Jeep grand cherokee service air suspension immediately

In this brief article we are going to discuss the JEEP Grand Cherokee air suspension, the different common problems this system faces, what causes these problems and tips on maintenance.

Does the Jeep Grand Cherokee have air suspension?

Yes, some Grand Cherokee variants are factory-fitted with a Quadra-Lift Air Suspension. This Quadra-Lift Air Suspension system is sold as standard equipment on the elite Trailhawk, Overland, and Summit model variants. Apart from these models, the Quadra-Lift is also available on the Limited trim version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee with some packages.

How the Jeep Quadra-Lift Air Suspension Works

The QuadraLift is a closed-loop system, which means that the air spring ride adjustments happen a lot faster. Other competitor systems use an air compressor that must draw in or exhaust air for proper spring operation. The QuadraLift, on the other hand, circulates stored pressurized nitrogen between the reservoir and the air springs, instead of drawing in fresh air from or to the atmosphere. The QuadraLift system therefore eliminates the need for an air-dryer that removes moisture from atmospheric air. Also, the possibility of corrosion is very low since moisture is eliminated by using Nitrogen.

height sensors, located at the Front and rear of the vehicle, measure the gap between the body and wheel. This information is signalled back to the suspension control unit so that the individual air struts’ height is adjusted real time. The air suspension control module (ASCM) controls the struts’ ride height during all driving and loading conditions as per the selected Ride modes.

The Quadra-Lift features five Ride modes and each has its own benefits:

• Normal Ride Height (NRH):

This is the ‘Normal Ride Height’ or the standard Suspension height. This is the height that is best suited to all-around driving conditions and offers 8.1 inches of clearance at stand-still.

• Off-Road 1 (OR1)

This Ride Mode is suited to mild Off-roading. It provides a good balance between increased ground clearance and ride comfort with 9.4” of clearance at stand-still. While driving faster than 50 mph, the ASCM will automatically switch to NRH and lower the suspension.

• Off-Road 2 (OR2)

This Ride Mode is made for full Off-roading capability. It is set at a maximum ride height of 10.7” for the maximum suspension travel. While driving faster than 25 mph, the ASCM will automatically switch to OR-1 and lower the suspension.

• Aero

This Ride Mode will lower the vehicle by about half an inch for better aerodynamics and fuel economy on the highway. ‘Aero Mode’ also provides a harder more sportier suspension feel. The ‘Aero mode’ automatically engages at vehicle speeds exceeding 66 mph.

• “Immediate Service/Repair Required” warning message light in the Display

• Compressor running noisily longer than average
• The “Nose dive” warning message when the front end of your Jeep Cherokee dips down while braking.
• Failed air spring. The air springs in your Jeep are soft rubber components that can puncture, tear, disintegrate or wear out
• Punctured air lines. Air lines complete the circuit for the air suspension system. These lines could get punctured due to impact from stones.
• Rear of the vehicle sags. This happens because the rear suspension is unable to maintain the correct ride height

Troubleshooting Tips for Grand Cherokee QuadraLift Air System

• With the accumulation of mileage, your Grand Cherokee Suspension components start to wear with passing time. 
• As with any modern car suspension system, the QuadraLift  comes with its own diagnostics. Even so, when one component may have failed, suspension components being connected and working together, diagnostics may not always point to the exact root cause. For e.g, a slow leak from an air strut can seem like a weak compressor.

• Timely troubleshooting of issues that come up can help avoid issues with other components failing prematurely. For example, a leakage in the air spring or any of the air lines can cause the compressor to function all the time in order to maintain gas pressure in the system, which could eventually lead to a compressor burn-out.

• If you are more inclined to troubleshoot on your own, here are 2 methods of diagnosis
  • First Approach: scanning the OBD for DTC fault codes to identify which specific component has either failed or malfunctioned.
  • 2nd Approach: Trace all the lines from the reservoir tank to compressor to air struts/springs inspect them for any possible leaks. The Grand Cherokee reservoir tank is located under the rear seats/cargo area. And the air suspension compressor is located in front of the passenger wheel well. Use a simple soap solution to spray on all connectors, air lines to check for bubbling. Wherever bubbling is found, you may have found the source of leak. You would then need to either replace the air line or fix the damaged portion.
• Check the air suspension system 40-amp fuse located under the bonnet. If this has blown then it is very likely your compressor has seized or is on its way out. 
• Other common issues are compressor related especially during freezing temperatures, or simply a premature failure.

Conclusion

In this brief article we have discussed the JEEP Grand Cherokee air suspension, the different common problems this system faces, what causes these problems and tips on maintenance.

Please feel free to ask in case of any questions or comments.

References

CarComplaints.com

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): 

How do you reset the air suspension on a Jeep Grand Cherokee?

The Grand Cherokee air suspension can be reset by doing the following:

• Disconnect the positive terminal of the battery cable and leave it disconnected for at least 5 minutes.
• Disconnect these fuses:
  • F05 Air Suspension Comp*
  • F50 Air Suspension Mod*
  • F87 Air Susp/TT

• Reconnect the above fuses
• Connect back the battery’s positive terminal
• Switch on your car’s ignition and start the engine
• Change the ride height setting to test whether the Quadra Lift system works

Sometimes because of changing weather conditions, the lift system does tend to get stuck and throw an error.

What are the most common problems with the Jeep Grand Cherokee?

The most common Jeep Grand Cherokee issues are:

• Erratic functioning of the electronic transmission shifting
• Engine stall during driving
• Failed alternator
• The leather dashboard either having bubbles or wrinkling, and 
• Malfunctioning ignition switch 

Do Jeep Grand Cherokees have a lot of problems?

Yes, the Grand Cherokee accounts for more than 25% of all the Jeep complaints, with nearly 3,000 complaints spread across all model years. The top problem category has been observed as electrical.  CarComplaints.com has named the 2015 Grand Cherokee as the worst model year since repair costs are higher and problems appear at relatively lower mileage.

What does service air suspension system mean?

How much does it cost to fix air suspension on Jeep Grand Cherokee?

What causes air suspension failure?

Is air suspension high maintenance?