The function of the automatic level control system is to maintain a constant trim height at the rear suspension when the vehicle is loaded beyond a predetermined amount. An inflator system is included as part of the overall Automatic Level Control system. The function of the inflator system is to provide pressurized air up to 481 kPa (70 psi) to an inflator fill valve for inflating items other than the vehicles air shocks, such as sports balls, bicycle tires, automobile tires, etc. The system is operational when the ignition is in the RUN position only.

As a load is added to the vehicle, the vehicle body lowers causing the height sensor arm to rotate upward. If the body lowers enough such that the sensor arm rotates above the in-trim zone, the height sensor closes and activates the internal timing circuit. If the vehicle maintains this condition for more than the minimum delay of 7-14 seconds, the height sensor closes, completing the compressor relay circuit to ground. The compressor then supplies compressed air through the air dryer and air lines, to the air shocks.

As the air shocks inflate, the vehicle body raises, causing the height sensor arm to rotate downward. Once the height sensor arm reaches the in-trim zone, the height sensor opens, opening the compressor relay circuit, and shutting off the compressor.

As a load is removed from the vehicle, the vehicle body raises, causing the height sensor arm to rotate downward. If the body raises enough such that the sensor arm rotates below the in-trim zone, the height sensor closes and energizes the internal timing circuit. If the vehicle maintains this condition for more than the minimum delay of 7-14 seconds, the height sensor energizes the exhaust solenoid. With the exhaust solenoid energized, compressed air exhausts from the shocks, through the airlines, air dryer, exhaust solenoid, and air filter, and the vehicle body begins to lower.

As the vehicle body lowers, the height sensor arm begins to rotate upward. If enough load remains in the vehicle, the height sensor arm may reach the in-trim zone. This de-energizes the exhaust solenoid and prevents further air from escaping the system. If very little or no load remains in the vehicle, the height sensor arm may not reach the in-trim zone. In this case, the height sensor de-energizes the exhaust solenoid after the electronic timer expires, approximately 5½ minutes. This timer prevents continuous energizing of the exhaust solenoid, and is reset by turning the ignition switch to OFF or RUN, or whenever the sensor arm remains above the in-trim zone for 7-14 seconds or more.

In case of a system leak, a similar timer prevents continuous operation of the compressor after 5½ minutes. This timer is reset by turning the ignition switch to OFF or RUN, or whenever the ignition switch is in the RUN position and the sensor arm remains below the in-trim zone for 7-14 seconds or more.

Prior to every activation of the compressor motor, the height sensor energizes the exhaust solenoid for approximately 1 second to relieve the pressure in the compressor head. This prevents the compressor from trying to start against a high head pressure, drawing a high current, and potentially stalling and blowing the LD LEV fuse. This cycle is controlled by the height sensor and will not occur if the sensor is already in the exhaust mode (sensor arm below the in-trim zone).

Approximately 40 seconds after the vehicle ignition switch is turned to RUN, the height sensor will energize the automatic level control air compressor for 3-5 seconds. If this rotates the height sensor arm below the in-trim zone, the height sensor will then energize the automatic level control air compressor until the arm is back in the in-trim zone. This cycle ensures that the minimum system pressure of 55-97 kPa (8-14 psi) is replenished in the air shocks. The air replenishment cycle is controlled by the height sensor and will not occur if the sensor arm position is above the in-trim zone, indicating that additional pressure is needed in the air shocks to raise the vehicle. In this case, the compressor runs after a 7-14 second delay, and will run as long as needed.

A provision is made to use the compressor to inflate tires, etc. The inflation equipment consists of the automatic level control inflator relay, inflator air switch and auto level control inflator solenoid valve. When the inflator air switch is turned to ON, grounding the ground circuit. This energizes the inflation timer relay. The inflation timer relay then connects the automatic level control inflator solenoid valve supply voltage circuit to voltage, energizing the inflator solenoid, and grounds the automatic level control relay coil supply voltage circuit, energizing the compressor relay. These actions divert compressed air to the inflator fill valve rather than to the air shocks. The compressor will continue to run for up to 10 minutes or until the inflator OFF switch is depressed, opening the ground circuit and grounding the automatic level control reset signal circuit, resetting the timer. After approximately 10 minutes of run time, the inflation timer relay will automatically shut off the compressor by opening the ground circuit of the inflator switch and the automatic level control relay coil supply voltage circuit. The automatic level control inflator solenoid valve supply voltage circuit is then opened, de-energizing the inflator solenoid and reopening the air path to the air shocks. If the inflation timer relay timer shuts the compressor off in this manner, the system may be restarted by depressing the inflator ON switch.