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I've had the opportunity to drive around a 1996 Lincoln Continental before I purchase it (or another car) and it runs great except that the rear air bags have a slow leak and the Check Ride Control indicator light comes on occasionally.

If I leave it overnight then the airbags are low in the morning. When I start it up, it takes about 20 seconds to fill the airbags and then it runs fine and I usually don't hear the compressor come on all day.

I had the windows open today and I noticed when I went over a few bumps I could hear a sound like air venting. Not like a slow leak but short high pressure blast of air.

What are the short and long term repercussions of driving this car without fixing the leaking airbag(s)?

MooseLucifer
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1 Answers1

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Causes:

  1. Leaking rear air bag (common)
  2. Leaking rear bag solenoid. (less common)
  3. Leaking air line (Rare)

Most of the time one or both bags have a leak and will get worse over time, the worse the leak the harder it is on the compressor and will eventually cause it to fail.

What I would do.

  1. Replace both rear air bags and solenoids
  2. Replace the compressor filer dryer. (will keep moisture out of your new bags)

Rear Bags

Filter Dryer

Solenoids

Moab
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