Ok, I installed my new ARB air compressor in my 2002 Frontier, in preparation of installing a rear locker.

I hooked everything up, except the "illumination" wire on the switch. Figured that isn't important to get the thing working. I hooked the red/yellow wire from the isolation switch to the cig. lighter power, as it needed to be hooked up to an "ignition" wire.

Turned the thing on, and it ran for approximately 4-5 seconds, then shut off. I have an air hose hooked up to it, to make sure it's not just filling the reservoir tank and then shutting off.

At this point, the damn thing won't turn back on, and I'm going nuts. I don't know where/what to check. I've rechecked all connections, the inline fuse, the cig. lighter fuse, and everything is the way it should be. Cig. lighter still works. Everything works. 'Cept this dam compressor!!!

I apologize for the language, but as I'm sure you can tell, I'm pretty upset at this point. I've fooled with the compressor for about 7 hours, total, which is WAAAAYYYYYY more time than what it should have taken (1 hour!)

Please help. Thanks.

"Know what I would do if I had a million dollars... 2 chicks at one time..."

It might need a better source of voltage...


"TSUNAMI"
1969 Nissan Patrol
Chevy K-10 Springs
FJ-40 Rear Axle
Original driveshaft, slightly modified
Custom shackles
79,000 Original Miles!

Is there a pressure solonoid on the compressor output? It might be reacchinig the trip point and shutting offf. At least that's how i have mine rigged up.
I would forget everything and get a good strong dedicated 12volt feed on the compressor to test if it's the compressor or your wiring...

how many amps does the compressor draw?

I just use 12 gauge for anything aproaching 10 amps. Bigger wire if it draws more.
It's ovekill, but it's strong, too, mechanically.

See if your compressor works w/ the dedicated power feed. If it does then you need to change your wiring somewhat, so let's know.

.....................
'98 FAD FrontyKC
148,000 miles
Packin ARBd 9" Tornado w/ Dual Remotes;-)

I'm confused as to what you mean by a dedicated 12v feed to the compressor. It has that; direct lines from the battery.

The line at the cig. lighter is only for the switch. The switch goes to a relay, that appears to be fine. I cracked it open, and it works, when the switch is flipped.

I just took off the pressure regulator and tested it with my shop air compressor and a voltmeter. It works as it should...there's continuity up until the pressure is raised to about 100psi (my shop regulater isn't the most accurate in the world), at which point, the reg. clicks, and continuity is gone. I checked it several times, and it worked each time. So, that's not the problem.

The inline fuse is good.

Is there any type of reset switch, or something on the compressor itsself, that might be the problem?? I have an ARB compressor, new out of the box as of yesterday.

The compressor draws 20amps, max, and I'm using the wiring that came with it. Thanks.

"Know what I would do if I had a million dollars... 2 chicks at one time..."

What he means by dedicated 12v feed is, it should have its very own wire running from the battery to the compressor. Instead of a wire that is used by the radio, and all that other stuff.


"TSUNAMI"
1969 Nissan Patrol
Chevy K-10 Springs
FJ-40 Rear Axle
Original driveshaft, slightly modified
Custom shackles
79,000 Original Miles!

Right. It already does. The compressor isn't getting power from the cig. lighter. Only the switch does. It uses that power to trip a relay, which should then allow energy to flow from the batter to the compressor. But somewhere along the line, this isn't working. I'm testing the relay, right now. Hopefully this will be a bad part. Cause if not, then I'm out of ideas.

"Know what I would do if I had a million dollars... 2 chicks at one time..."

So, with the current wiring setup - it runs- and then shuts down?

Is the output from the compressor free to blow?

What i was getting at w/ the "dedicated 12volt feed" was just a way of troubleshooting the problem.

The "solonoid you're talking about , i think, is waht some call the "burp" valve as it opens when you hit your locker activation switch, and closes( and burps out the residual air pressure that was in the locker)
when you turn the same switch off.



.....................
'98 FAD FrontyKC
148,000 miles
Packin ARBd 9" Tornado w/ Dual Remotes;-)

No, with the current wiring, it ran (for 4-5 second), then shut down. I haven't gotten it to run again.

I've run an air hose off it, and there is no air coming out.

I've even gone so far as to take out a plug on the side, that should be where the selenoid goes for a front air locker, and still nothing. So as far as I can tell, there is no pressure in the air tank itsself.

I tested the relay switch. It's working, too.

"Know what I would do if I had a million dollars... 2 chicks at one time..."

So disconnect everything, and test it w/ a dedicated 12 volt feed, and a good ground( not a body ground) ,and see if it runs.

If it does then you know it's not the compressor.

Gettin back to your setup and away from your problem,,,

is there a filter/water separator in between the locker and compressor tank, or before the tank?

.....................
'98 FAD FrontyKC
148,000 miles
Packin ARBd 9" Tornado w/ Dual Remotes;-)

I don't have the locker installed, yet. I was hoping to do it this weekend, but I've already wasted a day working on the freaking compressor!!

The direction's don't call for a water filter, but I'm thinking about putting one on between the tank and the locker. Anywhere else, and it wouldn't do any good.

