Air suspension - Air “purge” noise

[Tmains]

Same problem here on my 21. Been doing since brand new in January 21. Truck has been in shop 10+ times for air suspension purge. They have replaced compressor, fixes issue for a day. Then truck goes back to sitting uneven, leaning more towards drivers side (they tried to tell me that’s normal ha). They align and fix steering wheel for it to only go right back.

The dealership last week too it back in, supposedly did some update that helps with over active compressor motor. Worked for 1 day. Now I purge at least 5 times a day. They told me they have ran out of options to fix.

Absolutely pathetic they have yet to find a solution to this. Had a 19 that never did this (had plenty of other problems), along with my brother having a 19 & 23 not ever doing any purging. I am not going to let up regardless of warranty. Ram created the problem, so they can fix it til it stops happening.

Has anyone ever got this problem solved? If so, could you help out and let us know the solution.

I am begging @RamCares to bring in a specialist who knows the system in & out to quit wasting everyone’s time. Just replacing parts unfortunately has not fixed the problem and ultimately costs Ram more money.

 

[1BADRAMLIMITED]

Same problem here on my 21. Been doing since brand new in January 21. Truck has been in shop 10+ times for air suspension purge. They have replaced compressor, fixes issue for a day. Then truck goes back to sitting uneven, leaning more towards drivers side (they tried to tell me that’s normal ha). They align and fix steering wheel for it to only go right back.

The dealership last week too it back in, supposedly did some update that helps with over active compressor motor. Worked for 1 day. Now I purge at least 5 times a day. They told me they have ran out of options to fix.

Absolutely pathetic they have yet to find a solution to this. Had a 19 that never did this (had plenty of other problems), along with my brother having a 19 & 23 not ever doing any purging. I am not going to let up regardless of warranty. Ram created the problem, so they can fix it til it stops happening.

Has anyone ever got this problem solved? If so, could you help out and let us know the solution.

I am begging @RamCares to bring in a specialist who knows the system in & out to quit wasting everyone’s time. Just replacing parts unfortunately has not fixed the problem and ultimately costs Ram more money.

Sounds like a nightmare, good luck. I have a 19 limited org and been ok thus far (knock on wood)

Also you might want to send a direct message to @RamCares directly in order to get a faster response

 

[theblet]

Mine makes a noise sometimes and I don’t even have air suspension

 

[Tmains]

@1BADRAMLIMITED thanls homie for the communication, I already have an active claim along with previous past claims. I’m hoping at some point someone finally comes on this thread and provides the solutions. Ram has done to fix the problem. If it is me, I gladly will post any paperwork I can.

@RamCares my case manager is great, she needs help because she can only do what dealership tells her. Honestly, the dealership has been great also. I believe that this problem is more difficult than their mechanics are able to handle. Can we please work on getting a star technician in who is extremely qualified in the air suspension.

 

[RamCares]

@1BADRAMLIMITED thanls homie for the communication, I already have an active claim along with previous past claims. I’m hoping at some point someone finally comes on this thread and provides the solutions. Ram has done to fix the problem. If it is me, I gladly will post any paperwork I can.

@RamCares my case manager is great, she needs help because she can only do what dealership tells her. Honestly, the dealership has been great also. I believe that this problem is more difficult than their mechanics are able to handle. Can we please work on getting a star technician in who is extremely qualified in the air suspension.

Hi Tmains,

We are glad to hear you have a case open and are already being assisted by your case manager. We can certainly note your outreach here on your case so that they are aware of your further concern. Feel free to send us a private message with your case number.

Lex
Ram Cares

 

[crusher]

well to be honest this exact problem has been around since 2014 when the air suspension was introduce, i trade my 2014 for my 2022 because i coulnd take it anymore. they change air bags, 5 times the compressor assembly including the valve block... and still the problem came back... they say since 2019 its a a re design system but when we look at it, its the same, just some suppose to be re design parts... so at the end the problem been around for 8 years and still no fix, really hope they find one.

