Today while driving on a smooth interstate highway, I heard the alarm beeper sounded a couple of times and couldn't identify the trigger. A few minutes later, it started sounding constantly and the "Travel" light was dark on the HWH panel. Also, the "Level System" light on the alert bar was on. I pulled to the side of the road immediately.
I tested various buttons on the panel. All functioned as expected. Ride height and suspension all seemed normal. We drove to the next rest area and parked. I opened the control box in the main storage bay. I removed the power connector for 12VDC and ignition. I pulled and replugged all the connectors I could identify. There were some rectangular plastic devices with single wires going into them that looked like connectors, but they did not pull off easily and I chose not to force anything. I pulled all the fuses, checked them, and put them back in place. I checked for loose or frayed wires and found none.
When I returned to the driver's position, ALL the lights on the panel were on. I gave up trying to solve the problem and took a lunch break.
When I returned to the driver's position, all function of the HWH control panel had returned to normal. We traveled on.
A couple of times during the afternoon, the travel light went out for a few minutes and the alarm sounded. The driving characteristics of the coach did not change, and the suspension felt normal. After a few minutes, the travel light illuminated and as was well again.
We are parked in Custer, SD, for the night. All seemed fine after the last hiccup many miles back. The level system worked as expected when we parked.
Have you experienced experts any suggestions for actions I should take regarding the flaky HWH system?
J D, check the plug on the back of the control pad.
JD
It may not be the same issue, but I have had a similar experience. You might want to take a look at this:
My issue all stemmed from poor contact(s) being made in the single HWH multi-pin connector on the back of the dash mounted control pad. I have heard of others having similar issues also.
At some point in time, FT started putting a small ty-wrap through the base and around the back of this connection (to prevent it from backing off the control panel connections through vibration induced movement).
I had the ty-wrap, from initial build, but until I cut the ty-wrap, spayed the contact pins and female sockets in the removeable connector, used contact lubricant and reinstalled (w/new ty-wrap) my intermittent HWH issue came and went.
FWIW,
Neal
Bill, Neal,
Thanks for the prompt response. The recommendations fit with the symptoms. That was the only connector I did not exercise.
I cut the tie-wrap and removed the connector. We have no contact cleaner on board. I used a touch of alcohol and plugged/unplugged several times. I have some dielectric grease, but chose not to use it on this connector. I plugged up and put on a new zip tie.
Would it be good practice to apply a touch of dielectric grease on a circuit board connector like the one on the HWH panel?
We have about 1260 miles to cover over the next three days to get from chilly Custer, SD, to home in Texas. We'll see how things work.
JD
A tiny Q-tip dab of automotive bulb dielectric grease on the control board male pins wouldn't hurt anything.
I carry small spray cans of (Radio Shack) contact cleaner and contact lubricant that seem to work very well, last well and don't attract dirt/dust.
CAIG D5S-6 DeoxIT Contact Cleaner Spray 5 oz. CAIG DeoxIT Gold GN5MS-15 Mini Spray 15 G I also believe that Q-tip applied Corrosion-X would work equally well.
I would have more confidence that you had found the Root Cause if you had found no ty-wrap or an HWH connector ajar or loose somewhere. I always considered my ty-wrapped (but intermittent) connection a puzzling fluke.
Neal
From all the testimonials recommending CorrosionX, surely it will solve, cure all issues from connection issues, to corroded metals to possible flat tires.
Something every one needs a case of it on board seems to be the general opinion .
Me, never used it, so am all ears. ;D
Be very careful using contact cleaner around plastic parts. I sprayed CRC cleaner on an older relay board and watched in dismay as plastic started popping and crumbling before my eyes. On a irreplaceable board for an ancient electron microscope. Ay, what a mess, not my proudest day as the principal investigator (scientist) started to cry. Driven by desperation, did manage to fix but lesson learned.
Chuck
Dave,
Try it...You'll like it...
When it came time to stow the HWH jacks after our winter-camp last weekend we discovered that the front right (passenger) jack would not come up. Since it was resting on snow and ice the DW decided that it was likely frozen in place so she came inside, filled a pan with hot water, and poured the water over the base. Sure enough... when I pressed the button to stow the jacks again it came loose and went right up.
Craig
We had moderate joy after reseating the connector to the control panel. We drove all day with no alarms. However, when we try to level, ALL lights except the "Travel" light illuminate. They are bright and of the "proper" color for the led. When things were flaky yesterday, they illuminated with some weird colors.
I tried to reset by turning of the master switch for the house batteries. The HWH panel would not respond at all. When I turned the master switch on, the ALL lights on condition returned when I tried to activate any function other than "Off." Perhaps there is a button sequence that will reset the system.
Does anyone have more suggestions? A call to FOT or HWH is probably the next step.
JD,
I've also been where you are now (when one tries to level, ALL lights except the "Travel" light illuminate, bright and of the "proper" color for the led - but no HWH valves fire and no air moves).
I talked with HWH the next AM, as soon as they opened for business. They agreed with my troubleshooting conclusion (downloaded a troubleshooting procedure from online) that I most likely had a control panel IC Chip failure. I was lucky in that I was in Nac and MOT had an HWH control panel of my model. There were many different models of control panel used by FT over the years. My. panel had a small, paper, stick-on tag on it with the model # on the tag.
The board was $138 @ MOT as I recall ($452 @FOT). HWH said send them the defective panel and if it was repairable, they would repair it, put a new touch-panel-face on it, and ship it right back to me, all for $99 (Max) plus parts. Or, they would send me a new board for $141 plus shipping. I have a good (refurbished) spare as a result ($68 incl. shipping)..
Good luck.
From my experience, call HWH first thing in the AM as they can be hard to reach once they issue their marching orders for the day.
HWH
Moscow, IA
800-321-3494
Neal
RE Be very careful using contact cleaner around plastic parts.
I too got in big time trouble by spraying contact cleaner on a cell phone circuit board and watched the circuit board distort shape from the cleaner right in front of my eyes.
Maybe there are several types of contact cleaner? Some less harmful?
Called HWH yesterday morning and described symptom as "all lights come on when trying to level." The drill from here is to checked the 12VDC supply and ground to the HWH controller. If those are good, I pull the controller and touch panel. I call for shipping instructions and send them to HWH for analysis and repair. Coach can't move while the HWH system is out.
We arrived home today from a 3,600 trip through Missouri and Montana to visit "the kids." I'll see if I can get us back on the road in time to go to Quartzsite.
^.^d HWH leveling system is working! ^.^d
I sent the control pad and control box to HWH in Iowa two weeks ago. The parts came back today. Diagnosis and repair was: "2 pin connector between board had loose wire; repin; update program." They also put a new face on the control panel.
It was easy to reinstall the controller and control panel. All worked immediately. I haven't started the engine yet, but the coach leveled using the 12VDC compressor. I am assuming all will work properly under power. The system worked in travel mode under power before the repair.
Cost for round trip shipping and repairs was under $100. Time out of service for the coach was two weeks. Most of the time was for ground shipping, weekends, and a USPS holiday. HWH was helpful and efficient. :)
I bought a spare control panel off E-bay about a year ago. Installed it and it worked ok. Now keeping it as a spare ( might run into someone on the road who needs it. I also purchased ( from HWH ) 2 solenoid valve to carry. A little later I came across a "6 pack" full of solenoids. So I have most ever thing, but what I will need!
J.D.,
Thanks for the feedback to the thread.
We all benefit when the feedback loop is closed, as you have so nicely done!
Neal