***Air Ride Suspension - What do I do?***

[H2Much]

So, I have been having some issues with my air ride. The "Service Air Suspension" light came on, and my compressor hasn't turned on since. Not to mention the airbags just drained until the rear of my ride was bottomed out on the frame. I recently had it lifted a month or two ago, so I took it back to the place who did it. They are really credible, and are known for doing some of the best work out there, so I trust them. I posted another thread, asking what it might be, before I took it in, and I was told that it was a ride height sensor. So I went to check on how things were going today at the place, and they tell me they can't figure out what it is. They said I can either:
1. Buy a new sensor, replace it, and see if it fixes it ($$$)
2. Buy some coil springs, and pull out the whole air ride system ($$$)

Here is my dilemma. I called the Hummer dealership to ask them some questions, and the guy there says everytime someone lifts a Hummer, they end up bringing it in and having problems with the air ride. He says the problems are repetitive, and continuous too, and that their customers either end up taking off their lifts, or just keep coming back over and over again.

-Does anyone else have continuing issues with their air ride after lifting it? Or am I better off going with Coil Springs now, to avoid a long and costly continuous future of air ride issues?

If all of you H2 owners with lifts could give me a reply, I would really like to know what I should do. I would like to keep the air ride, but I don't know if it will be worth all of the possible issues to come (if that's how it really is). If I do decide to keep the air ride, I really need to figure out what to do to get a permanent fix on it, before I F***ing lose my mind from taking it to and from mechanics and dealers, and getting nowhere, while my friends keep telling me I need to sell my car and get something practical and making me more mad about the situation. PLEASE HELP! Any opinions or suggestions based off of your personal experience would really help me make this difficult decision...

I do not want to have my first Hummer be a bad experience.

[RCKSTR]

Mine comes on when its cold out, I figure its just the ride height sensor being picky. I wouldnt convert to coil springs if I was paid to do it. I love the air ride. Get it diagnosed by an authorized dealer, your "shop" may be good, but they obviously are just guessing. The dealer can tell you if its a sensor, compressor, or controller.

[H2Much]

I take it yours is lifted; how much is it lifted? Did they put bigger air bags on it when they lifted it? Have you heard anything about what it is like with Coil springs? They called me today and said they got a new sensor, and it did not fix the issue, so it looks like I might be going to coil springs... if I don't find a solution soon. The nearest dealership to me is 2 hours, and that would be impossible to drive with a flat rear end on my ride.

[RCKSTR]

You dont need a hummer dealer, just a certified GM dealer. They have the diagnostic equiptment. Mine has the factory bags with a 4" spacer under it, and longer ride height sensor links. There is no reason lifting the truck would cause any abnormal issues, all the geometry is stock. They are blowing smoke up your a**.

[HUMTECH]

you just need to take it to the dealer and with the tech 2 scan tool need to read the ride height sensor voltages. If they are out of range what i have done is modify the sensor arms to put the height sensors within spec by cutting out part of the arm if they are too long and welding them back together. once the sensors are reading in spec just set the rear height by eye and do a trim height learn with the scan tool. Whenever the sensors are out of range a code will set and the system will be disabled. Hope that helps. expect them to charge 2 to 3 hours to figure it all out and do the mods but then the system will work.

[H2Much]

Thanks for the usefull info. I just got it back today, airbags are out, coil springs are in. After a day full of calling my mechanic, my lift place, and the GM Hummer dealer mechanic, I found that you were right on the money Humtech. The thing that sucks, is that my airbags have been removed, and I still have to F*** with the stupid ride height sensors, and the modification of the arms. You see, even though the air bags were pulled out, the "Service Air suspension" light still stays on, because you cannot remove the ride height sensors, otherwise it will be there permanantly (the error code on the dash). So, I have coil springs now, the F***ing problem is still not fixed, and I am just not happy at all. At least now it is driveable. Now I just have to find somewhere where they will be willing to work with me on getting the ride height sensor bs under control. What a pain in my ass.