I have a 2013 Nimbus with HWH Active Air. I leveled it today and prepared to extend my slides but I could not get the slides to respond so I pushed "reset" on my dash HWH panel. My panel has the "Initializing" icon flashing and it will not allow me to raise the coach. I've shut down everything and restarted and pushed "reset" again but still no change and the coach will not raise - the panel shows "initializing" and reamined like that for 45 minutes until I shut it down again.
I was able to inflate the air bags with my aux air hose via the schrader valves in the compartment and raise the coach and park it back in my garage. Fortunately I'm at home and was only pulling it out to run the generator and other stuff.
Any thoughts on why a "reset" is not working or why "initializing" will not complete its cycle?
Perhaps there is a communication issue between the panel and the HWH system in the bay.
Also the compressor does not turn on.
Is there a master reset other than the one on the control pad.
Thanks
Pat
Pat,
You have a much newer coach than the majority of "active" Forum members, so don't worry if answers to your question are slow showing up.
Do you have the HWH operator's manual for your leveling system? The manuals for the earlier systems contained pretty good trouble shooting guidence. My standard advice to anyone with leveling system troubles is "Go to the manual and follow the trouble shooting advice".
If you don't have the manual, they are all available online. You just need to identify which HWH Series is installed in your coach.
http://www.hwhcorp.com/ml54800_activeair.html
Thank you, I'll dig a little deeper into the manual. Appreciate all the support. I learn a lot on the site and many of the tips and tricks seem to work.
Pat
If you can access the back of your HWH control panel, another "standard" trouble shooting trick is: unplug and plug back in the wiring connector.
The aux compressor not running may also be part of the issue (or a symptom).
Have you checked that it has power?
Does the dash control go asleep after a period of time?
You might kill power to the control and try that There may be an easier way but I think you will need to disconnect the breaker or unplug the power cord and disconnect the batteries
Since the main control is not working properly I would not be worry about the compressor not running yet
You are doing the reset with the key on and parking brake on?
Just a thought but is your FT supposed to be in travel height mode to open/close slides? Since it's a newer HWH system maybe there is some type of interlock to prevent slides moving unless it's just right?
"Preparation for Travel"
"When the SUSPENSION Light is flashing "INITIALIZING",the vehicle is not at ride height."
http://www.hwhcorp.com/ml56443.pdf
Thanks for the input - I did unplug the control mulit-pin plug from the back and reconnected. It went through the "reset" process but once it gets to "initializing" it stays there and does not set the coach to ride height. I have a "level system" light on my dash as well.
I will check the compressor and other fuses. My gut is that the control unit is faulty and is not communicating with the central brains of the HWH.
Scariest part was that when it first happened I was backing up my coach and suddenly the right side of the coach dropped and my right front wheel collided with the fender skirt as it came down - now I have a crack in the fiberglass fender skirt which I will get fixed too - but not sure why the system failed and the coach dropped 8" in less than a second.
I will call Ronnie at Foretravel tomorrow and also HWH (but they are not quick to reply). - I'll keep you guys posted and keep the ideas coming.
Pat
Did both the front and rear corners on the right side drop simultaneously?
Based on my experience with our coach, I don't believe the HWH solenoid valves and the exhaust ports on the 6-pack manifolds can exhaust air bag pressure quickly enough to cause a sudden drop like you describe.
If my coach is at ride height, and I push the DUMP button, it takes a while for the coach to drop down to the stops. The drop is what I would term "gradual and controlled" and not at all "sudden".
I am having a hard time imagining a component failure that would cause such a sudden drop on one side.
It's Sunday and I like to read operating manuals for relaxation.
Gleaned from the manual, since you have an active air ride system everything is controlled by the HWH computers:
With the engine running and brake air at pressure, push the Home button and wait until the Travel light comes on.
The electric air compressor is only intended to run for 5-7 minutes then cool down for 1/2 hour. This is, once again, controlled by the HWH computer AND a pressure switch on the electric compressor. You can trick the system, if it is waiting for the compressor to cool down, by turning off the HWH system and turning it back on, but only if you want to purchase a new compressor motor.
Art
Interesting - it did drop pretty quick. Even in the past when I pull into a CG, when I hit Auto Level it
does not do it gradually - it does a speedy - yet controlled drop.
Update - I went out to my shop today and started pulling plugs from the HWH box inside bay and plugging them back in and then I went inside the coach and hit "reset" and also the "over ride" rocker switch on my dash which cleared the "level system" on the dash. The coach then self leveled to "travel" (which is actually called store on my LCD panel). However, I cannot open the slides and the compressor does not turn on. I drove around town and the auto level worked flawlessly.
So - I think that my compressor may have gone out - and somehow that is not allowing my HWH system to operate. It does go to travel height because I'm running the engine and the air tanks are full.
Symptoms:
HWH Compressor does not turn on when the "amber light" is flashing.