 

[ProKubinator]

I see a lot of new posts here since my post back on page 2. Check it out. Your purge noise is your system trying to constantly recover the tanks due to some sort of leak. Mine was at the valve block. Best course of action is to get under the truck with soapy water, find the leak, take photos, and bring to the dealer to get fixed. Finding a leak is too much to ask of the dealership now days. To them no code = no problem. Smh

In the big picture, these issues are a simple leak. The dealers lack of knowledge to diagnose makes the air suspension seem like a complicated system when it's really not. These should be quick fixes if properly diagnosed. But I'm not a mechanic, what would I know

 

[theblet]

I see a lot of new posts here since my post back on page 2. Check it out. Your purge noise is your system trying to constantly recover the tanks due to some sort of leak. Mine was at the valve block. Best course of action is to get under the truck with soapy water, find the leak, take photos, and bring to the dealer to get fixed. Finding a leak is too much to ask of the dealership now days. To them no code = no problem. Smh

In the big picture, these issues are a simple leak. The dealers lack of knowledge to diagnose makes the air suspension seem like a complicated system when it's really not. These should be quick fixes if properly diagnosed. But I'm not a mechanic, what would I know

I wonder what mine is then

 

[crusher]

I see a lot of new posts here since my post back on page 2. Check it out. Your purge noise is your system trying to constantly recover the tanks due to some sort of leak. Mine was at the valve block. Best course of action is to get under the truck with soapy water, find the leak, take photos, and bring to the dealer to get fixed. Finding a leak is too much to ask of the dealership now days. To them no code = no problem. Smh

In the big picture, these issues are a simple leak. The dealers lack of knowledge to diagnose makes the air suspension seem like a complicated system when it's really not. These should be quick fixes if properly diagnosed. But I'm not a mechanic, what would I know

there is not 20 places where it can leak.. in mine they change the compressor and valve block assembly 5 times and 1 air spring and still the purge and some check suspension lights.... if your right then, all 5 compressor/valvle.block were improprelly installed,

from what they told me, something make the valves not to seal proprelly, wo air is returning to the tanks when no suspose to. the compressor kick in but valve still dosent work proprelly or not 100% and it keeps going on until compressor start not.working proprelly and or valve block

 

[Tmains]

One thing I have noticed lately, is the truck, does not constantly self level. I have numerous friends and family that have same “Limited w/air” setup and they have had 0 issues thank god. I do find that their trucks even with the slightest pressure on the tailgate will kick the sensors to turn compressor on and adjust. My truck does none of those functions.

@RamCares thank you. I’ll will shoot you a message. Unfortunately had so many case #s hard to keep up with. Been a massive pain since 21’.

@ProKubinator thanks for the insight on where you experienced the problem. Pathetic I have to be Ram’s problem finder and solutions maker. I will pass this info along to give them more opportunities to narrow the problem.

@crusher Good to know but also sad to hear this problem is continuing to persist into the new Gen. Crazy part is, they “Ram” think I’m cra. If this wasn’t my 2nd attempt at a Ram limited, I probably would’ve done the same as you.

 

[Fatherof3]

I know these are 4th gens but my BIL bought a 2016 Rebel the same time I did . I left mine in normal mode thinking that the less I used it the longer it would last . He puts his in entry / exit every time he parks it . Mine had the compressor replace twice and he’s had absolutely no problems with his .
Mine would constantly self level while it was parked and his doesn’t , probably because he’s in entry/exit .
Maybe he just had better luck than me or maybe it is better on the system to use it ?

 

[Tmains]

I know these are 4th gens but my BIL bought a 2016 Rebel the same time I did . I left mine in normal mode thinking that the less I used it the longer it would last . He puts his in entry / exit every time he parks it . Mine had the compressor replace twice and he’s had absolutely no problems with his .
Mine would constantly self level while it was parked and his doesn’t , probably because he’s in entry/exit .
Maybe he just had better luck than me or maybe it is better on the system to use it ?

