FAQ: Automatic Leveling Control (ALC) Concerns

deekster_caddy wrote:

The pump should run for a few seconds a minute or so after every startup. Find the pump and put a test light on the terminals.

isn't that the fuel pump running at startup and acc?

okay found it I think..... Its right in front of the gas tank. Its what has been humming.


its DOES work, and I pulled the air lines off of the pump and they do push air. Its not much, but is it enough? The shocks wont move - pump running or not.

I pulled the air lines at the shocks, and still getting air pressure, weak like at the pump. Is the pressure not strong enough? pump vacuum leak? pump going out and not making enough pressure.

dont wanna buy another and it not be fixed.

You could go old Riv style and hook the air lines from the shocks up to a tee with a air valve and fill it by hand, or get a little air compressor you plug into your car and hook it up to that. same principles.

97rivman wrote:

You could go old Riv style and hook the air lines from the shocks up to a tee with a air valve and fill it by hand, or get a little air compressor you plug into your car and hook it up to that. same principles.

know where I can find that t? Autozone didn't have anything. If not, I could do this:
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=AIR%2D25804&N=700+311425+115&autoview=sku

but thats only if my pump is crapping out. Could be the shocks, but they are fairly new, only a few years old . Im thinking the pump is way weak, it barely pushes air. It would be functional to get because I occasionally tow. And it has a gauge!

See write-up here: https://rivperformance.editboard.com/brakes-suspension-f6/write-up-rear-shock-air-compressor-elc-t4760.htm#13530

I installed Monroe air shocks a couple weeks ago, and it seems to me the rear is riding way higher than it should. I measured the gap from the top of the stock size tires, up to the wheel well molding, and it's a 5" gap... Thought someone else had posted about this problem after their install, but a search didn't turn up anything. What's the deal, isn't that too high? Thinking I'll just disconnect the air line at each shock to let them down, then see what happens when they refill. I hate those little clips though.

Looks like unhooking the air lines to relieve pressure did the trick. Gap is down to a couple inches.

Mine are a little higher, but I like it. After sitting a while with a heavy load, I can't wait to charge them up again.

I wouldn't mind a bit higher, but 3" above stock height was too much.

noticed my rear end was getting bouncy.... put it up on the lift....theres 2 rubber hoses coming off the compressor an T into one line..bothe hoses were rotted an split.... *repaired* nothing! compressor runs for 5 seconds then stops...relay is fine......shocks are worn bad...need replacing..but the compressor should still run..which leads me to think that the thermal shut down could be the problem...wondering iff it ran too long at one time....

my question is..ive found a few used working compressors from a 97,and 98 are they the same? they look to be but can anyone confirm?

97-99 compressors have the same part number.

wait.... Please note that your compressor is under the car for 1996. The pump I took from the junkyard in a 97 riviera was in the passenger side rear quater panel. Accessed by the the passenger side rear wheel well. The pump harness connector and where the air lines connect is diffrent. I had to transfer over the bracket and the harness head over to the new pump to make it work.

oldsman105 wrote:

wait.... Please note that your compressor is under the car for 1996. The pump I took from the junkyard in a 97 riviera was in the passenger side rear quater panel. Accessed by the the passenger side rear wheel well. The pump harness connector and where the air lines connect is diffrent. I had to transfer over the bracket and the harness head over to the new pump to make it work.

interesting....good to know!

My ALC system doesn't seem to be working (pump not running). The car is now sitting pretty low in back. Is there a way I can manually fill the shocks with air until I can fix the problem? Like some kind of valve that will just snap onto each shock?

yea you can get a kit for a few $ with a valve steem to put where you want. and adjust the air to where you want it for what you want to use it for. ELC motor is a/b $500-700. it goes in the passenger side in the back by the bumper. i put some new shocks on the back and ran the tubing and put the valve steem in the wheelwell to raise and lower the back. you can put it where ever you want. the trunk is pretty simple. good luck

AA wrote:

My ELC system doesn't seem to be working (pump not running). The car is now sitting pretty low in back. Is there a way I can manually fill the shocks with air until I can fix the problem? Like some kind of valve that will just snap onto each shock?

i tossed mine out and it did work, but I dont think a 96 would work for a 98 anyways.

I tried to rig a fitting and do what you are describing, but it failed because the actual airshocks lost pressure. You can find the parts at a hardware store...maybe your ELC has a t-fitting already.

BTW, i dont think the air will stay it the shocks for very long. mine all new lines are still leaking and I cant for the life of me find the damn leak.

I think what happened is, mine were leaking faster than normal; the pump burned out trying to keep up. Or maybe it was just time for a new pump. Or, it could be something else. I'll try to take a look next weekend.

First check the fuse under the seat panel. It may have blown to save the compressor. I would change the rear shocks at the same time to rule out them leaking so that if you replace the compressor it doesn't burn up.

Rear shocks are brand new. I think one of the connections could be leaking. I'll check the fuse... hope that's the problem.

Same here, Aaron. My compressor was running a lot this summer before I installed the new Monroes. Sure hope my comp doesn't crap out on me. I'd go with the manual fill line/valve kits instead of spending on a new or used compressor. I hardly ever hear my compressor run since the new Monroes went in. They are holding air very well.

Where would one obtain the correct fitting to attach to the MaxAir shock? Is this clip-type fitting a standard type?

Hmm, I don't know. I would think an aftermarket line kit would include some type of clamp to secure their push-on lines. If my compressor failed, I'd be doing this too.

Monroe air shock fill kit comes with the lines and a fill valve and the correct fitting to connect to the monroe shocks Looks just like the factory shock fitting. I hooked these up this way because my pump died also. I just ran the lines into the trunk where the spare tire goes.

Thanks!!! That's what I needed to know!

I found the AK29 kit for $14 here: http://www.shockwarehouse.com/site/product.cfm?id=19941

Thank you. I will be ordering the same thing for my car if I don't fix my ELC tomarrow

Yes that is the one I purchased I couldn't remember the part number right off the top but that is it. It has a Tee connector and a line for each shock.