On a weekend trip to Tyler, during initial setup, the living room slide squeaked really bad when extended. It sounded like rubber against smooth steel. It didn't do it when retracted to come home however, it did it again once home. I setup a ladder w/ flashlight and watch the slide operation from the outside. The seal clearly opened before the slide moved to the extent that I could see light inside the cabin. After the slide retracted, the seal clearly closed. I could not hear a squeak from outside but the wife said it was as bad inside as we had heard before. There was no evidence of anything dragging on the exterior surface of the slide and haven't spotted anything that appears to be a problem. Slide are a new thing to us so we don't know what are normal slide noises. The squeak is loud and sounds like a conflict. Any advise.
Thanks Very Much
Well, there has been no reply to this post or to the post by lavocat regarding slide issues or questions. Has no one had this experience or knowledge about what this could be?
What does this mean?
I think it's more you addressed the usual culprit of the slide bladder, having checked it for complete clearance.
If it was louder inside than outside, could you tell what general area it was coming from?
Could it be something under the slide floor rubbing as the slide moves?
Most of the slide mechanism is housed at either end of the slide, internal to the coach. There is typically (at least in the past) an accordian pleated shade covering the mechanism, but one end should be velcroed - you could release it and have someone watch/listen as you deploy the slide.
The noise was a skidding rubber sound and was most noticeable in the top left area of the slide. The Fridge is located here so clearly its the heavy side of the slide. It was the top left corner area that I could see daylight between the seal and the slide shell from the outside looking in. BTW, I opened the slide again yesterday and it was fine, very little noise if any.
Question; prior to a slide cycle the seal bladder deflates for movement of the slide. Is there a chance that the bladder could have re-inflated prior to the movement of the slide? The reason I ask, on both occasions that we heard the squeak, we were slow to initiate the extend/ retract action after the blinking amber light turned solid. Could there be a time delay that re-inflates the bladder after the amber light turns solid? If so, that would explain our experience and further require that the extend/ retract action occur promptly after the blinking amber turns solid. Or does the re-inflate action start only after the release of the extend/ retract switch and the hydraulic pump turns off and or the key switch is turned off?
Am I close?
Don,
I don't believe the bladder will reinflate until you turn the key back.
Now, you are jogging my memory of a problem George and Pat Hatfield had a few years ago in their 2003 with a similar squeak. It turned out the adhesive in a section of the bladder had failed, allowing the bladder to make contact with the slide even when it was deflated. I am wondering if this might be what is happening with yours.
Here's George's description and the repair made on his Slide Service (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=12110.msg62491#msg62491)
That squeeking/squealing sound is almost always something sliding across the rubber. There is quite a bit of the bladder that is not easy to see. We had a reluctant deflater, the valve that lets compressed air across the venturi was malfunctioning. We were scheduled at HWH to get it fixed and they suggested misting some water on the slide as a lubricant to reduce the chance of damaging the bladder. It made a big difference in the squealing level. They fixed the valve, bladder is still good.
The top and ends might be accessible but not the bottom when the slide is in. Once it is out all sides are accessible.
Given the intermittent occurrence of the squeak. I'll pay closer attention to other conditions that may be going on when this happens.
Does anyone know how the system knows that the bladder is fully deflated before it signals OK to extend or retract? Pressure / vacuum switch or time delay ????
Don, on our 2001 the light comes on based on a timer. On later years there is a vacuum sensor. When the pressure reaches some minimum level the light comes on, deflation stops and a valve should close to keep air from going back in.
Don, I have hesitated to try to help as we have an old coach versus yours so not sure what I replied would be accurate. And will add question that might help you with the noise question.
SO....on ours, it goes to MOT for Monday for dash air, and now to include a slide issue.
Anyway....slide goes out fine. On retract trip, it seems to lurch upward more than I recall. When in, the bladder cannot inflate or inflate enough to seal the top corners of the slide and even some vertical area behind the driver seat. Some techs think I have a valve problem on inflating, TBD and that the lurch is caused by the slide overcoming the carpet on the rear corner. (did not know what our friend Roger wrote about timing vs vacuum trigger telling you ok to inflate the bladder).
So...here is the question. I had thought about spraying some dry silicone on the bladder (rather than water) but got concerned maybe it harmful to something? I thought that might help preserve and protect the bladder when side moves? I have a very very tight fit on the bottom of the slide.
(If they have to take the slide out for some reason, MOT is going to look at new carpet for us....want new tile like Fiedler showed us but that would involve remove carpet and tile we have, an expense for a later time.)
As for your noise and new-to-you slide, maybe another owner with your model coach will respond. I do have sounds when the slide comes in, less so on way out, and has for our four years of ownership. Hard to say if same sound as yours though. (If not noticed in your literature, you are to open a door or window when move the slide). I will ask at MOT Monday if you want about your model coach, slide and noise or you call dealer wherever you bought.
Good luck, hope you enjoy your coach.....great model I am sure
michael and jackie, Nacogdoches
Mike, you only live once! Go for the new floor!! :-)
On my 2003, I had a squeak that got progressively worse, then the slide started binding up and taking multiple cycles to completely extend or retract, then became became completely stuck.
My shop called HWH, and a y-adapter was installed. Apparently, the system uses a timer to control the lights and a vacuum monitor to stop the pump once the bladder is deflated. The y-adapter keeps the pump running, keeping the bladder deflated while moving the slide. It's been fine ever since.
Hi Mike, HWH suggested water or water with a tiny bit of soap in it. I would avoid anything with any sort of solvents in it or anything that might get sticky, leave a film or attract dirt. Water seemed to work well, you don't need much, just a mist will do. It is also important to keep the area around the outer edge of the slide (where the seal presses against the slide) clean and polished to help keep the bladder from sticking to the slide.
Tom, I wonder if you have a valve leaking that allows air back into the bladder once the deflate cycle is complete. There are lots of differences in the slide controller and mechanism between a 2001 and a 2003. I am pretty sure the 2003 has a pressure sensor that triggers the ready to extend/retract light rather than just a timer as mine has. This means if you cannot deflate the bladder the light does not come on and perhaps prevents the slide from moving.
John S is right (next post) If the slide sides, top or bottom are bulged out those areas will rub on the bladder even if it is fully deflated.
Mine squeaked and it was delimitation that was causing it as the slide bottom and top bowed out when I pulled it in.
Tim.....with apologies to all me asking in this thread.....would you send me a photo of Penny? Been talking all over about her, people want see.
I cannot seem send pm request via this phone and even if you send via thread not sure I can enlarge it to show folks. Maybe she is in the Four Legged thread already?
I know off topic is discouraged but since is a dog I hope half of you are dog lovers so will forgive!
Posted in nest great in "around the fire ring"
The HWH literature that came with the coach has one page dedicated to the slide seals so its not helpful. Ive operated the offensive slide numerous times since two squeaky events and it has worked fine. Im going to keep digging for info and will post anything new that I uncover. Thanks to all for your comments.
Sorry just saw your post. Same issue on my 02 Was at MOT and they looked at issue. They put Corrosion X silicone spray in locking pin holes (two top and two bottom) and really made a huge difference. They indicated these get dry and squeak and rub when going in and out. See if this will help you.
Dan - I don't believe any coaches after 2002 have locking pins.
Don's asking about a 2009.
Michelle: You may be correct. Hate slide squeaks on rough roads. ;D
We had the same problem on our 01. I put white lithium grease into each pin hole and have had no problem since. I would also check the slide glide on an 01. If it is out of alignment you get a horrible squeal on the trip in and out.
Matthew