I’m honestly not sure and nor is RAM. They do not have a solution. I use mine every day, sometimes too much I think. I’ve tried every combination you can imagine with that air to see if it would stop purging. Nothing has worked yet.

I’m documenting like crazy. I have a tally and I email case manager at least 2/3 times a week with the amount of times it purges. One of these days, I’ll have 0 nitrogen left.

 

[Hawks34]

I have a 2014 Ram 1500 Limited. It currently has about 151k miles. In early 2022 I replace my P/S rear air bag, because the P/S was sagging to the point it was very noticeable. This year around late spring my D/S rear air bag did the exact same thing. So this time I decided to replace the D/S rear air bag along with the 2 front air shocks, all 4 sensors, and replaced the bumper jouncers.

After that the truck rode extremely rough. I thought at this point maybe I needed a resupply, so I took it to the dealer. The dealer found it through some code of the system being too hot. So he cleared the codes. He also told me the thicker bumper jouncers I bought is prohibiting the truck from running it normal operations. So I replaced the bumper jouncers with OEM ones.

Now my truck still continues to send a message of "Service or repair air system immediately." The truck also purges as well as some shows a yellow truck with a line through it on the dash. I am just looking for recommendations ie: try what everyone has mentioned, factory reset the sytem somehow, or take it back into the dealership and see what they can do. I dont want to spend alot of money on it right now if it can be a cheap fix. I also need new tires as well, but dont want to do that until this problem is resolved.

Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

 

[MJP]

So after thinking the dealer fixed it (they replaced the compressor), I took matters into my own hands. The noise came back and it was making the noise every time I drove the truck. I got the needed tablet / adapter for Alfa OBD and began to monitor the pressures in the system (something the mechanic at the dealer should have been able to do). What I found was that as the truck sat, all the airbags on all 4 corners of the truck held 100% pressure, but the tank was loosing pressure. When I would hear the "purge noise" would be the compressor cycling to try to re-pressurize the tank (using ambient air pulled in from behind the taillight) to make up for the loss. I took off the passenger rear wheel / wheel well liner to investigate where a leak could be. I found a decent leak on both of the recharge ports using soap and water. I was able to give them both another 1/4" turn using a 15MM 6 point deep socket (dont use a 12 point, will round it off). The leak was then gone. Next time I drove the truck I heard the compressor cycle a few times to recharge the tank (I expected this), and the noise has not came back again in the last 2 weeks.

Next steps for me is I want to replace that whole valve block and re-charge the system with nitrogen before winter hits. I have seen its not hard to do with a vacuum pump and tank of nitrogen.

On some of the 4th gen trucks the bags leaking is an issue, but I think this recharge port could be the bigger issue on the 5th gens. Some Facebook pages I am on had members that had this same issue I have

Photos attached below of the lead and what you can see in Alfa OBD of compressor cycling to build pressure (shutting off once it hits a certain temperature)

Good thing I bought the extended warranty and the truck "wasn't throwing any codes" and this was "normal". Basic diagnostic work could have figured this out quickly

Is the recharge port in the first pic? Did you take off the hose before tightening? Can you describe what exactly you did?

 

[ProKubinator]

Is the recharge port in the first pic? Did you take off the hose before tightening? Can you describe what exactly you did?

Sorry for the delayed response - The recharge port(s) are the left/right metal ports on each sides of the port with the hose on the first pic. I didn't take the hose off as that middle port was not leaking. Just gave both of the ports about a 1/4 turn tightening until they stopped leaking (didn't see bubbles anymore). If you have any other questions let me know

 

[MJP]

Sorry for the delayed response - The recharge port(s) are the left/right metal ports on each sides of the port with the hose on the first pic. I didn't take the hose off as that middle port was not leaking. Just gave both of the ports about a 1/4 turn tightening until they stopped leaking (didn't see bubbles anymore). If you have any other questions let me know

Thanks very much for the response. I'm going to take a look at mine.

 

[ThatAirRideThough]

Sorry to revive and old thread but I found something interesting about the air ride systems, when not properly sealed, will take on outside air to make up for the leak.

