2500 Air Suspension - EVIC Message

[NWatchel]

I have been using the ALT ride height when unloading things from the bed of my 2500 as it drops the tailgate height by 4-5 inches. Tried it today and got this message.

 

[grabinov]

I once lowered my trailer onto the hitch without the engine running and while in "Alt Ride Height" mode and discovered that the truck was confused as to how to deal with the weight - and gave me the same error but with the word Heavy instead of Light. Now I either leave the engine running when loading if in Alt Ride Height mode or I leave the truck in "standard mode" until it is loaded and then push the button after the load is on. When in Alt Ride Height mode it seems to not like changes in load without "feeling it happen" (engine running).

The system is great when the trailer is on and if used correctly, but otherwise it's a pain in the butt. I preferred my '04 with helper air bags.

 

[NWatchel]

This escalated into more than an annoying message. One fine Monday morning on my way to work I got a new message "Immediate Air Suspension Service Required". It was riding kinda funny, and once I was at work I realized that the truck was sitting on the rear bump stops. Took her to the dealership on my lunch break. Turns out that the compressor had failed, and it was 2 weeks before the new part arrived. Apparently the air suspension is not as popular as I had hoped it would be, the tech who worked on my truck had never seen one before. Reading the story on the work order there were several call to Star and lots of try this and try that.
Anyways she's back in the driveway where she belongs, and has been working flawlessly since.

 

[sag2]

There is a great document in the STAR database that explains the entire air suspension system of the Grand Cherokee, but it is essentially the same design system. It is 23 pages long and although it has lots of reference to WK, it gives a very good description of the proper diagnostic procedures and system operation. Most compressor failures are caused by pinched/leaking lines, or clogged inlet filter. The compressor is not designed to run for very long, and will overheat and shut down with just a couple of minutes of run time.
They can find it by using 2011-2015 WK as the vehicle and search term "air suspension."

 

[NWatchel]

There is a great document in the STAR database that explains the entire air suspension system of the Grand Cherokee, but it is essentially the same design system. It is 23 pages long and although it has lots of reference to WK, it gives a very good description of the proper diagnostic procedures and system operation. Most compressor failures are caused by pinched/leaking lines, or clogged inlet filter. The compressor is not designed to run for very long, and will overheat and shut down with just a couple of minutes of run time.
They can find it by using 2011-2015 WK as the vehicle and search term "air suspension."

Nice to know. That leads me to wonder then if Ram will update the air system on the 2500 / 3500 to be more like the 1500 and WK? Could we not have the 4 corner air setup similar to the 1500?

 

[sag2]

I suppose you could have a four corner system, but it may not fit well with the HD truck crowd. Some seemed to be skeptical enough with rear bags and load carrying ability.

 

[Brocky]

Sag: The load carrying capacity is there with air suspension, Just that I do not think Ram/Fiat copied enough design over from big trucks to make it work right. Room and weight????

There has been 4 corner Air ride steering axles on big trucks for many years. The GMC Crackerbox tried it in the late 60's. Freightliner has had it since the mid 2000's.. I drove a 2006 Freightliner for a million and a quarter miles with it. NEVER really liked,or got used to it.. Always felt mushy and liked to wander coming off bumps, a feeling a lot like when we first put radials on the steering axle but still had bias tires on the drives...