Slides do not extend and the pump "red" light does not turn on. (Perhaps it thinks bladders are not exhausted)
System "Reset" does not fully reset the system and I need to disconnect plugs and use override switch to get it to respond.
When I drove it the other day - the right side inly collapsed suddenly causing my front tire to crack the fiberglass fender well.
I had to use on board air to raise the collapsed side via the Schrader valves.
Questions:
- Would a faulty HWH compressor cause the system to go into some form of "fail safe" mode and not respond to "reset". I have not heard it turn on and I checked the inline blade fuse - which is good.
- Would leaving the slide key turned "on" for several days create any issues. I did notice the rear slide key was turned "on" when all of this happened.
- How do you do a full power shut off to the entire system of HWH boxes in the bay.
Tomorrow I will call FT and HWH and most likely have to locate a reputable HWH shop near Los Angeles.
Pat, the likely hood of the compressor failing is much less than an electrical issue. I am not sure if your setup is the same as those in the 02-05 years but there are a number of fuses and circuit breakers involved and a power relay. I am pretty sure it is different from mine.
Hi Roger - thank you. I will follow the diagram - it looks very similar to mine.
Pat
The next thing I'd check for is power at the compressor, because for me that's easier than trying to find the blown fuse.
Active air has larger air lines My 1997 reactions like your. On my 2014 with active air when I push the dump button it goes all the way down in a very few seconds, so I can see it dumping that fast
My 2003 U295 has active air. I was and still have the issue of getting the system to initialize.
I was at HWH about 2 weeks ago and had my system checked. The engineer and tech could not replicate the problem. The found 6 air leaks that could cause this issue . (I checked for air leaks before leaving home so September and could not find any). During out traveling I did find some leaks and repaired those. My system with those leaks found at HWH was causing the air system to take about 15 minutes to blowoff (120 psi).
When the system would not initialize, I tried using reset which did not always resolve the issue. So, I use the "stop" button and wait for lights to come back on and the reset again. I could tell when the system actually resets or goes to travel mode. A couple of times I put the coach in gear moved forward to change level of the coach and go to stop and reset again with success.
Made it home yesterday and will seek out the air leaks and repair and retest the system.
FYI - the system air compressor on keeps the seal air tank at pressure per the pressure regulator for the most part. No - I not been able to hear any air leaks.
jack
You're describing the symptoms I'm having too. I don't know why I can't get it to reset. It is intermittent too.
Mine is intermittent as well.
I can't really move forward with troubleshooting until I get all my leaks resolved.
I called HWH today and they said it would be two weeks before I get a call back from a technician. I reached out to my local HWH service center and they are going to assist me next week. I'll keep everyone posted.
Thanks to all,
Pat
I think that HWH needs to prioritize their technician's time. I can see waiting two weeks it I can not get my jacks to go down or possible a side to go out but if your coach is out of commission because the main system that allows the air bags to air up will not reset.
Pat; Lon has been in the office right now, since Ashley is not here. I would give them a call at 7:00 or earlier, central time. He should answer the phone and assist you. There is a '15 IH-45 coming in I believe today or tomorrow with a similar problem with his slides not extending. Wishing you the best in your repair. Lon is the best! He helped us out big time!
Thanks - I called HWH but Lon was busy - so I'm waiting for a call back from another tech.
In the mean time I found that if I hold the dash rocker switch "Over ride", I am able to get the HWH to reset. Which means that there is likely something in the system that is not allowing my HWH to engage is the "Over Ride"switch is bypassing the issue.
Very curious what it could be that is not allowing the system to reset?
I'll keep you guys posted.
Pat
Is the air tank for the air bladders showing at least 85 PSI?
Yes - it is showing between 125-150 psi.
My gut is that I have a faulty ground or voltage issue.
Pat
The easiest way to check grounds for patency is with a good high impedance voltmeter. If you have a bad ground a voltage will develop across the ground due to the resistance. The higher the voltage reading, the greater the resistance.
Thank you, I'll check it out tomorrow.
My local HWH authorized service center in Los Angeles - Elite Coach, solved my issue:
It turns out that the continuous duty Master Relay Switch was bad, and even though it appeared to operate as designed - it was not making a good contact and limiting the amount of volts/amps to go through the relay. They spent hours troubleshooting the system and finally put a meter on the power in stud and power out stud and noticed that while under load it was not supplying equal amps/volts on the output side.
They jumped the relay and everything worked flawlessly so they ordered a $100 part from HWH and I will be good to go!
Elite Coach has one of the most amazing electrical troubleshooting technicians I have ever met - his name is Will and his dad Bill owns the shop.
Elitecoachrv (https://elitecoachrv.com/)
Hopefully not to late, but also order the relay for the pump motor. They have said if one goes bad the other is not far behind. I had the hyd pump relay go bad on me.
Thank You for the advice, I will order one ASAP. Good call.
Pat
This is a great way to check for bad connections as long as power if flowing. If you know or can guess the amount of current flowing to can calculate the resistance knowing the measured voltage across the connection.