Air Suspension in the Lincoln Navigator.

The air suspension of a Lincoln Navigator has been an object of debate since they came off the production line with the 1997 model SUV. There are positive such as it provides the driver with a smoother ride. Negative qualities also exist, such as many claim it is faulty once they reach higher mileage on their vehicle. Fortunately, there are ways to repair any issues you may be facing. Unfortunately, if you wait until it is too late to address suspension problems it can become quite costly. Before you decide on purchasing, repairing, or replacing your air suspension look at the good and the bad.

The Good News

It is easy to diagnose what is wrong when your suspension is not working correctly and you usually do not have to replace the whole thing. Many different things can contribute to your air suspension problems and checking a few things first can save you some stress. It could have been simply installed wrong and if you catch it quickly, you can save yourself time and money by having the installation corrected. You may be able to reset the air suspension system. In the rear panel of your Navigator, there is a switch, which allows you to turn off the air ride suspension. It is there so that you can turn it off and avoid damaging it, if you ever need towed. You can also try to turn the switch off and back on, resetting the system and see if your problem is corrected.
You may have to reboot the suspension system. You can have a mechanic check and re-calibrate everything, but the good news is that before you go through the expense, there something you can try at home. Disconnect the battery and allow the system to reset. It should solve the problem and when you restart the car, the suspension should rise. Since you do not want to replace the air suspension, resetting the component this way can be done multiple times, to correct problems.
It is not impossible or difficult to convert the air suspension system to a mechanical system. Making the conversion will prevent the problem from arising again and the cost ranges from $500 to $600, when you have it done by a mechanic. To switch it out yourself, if you are mechanically inclined, there are kits available online for even less.

The Bad News

The bad news is that it failure of the air suspension is a common issue most Lincoln Navigator owners will run into. If you leave it unchecked or not repaired properly, you can do major damage to your car. Suspension problems come up more frequently in vehicles with higher than 100,000 miles on them, but lower mileage cars are not exempt either. Be sure to keep an eye on this issue while the vehicle is still under warranty.
It can get costly working on the vehicle. One fix can lead to another with the air suspension on the Navigator. Since there are many things that can throw this part out of line, you might find yourself missing the real cause of your problems. At first, you want to check small things like fuses and power. According to most reviews of this vehicle, it is stated that if you keep repairing the suspension, it will still keep failing throughout the life of the car.
Things will only get worse once failure of the parts start, so you may be forced to switch the suspension to a mechanical one after investing in repairs. If you do not have the time or budget to keep taking your Navigator to the mechanic, you need to replace the system as soon as you start experiencing problems. Most people state that their problems happen when the weather is cold and progresses to constant issues as time goes on.

The Lincoln navigator air suspension can be one of the less expensive parts to quit on you. Be mindful of performing regular maintenance and if you feel like the suspension is starting to go, take the vehicle to a mechanic as soon as you can, to save yourself stress. Some people want to immediately remove the air suspension and convert it to a spring and shock style or mechanical one. Other people might prefer to save what they have before it is too late. Weigh the good and the bad and decide on the option that will work best for you, your budget, and your vehicle.