Suspension Troubleshooting

[Billy Mild]

I am still working through 1 code for the Service Ride Control. I got code 14 a while back. About 3 days ago I put my new Marc Haibeck tuned chip in and left the battery unhooked for several days. During this process I decided to swap the actuators from side to side up front. I hooked up the battery and started the car and the SRC light was back on. I pulled the codes and it was code 12, 14, 23, 12. So code 14 still remained around. I followed the clearing codes procedure, with no luck.

Does this point to a bad shock, or something else?

[GOLDCYLON]

A 14 means your right front shock is timing out. Pull the actuator to see if it's cracked.

http://www.captainzcnc.com/id2.html

[WVZR-1]

I mentioned in the other forum that you needed to clear all codes before swapping (or I mentioned I would have). You still need to clear. Here you mention clearing the codes. Are you sure you've done this correctly? You mentioned in the other forum you had Cliff's device and I mentioned knowing NOTHING about it.

With your situation I'd use the procedure in the FSM to clear the codes. The diagnostic retrieval and clearing procedure is very well documented in 8A-43.

I might consider clearing the codes, driving the car for an extended period and if you felt the actuating mechanisms are installed and orientated correctly exercise the SRC. Do the diagnostics again!! I suggest the drive as then on the recheck the 23 should go away I'd think for sure OR you do have a VSS issue with SRC.

Chart #1 diagnostics should answer all questions regarding the DTC 14.

[Billy Mild]

I tried to clear the codes. Thats the issue I am having. I don't know if the code is actually cleared, or if there is still a problem present that isn't dependent on the Actuator.

Actuator doesn't have any broken gears and last I checked spins when key is cycled in the car. I will take a look at the FSM on this and see what I come up with.

[Billy Mild]

I re-ran the tests in the service manual. I get proper voltage at the terminals. All 5.0 or very close to it. Also the actuator does cycle when the key it turned on.

I compared the amount of effort it takes to move the shock gear on both front shocks and they are about the same. What started this was ai replaced a shock gear on the Right shock over a year ago. I had a friend with a Tech 1 clear the code after replacement. Then it came on late last year. The only difference between the left and right shock is I replaced the gear on the right shock. Also the aftermarket gears look to be beveled a bit on the top of the gear.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/stS3350uRk50XnTKSwyO4pBpYR_fRI3N30efi_gmW_ZnWTP_yW hA4NZUm4fz7vS0i-7zdDVTaDb-wOG4uQ_oQUquO4ov-A9mKP4QVMilc1u-iv6zxn2j44JcCnq2PsspveClyHUw5yZ4dQG9dmDKAldeakos4S cjfZKMb-0AX6A61Z_JyJQdyGILHOeAyzX5Wxc_Xd5m0VDH54f4Qdm9ESgb WeiJjrR3Dd8tn1CRIE3mYXgK9dbT1jfWB3PH75WYFULuRQ29zz WHu3UphBQGsu6kDJ0FWLwt2FqvzFTj0uhD8fgvA-tkUzllMLRjIQDRFeYbPihIU8jPcHsySotNl_XUaccpkBKVzhOm _N8jMeQKbMP8zvh0wLxuE7AOLGj90z8SQb2NrtuzfkG_jOnvdG iS-BHubG55glFO1dcYyAqVRKrDX_TYqo8WZtN7sPyOfk_4KHyiTjH Zhz25T0IQFwBMsGn1ClvBekw_ZiH3G6kSxbxdTC4BXcuBcuViQ LTBxjz1l-MdROvUr8ycqxsze9zeWODQKRSw6IgfKRCIdbgRCGfS7_R-SukgxVQHKOLmMiKh2yKzY6wFM7sJyrYpEC2Jkg5Mrp4=w876-h657-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/sEESV5j1ugZzl25WMRWNsLNzeZW9TEp7TNUmzWfrFMkGmAw6kx ng1lkEF9zl38xAF2kvEo_WJmJDlgjbNkHjJX6XTzW9H403-T9xPryQjLJDFPHzr9SByCS43aAsKUJaSGGURpMtAMW1FVfju4z IZcxLf-HwoMMqYnnYQbFUbtMrgzm8dz83awqolS-PkshI6euuR3lEihUknPFIFksG5pA-_ysklkI4bj-QAH5gfnP3Pt3c2RXqn1Blq_gC5ijutd8-2tlPwt2WpozBT6lI_tSHbes8zUqaAeMeXhSSfNoTwYvQaFckEG yfILb79NPaLiGAYZTFbklrMFCRp2ZNzN4JV9P5iwJW4fV-QMK2ZoFqPVS5YfnmclywywgFeHwldqjX0Kh8XOM2JqUD9vr6El A3ABQe4PEG2auC5Amb7s3i9oUJMHHnmfXhvN_i_FR7AS-eP654YqLioVR8XX_21kr00z-P9fypaYytuknGRGHwY9a0LhedFB4j1zNd2IgwIbcY073Z6kSzM 2vcadS2jeoZq9TeCqGNwplp0vs0U8erITK5xnqx0FI-oQjpY4yUlSW1cUifctZ1R_xvw2umsnFYC0t3uEI=w876-h657-no

[Billy Mild]

I wanted to update this thread. I have tried to clear the code with 0 success. I made sure that the gear in the actuator and on the shock have a good contact pattern. I confirmed this with a little paint.

