Height sensors going wrong

[GEN 3 SHO FAN]

I came to the idea that one of the front strut was shut because the front bouncing a bit more than rear (when rolling) and managed badly some rought bumps.

I remembered however a story said by a guy just passing beside me when working on the car telling me his father had one and had to replace 3 times a strut thinking they were wrong to finally understand that it was the height sensor that was shot...

Long story short, when they are going wrong, these sensors goes "blind" and send no more signal to the SARC module and then, the strut stay always in soft mode. That gives truly the impression the strut is shot. And if you didn't replace it, it will probably makes more wear on the strut.

Sadly, I dissasembled the failing one but no defect was seen. The problem is probably in the upper part (left).

 

[E1]

To test the strut. KEY OFF.

Push down repeatedly on the corner of the car trying to make it bounce.

Good strut = No bounce, stops immediately.

Bad strut = bounces a couple times

 

[GEN 3 SHO FAN]

Yes, i did this test for the strut. This test is like soft bumps on the road. Sensors send no signal doing this (to go in hard mode).

Struts seems good but when i go on big rought bump, sometimes (and more and more frequently) the strut stay in soft mode and i heard strut "knocking" at his maximum compression.

At this time i replaced the 2 front sensors. I took the car this weekend and now the front seems more stiff and stable then the rear... I will replace the rear too.

This sensors are difficult to find now... I made some searches and Ford vehiciles had them (Continental, Mark VII, Expedition, etc.) and they are identicals to our BUT they don't have the same part number... I have spares sets from conti but i didnt tryed yet.

 

[E1]

If you need some, I am sure I have some 'around here somewhere' as I seem to say frequently.

Also, for those watching.

96 has 4 sensors
97 has 3 sensors, only 1 in back
98 has 2 sensors, fronts only
99 should not have sensors

 

[GEN 3 SHO FAN]

Thank you Éric. For now, I had the luck to find a set from another canadian SHO. Sadly one was damaged and I repaired it with part from one coming from a 1999 Continental.

I tought at first sight that ones on my 96 SHO had a missing part. We can see it on the photo above. Its the curved steal sheet around the upper part. She has 2 small arms that seems to tightening the lower part on the upper one, eliminating some lateral loose between them (more precise sensors ?).

My 2 SHO sets of sensors are from '96 and I cannot say if there is change (the added part) for them for the next years (97-98).

 

[gamefanatic]

You should be testing them with an Ohm Meter on the "AC" dial as I recall. Though pinpoint tests refer mostly to the resistance measured, which makes sense.

 

[GEN 3 SHO FAN]

Good idea Gamefanatic.

This remember the first infos I rode on them on V8SHO, the guy installed light on each of his sensor circuit to know when they go in off mode somewhere on the dash. I would like to have this settup...

I persued my searches on them because I was curious to know if we could replace them by Continental ones. I opened them to see if can see differences between them on their printed circuit board, which have a chip on it.

Here are what we can read on the chip :

F6DF-3C034-AC (front SHO) :
100149-3
CS9540H (on another CS9530H)

F50F-3C034-AB (front Conti IIRC) :
100149-3
CS9835L

The first number seems to be the chip model and second one seems to be the serial production number because I wasn't able to find the same number on 2 sensors. At the first lookup printed circuit are identicals and chip have the same part number but the letter "H" on serial number for SHO and the "L" for Contis let think that something is different however...

Any ideas someone ?