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Topic: Unstable air pressure gauges (Read 825 times) previous topic - next topic

Unstable air pressure gauges

Driving at a steady 60 mph, foot off the brake pedal.  My air gauges fluctuate between 90psi and 110 psi every 60 seconds or so.  Do I have a leak?  Brakes are working, but today I got some sqealing as if the pads wdre still rubbing on the disk.

Re: Unstable air pressure gauges

Reply #1
A leak or an air dryer acting out...
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: Unstable air pressure gauges

Reply #2
Are the gauges VDO or the Stewart Warner gauges.  I had to replace mine with mechanical VDO gauges to get the proper reading.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: Unstable air pressure gauges

Reply #3
Are the gauges VDO or the Stewart Warner gauges.  I had to replace mine with mechanical VDO gauges to get the proper reading.
They are VDO gauges.  This just started to happen yesterday.  Guess I'll ad brakes to my "to do List" when I get to Classic Coach.  Sigh.

Re: Unstable air pressure gauges

Reply #4
If it takes a min to get down to 90 then coes up, you have an air leak somewhere. The air dryer could have a bit if dirt stuck or one of the regulators for the air step or slide cover is bad.  Those are the usual suspects I check first. 
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: Unstable air pressure gauges

Reply #5
My vote would be bad gauge readings, indicating a voltage supply to the gauges, it is unlikely both gauges would become goofy at the same time unless the voltage supply or grounding is erratic.  To go up/down 10 psi in 60 seconds is not normal, if it were a actual loss of pressure, when it droped to the point the governor started to pickup, the pressure would go up to the 120 psi area. 
So why I vote on the voltage issue, loose wiring, corroded terminals, something other than actual air pressure change.
Normal governor range is approx 105-120 psi range, so is worth a more in depth thought, sometimes the facts are slightly different from what is thought.
Some times installing a actual gauge in the system is the simple way of trouble shoothing, when using electric gauges.
Lots of fun, playing with big boy toys ain't it    ;D

 

Re: Unstable air pressure gauges

Reply #6
My vDO gauges are manual so voltage should no affect them. My original gauges were electronic and were not reliable. 
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon