Update on auto-ride shock disable and replacement

kevinmach1 · November 14, 2005

Quick update, cost for new autoride shocks at the dealership, $304 for the fronts and $340 for the rears....ouch!! This is for a 2002 yukon xl 2500 by the way.

New set of bilstiens for front and rear.....about $250. Kind of a no brainer.

The problem is when you don't use the delphi auto-ride's, you will get a code that flashes on the message center that the autoride is malfunctioning.

So, measuring across the shock gives me a reading of 2.2 ohms. Radio shack sells a 5 pack of resistors in 2.2 ohms for around 3 bucks. Seems almost too simple, but I may just give it a try.

Another solution, which is a little redneckish, is to just remove the shocks, and simple just zip tie them somewhere out of the way under the vehicle, leaving them "hooked up", so the system thinks the shocks are still in place.

I haven't tryed either one yet, just brain-storming at this point.

Let me know what your thoughts are....

Kevin

lrymal · November 14, 2005

I hate removing a feature from a vehicle. My thought is to restore the suspension, but replace the shocks from:

http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/

Gosh, that is nice truck. I surely wouldn't want to jerry-rig it downwards to the level of "everybody else's" truck.

Just my personal opinion...

Regarding the resistor. Other than throwing a code, why not? Maybe the resistor will foil that.

Bish · November 14, 2005

Agree with lrymal on not leaving the old shocks hiding somewhere. Can't be a good idea. I don't see any problem with the resistor if it works but there may be some type of interactive communiation. I would definitely try. I still believe you should be able to find a dealer to delete that option for less than $100 and then you could go with Bilstiens no problem.

Good Luck.

GM-Tech · November 14, 2005

I still believe you should be able to find a dealer to delete that option for less than $100 and then you could go with Bilstiens no problem.

We don't have the capability to just delete options the vehicle came with.

The resistor MAY work, but keep in mind there are position sensors and if the system sees that the rear or front is higher or lower than desired, it will attempt to level it out. If it doesn't see a change in position, it may still set a fault and display that message.

Resistors are cheap enough. It certainly wouldn't hurt to try, but I can't see taking a $35k vehicle and disabling options.

kevinmach1 · November 14, 2005

Like I said, just brainstorming at this point. I don't think that a dealership can deactivate the system, or someone would have posted about it by now, I would think.

Kevin

kevinmach1 · November 14, 2005

I still believe you should be able to find a dealer to delete that option for less than $100 and then you could go with Bilstiens no problem.

We don't have the capability to just delete options the vehicle came with.

The resistor MAY work, but keep in mind there are position sensors and if the system sees that the rear or front is higher or lower than desired, it will attempt to level it out. If it doesn't see a change in position, it may still set a fault and display that message.

Resistors are cheap enough. It certainly wouldn't hurt to try, but I can't see taking a $35k vehicle and disabling options.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Point well taken, but no-one should be expected to pay $1200 for shocks, no matter how fancy they are. I doubt that the average joe can even feel the diffence between these and a good set of bilstiens. Plus, I didn't buy this truck new, so I wasn't even aware it had these shocks until after the fact. Now, I just want to find an altenative to spending 2 weeks wages on just replacement shocks. It's a tough sell to the wife, to say the least.....

TonyMazz · November 14, 2005

How do you know you need shocks anyway....they should last more than 3 years....!!!!

kevinmach1 · November 14, 2005

How do you know you need shocks anyway....they should last more than 3 years....!!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Your right, I don't think I need any on the back, but the front ones bounce more than they should. Which is why I started pricing them, but I don't "need" to replace them today. Just trying to be a good little consumer and doing some homework before I spend the big bucks.

sonjaab · November 14, 2005

KEVIN.................I had the front electric struts go bad on my

96 Caddy.

Dealer wanted $2500 to replace. Dealer only parts too!

Aftermarket regular struts are now avail. for around $300 a pair.

The kit (from Arnott) comes with a ready made resistor/plug in

to defeat service message.

Maybe they might have something for your truck............

I had the same problem with a message of "service ride control"

and no way to turn it off. Found info. on a Cadillac site to wire in resistors on the strut plugs to turn the service message off.

asilverblazer · November 14, 2005

Funny I got the same Caddy problem, and I plan on saving the green to fix it properly, even though the alternative is much cheaper, the car (in this case truck) came with the option so I plan on keeping it, why downgrade it? Also can discourage a knowledgeable potential buyer. If it ever came to that. I just don't like the idea of installing things to fool the computer, it will just try to compensate or screw something else up...

Bish · November 14, 2005

I still believe you should be able to find a dealer to delete that option for less than $100 and then you could go with Bilstiens no problem.

We don't have the capability to just delete options the vehicle came with.

The resistor MAY work, but keep in mind there are position sensors and if the system sees that the rear or front is higher or lower than desired, it will attempt to level it out. If it doesn't see a change in position, it may still set a fault and display that message.

Resistors are cheap enough. It certainly wouldn't hurt to try, but I can't see taking a $35k vehicle and disabling options.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Not doubting your knowledge but I have a question. A dealer can add the lighted mirror programming if you add the mirrors even though the vehicle did not originally come with them. I know this because I've seen it done. I guess I don't understand the programming difference if they can add an option that wasn't originally on the vehicle but they can't delete an option that was originally there??? Could you possibly explain further what the difference is?

lrymal · November 14, 2005

...I guess I don't understand the programming difference if they can add an option that wasn't originally on the vehicle but they can't delete an option that was originally there??? Could you possibly explain further what the difference is?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It is probably more of a procedural / policy issue between the dealer and GM. My dealer won't modify any option, yet in Houston about an hour down the road, there is no problem.

Burbman · November 15, 2005

I am still on the fence about this....on the one hand, I would really like to keep everything functional. I hate knowing that the vehicle came with functionality that's not working. Forget about a $35K truck, they're over $50K now with all these options...

OTOH, $1200 for shocks is outrageous, who's got that kind of cabbage? General comment on the auto industry packing all these computer-driven features into cars/trucks and driving the cost of repairs through the roof.

At 4 1/2 yrs old, I have about 68K miles on now. I'm not sure what the life expectancy of these shocks is...the old test was to bounce the car a couple times and let it go, if it kept bouncing it needed shocks. The suspension on this truck is so stiff, I can barely get it moving, let alone bouncing.

The front end does skate a little more on washboard roads, but truck still rides great overall. I'll probably leave them on until one or more start leaking.

Burbman · November 15, 2005

An additional thought....you measured the impedance across the shock connector as 2.2 ohms, but the truck wasn't moving (I hope not, LOL!)....The way AutoRide works on the 2500's is that the ride control sensor (that arm mounted to the axle and connected to the body) acts like a rheostat and increases voltage to stiffen the shock at that corner. The shock fluid has suspended metallic particles and its viscosity changes in response to an applied current.

I'd be curious to see if the impedance measured across the shock connector changes as the truck is rocked up and down by the bumper. If the resistence of the fluid changes in response to the voltage sent to it by the sensor, then a static 2.2 ohm resistor won't cut it. The key is how the computer senses the circuit to determine if the system is working. Of course, if the resistence stays constant, then it's as esay as it sounds....