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Topic: Airbags: only one corner leaking down (Read 811 times) previous topic - next topic

Airbags: only one corner leaking down

I am SOOOOOO close to being air tight. Three of the four corners all held air throughout last night but the front left corner (both bags) leaked down. This at least narrows down the number of places the leak could be but I need a bit of help understanding how the six pack works.

    • Each bag obviously has it's own airline from the six pack but are they controlled by the same solenoid? Basically, are they on the same "circuit"? If one has a leak, so does the other?
    • ASSUMING the solenoid(s) for the front left bags are sealing properly, it's not possible for this leak to be anywhere further up stream, correct? It HAS to be a leak between the bag(s) and the sixpack, right?
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    I have sprayed all the airlines going into the front six pack multiple times and don't see any leaks there. It's possible there's a leak on the front side of the manifold around one of the solenoids but I was pretty diligent when I rebuilt it a few weeks ago so I doubt it. If the answer to #1 above is "yes", this tells me it has to be a leak at the bag. Probably the airline fitting/elbow on the front-most bag that I can't see/spray.
    1987 Grand Villa ORED
    2001 U320 4010

    Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.

    Re: Airbags: only one corner leaking down

    Reply #1 –
    Make sure you check the pressure switches on the 6 pack. I had leaks on 2 of ours where the brass body meets the composite material. My only other thought is are you spraying checking for leaks with the coach aired up with a gap above your frame blocks or with the coach sitting on the blocks? It will likely need the coach elevated above the blocks to put enough pressure to find the leak.

    And I agree with you that the leak has to be at the 6 pack, the bags, or in between.
    Bruce & Linda
    2004 U295, Build # 6268, ISL400 CAPS
    2016 Ford Explorer Sport or 1985 Jeep CJ7

    Re: Airbags: only one corner leaking down

    Reply #2 –
    Quote from: bpal –
    My only other thought is are you spraying checking for leaks with the coach aired up with a gap above your frame blocks or with the coach sitting on the blocks? It will likely need the coach elevated above the blocks to put enough pressure to find the leak.

    Fair point, I should try it in "raise" mode with a full tank of pressure. My most recent attempts have been with it sitting on the blocks in "manual" mode.
    1987 Grand Villa ORED
    2001 U320 4010

    Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.

    Re: Airbags: only one corner leaking down

    Reply #3 –
    My guess is that both bags are fed from the same line with a T . The leak should be either the control solenoid or in one of the lines or bags .

    Re: Airbags: only one corner leaking down

    Reply #4 –
    There are six solenoids. 4 for 4 bags and 2 travel. When rebuilt I assume you used new plungers?

    There is either 1 pressure switch on the front and 2 on the back or vice versa, I forget. They are cheap so that is most likely the culprit I would think.
    1994 U280, Build 4490
    Deming, NM.

    Re: Airbags: only one corner leaking down

    Reply #5 –
    Quote from: Twig –
    There are six solenoids. 4 for 4 bags and 2 travel. When rebuilt I assume you used new plungers?
    Yes, new plungers and three new o rings on each solenoid.

    If each airbag has its own solenoid, that sure makes me scratch my head. The odds of me screwing up the rebuild on two solenoids is even less likely. But it also means two independent leaks if they're stand alone lines.
    1987 Grand Villa ORED
    2001 U320 4010

    Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.

    Re: Airbags: only one corner leaking down

    Reply #6 –
    Quote from: Twig –
    There are six solenoids.

    On each six pack, the solenoids are

    Driver Raise
    Driver Dump
    Driver Travel

    Passenger Raise
    Passenger Dump
    Passenger Travel.

    There is one sixpack per axle.  3 solenoids for the drivers' side of the axle, 3 solenoids for the passenger side of an axle.

    The 2 Driver side front airbags on an axle are tied together and operated by the same solenoids.  Each airbag does not have a separate solenoid.
    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: Airbags: only one corner leaking down

    Reply #7 –
    Exactly. So you have to determine which is the solenoid for the left front on your model. Looking at the manifold there is an order they are in. The plungers usually fix the leak.
    1994 U280, Build 4490
    Deming, NM.

    Re: Airbags: only one corner leaking down

    Reply #8 –
    So conceivably, if my driver side dump valve was leaking, it would cause the symptoms I'm seeing
    1987 Grand Villa ORED
    2001 U320 4010

    Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.

