Travel Light Issue

Topic: Travel Light Issue (Read 3777 times) previous topic - next topic

Travel Light Issue

September 10, 2016, 04:55:12 pm

I have an HWH issue. The coach levels fine and passes all the HWH Section 1 tests. However, it is displaying the following behavior:
1. The coach is level and the red air light is on (normal). I start the coach and hit the off button on the HWH pad. The travel light will not illuminate, the "level system" dash light is on and the beeper continues sounding. The coach appears to be at proper ride height.
2. I turn the HWH system back on and raise, lower, level and so on. Eventually, the travel light comes on and the beeper silences. I move the coach in and out of my driveway. The travel light comes on, goes out; the beeper, of course, keeps beeping when the travel light is off.

I had hoped to take off tomorrow but this is kind of show stopper. The manual seems to indicate that it's a pressure switch or a shorted wire on one of the manifolds or a bad control box. Anyone have any insight based on personal experience? Thanks.
jor

Re: Travel Light Issue

Reply #1 – September 10, 2016, 06:01:18 pm

Travel light off, dash light on, and beeper beeping all indicate low system air pressure.

The travel light should come on when ignition is on, HWH level system is off, and system air pressure is sufficient to open the NC (normally closed) system pressure switch on the rear 6-pack manifold. This pressure switch on our coaches is usually set to open at 80-85 psi. If you have the engine running, level system off, and air pressure is up to normal operating levels, then you should have a travel light.

I would start at the rear 6-pack pressure switch - remove the wires, clean the terminals and wire ends, reinstall. If that doesn't solve the malfunction, then the next time it happens (light won't come on), try disconnecting one of the wires from the pressure switch. If the travel light then comes on, I would replace the pressure switch. One of those two procedures should cure your problem...I hope.

Good luck!

Re: Travel Light Issue

Reply #2 – September 10, 2016, 06:13:05 pm

Quote

remove the wires, clean the terminals and wire ends, reinstall.

I'll try that in the morning, Chuck. Thought I would also do the same to the pressure switch connections in the control box.

Question: Can you drive if the travel light is not illuminated (if coach is at travel height)? I've read that an off light does not necessarily mean that the travel valves are off. I need to get on the road. If I have to get parts from HWH I am going to have to cancel my trip. Thanks.

(Should mention that the system was at normal pressure (110#))
jor

Re: Travel Light Issue

Reply #3 – September 10, 2016, 06:22:06 pm

Quote from: jor – September 10, 2016, 06:13:05 pm

Can you drive if the travel light is not illuminated (if coach is at travel height)?

Good question - I don't know because I've never tried it. I would guess there might be some interconnect between the "low air pressure warning" signal and the transmission, such that the tranny would not go into drive. But you said you were moving the coach with the travel light going on and off, so apparently that is not the case. If you are sure you are at normal travel height, your air pressure is otherwise completely normal, and the transmission operates normally, I would say go ahead and drive it. The warning beeper might drive you crazy, but some of them (like mine) have a little volume screw that can be used to silence the chirping.

If any other member sees any problem with you driving in this condition (i. e. no travel light), then hopefully they will speak up. You might PM Brett Wolfe and ask him about it - he is our highly-paid resident technical guru, after all.

Re: Travel Light Issue

Reply #4 – September 10, 2016, 06:34:01 pm

Jor,

Sounds like you have a bad pressure switch like Chuck has suggested. You can get them from most any parts store. To answer your other question is if you can make sure that the travel height is correct you can open the cover off the control computer and pull the fuse that feeds the travel solenoids (on your coach it should be #11) and keep your coach level manually with the push buttons. We have traveled from Carlsbad, Nm back home to East Texas like this.

Pamela & Mike

Re: Travel Light Issue

Reply #5 – September 10, 2016, 06:49:20 pm

Here's another thread about "travel light" problems. At the end of the thread, Mark (and Mary Benko) said they drove 180 miles to HWH with the travel light off and dash light on. No problems...

Travel Mode

Re: Travel Light Issue

Reply #6 – September 10, 2016, 06:49:26 pm

hmmm. make sure you let the entire start sequence on your engine and dash complete before you start engine. I have had trouble like yours when I just turn the key and start diesel without waiting.

Re: Travel Light Issue

Reply #7 – September 10, 2016, 06:51:25 pm

Quote

I have had trouble like yours when I just turn the key and start diesel without waiting.

I'll check that. Thanks.
jor

Re: Travel Light Issue

Reply #8 – September 10, 2016, 06:53:31 pm

Quote

bad pressure switch like Chuck has suggested. You can get them from most any parts store.

Anyone have a part number for these pressure switches? Save me taking one off and bringing it in. Thanks.
jor

Re: Travel Light Issue

Reply #9 – September 10, 2016, 06:59:32 pm

Quote

Here's another thread about "travel light" problems.

Chuck,
It's only the single rear pressure switch that controls the level light? Read that in your previous post. Making sure.
jor

Re: Travel Light Issue

Reply #10 – September 10, 2016, 07:03:14 pm

Quote from: jor – September 10, 2016, 06:59:32 pm

It's only the single rear pressure switch that controls the level light?

Correct. The single 85 psi NC pressure switch on the rear 6-pack manifold controls the travel light.

Re: Travel Light Issue

Reply #11 – September 10, 2016, 07:06:15 pm

When I bought the current Fortravel in S.C. last year I drove it all the way home with the travel system not working. After 5 miles of the tire rubbing under the DW's seat pulled over and manually raised the coach and drove the remaining 2400 mi. All I had to do was pull the fuse to the HWH and put it back in and all is well. I didn't belong to the Forum at the time of purchase so I didn't fix it until after I joined and started reading.

Re: Travel Light Issue

Reply #12 – September 10, 2016, 07:23:10 pm

Quote from: jor – September 10, 2016, 06:53:31 pm

Anyone have a part number for these pressure switches?

HWH part number is RAP90570 - don't know what that crosses over to - still letting Google do a search...

Re: Travel Light Issue

Reply #13 – September 10, 2016, 07:24:48 pm

Here's the rear pressure switch. It looks like NASON WS-18-105-115R/ROJ. Looking... The 8 could be a B.
jor

Re: Travel Light Issue

Reply #14 – September 10, 2016, 07:39:31 pm

Here's the Nason catalog. If the thread is 1/8" NPT male, then it looks like your switch should be a SM-2B-85R/--, with the last two characters indicating the type of wire connection. However, your photo does not look like any of the switches in the catalog, so I don't know what you have...

http://www.nasonptc.com/pdfs/Switches_Catalog.pdf#page=9 (Look on page 10)

Re: Travel Light Issue

Reply #15 – September 10, 2016, 07:58:24 pm

Quote

then it looks like your switch should be a SM-2B-85R/

Thanks, Chuck. That looks like it. Tomorrow I'll clean up connections and see how it does. But I think, to be sure, I am going to postpone leaving and call HWH Monday morning first thing. I don't like the idea of disabling it and I do want to be sure and get the right part.
jor

Re: Travel Light Issue

Reply #16 – September 10, 2016, 08:08:35 pm

HWH Travel Light won't Come on

Re: Travel Light Issue

Reply #17 – September 10, 2016, 08:37:01 pm

Saw that one, Chuck. Thanks. The problem is I have to get it in a fail mode to do these diagnostics. We'll see what happens mañana.
jor

Re: Travel Light Issue

Reply #18 – September 11, 2016, 11:46:46 pm

Well, today I cleaned the connections on the three HWH pressure switches and for good measure, in the control box too. Had the rig up on the safety blocks while I was working under it. Anyhow, raised the coach and removed the blocks. Started it up and no travel light.

I dumped all the air but the coach remained pretty high. That I didn't expect. Maybe something else is going on. I fooled around with the pad arrows to put the coach out of level and re-levelled with no problem. Turn off the system but still no travel light.

Anyhow, tomorrow I'm going to do that other test with the control pad and the control box. I'm also going to call HWH regarding the pressure switches. Turns out the front two look similar to the ones Chuck posted. Maybe my rear switch has been replaced. Anyhow, no luck so far.
jor

Photo of the front setup:

Re: Travel Light Issue

Reply #19 – September 12, 2016, 07:31:40 am

Quote from: jor – September 11, 2016, 11:46:46 pm

I dumped all the air but the coach remained pretty high. That I didn't expect. Maybe something else is going on.

Often times, if a coach won't dump all the way something like a mud dauber nest is clogging an exhaust port in an HWH manifold. It doesn't typically happen to all 4 exhaust ports at the same time, though, usually just one corner.

Re: Travel Light Issue

Reply #20 – September 12, 2016, 09:11:11 am

Quote from: jor – September 11, 2016, 11:46:46 pm

Turns out the front two look similar to the ones Chuck posted. Maybe my rear switch has been replaced.

Those two pressure switches on your front manifold look original and correct. According to the HWH manuals, Foretravel chose to supply their own pressure switches for the front manifolds - they wanted a lower pressure rating than the ones fitted by HWH. The exact switches used on the front are still available:

Stewart Warner-Stewart Warner - Hobbs Pressure Switch 10 psi Normally Closed...

The switch normally found on the rear manifold was originally supplied by HWH. I suspect you are correct, and the one on your coach was replaced at some point. If the pressure rating corresponds to the part number you found on your switch, that would mean it does not open until 105-115 psi. That is way too high for this application. I am surprised you have not had more trouble with your "travel" light going on and off every time your air compressor cycles.

Re: Travel Light Issue

Reply #21 – September 12, 2016, 09:25:03 am

Quote from: Michelle – September 12, 2016, 07:31:40 am

Often times, if a coach won't dump all the way something like a mud dauber nest is clogging an exhaust port in an HWH manifold

The two exhaust ports that need to be kept cleaned out are located in the middle of the manifold. In the front, they are kinda hidden under the pressure switches - in the rear they are actually easier to see, although usually covered in dirt and grease. Photo below is the front manifold:

Re: Travel Light Issue

Reply #22 – September 12, 2016, 09:33:50 am

Quote

The exact switches used on the front are still available:

Thanks, Chuck. Wish my manifolds looked like yours! Unlike my other rigs, this one spent its life up north and really shows it. I wonder if I can just get the same switch with an 80-85 psi rating for the back.

I called HWH first thing this morning. Get this. There is a four day waiting list to order parts. You have to wait for a call back. They suggest using their website but it's peppered with 404 errors. I called FT too and am waiting for a call back. FT parts department is good but they are wedded to an archaic phone setup.
jor

Re: Travel Light Issue

Reply #23 – September 12, 2016, 09:42:52 am

Quote from: jor – September 12, 2016, 09:33:50 am

I wonder if I can just get the same switch with an 80-85 psi rating for the back.

Unfortunately, the Stewert-Warner pressure switch used on the front manifold is not commonly available in the 85 psi rating.

See page 9 of catalog:

http://www.instrumentsales.com/products/stewart_warner.pdf

Re: Travel Light Issue

Reply #24 – September 12, 2016, 10:11:47 am

Honeywell makes a similar switch that is adjustable (see part number 76064):

http://sensing.honeywell.com/honeywell-sensing-switch-5000-series-productsheet.pdf?name=78154

Found one for $40 + shipping:

Honeywell Presur Swtch, Stndrd, 51 to 90 psi, SPST-NC 76064-B00000600-01 |...

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