I have the GM manuals... 90 model... I pulled the codes and got all 12 of em... that can't be right... so... I cleared them and went for a 15 minute drive... during the drive I ran the selector in all positions numerous times in an attempt to feel the difference in the dampening of the ride control... I could not detect any difference at any speed over any imperfections in the road... When I got back in the garage I checked to see if any new codes had set... I got nothing but 6 twelves... no codes had set... so... does this mean the internals on the Bilsteins are gone? Did I drive it far enough ? I have checked the front 2 controllers and the DC motors do rotate... the plastic spline teeth are intact... the shock rods rotate on the fronts... the air bag fuse is intact... any suggestions ? Is this the mystery symtom?

:rolleyes:

 

Hmmm... I saw a graphic posted on the forum some time ago that illustrated the effective speed of each of the positions and most differences didn't show up until 80mph +. I know in mine the only position I can "feel" a difference is in the first one. Its a little more "bouncy" than the others.

(I should not be allowed to post until I have had some coffee) :D


[Modified by T1Kilr, 6:58 AM 1/23/2003]

 

I just installed my fx3 system into the car. I had them revalved by Bilstein to OEM standards. For those that don't feel any difference between the three settings I can stand and say........your shocks need to be replaced. I notice differences of all three settings (so does my girl from the PASSENGER seat). Speed does play into it, but anything over 30 is where its noticeable. If you are on perf you should feel every single bump you hit, if your in sport, you should feel everybump just not as drastic, tour it should almost most ride like (dear i say) a caddy.
I know this because I spent 3 months researching what it took to convert a non fx3 car to a fx3 car and then did the install by myself. Let me say that it is definetely a trick system when all the components are new. My only question would be how many miles on the shocks? As far as all the codes go, the controller may have malfunctioned. Did the car sit for a long time before you turned it on? Sometimes condensation can freeze inside the actuator during start up. There are times when a actuator time out will be coupled with an out of position for the same shock (8 codes), and starting the car 3 times without moving will set 23 which is loss of VSS (9 codes). As for the other three.. dunno.....but now you say it works, sometimes vibration will jar the actuators back to life. I would have the shocks revalved by bilstein then go from there....a tough choice but only a two week turn around from them. Any questions.......?.... :D

Kitt

 

Kitt,

thanks, that was a good post :thumbs: - you provided a great feedback on what they should feel like. Shocks deteriorate so slowly that it's very difficult to determine when they are worn. I'm now convinced that I need to get mine revalved. I barely feel a difference between settings, the suspension actually feels most stable and comfortable in perf. The wheels are underdamped in tour or sport, giving a bouncy ride over bumps, even at slow speeds.

 

Anytime......it was a fun project.........on to supercharger land.... :cool: