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Topic: HWH Leveling (Read 889 times) previous topic - next topic

HWH Leveling

In addition to being a newbie to retarders II am also a newbie to air leveling So, need advice for this:  Parked on gravel site On arrival two weeks ago leveled per standard automatic process. Had a yellow light momentarily then system adjusted so no yellows and four reds. All my indicators confirmed level so shut down leaving one red in upper left corner showing.  At that time there was space between tops of front tires and top of wheel wells.  Now, after two weeks HWH panel is same as I described but chassis is resting firmly on top of both front tires. Can't get my hand between top of tire and top of wheel well. Both pressure gauges are at zero. Coach is still level but now sitting as if I had deliberately dumped the air.  I do not believe the aux compressor has come on although being away for extended periods during the day it could have come on while I was gone.  Is it OK to leave this way or should I start up, air up and re-level?  Other ideas, thoughts, advice will be welcome.. I intend to be at this location all summer.

David Spoor. 1999 U 295
David C Spoor
San Antonio and Kerrville, Texas
1999 U 295

Re: HWH Leveling

Reply #1 –
Make sure aux comp is plugged in, and or check 110 volt circuit breakers maybe breaker tripped.
91 GV U300 Unihome 40' Build 3811
6V92TA Detroit

Re: HWH Leveling

Reply #2 –
David, sounds like you have some air leaks in the system. If you are still level with all the air gone should not be a problem. There are folks that dump their air system if on level ground all the time. I have done so myself on occasion. When you get a chance, you should start looking for those leaks.
Richard & Betty Bark & Keiko our Golden Doodle
2003 U320T 3820 PBDS
Build # 6215
MC # 16926
2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 diesel

Re: HWH Leveling

Reply #3 –
David,

I second Richard's assurance that sitting down on the mechanical stops is not a problem.  If you are level and happy at that "altitude", then just leave it there.  Makes it easier going in and out the door, due to the step being closer to the ground.

Here's my guess what happened.  If you have a slow leak somewhere in your leveling system, one end (or side) of the coach will gradually drop down from where it was when you parked it.  If you leave the HWH panel ON, in auto level mode, it will wake up every 30 minutes and check the level.  If it detects a yellow light on the panel, it will try to compensate by lowering the opposite end (or side).  As long as it can maintain level by exhausting air from the system, it will do so.  The aux pump will not run unless it reaches a point where it must add air to maintain level.

Since your coach is apparently sitting on level ground, the HWH brain just kept releasing air to maintain level, until both ends were down on the stops.  At that point, since the coach was level, the HWH system was happy, and had nothing more to do.

The next time you have a chance to stay in the coach while it is parked for several days, you can monitor what is going on, and determine if the leak (or leaks) is something that you want to pursue.  It may be such a slow loss that it's not worth worrying about.
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: HWH Leveling

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Dspoor –
  ...  snip  ... Parked on gravel site On arrival two weeks ago leveled per standard automatic process. Had a yellow light momentarily then system adjusted so no yellows and four reds. All my indicators confirmed level so shut down leaving one red in upper left corner showing.  At that time there was space between tops of front tires and top of wheel wells.  Now, after two weeks HWH panel is same as I described but chassis is resting firmly on top of both front tires. Can't get my hand between top of tire and top of wheel well. Both pressure gauges are at zero. Coach is still level but now sitting as if I had deliberately dumped the air.  I do not believe the aux compressor has come on although being away for extended periods during the day it could have come on while I was gone.  Is it OK to leave this way or should I start up, air up and re-level?  Other ideas, thoughts, advice will be welcome.. I intend to be at this location all summer.
David Spoor. 1999 U 295

David,
My coach use to do the same. Eventually (or even early on) I would wind up siting on the tires.
This has NOT been the case since since I replaced the air bags. They hold their inflation.

The air still leaks down in the brake system (altho still to spec) but they are separate from the suspension system thanks to the six-packs. At least that's my story and I'm ....

hth
Elliott & Mary Bray
ex. 1996 36' U295 - Build 4879
ex. 2018 Coachmen Leprechaun 319MB
 

Re: HWH Leveling

Reply #5 –
See my original post in this thread 4 weeks ago for my initial problem.  Based on very helpful responses especially from Chuck and Jeannie, I have remained in position I described with HWH display showing the ne red indicator light in upper left corner on constantly and no yellow lights showing.  Coach has been level by all of my usual means of determining that.  Now, after a month, yesterday the Excess Slope light came on and has remained.  I have read Beamalarm on HWH leveling regarding Excess Slope but remain confused by what it means and whether I need to take some action in response. HWH technical support is 2 weeks behind in responding to inquiries so advice from experienced forum members will be greatly appreciated.

