Selective suspension working?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: Coachella Valley CA
Selective suspension working?
Although I get the selective suspension light on briefly just after starting the car (indicating, according to the owner's manual, that the system is functioning) I honestly have not been able to discern a notable difference among the various selections in terms of ride and handling. Admittedly I haven't really stressed the car to find out but I would have thought the adjustments would be more noticeable.
Any suggestions on how I can determine that the system is truly working?
Any suggestions on how I can determine that the system is truly working?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 3,261
Likes: 9
From: sonoma ca
Re: Selective suspension working? (SrDesertRat)
I guess you would have to gain some experience by putting the system under duress. The system does a self-check on start up so its probably ok in that respect.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,521
Likes: 0
From: West Islip New York
Re: Selective suspension working? (lou sylvestri)
I guess you would have to gain some experience by putting the system under duress. The system does a self-check on start up so its probably ok in that respect.
As long as the light goes out after its self test, it ok.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Re: Selective suspension working? (SrDesertRat)
One of the thing I noticed is that when I select the performance setting while cruising on an older concrete freeway, I hear and feel a thump from the expansion joints. Turning the switch back to Tour, it goes away. Sport is not as pronounced on the freeway, but around town, I can definitely tell a difference between Tour and Sport on rough pavement.
Because the system uses vehicle speed to make adjustments, you may not notice a big change.
Because the system uses vehicle speed to make adjustments, you may not notice a big change.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 6,372
Likes: 21
From: Traverse City MI
Re: Selective suspension working? (SrDesertRat)
I notice a HUGE difference in mine, in soft the car is more bouncy, like I am riding on a bed of springs. On firm it very hard, it hits a bump, bunces and that's it.n Soft feels like bad shocks, firm feels like no shocks at all. just my 2¢
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,451
Likes: 0
From: Calgary AB
Re: Selective suspension working? (Aaron71771)
How old are your shocks? They could be all washed up :(
On mine there is a pronounced difference in all the settings. It may be different on the active suspension models... '96 I think... but on regular FX-3 it just stiffens the shocks via an actuator. You should be able to tell.
It's also possible that the shocks adjuster thing is out of range. I don't have my service manual with me, but I believe the adjuster **** under the actuator is supposed to stick up over it's housing a maximum of 5mm. Anything above that and you may not notice the difference even if it's working. I think the total adjustment range is around a half a turn, so it's a small range. Check a service manual. It looked pretty simple to check, but I've never tried it.
On mine there is a pronounced difference in all the settings. It may be different on the active suspension models... '96 I think... but on regular FX-3 it just stiffens the shocks via an actuator. You should be able to tell.
It's also possible that the shocks adjuster thing is out of range. I don't have my service manual with me, but I believe the adjuster **** under the actuator is supposed to stick up over it's housing a maximum of 5mm. Anything above that and you may not notice the difference even if it's working. I think the total adjustment range is around a half a turn, so it's a small range. Check a service manual. It looked pretty simple to check, but I've never tried it.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 3,570
Likes: 3
From: Austin, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Houston, Dallas, Hong Kong, Elgin, etc.. Texas
Re: Selective suspension working? (Silver89)
1996 has the first F45 Real Time Damping system. The system uses sensors on the suspension in combination with the console setting to adjust the shock damping. On relatively smooth roads, its difficult to tell the difference between the three settings. I leave mine in the middle position and forget about it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 824
Likes: 2
From: Camden SC
Re: Selective suspension working? (Mez)
If you go through a construction area with rough rode, around 45mph, cycle the switch. You should notice the difference.
dlmeyers 90 coupe zf6 3 speed shocks
dlmeyers 90 coupe zf6 3 speed shocks
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