump/lower it on demand.
 

jr27236

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I read this thread and said to myself "good thing I don't have any issues". Well today I remote start it and I hear this noise? I go over and its the compressor constant running till it actually dumped like the OP stated. Reminded me of my tractor trailer driving days. It was 18⁰ out so that may of been why but it stopped after it blew off and didn't do it again
 

councalled

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My 2018 Limited has that 4 corner air suspension problem that the fuse kept blowing out. I saw someone in the northern state replaced the fuse with an auto-reset breaker, so I tried and I haven't had any problem since except two times, but it resets and works completely fine. It's been one year without burning my pocket for replacement fuses.
 

CAGEYAR

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@Curt Gobbell
Great document you created-thanks. My 2017 Longhorn at 58K miles had the same problem but on the front end. Restarting the vehicle had no effect on the issue. It was drivable but you had to keep the speed down. Took a week for the dealer to get it into the shop for diagnosing. It was a defective valve block covered under my MVP MaxCare plan. Mopar would not authorize a rental until the issue was diagnosed to determine it was a covered repair. Ultimately, they only paid for 1/3 of the rental expense but FCA/Stellantis Customer Service gave me 3 free oil changes on another MVP plan so it evened out. Calling both Mopar MVP and Customer Service was not user friendly. They use a vendor for Customer Service.
 

floridaman55

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Curt,
What did you use to plug the exhaust port on the valve block? My truck is having a similar problem except both rear airbags will also lose air if I hit rough highway transitions or bumpy roads while driving. The compressor will fill them back up and be fine for a while until there's another rough area in the road. I'm thinking I may have a leak somewhere in the rear bags, but it's weird because they both adjust to the same height simultaneously - odd they would be leaking at the same rate. Are there any ways to patch the bags if they have small pinholes or best to replace? Thanks in advance!
***Update***
My truck drops to the bump stops in the back if left on Normal mode when parked and also behaves as described above. However, I noticed that if I put it in Off Road 1 or Off Road 2 when parked, it stays inflated to full height. So it seems like it's only losing air if it's in Normal mode or while driving in Aero over bumpy roadways. Does this sound more like a leak around the airbag itself dependent upon how inflated it is? Or does it sound more like a valve or electrical issue?
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
Curt Gobbell

Curt Gobbell

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Curt,
What did you use to plug the exhaust port on the valve block? My truck is having a similar problem except both rear airbags will also lose air if I hit rough highway transitions or bumpy roads while driving. The compressor will fill them back up and be fine for a while until there's another rough area in the road. I'm thinking I may have a leak somewhere in the rear bags, but it's weird because they both adjust to the same height simultaneously - odd they would be leaking at the same rate. Are there any ways to patch the bags if they have small pinholes or best to replace? Thanks in advance!
***Update***
My truck drops to the bump stops in the back if left on Normal mode when parked and also behaves as described above. However, I noticed that if I put it in Off Road 1 or Off Road 2 when parked, it stays inflated to full height. So it seems like it's only losing air if it's in Normal mode or while driving in Aero over bumpy roadways. Does this sound more like a leak around the airbag itself dependent upon how inflated it is? Or does it sound more like a valve or electrical issue?
I used a small bolt that had the same threads as the manifold block
 

wright4thepow

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Curt,
What did you use to plug the exhaust port on the valve block? My truck is having a similar problem except both rear airbags will also lose air if I hit rough highway transitions or bumpy roads while driving. The compressor will fill them back up and be fine for a while until there's another rough area in the road. I'm thinking I may have a leak somewhere in the rear bags, but it's weird because they both adjust to the same height simultaneously - odd they would be leaking at the same rate. Are there any ways to patch the bags if they have small pinholes or best to replace? Thanks in advance!
***Update***
My truck drops to the bump stops in the back if left on Normal mode when parked and also behaves as described above. However, I noticed that if I put it in Off Road 1 or Off Road 2 when parked, it stays inflated to full height. So it seems like it's only losing air if it's in Normal mode or while driving in Aero over bumpy roadways. Does this sound more like a leak around the airbag itself dependent upon how inflated it is? Or does it sound more like a valve or electrical issue?
Hey did you find your solution? Just curious. Truck is doing the same thing as well as having the compressor run for way to long and over pressure the system. Dealer**** cant find the problem. Thanks.
 
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Curt Gobbell

Curt Gobbell

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I finally had enough of the air suspension problems and .
-removed the air struts and bags
-disconnected the air compressor
-coded out my computer (alfaobd)
-installed traditional coilovers and springs

I've been worry free for 6 months
 

Panarama

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So I'm torn on my opinion of my 2014 1500 factory Air suspension.
Love the ride! Like a Cadillac!
Love the ability to raise and lower the ride height for different situations, especially off road.
But I ran into issues where the air bag system was disabled due to weight. And I didn't even have a trailer on it. 3 adults on the tailgate, and 4 adults in the cab, and I couldn't raise it to off road 2, to keep the tailgate passengers feet out of the puddles...
Seems like the aftermarket bags work no matter what. But they aren't automatic like factory.?.
 

corneileous

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So I'm torn on my opinion of my 2014 1500 factory Air suspension.
Love the ride! Like a Cadillac!
Love the ability to raise and lower the ride height for different situations, especially off road.
But I ran into issues where the air bag system was disabled due to weight. And I didn't even have a trailer on it. 3 adults on the tailgate, and 4 adults in the cab, and I couldn't raise it to off road 2, to keep the tailgate passengers feet out of the puddles...
Seems like the aftermarket bags work no matter what. But they aren't automatic like factory.?.
Soo, have have you done anything to your truck modification-wise? I pulled a flat-bed loaded with a full-size car on it once, probably pushing close to WDH range and my air suspension worked just fine. Probably even had the car loaded a little far forward too and my ride height never changed.
 

Panarama

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I haven't pulled a trailer with it. But I expected to be able to lift it to the max when I want to.
 

Panarama

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Soo, have have you done anything to your truck modification-wise? I pulled a flat-bed loaded with a full-size car on it once, probably pushing close to WDH range and my air suspension worked just fine. Probably even had the car loaded a little far forward too and my ride height never changed.
It was factory when this happened.
 

corneileous

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I haven't pulled a trailer with it. But I expected to be able to lift it to the max when I want to.
As you should. As a matter of fact, since this dude’s Mustang was so low to the ground, not only did I have to drive the back of my truck up on ramps to load and unload it but I also had to air the suspension up to off-road 2 mode just to get the back of the trailer down to the ground close enough just so he wouldn’t peel his front bumper off.
It was factory when this happened.
Hmmm, you got a problem then if it wouldn’t air up just from people sitting on the tail gate. Was there any warning messages that popped up on the screen?
 
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