norcalmarks.com Module8 Installation

Lincoln Mark Viii Module8 Suspension Height Adjuster Install

Caveat Emptor
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This item can be purchased online at module8.net

A discussion on this item can be found online here

Items Needed
1x Module8 from module8.net
1x 9mm Socket
1x Wire Strippers
Pocket Knife
6x Blue Barrel connectors or Screw Splices
2x Wire Tap
Small Torx screw driver (size unknown)
Largeish flat head screwdriver
Trim removal tool, or long nose
Pliers
Wire crimper

Note:

The pictures on Henri's Module8.net website are better than the ones I took, so I refer you to those. I will use some of them myself at times, but this document assumes you are using the how-to on Henri's website as a guide

Overview
The Module8 is a very neat gadget, which allows you to adjust the ride height of your car from the drivers' seat! It interfaces with the computer to alter the sensor inputs to make the computer think it is at a different ride height. installation is physically fairly simple, stresses are that there is limited work room up under the dash to work with the wires, and you MUST be careful to wire the Module8 correctly.

Caution
Whenever you are working on the Electrics on your car, DISCONNECT THE BATTERY

Encountered Issues
1. The suspension computer is actually up pretty far under the dash on the passenger side footwell. Its somewhat hard to get to if you are large and have big hands.
2. The module8 is VERY sensitive. I was able to set off my "check air ride" quite easily, however, I'll comment on how to avoid that.
3. The module8 does not immediately react to input, it takes the computer a bit to decide to react.

Technical Discussion

As stated, the Module8 works by altering the sensor inputs to the computer so the computer relocates the car to meet the correct height. To do this you need to do 3 things.

1. Ground the system, this is done through a wire tap, a connector which adds a wire to an existing wire.

2. Provide the system voltage, this is also done through a wire tap on the black connector on the air suspension computer

3. Interrupt the Left, Right and Rear ride height sensors. This is done by cutting the wire going from the sensor to the computer, sending the sensor input to the Module8. You then send the output from the Module8 to the computer, by splicing the wires on the connector side that you cut into the Module8.

Procedure

Access the Computer

Before getting started, disconnect the battery with a 9mm socket.

Start by removing the sill plate and kick panel. The sill plate is just pried up with a screw driver, it is held in with spring clips. The kick panel is held in with an interior trim pin, you can remove this with brute force, a door panel removal tool, a series of screw drivers, or a long nose.

With those pieces out of the way, remove the cover that is over the passenger's feet, the piece of plastic with the light in it. Don't worry, the light comes out just by twisting and pulling. To remove the panel, use a torx screw driver on the screws where the hinge to the glove box is. You don't need to remove the glove box, so be careful what screws you remove.

The computer, as stated, is WAY THE HECK UP THERE. You can't really even see the computer from crawled under there, just the two connectors. In the picture below, it is behind the large yellow box with some black scribble on it, roughly in the center of the picture

Next unplug the black connector. The way it works is there is a tab on the underside which you depress to pull it out. If you feel about with your hand, you can depress it. You can also depress it with a flat head screw driver.

Once you have it out, go ahead and make the wiring changes.

Wiring

As stated, you're going to tap into two wires and cut 3. Below are the instructions for this task

From Sensor, as noted, would be the wires going into the harness. From black Connector would be the ones going to the connector, into the computer. Be careful as you do this, you don't want to wire it backwards!

For the wires you are just splicing into, power and ground, you can use a wire "tap" like this one.

You can also solder it, or any other technique you like, however, you must provide power both to the module8 and the suspension computer. Do not simply cut the wire as we will the others!

For the 3 height sensors, you can cut them and solder the ends going to/from the module8, use a wire crimp, a speed screw or again, solder.

The wire taps are readily available at most hardware stores and auto parts stores.

The speed screw type connectors I have readily found at NapaAuto.

Doing the wiring is the hardest part, because it is SO HARD to get to the connector. Feel free to remove other connectors (just remember how to put them back!) as well as other mounting items to get the wires into a more workable area.

Once you have it all installed, it will look like this.

At this point, I suggest you test the system before re-installing all the trim panels. Set the Potentiometer, or POT, to the middle position.

Reconnect the black and grey connectors to the suspension computer

Reinstall the battery, tightening it down

Turn on the air ride switch

Start the car.

The car may suddenly move! Do not be afraid. just let it do its thing. Later we'll adjust the POT for desirable operation

Everything ok?

Go ahead and put the trim panels back in place. Start with the black panel that goes above the feet. I found it easiest just to lay my module8 on top of it and then screw it into place. I ran my module8 wire all the way across the top of it, so the external Pot exited on the transmission tunnel side of the panel, right by the corner going into the glove box. I'm going to keep mine in the glove box.

Now do the kick panel. Work it carefully to get the bottom tab in place, as well as the trim button on the pillar side.

Now push the sill plate into place. You're done with the install!

Module8 Operation

The module8, as noted previously, is very sensitive. Two things you have to know:

1. If you move it too fast, the computer will Error

2. It will not react immediately to your input, it takes a few moments - to as many as 30 seconds - for the computer to react to your input.

With the POT in the middle position, your car should not have moved. However, if your car is sensor lowered, it may have moved up or down, a bunch. No worries. Counter clockwise is higher, clockwise is lower. I found a sweet spot with the pot at 2.5 in the above diagram, but move it to position 2 when I want comfortable freeway cruising, and 3.5 when I want to drop it down. I can't use 4 or above because my car is sensor lowered.

If yours is too high, just move it a number to right, or clockwise. If yours is too low, move it a number to the left, or counter clockwise.

If the rear is abnormally out of sync with the front, just adjust the rear slightly as suggested above. Move SLOWLY a little bit and wait for the computer to adjust.

I found I have to move mine about 1 number at a time, waiting until the computer reacts before I move it any further, else I get a "check suspension" error.

Also, I have found you can't move the computer very far with it off, else it kicks out an Error immediately on startup.

The system is very fluid, however, if you use it within' those confines and works perfectly on the road. As stated, I was able to find some killer sweetspots, and found that about .5" over where I had it dropped to before installing the module8 yielded an enormously improved ride.

As Henri noted on the markviii.org forum, you will come to find a couple sweet spots you like, and can easily mark them on your POT and then it becomes a quick adjustment to get there.

One final note, if you want to permanently mount yours, you can do so as Henri has like below. It is mounted on the dash panel below the climate control, adjacent the cigarette lighter:

Comments? Questions? come and start a thread in the suspension forum at Markviii.org or write me directly