2011 Suburban Z55 bypass....AC doesnt come on

[RattBassterd]

Hey all. The Z55 air/magnaride system failed on my wifes 2011 Suburban. I bought new passive shocks, struts, and rear springs with bypass resistors. Now the AC wont work. I recall reading about this somewhere, but i dont remember where. I have already checked all fuses and relays, and I left the air ride compressor in and hooked up due to the BCM.. Any ideas on where to look first? Thanks in advance.

 

[Geotrash]

Hey all. The Z55 air/magnaride system failed on my wifes 2011 Suburban. I bought new passive shocks, struts, and rear springs with bypass resistors. Now the AC wont work. I recall reading about this somewhere, but i dont remember where. I have already checked all fuses and relays, and I left the air ride compressor in and hooked up due to the BCM.. Any ideas on where to look first? Thanks in advance.

Never heard of this situation and I've been on these pages regularly for a few years now. You will need a Tech2 or equivalent to read any codes from the BCM, which will be present to explain why the A/C system won't kick on. Is the A/C button light flashing when you press it?

That said, I do wish you'd come here before making the decision to get rid of the air ride. New OEM rear shocks are available through Rock Auto for $250 each, and a new compressor is also inexpensive. A few people here went to passive shocks and then went back to the factory air ride system after missing the ride quality of it. It's a really good system that's reliable and offers the best ride you can get in a large SUV. And with OEM parts so reasonably priced, it's worth keeping.

 

[RattBassterd]

went with passive because could not find the front struts at all. even Arnott was out of stock on them. yes the AC light flashes when push it, but it then reverts to auto mode for climate control. i do recall reading an article on this, just cant remember where i read it

 

[89Suburban]

went with passive because could not find the front struts at all. even Arnott was out of stock on them. yes the AC light flashes when push it, but it then reverts to auto mode for climate control. i do recall reading an article on this, just cant remember where i read it

Me too I am still searching for it, I am in the same boat.

 

[Geotrash]

went with passive because could not find the front struts at all. even Arnott was out of stock on them. yes the AC light flashes when push it, but it then reverts to auto mode for climate control. i do recall reading an article on this, just cant remember where i read it

Odd. My 2012 has Z55 + 7F1 (front) and my 2007 has Z55 + 6JL (front) and Rock Auto has both in stock currently.

Bummer - sorry I can't help with locating the thread you're looking for. :-(

 

[Doubeleive]

Rock auto has a whole bunch of front struts, I personally don't think the sub-number 7fxx 6jxx makes any iotta of a difference, I ordered mine based on the number on the strut shock and have had no issue's, one guy on here even put newer struts on his from 15+ and has had no issue
gm likes to pull the "we changed the part number" move and then claim this will not work, when in fact it works just fine.

 

[Doubeleive]

either it was just coincidence that the ac went out or you disconnected something or pinched a wire, etc
you could hack the suspension to death and it wouldn't affect the hvac, pretty sure anyway I have never read or heard of anything with the suspension affecting hvac and I have seen a thing or two.........

 

[RattBassterd]

this is from Suncore..........................For those wanting to keep the rear air shocks but not continue to use the electrical control, we carry the 150G-14-R-RES, when purchased with the AK-29 air line kit, will let you fill passive air shock absorbers at any gas station with a tire air pump. This passive conversion will require you to disconnect the negative terminal on the battery from ten minutes, and remove the RTD fuse from the under hood fuse block to disable the error light on the dash when permanently removing the air suspension compressor. After reconnecting the negative terminal to the battery, start your vehicle and turn the air conditioning on, checking for cold air. If you do not get any cold air from your AC, replace the fuse and repeat the process until you do.


this is what im dealing with....no AC. what is the RTD fuse? is it the ALC fuse? does the fuse go back in? I left the air compressor hooked up because i was thinking the BCM was what it plugged into....now I think its actually the SCM that the air compressor plugs into underneath the truck

 

[Geotrash]

this is from Suncore..........................For those wanting to keep the rear air shocks but not continue to use the electrical control, we carry the 150G-14-R-RES, when purchased with the AK-29 air line kit, will let you fill passive air shock absorbers at any gas station with a tire air pump. This passive conversion will require you to disconnect the negative terminal on the battery from ten minutes, and remove the RTD fuse from the under hood fuse block to disable the error light on the dash when permanently removing the air suspension compressor. After reconnecting the negative terminal to the battery, start your vehicle and turn the air conditioning on, checking for cold air. If you do not get any cold air from your AC, replace the fuse and repeat the process until you do.


this is what im dealing with....no AC. what is the RTD fuse? is it the ALC fuse? does the fuse go back in? I left the air compressor hooked up because i was thinking the BCM was what it plugged into....now I think its actually the SCM that the air compressor plugs into underneath the truck

RTD = Real-Time Dampening. Should be a 30A located in the under-hood fuse block.

Also, another member just reminded me in another post that if the temperature is below 40º outside, the AC compressor won't come on anyway. The light will blink and it will switch off.

 

[RattBassterd]

ok update...............Suncore was no real help...thier techs saying no correlation tween the ac and suspension at all. so any ideas on where to look first to figure out the ac issue? thanks in advance

 

[Doubeleive]

ok update...............Suncore was no real help...thier techs saying no correlation tween the ac and suspension at all. so any ideas on where to look first to figure out the ac issue? thanks in advance

I would start by double checking your work and make sure you didn't accidentally disconnect anything or do anything that would cause a ac problem, take a look at the wires just to see if there is anything obvious, check ALL fuses.
If nothing is found, then check to be sure there is enough pressure in the system and proceed to hvac diagnostics from there, you can buy a .pdf gm service manual off ebay there around $20-25.00
one thing to look at as noted above, check to be sure the engine temperature is reading, with no engine temp reading, ac will not operate.
the reason I say to check ALL fuses is because maybe a fuse popped in the process of working on it or even from disconnecting/reconnecting the battery.

 

[Geotrash]

ok update...............Suncore was no real help...thier techs saying no correlation tween the ac and suspension at all. so any ideas on where to look first to figure out the ac issue? thanks in advance

I said it up top. You need a scanner that can read every module or you might as well be using divining rods. A Tech-2 will pay for itself the first 2 times you use it, but if that's not in the cards right now, one of these will fix you up:

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Order that, then do what @Doubeleive said while you wait for it to arrive.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

^^^x2^^^

There is no connection between the Z55 suspension and the air conditioner, where changing the suspension would impact the air conditioner. I had a Suncore passive system installed in my truck when I purchased it, and I converted back to the Z55 suspension. My air conditioner never failed to work before, during, or after the conversion.

Outside ambient temperature is a factor for the air conditioner to start or not start. I believe that this cutoff temperature is around 35 degrees F.