Repair And Fix it

Some vehicles that are equipped with air suspension, primarily Lincolns and Fords, must have the system disabled prior to lifting the rear of the vehicle. The system is disabled by flipping a switch. This switch is typically located in the trunk of the vehicle; er to your owners manual. Failure to disable the system can result in the air suspension failing and the rear of the vehicle will sit very low until it is repaired; this repair is quite expensive as well.

On some air-suspension equipped vehicles, the air ride system can be replaced for a standard suspension. This is typically performed when the suspension system fails and requires a complete overhaul. The replacement system will have two standard shocks and a spring to replace the air bags.

As air suspensions age, the air bag can become dry and start to crack. These cracks can lead to leaks and even breakage. A routine inspection of the air suspension system should be performed at every major service interval to catch problems before they occur.

The air suspension system is a relatively simple system mechanically. It consists of only three main components: compressor, air bags and struts. The compressor runs off of electricity and it is what provides the supply of air. The air bags are simply rubber sacks that fill with air to raise the vehicle and drain to lower the vehicle. The struts are there to simply absorb the hard impacts and protect the bags from sudden compression from a hard bump. While the mechanics are simple, the electronics of the newer systems are extremely complex.

The air bag was first put on a production car by Cowey Motor Works of Great Britain in 1909. The idea did not catch on at the time because the system leaked. Firestone created the first properly functioning air suspension system for an experimental line of vehicles known as the Stout-Scarab in 1933. Air suspension became available on nearly every American-produced vehicle in 1958.

The first thing youll need to do when you learn of a recall on your Jeep is to contact your local dealer, according to the Jeep website. Even if the vehicle wasnt bought at that Jeep dealership it is acceptable to return it there since the manufacturer will be paying for the services.

Set up an appointment at your earliest convenience and bring the car down along with any information you have received about the recall.

Often the letter that goes out from the manufacturer to the consumer will include an addendum for the owners manual. This may be a set of notes or instructions that address something the manufacturer didnt realize when the manual was originally published. Typically it has to do with the recall issue.

If your letter has one of these addendums, fold it up and put it inside your owners manual in the vehicle. Online recall notices will likely have the same information that you can print out.

If you had trouble with your Jeep because of the recall issue before the recall was sent out and had to pay for a repair, then you are likely entitled to a reimbursement from the manufacturer.

You will need proof of payment such as a receipt for the repairs, then send it to the Chrysler Recall Center, according to the Jeep website. Keep a copy for yourself.

If the Jeep dealership you take your vehicle to does not fix the recall issue in a reasonable time or claims it cant or wont do the repair without charging, then you should notify the manufacturer, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website. The manufacturer requires all dealers to fix recalls without charge.

If you are still not satisfied with the results, write a complaint to the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Commission.

The manufacturer does not cover recalls after the vehicle is 10 years old. The 10-year period begins when the Jeep is sold new for the first time, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.