David Spoor
1999 U 295 Build 5550


David C Spoor
San Antonio and Kerrville, Texas
1999 U 295

Re: HWH Leveling

Reply #6 –
David, on our coach there is an inline fuse for the aux compressor. That had blown so our compressor wasn't working. HWH also fixed a couple of leaks, so our coach stays level for much longer now. The HWH system is supposed to lower the high side before raising the low side. Doesn't always work that way, but that's the theory.

Some people have suggested that dumping the air first, so the coach starts out sitting on the tires, and then letting the system level (raise) makes for a coach that is lower to the ground. Others say that doing so stresses the windshield area too much.

Re: HWH Leveling

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Dspoor –
Now, after a month, yesterday the Excess Slope light came on and has remained.  I have read Beamalarm on HWH leveling regarding Excess Slope but remain confused by what it means and whether I need to take some action in response.

Excess slope means that the system was unable to level the coach by its programmed algorithm of lower the high spots and raise the low ones within a specified time limit.  Basically it's reached the extent of its physical ability to raise/lower as needed and has not satisfied the level sensor so either the site is too unlevel or the compressor is not able to raise the low point within the time spec and is timing out.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: HWH Leveling

Reply #8 –
David (Dspoor),

Agree with Michelle's explanation (above), and would like to add to it.  If you are happy with the attitude of your coach as it now sits, just turn off the HWH panel.  The lights will go off, and you won't have to look at them (and worry about them).  The coach will simply sit on the hard stops until the next time you start the engine, at which time it should rise back up to normal ride height.  If, at that time, it does not return to ride height, then you'll have some investigating to do.  Air suspensions are a never-ending source of entertainment!
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: HWH Leveling

Reply #9 –
David, With the ignition off, turn off the leveling system then hit the level button twice to level, then listen or go outside and see if the compressor kicks on.  When you go to re-level observe your level lights and see if it is level as you describe.  If it is not level you will get a yellow light again.
John
John & Carm Morales

"We travel not to go anywhere, but to just go.  We travel for travel's sake.  Our great desire is to move."

Re: HWH Leveling

Reply #10 –
Here is a little different spin on the same subject.  After travel and completion of the auto-leveling sequence with the engine running,  I've noticed that after engine shutdown, I hear this loud knocking noise about every 3-5 seconds coming from down below. I traced it to the electric air compressor that is running and found the air-tank safety valve is popping. As I'm writing this it has become obvious that maybe the safety valve has become weak and a replacement of the same rating would cure the problem. However,  maybe the better question is; why is the compressor running when fresh off the road with full cans of air? I can stop the compressor by turning off the level system then turning right back on. It settles down then all is good.

This has happened several times. To the brilliant minds of the forum, any thoughts?
Don Hays

Present; 09 Nimbus CE
Former: 98 U-320
 

Re: HWH Leveling

Reply #11 –
Don,

(The Moderators would probably like you to split this question off into a new thread, but that's not my look-out)

Your coach is so much newer than mine...I hesitate to respond.  I can, I believe, make some generalized comments without knowing anything about your HWH system.  For what it's worth...

HWH seems consistent in the way they design their systems.  The newer ones are more complicated, but certain parameters carry over.  One of these is the initiation of aux compressor operation.  The aux pump usually requires two inputs before it will run.  First, the control box must call for operation, based on the input from the touch panel.  Second, the control box usually needs to see a LOW pressure indication from a system pressure switch.  On my coach, "low pressure" means less than 85 psig at the rear 6-pack manifold.  However, the bottom right paragraph on the page linked below (from the HWH Leveling System Text Book) makes it sound like this "low pressure" requirement is not valid with some newer 2-output air compressors.

So, if you have just come off the road, leveled, and shut down the big engine, you obviously do not have low pressure in any of your air tanks.  Even if the touch control panel was calling for compressor operation, the second requirement is not present.  This leads me to guess that you might have a intermittent faulty reading from a system pressure switch, which is fooling the control box into thinking air pressure is low.  This might be due to something as simple as a bad ground.  I can't quite see why cycling the system off and back on would "cure" the erroneous pressure reading, but stranger things have happened.

The second possibility is a electrical glitch in the control box or touch pad.  Tracking that down would be above my pay grade.

If you have the manual for your HWH system (2000 Series?), it should have a trouble-shooting section.  Running through those steps might point you in the right direction.  Good luck!
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"