Re: Flashing "FIRM" Light
I've found that this sometimes works as well:
You should hear some clicking sounds when you turn the key to "on" without starting the car. Or the firm ride light will blink 1, 2, 3, or 4 times. Count the clicks, or blinks. I believe that the order goes from the driver's side rear, to the passenger's side rear, to the passenger's side front, to the driver's side front. In other words if you get 2 clicks it would be passenger's side rear. Now I could be wrong on the order, but it might not matter in this case. On my car, and most cases, it's the fronts that give the problem. So if you get 3-4 clicks, it's one of the fronts, and the fix is so simple, that you might as well do both, or even all four.
If you start with the fronts, here's what to do. Shut the key off, and go to the shock towers. Remove the black plastic cover, and you will see the ride control actuator. Squeeze the clips on the top to remove it. Look in the small cylindrical tube you have just exposed. Inside you will see a small blade like part. Make a mental not on it's position, relative to the underside of the actuator. Take some WD40 and spray a shot over, and around the small blade. Then take a pair of needle nose pliers and gently rotate the blade like a half turn right, and a half turn left. If it's the one that is giving the problem. the blade will not turn easily at first. DO NOT FORCE IT. If it won't turn at first, let the WD40 penetrate for 10-15 minutes, and try again until you can turn the blade back & forth so it turns easily. Try to get the blade back to where it was when you took the actuator off, and replace the actuator. This can be a pain, cause it has to be lined up perfectly for the actuator to be snapped back on.
So it can't hurt to do both fronts or all four. This should rectify the problem. If it does not, then it could be an actuator, or as Fred said, the shock it's self.
BTW- Sometimes the problem can be cleared up by rocking the firm ride switch back & forth a few times also