I'll go try to take off all the wiring harnesses, and try just running power to the compressor. Hopefully this will work.

I've contacted ARB, but of course, they're not open today. I'm debating calling their australia phone number. Anybody know what time it is down under?

"Know what I would do if I had a million dollars... 2 chicks at one time..."

well, it's official.

I got a bum air compressor.

thanks for all the help.

"Know what I would do if I had a million dollars... 2 chicks at one time..."

quote:

---

Originally posted by porsche996:
well, it's official.

I got a bum air compressor.
"

---

You did the test?

.....................
'98 FAD FrontyKC
148,000 miles
Packin ARBd 9" Tornado w/ Dual Remotes;-)

Yup. Got nothing out of the compressor when it was hooked directly to the battery.

On a brighter note, the place I got it from is shipping me a new one. So I should get it within a couple days. They were really cool about it.

I think, since I'm getting a replacement unit, anyway, that I'm going to take this one apart, just to see how it works. That's kind of a hobby of mine. Who knows. Maybe I'll get lucky, and find that it's only a loose wire or something. If so, I'll solder it up, and go with it!

"Know what I would do if I had a million dollars... 2 chicks at one time..."

Im sorry to hear about that, man...

Do you have to send the old one back?


"TSUNAMI"
1969 Nissan Patrol
Chevy K-10 Springs
FJ-40 Rear Axle
Original driveshaft, slightly modified
Custom shackles
79,000 Original Miles!

Don't touch that compresor!!!!!!! DO you want to throw away your chance of getting a new one?

I'm just being cautious.
maybe there's something still not hooked up correctly.
You do realize, i'm flying blind( i don't have the same compressor), so I dont have a good idea on how easy it is to do, what i asked.

.....................
'98 FAD FrontyKC
148,000 miles
Packin ARBd 9" Tornado w/ Dual Remotes;-)

Don't worry, I'm only taking apart the serviceable parts.

I'm positive it doesn't work. If it did, like you mentioned earlier, it would work when hooked up directly to the battery. I know my battery is good!! So the compressor would kick on, if it was working.

I hooked it up directly to the batter, by way of it's two wires. I didn't think about it at the first posts; I don't know why. But anyway, the ARB is nice that it has a quick disconnect for the main two wires (red and black), so I quickly ran two wires, connected the leads, and "plugged it up". I got nothin' from it. I tried grounding to the frame and to the neg. terminal on the battery (which is grounded to the frame). I don't know of any other way to ground it.

So, I'm off to take the sucker out. Fortunately, it's got a seperate mounting bracket, so I can take it out pretty quickly. Shame the darn cruise control is in the way, again. I already re-installed that, so I get to take that out, again. Thank goodness that's only 2 bolts!

"Know what I would do if I had a million dollars... 2 chicks at one time..."

So I wanted to add one last note on my DOA air compressor. I decided to take it apart, since I've got another one coming, I figured, hey, what've I got to lose, right?

Bille advised me "Don't touch that compressor!!!!! DO you want to throw away your chance of getting a new one?"

I apologize. I didn't follow your advice!!!!

But it's all good. Basically, I took the access hatch off the compressor, just to see what type of setup it is, and whether or not I could do anything with it. Amazingly enough, the electric motor is just like a small engine electric starter. Fortunately for me, when I was having problems with the starter on my motorcycle, I got plenty of "fun time" taking it apart, and learning how it works.

So I cracked open the pump. Just the electric motor part of it, though. What do I see? The red (hot) wire is not completely attached to its brush. So, a little bit of crimping (and I might go ahead and solder if it vibrates out), and voila. I now have a working ARB Air Compressor.

I did have to break a couple water-proofing seals to crack it open, so, for future reference, in case anybody else decides to try this, DON'T. Unless you have a pretty good idea what you're doing. I had to replace the brushes on my motorcycle starter several times, before I broke down and got a rebuilt. So I knew what to look for. If this had been the first motor I'd dealt with, I wouldn't have tried looking at it.

So again, thanks for all the help. I apologize for not taking good advice. I'm kind of bull-headed like that sometimes. This time, I was fortunate enough to be able to fix what I knew was out of place. Next, I may not be so lucky...



"Know what I would do if I had a million dollars... 2 chicks at one time..."

glad you got it figured out...


"TSUNAMI"
1969 Nissan Patrol
Chevy K-10 Springs
FJ-40 Rear Axle
Original driveshaft, slightly modified
Custom shackles
79,000 Original Miles!

I'm glad you were able to solve the problem... and didn't take my advice
you ought to let ARB know about this severe quality issue. I would bet that they just stick their name on this compressor( another company builds it)... Maybe they will allow you to upgrade for free ,

.....................
'98 FAD FrontyKC
148,000 miles
Packin ARBd 9" Tornado w/ Dual Remotes;-)

Good idea...


"TSUNAMI"
1969 Nissan Patrol
Chevy K-10 Springs
FJ-40 Rear Axle
Original driveshaft, slightly modified
Custom shackles
79,000 Original Miles!