Dreaded Service Ride Control Message - Need Guidance

[JPH]

All,
I received the Service Ride Control message a few weeks ago and would like to get guidance ('04 Denali, 105K). I have read the posts on replacing compressors and shocks and the recommended vendors but have not found posts on troubleshooting. I am looking for group wisdom here.

1. I do not remember hearing the compressor recently and I felt around on the shocks and did not feel any obvious tears.

2. What else is in the system that could be at fault or needs to be checked (no OBD codes just the message)

3. Is there any troubleshooting that can be done to determine if it shocks or compressor - would rather not just start replacing all the parts since they are pricey

4. Any other advice?

Thanks,
--John

 

[FrankU]

Fix for the Service Ride Control message on mine. After many hours of searching was the ABS unit. Picked up a used ABS unit and all is well now.

 

[Yukongk]

All,
I received the Service Ride Control message a few weeks ago and would like to get guidance ('04 Denali, 105K). I have read the posts on replacing compressors and shocks and the recommended vendors but have not found posts on troubleshooting. I am looking for group wisdom here.

1. I do not remember hearing the compressor recently and I felt around on the shocks and did not feel any obvious tears.

2. What else is in the system that could be at fault or needs to be checked (no OBD codes just the message)

3. Is there any troubleshooting that can be done to determine if it shocks or compressor - would rather not just start replacing all the parts since they are pricey

4. Any other advice?

Thanks,
--John

First, look underneath at your rear shocks. They probably have tears in them at 105k and won't hold air. Also look for the obvious- disconnected wiring harnesses going to the shocks, loose or broken/disconnected airlines. Squeeze your shock bladders and see if they are firm/filled up or empty.

Then jump the ALC relay with the ignition on and listen for the compressor to kick on. DO NOT let it run for more than a few seconds bc it'll overfill the shocks. If it doesn't kick on, your compressor died.

But you should eventually get the code read (after inspecting the basics and finding no resolution) and a normal scanner might not do it, as it can require a BCM scanner. Sometimes the compressor will turn on when you jump it, but the exhaust solenoid in the compressor could be bad which would disable the system and the scanner will reveal this.

Go do that and report back. I learned the system very well when a wire broke at the ALC relay, inside the harness and drive me nuts for a month+ and ended up troubleshooting every area of the system.

 

[OHSIXX]

Follow given advice from E......

My experience: http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=53764

 

[JPH]

Thanks for the help guys - will have to wait until the weekend to troubleshoot - will let you know what I find
--J

 

[scubasteve4212]

Threw the same signal a couple months ago (115k miles) has to replace the shocks AND compressor... And get a second job. Set me back close to $2k (had some other maintenance done). But that was at the dealership


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Front Street]

Thanks for the help guys - will have to wait until the weekend to troubleshoot - will let you know what I find
--J

If you read the other threads on replacing the compressor and shocks, I would hope you know that you don't need to pay for the OEM stuff, Dorman, Arnott/Bilsteins or something else is the way to go.

There's no need for a second job to replace these parts as someone else mentioned.

 

[Magek]

Just replaced my OEM shocks with the Arnott air shocks. The compressor hasn't kicked in and wanted to do some testing before biting the bullet on a new compressor. I'm not getting any suspension codes or DIC messages. Where would I find the ALC relay on a '07 Yukon XL Denali?