Here is an excerpt from this FCA document: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2021/MC-10221274-9999.pdf

3.1 On-Board Air Makeup Test Procedure A properly functioning system will make up for small leaks. This is normal. The system does so as follows: Air mass is measured by the ASCM. If it is low then the compressor is turned on to pull in outside air through a drier and into the reservoir. It does so at a rate of 10 liters every 2 minutes. Then right after that 5 liters of air are released back through the drier and out through the exhaust hose. This is done to regenerate the drier. Air mass makeup only occurs while in the normal operation mode (out of In-Plant mode). So when the air mass is low perform the following test: Read and record the initial air mass value Inspect the air compressor intake hose. Verify that it is clear and has not kinks in it. Also verify that there is no water present in the hose or the filter. Start and run the engine Put the system into normal operation (out of In-Plant mode). Listen for compressor to run. It should run for at least 15 seconds. Then the compressor will stop running and you should hear about 7 seconds of air being exhausted. This compressor cycling will continue. Wait for at least 3 of these cycles to complete then run air mass again. Air mass should have increased. If it did then place the system back into normal operation and allow the system to refill. If the compressor never came on at all then go Compressor Diagnostic Test Procedure.

@ProKubinator thanks for the great info, this is helpful. I just bought a 2021 Limited and it rides a lot rougher than other Limiteds I've ridden in, and about every 5 minutes I get the air purging sound as well--no code, no coming out to the truck sagging, level stance and no prolonged pump cycles, but I'm wondering if I'm catching it on the early side. Truck is still under warranty, but I want to do my homework before taking it in. In your opinion, do you think the rough ride could be something off with the system? Possible overinflating for the set rid height, maybe? Also, did you ever refill yours with nitrogen? Curious how that process went. Thanks!

 

[kj232009]

So after thinking the dealer fixed it (they replaced the compressor), I took matters into my own hands. The noise came back and it was making the noise every time I drove the truck. I got the needed tablet / adapter for Alfa OBD and began to monitor the pressures in the system (something the mechanic at the dealer should have been able to do). What I found was that as the truck sat, all the airbags on all 4 corners of the truck held 100% pressure, but the tank was loosing pressure. When I would hear the "purge noise" would be the compressor cycling to try to re-pressurize the tank (using ambient air pulled in from behind the taillight) to make up for the loss. I took off the passenger rear wheel / wheel well liner to investigate where a leak could be. I found a decent leak on both of the recharge ports using soap and water. I was able to give them both another 1/4" turn using a 15MM 6 point deep socket (dont use a 12 point, will round it off). The leak was then gone. Next time I drove the truck I heard the compressor cycle a few times to recharge the tank (I expected this), and the noise has not came back again in the last 2 weeks.

Next steps for me is I want to replace that whole valve block and re-charge the system with nitrogen before winter hits. I have seen its not hard to do with a vacuum pump and tank of nitrogen.

On some of the 4th gen trucks the bags leaking is an issue, but I think this recharge port could be the bigger issue on the 5th gens. Some Facebook pages I am on had members that had this same issue I have

Photos attached below of the lead and what you can see in Alfa OBD of compressor cycling to build pressure (shutting off once it hits a certain temperature)

Good thing I bought the extended warranty and the truck "wasn't throwing any codes" and this was "normal". Basic diagnostic work could have figured this out quickly

I don’t have a Ram but I have to thank you a million times over because your post pointed me in the right direction for my 22 Jeep Grand Cherokee losing pressure and I would hear the Semi Truck Air Brake noise non stop while driving. I tightened the main reservoir end, and the system pressurized immediately. I just wish I fully read where you mentioned not to use 12 star wrench or it would round off damn it. But it’s tight now either way. I blew a lot of money thinking I had a leak in the compressor, valve block, and air bags. But all I needed was to tighten down the reservoir port. Now I need to have the all the air bled out by the dealership and replenished with nitrogen immediately because I know my system is full of moisture now. THANK YOU BIG TIME!