    Re: Airbags: only one corner leaking down

    Reply #9 –
    Quote from: Elliott –
    So conceivably, if my driver side dump valve was leaking, it would cause the symptoms I'm seeing

    Yes.  Or if any of the connections from each driver side airbag back to the six pack were leaking, it would also cause both to lose pressure since they have the same "plumbing" lines.
    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: Airbags: only one corner leaking down

    Reply #10 –

    If you have trouble seeing the bubbles in hidden locartions, the German bubble product, Pustefix, make huge, long lasting bubbles. Used at parties, weddings around the world. Amazon.com: Pustefix Premium Bubbles Refill 8.3 fl.0z. : Toys & Games  Just follow the directions and use a Dollar Store spray applicator. If used outside, the wind make take the big bubbles out of sight before they pop.

    Pierce

    As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.
    Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
    '93 U300/36 WTBI
    Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
    1140 watts on the roof
    SBFD (ret)

    Re: Airbags: only one corner leaking down

    Reply #11 –
    Swap the left raise and dump solenoids. If the problem goes away your dump solenoid was the problem.
    If you still have the problem and the pressure switch is ok then it's in the air line or bag.
    Airbag air also has access to the travel solenoid. If you can't find any plumbing leaks you might swap the travel solenoids also.
    John Duld
    1995 U320C SE 40'

    Re: Airbags: only one corner leaking down

    Reply #12 –
    Quote from: John Duld –
    Swap the left raise and dump solenoids. If the problem goes away your dump solenoid was the problem.
    If you still have the problem and the pressure switch is ok then it's in the air line or bag.
    Airbag air also has access to the travel solenoid. If you can't find any plumbing leaks you might swap the travel solenoids also.
    Just swap the connectors.
    1994 U280, Build 4490
    Deming, NM.

    Re: Airbags: only one corner leaking down

    Reply #13 –
    I found a leak on one of the 90 degree elbows going into the bag. It was only finger tight in the bag. Fingers crossed that does the trick
    1987 Grand Villa ORED
    2001 U320 4010

    Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.

    Re: Airbags: only one corner leaking down

    Reply #14 –
    Well it held air and stayed mostly level last night. That one corner still leaked down a bit more than others (which seem to last a few days) but it'll be good enough to get through the night without needing the  aux compressor, which has been my goal this whole time. Pic attached of level on the front dash.

    My desire to never have to work on the front six pack again outweighs my desire to go multiple days without the aux compressor at this point so I'll probably call it good here.
    1987 Grand Villa ORED
    2001 U320 4010

    Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.

    Re: Airbags: only one corner leaking down

    Reply #15 –
    Quote from: Elliott –
    I found a leak on one of the 90 degree elbows going into the bag. It was only finger tight in the bag. Fingers crossed that does the trick
    Yes the 90 can be a pain to get to seal up and were my primary leak point. The hidden ones also need to be verified. Bubble juice and mirror worked good to get verification on no leaks for me. Several of the fittings got turned another turn past what I normally would tighten up to resolve leak also. My aux compressor never comes on. (Disconnected since day one) it will have to get fixed before the bladder is repaired. Our coach now will go for weeks and stay within level needs.
    Scott

    Re: Airbags: only one corner leaking down

    Reply #16 –
    Quote from: dsd –
    Yes the 90 can be a pain to get to seal up and were my primary leak point.

    I tried to replace the 90 with a new one but couldn't find any in town so I cleaned up the old one and slathered it with permatex. I have a few on order that'll be here tomorrow and I'll replace it for posterity's sake the next time I have the coach blocked.

    The "hidden" 90 on the front bag is brand new and I was able to check it for leaks by popping out the docking light and spraying/viewing through that hole in the fender.

    I'm wiring in a new switch for the aux compressor this weekend so I can toggle it from inside the coach, just waiting on some 10 awg wire to show up (MAN that stuff has gotten expensive!).
    1987 Grand Villa ORED
    2001 U320 4010

    Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.

    Re: Airbags: only one corner leaking down

    Reply #17 –
    Parker Quick Disconnect swivel 90..DOT approved. I also changed the mate on the sixpac...

    Works flawless no leaks
    Hans & Marjet
    1995 U300 "Ben" (#4719)
    3176B Cat,4060HD,Jake
    SKP#139131
    Motorcade#17579
    2006 Honda Element (towed)
     

    Re: Airbags: only one corner leaking down

    Reply #18 –
    Quote from: Elliott –
    I tried to replace the 90 with a new one but couldn't find any in town so I cleaned up the old one and slathered it with permatex. I have a few on order that'll be here tomorrow and I'll replace it for posterity's sake the next time I have the coach blocked.

    The "hidden" 90 on the front bag is brand new and I was able to check it for leaks by popping out the docking light and spraying/viewing through that hole in the fender.

    I'm wiring in a new switch for the aux compressor this weekend so I can toggle it from inside the coach, just waiting on some 10 awg wire to show up (MAN that stuff has gotten expensive!).
    Terrible when you can pay for a control relay and install for less than you pay for the wire. It's not that it's gotten expensive is just your money is worth less. More to come during the ride.
    Scott