I have confirmed that when the key is cycled the actuator moves both ways.

I drove the car to Table Rock lake last weekend. On the entire ride down there the light was on, and Code 14 was present. 3 days later when my wife and I go to leave, light was on for 100 feet and shut off. It was off for maybe 15 minutes until I started going highway speeds. This is when the light went back on. I checked it at our next stop and code 14 popped up again.

After the light comes on then it stays on the rest of the day. I have noticed that usually in the morning when I first start the car, the SRC light is on, but after pulling out of the driveway it will go off and FX-3 works again. As soon as I get on the highway it pops on. Sometimes it does go back on before getting on the highway.

I have following the troubleshooting that is in the FSM. I checked all terminals and they pin out great on the car harness side. Could the actuator just be flaky? Will a rebuild fix that?

This is 1 of 2 issues I have on my car and would like to get this fixed once and for all.

[secondchance]

Have you checked the condition of rubber bushings (upper and lower) on top of the shock below the FX3 cup? I kept tripping code 14 and turned out the bushing was semi-crushed allowing the gear to get jammed into the actuator during suspension compression.

[Billy Mild]

Have you checked the condition of rubber bushings (upper and lower) on top of the shock below the FX3 cup? I kept tripping code 14 and turned out the bushing was semi-crushed allowing the gear to get jammed into the actuator during suspension compression.

The bushing seems to in great shape actually. How did you come up with this solution?

[RussMcB]

This is not fresh in my mind (it was from last year), but I seem to remember noticing the height of the gear teeth varies by how much you tighten the top nut (i.e., how much you crush the bushings). It took some measuring to make sure they were well meshed.

I'm not an FX-3 expert, so take this little bit of info with a grain of salt.

[secondchance]

The bushing seems to in great shape actually. How did you come up with this solution?

I kept getting code 14 and yet actuator and planetary gear in the actuator looked fine. Eventually I noticed top bushing was squished under the washer/cup. This led me to suspect that the actuator gear was moving up and down excessively during compression/rebound perhaps to a point of binding or disengaging. Replaced the top bushings only (both left and right) with urethane bushing and SRC started to work fine without tripping the code.

[Billy Mild]

I kept getting code 14 and yet actuator and planetary gear in the actuator looked fine. Eventually I noticed top bushing was squished under the washer/cup. This led me to suspect that the actuator gear was moving up and down excessively during compression/rebound perhaps to a point of binding or disengaging. Replaced the top bushings only (both left and right) with urethane bushing and SRC started to work fine without tripping the code.

Where did you get the new bushings from?

I spoke with Captain Z CNC today on the phone about my SRC issue. He recommend I check to see if there is any play in my actuator gear(checked out fine) using a screwdriver. After that checks out then measure the height of the gear from the top of the cup. This measurement should be 5 MM. Driver side is 6 MM, and the passenger side is 7mm. I'm not sure what the tolerance is, if any for 5 MM. Does anyone know if this is listed in the FSM?

[secondchance]

Where did you get the new bushings from?

I spoke with Captain Z CNC today on the phone about my SRC issue. He recommend I check to see if there is any play in my actuator gear(checked out fine) using a screwdriver. After that checks out then measure the height of the gear from the top of the cup. This measurement should be 5 MM. Driver side is 6 MM, and the passenger side is 7mm. I'm not sure what the tolerance is, if any for 5 MM. Does anyone know if this is listed in the FSM?

I got the bushings from energy suspension but can't find upper front shock bushing on their website for some reason. However, Eckler's seems to have the same.

http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corvette-shock-mount-grommet-set-bilstein-fx3-front-upper-1989-1995.html

As to what the measurement should be, I'm not sure.

[secondchance]

Also, check this old thread in the other forum.

http://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c4-tech-performance/2239273-fx3-gurus-step-inside.html

[Billy Mild]

I got the bushings from energy suspension but can't find upper front shock bushing on their website for some reason. However, Eckler's seems to have the same.

http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corvette-shock-mount-grommet-set-bilstein-fx3-front-upper-1989-1995.html

As to what the measurement should be, I'm not sure.

Last week I had to jack up the passenger side of the car to re-route the O2 sensor wiring. This morning I started up the car and it appears the SRC light was out, but after driving down the driveway it came on. This gives me the feeling that it is jamming up due to the bushings. I may try and replace those bushings to see if it works better.