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Topic: HWH panel light burnt out? (Read 421 times) previous topic - next topic

HWH panel light burnt out?

We have had our '98 U295 for 6 months, long enough to have figured out that the HWH leveling system DOES work, but perhaps the indicator lights on the panel do not. I park the vehicle - go to neutral, set parking brake, leave engine running, and press the Air button on the HWH panel. The four red corner lights light up, as well as any of the yellow lights that indicate a low side or low end of the coach, but not the light above the Air button. Instructions say press the Air button a second time and the system will go into auto-levelling mode. This does indeed happen, the yellow lights go out as they should as the coach levels itself, and the 4 corner lights stay on. The light above the Air button never comes on though. At that point I shut the engine off and get up from the seat, but shouldn't there be a light still on on the panel after the engine is off, to let me know that the system remains in self-levelling mode? Which is does, for weeks if I want it to. See photo of the HWH panel I have, and what it looks like after self-leveling but before turning the key off.
1998 U295 36' No slides
Towing 2018 Jeep Wrangler
Previous rigs:
  1995 26' Fleetwood Flair
  1998 34' Fleetwood Bounder
  1997 40' Bluebird BMC
  1999 24' Winnebago Minnie Class C

Re: HWH panel light burnt out?

Reply #1
The answer to your question is yes, the red (AIR/LEVEL) light should stay on to show panel is in auto level mode.

Do the rest of the panel lights work - travel, raise, dump, etc?  If yes, then it probably is a burned out bulb (or LED), or a break in the power circuit to the bulb (or LED).

If it was mine, I would pull the panel out and take it apart...see if anything looks "broken".  It can't be all that complicated.  It looks like your touch panel has seen a lot of use, with the worn through spots on the buttons.  I don't know what kind of bulb might be used, but it may well be a simple repair.  Or not.  Only one (cheap and easy) way to find out.

See post linked below to get an idea of what the panel looks like disassembled.  I can't tell from the photos if the lights are (replaceable) bulbs or if they are (soldered in place) LEDs.

HWH Leveling System

If it turns out the light cannot be easily replaced, and you still want it to work correctly, the best solution is sending the panel to HWH for repair.

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 panel light burnt out?

Reply #2
New touch panel cover used to be about $20 from HWH if yours looks "ratty" Won't fix the light of course...
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: HWH panel light burnt out?

Reply #3
When mine is leveled, the air light flashes quickly - its not very bright but you can see it if look closely.

You might try just pushing the off button and ignoring the lack of the light.  If parked at a reasonably level spot, after leveling, I often press the off button.  After a day, the coach may need a little releveling but no big deal and don't have the interruption of the system waking up and trying to relevel when its just a small bit off. 

Also, HWH folks have been very nice in supplying new panel covers at no charge at shows.  Don't know if they still do and may not if all of us start asking.  8)
Larry Rubin
2004 U295 38' build 6278
2014 Jeep Cherokee

 

Re: HWH panel light burnt out?

Reply #4
Last year, after I had the slide pulled to replace the bladder at FOT, mine started going blank as soon as the ignition key is turned off (and it does not stay in auto level after key is turned off).  Every coach is different, but I took it to HWH HQ afterwards, and they attached a spare panel to the basement wiring, and confirmed that the dash panel is working fine, and it's most likely somewhere amiss in the wiring...not theirs, Foretravel's, so they would go no further.  Foretravel tech support has been unable or unwilling to remotely assist me as a paid Motorcade member in diagnosing or working around this issue, as well as anything related to the satanic Javelina dead-end time bombs living in a lot of these coaches.  Unless you can find a culprit wire issue, you'll have to take it to the factory at Nac and pay them to possibly get it fixed on your dime.  I've learned to live with it.
2001 4010 U320 build #5865 "Bluto-d-Bus" since 09/18
2006 Honda Element ESP Toad
Full timing since 2016 in Western MT
Copilot: Sitka
1975 GMC 260 Avion: sold