air compressor...
 

I just bought a 2k3 ssei, and have noticed the air pump in the trunk doesn't work. Are there any quick checks I can start with in looking for a problem?

thanks

check fuses under the rear seat and under the hood for starters, from there you'll have to wait for a veteran to chime in, im not too familiar with the air compressor system yet.

I'm going to assume you are trying to use the auxiliary air inflator and I'm sure you've probably already tried this, but the key needs to be in the ON position, not just ACC. Do you hear it run when you start your vehicle? If so, this could suggest a switch or wiring problem. Let us know and we can go from there.

I checked it with the ignition in the on position and with the engine running. I can also hear it run when I start my vehicle.

Should I look directly beneath, or is there a more obvious place I should start at first?


thanks

You mention that you can hear the pump run when the ignition is on, and when the car is running. Can you be more specfic about what doesn't work. There are a few possibilities I'll throw out to get you headed in the direction of what I'm looking for:

Does the pump seem to run either all the time or for prolonged periods (roughly 10 min)?
If the pump isn't running, but with the ignition on can you press the AIR button in the trunk and hear it start?
Are you getting any air at all when you connect the accessory hose the the air port? Remember, this is a high pressure - low volume system so you won't get the air output you would at a gas station. Anything you try and fill will take quite a long time.

Thanks for the reply,

This is what I've have and haven't noticed so far.

I haven't been able o hear it while driving or sitting at a stop light. That could be caused by to much radio :)... {edit}: I heard it turn on at at a stop light by my friends house today... about 5 sec worth before shut off.

I have, however, heard it kick on while sitting in the driveway with the ignition turned to "on". After about two minutes of amour-all'ing the dash, I heard the system turn on.

However, The push button start for the inflation, in the trunk, does not work. I push the button and there is no noise. I can push the stem down and get a little trickle of air, but I think that is just air in the line, and not the compressor running.

Question... Will the compressor kick on the instant I push the button, or will it take a minute?

thanks,

It sounds like the system is working. What isn't working is the manual activation. When you press the button in the trunk, there should be about a one second delay and the pump should start (again, the ignition must be ON).

Your next step should be to make sure the switch is plugged in. It's possible that the previous owner had removed the trim panel the switch is mounted in and when it was put back together forgot to plug the switch back in. Remove the panel and check that the switch is connected.

If the switch is connected, it may be bad or there may be a wiring problem. You can test the switch my removing the connector and checking for continuity (while pressed) by using an ohm meter.

Sounds like yours might be a different issue, but this is my experience:

I had a problem with mine once. I could hear the compressor motor, but the rear was riding low and the inflator wouldn't work. If you hooked it up to a tire, it would let the air out.

The solution was a snap fitting that held the hoses to the compressor output. I was able to reach under and just barely snapped back in place with my hands, as I had no tools.

The fitting was under the passenger side, a little ahead of the rear axel, right by the exhaust, and mostly covered by a heat shield. I hope this helps.

Good luck.