How To Clear Service Suspension System [Explained]

The service suspension system warming comes up when there’s an issue with the air suspension system in your vehicle. If you want to know how to clear service suspension system in your vehicle, you need to know the main reasons that cause it and how you can fix it.

The most common reasons that cause this issue are wiring issues, faulty air suspension compressors, and malfunctioning air struts. There are also electrical problems that could be causing it. Keep reading this article to find out how you can fix each of these issues in detail.

You’ll also learn how to clear the service suspension system on an Escalade, how to fix ride control, and what are some other common symptoms of a bad suspension system. Let’s dive in!

What Does Service Suspension Mean

The suspension system in the car helps absorb the bumps on uneven roads and ensures that you have a smooth ride. It increases the friction between the road and the tires of your car to provide a good steering capability.

With time, there are issues that can develop with the suspension system of your car. When that happens, you’ll have the check suspension light in your car turned on. This light is just an indicator that there’s something wrong with your suspension system and you need to fix it ASAP.

How To Clear Service Suspension System [Know A -Z]

In theory, it’s quite easy to get rid of the service suspension system light in your car. You just need to find out what’s causing the issue, solve it and the light will go away. But how do you start troubleshooting the warning light?

The process for that can vary depending on the type and brand of vehicle you drive. We’ll discuss it in detail. But before doing that, here are the most common reasons that cause the check suspension light to come on and how you can fix it:

Note: You can also read how to fix AC Compressor cycles on and off every 5 seconds.

1. Wiring Issues

Since the suspension system is controlled electronically in many vehicles, wiring issues can cause the service suspension system light to come on.

Solution:

For all electrical components to work properly, it needs voltage. The first thing you need to do is to check the voltage at the load point of the circuit. If there is no voltage and you have a blown fuse, you can replace it. It can be a temporary fix until you determine the root cause of the problem.

Keep checking for continuity using an ohmmeter. If you find out the spot where there’s no continuity, then you’ll know where the problem lies. You can easily replace it and get rid of the suspension system warning light.

2. Faulty Air Suspension Compressor

You’ll commonly find suspension airbag systems in luxury cars and SUVs. It uses an inflatable airbag with compressed air to suspend the car from the ground while others usually use metal springs for the same purpose.

But when the compressor fails to compress the air, the suspension system will no longer work properly, and the warning light will come on. The air compressor going bad will often be accompanied by weird noises like loud clicking or grinding.

Solution:

There are certain air suspension compressors that can be repaired if the issue with them is not too big. But otherwise, you’d need to replace it. If you notice these symptoms, it’s a good idea to take the car to an expert mechanic for a professional opinion.

The mechanic will be able to tell you if it’s possible to repair it or if you need a complete replacement. It can cost you close to $1000 or more if you end up having to replace the air compressor.

3. Malfunctioning Air Struts

Malfunctioning air struts are the most common reason that causes the service suspension light to come on. If you want to know how to bypass service suspension system, you should start by inspecting the air struts.

You’ll notice a big difference in the ride quality of your vehicle when the air struts go bad. The weight of the car is no longer supported when the air struts fail and that’s what causes difficulty in driving.

Solution:

Replacing the air struts when they go bad is the only option if you want the service system light to disappear. OEM parts are rare and expensive. So, you can go for the aftermarket ones to solve your problem.

How To Clear Service Suspension System Escalade

If you’re having difficulty diagnosing the reason why your service system light is on, you’ll find out how to do it in this section. This method will work for all General Motor vehicles up to 2013 including Escalade, Yukon, and Cadillac.

You’ll need a code scanner called Tech 2 to find out what’s causing the issue. Using that tell will help you understand what does service suspension system mean on a Cadillac Escalade and how you can fix it.

The original Tech 2 tools can end up costing close to $1500 or more. So, it’s a good idea to get a Chinese version for a much lower price. It’s also what a dealer uses to diagnose issues with your suspension system.

The set of Tech 2 comes with a Candi controller, an OBD2 port adapter, an OBD1 adapter, a cable that connects your Candi controller to Tech 2, and a few more parts. 

Follow these steps to diagnose the issue using Tech 2:

• Connect one end of the Candi controller to Tech 2.
• Connect the other end of the Candi Controller to the OBD2 port.
• Turn on the key to the car but don’t start it.
• Hit the power button on Tech 2 to start the diagnosis.
• Press Enter and go into “Diagnostics”.
• Choose the model year of your car.
• Choose whether it’s a passenger car or a Truck.
• You’ll have to pick the brand of the Car next and the common options will be Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, and Cadillac.
• Put in the product line number by looking at the 5th digit of your VIN number which you can find on the driver’s side of the door.
• Put in the series of the vehicle.
• Select the “Chassis” option since that’s where your suspension system is.
• Choose whether you have a trailer brake or not. You can choose anyone as it doesn’t affect the suspension system.
• Select the type of engine used in your car.
• Choose whether it’s under or above 8600 CVW.
• Click on the button beneath “Continue”.
• Go to “Electronic Suspension Control”, then select “Diagnostic Trouble Codes” and Tech 2 will start scanning your vehicle.
• Click the button below the text “View All DTCs” to find out the result of the diagnosis.

In this case, the right rear actuator circuit is open and that’s causing the issue with the suspension system. It’s integral to the shock absorbers in your car. This diagnosis is referring to the damper solenoid valves that are located in the shock absorbers.

When you get this diagnosis, it’s a good idea to replace the shock absorbers altogether. Doing that should get rid of the service suspension system warning. Now you know how to reset the service suspension system in a GM vehicle using a Tech 2 and follow some simple steps.

What Are Some Other Symptoms Of A Bad Suspension System

The check suspension light isn’t the only indicator of a bad suspension system in your car. If you diagnose a faulty suspension system early enough, you can save yourself from major repair expenses. Here are the most common symptoms of a bad suspension system:

Excess Bouncing

If you think about it, the main purpose of the suspension system is to prevent the bouncing of your car when you’re driving on bumpy roads. It’s meant to absorb the shocks and give you a steady ride.

So, the most obvious sign of the suspension system going bad is when your vehicle starts bouncing excessively. If your car sways in the left or right direction, it’s also a good indicator of a bad suspension system.

Unusual Noises

The shock absorbers in your suspension system absorb the change of energy when you drive through bumps. When they wear out and fail to do their job properly, you can hear squeaking or clanking sounds coming from your car every time you hit a bump.

Braking Problems

The suspension system in your car is closely related to the braking system in your car. You can tell that your car’s suspension system has gone awry if your braking system is in good condition and it still takes a long time for the car to accelerate and come to a stop.

How To Fix Service Ride Control

The ride control warning light detects an issue with the suspension system. If the issue is mechanical, you can follow the steps discussed above to diagnose and fix the issue. But sometimes the issue can be electrical.

In case of an electrical issue, you need to learn how to reset service suspension system message for your car. Follow these steps to reset the ride control or service system suspension in your car:

• Plug a code reader in the diagnostic port of the car.
• Press erase when the ride control error message is shown.
• Unplug the reader and turn your car back on.

Pressing the erase button will reset the ECM and the light will disappear if it came on because of a glitch. But if the light keeps appearing again and again, that means there’s a mechanical issue with your car and you need to fix it.

FAQs:

Conclusion

It can be unsafe and feel extremely uncomfortable to drive your car when your suspension system isn’t working up to the mark. But by now, you should know how to clear service suspension system if you’ve completed this guide.

Inspect the common reasons first and see if that’s causing the issue. If that’s not it, use a Tech 2 scanner to understand the reason behind this problem if you own a GM vehicle and fix it. Good luck with your diagnosis and feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions about suspension systems.