Raise/lower malfunction

Topic: Raise/lower malfunction (Read 1908 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Raise/lower malfunction

Reply #25 – April 13, 2021, 08:36:12 pm

Quote from: Thedude – April 13, 2021, 08:17:08 pm

My help with line check got called back to work before we could do the check. I have a two wire plug but they're both black. One may have a stripe but have to check in better light next look. Would you guess the marked one to be ground or vice versa. Whatever, it should read 12V+ when checked across the pins on the second press of the raise button, right? I think Lisa can assist with that as soon as I can get the meter out of my son's truck. I do have some 2 wire 16 or 18 ga. Left over from doing my see level install that should do for a new run, if needed... heaven forbid.

They are both black wires on the solenoid. Look at the other side of the plug (the harness wires) they are colored. probably have labels on them.

In a pinch, I have jerry rigged a long wire up to the HWH pad from the harness, if you can't get help. Use a paper clip to poke into the plug. Be Careful they don' touch each other. If your not comfortable doing this, wait for help.

Chris

Re: Raise/lower malfunction

Reply #26 – April 13, 2021, 10:51:07 pm

Steve you could swap the front raise solenoid connectors. Go inside, try to raise the front and see what works.

Re: Raise/lower malfunction

Reply #27 – April 14, 2021, 08:08:50 am

Excellent idea John! Think I'll try that first off this morning. Will report how that turns out.

Heading to an auto parts store after to get some test leads with alligator clips for the meter connection to the pins. It's to tight and awkward to get to for me to trust carefully touching with probes.

Re: Raise/lower malfunction

Reply #28 – April 14, 2021, 11:56:20 am

You could wrap tape or shrink tubing around the probes just leaving the tip exposed.

Re: Raise/lower malfunction

Reply #29 – April 14, 2021, 12:00:11 pm

Swapped the connections out as John suggested and got a very unexpected result. No change. Left front did not raise and the other corners did. There's a brand new solenoid in the LF manifold position and it raised the RF bags on the signal from the control box for LF. The prior to swapping "good" signal that previously raised the RF as directed had no effect on raising LF. I'm thinking I must not have a wiring problem? So, what is it? No sound of air leaking except when I turn raise off and the other bags deflate to rest back on blocks. Right now ignition off and all bags flat, frame resting on blocks. Yes, I am absolutely certain I swapped the raise connections as described above. Going up to peruse the the HWH sevice manual some more.

Re: Raise/lower malfunction

Reply #30 – April 14, 2021, 12:13:00 pm

Have you run through the multimeter electrical checks that are detailed in Reply #23?

Re: Raise/lower malfunction

Reply #31 – April 14, 2021, 12:31:43 pm

Well you learned something! The wiring is ok.
Check the connector on the left solenoid, if ok Swap the two raise solenoids.
If the problem doesn't follow the left solenoid then I'm back to looking at the check valve in the left side of the manifold.

Re: Raise/lower malfunction

Reply #32 – April 14, 2021, 01:01:43 pm

No Chuck. I'll run those before proceeding with any other suggestions. Glad I have run get the test leads. My brains starting to hurt. Be a nice break.

Re: Raise/lower malfunction

Reply #33 – April 14, 2021, 03:47:32 pm

Another possibility. I just rebuilt my rear 6 pack last week. Aired up off blocks, sat all night to test. Everything fine.

Next day, couldn't get it to air up on RR bags to remove blocks. Thought that was weird. Blocks were still in, so I dumped all the air, then pulled the center solenoid. Took it to the bench, pulled it apart, and there was a big glob of grease sitting on the plunger. I may have somehow knocked it in, when reinstalling the solenoid.

Cleaned it out, didn't hurt the new plunger. Put it back, aired up, took the blocks out, went to ride height, left it all night. Everything perfect.

Chris

BTW, read that somewhere here a few years back, that happening to someone else. Was a picture. Think it was in the search area about rebuilding solenoids.

Re: Raise/lower malfunction

Reply #34 – April 14, 2021, 04:04:44 pm

Did the tests in reply 23. I have the big control box and checked Fuse/wire 60 that is labeled LF raise. Just under 12.5V. Checked pins at corresponding connector at manifold, 11.5V. So, I don't think it's the control board. Don't know about loss of voltage down the wire from there.

Pretty sure all was very clean when I installed the new solenoid yesterday. Besides, it apparently operated the RF when wires were swapped this morning.

Re: Raise/lower malfunction

Reply #35 – April 14, 2021, 04:19:35 pm

When I try to raise, the solenoid forLF gets a little warm.

Re: Raise/lower malfunction

Reply #36 – April 14, 2021, 05:10:21 pm

Quote from: Thedude – April 14, 2021, 04:04:44 pm

Did the tests in reply 23. I have the big control box and checked Fuse/wire 60 that is labeled LF raise. Just under 12.5V. Checked pins at corresponding connector at manifold, 11.5V. So, I don't think it's the control board. Don't know about loss of voltage down the wire from there.

Pretty sure all was very clean when I installed the new solenoid yesterday. Besides, it apparently operated the RF when wires were swapped this morning.

When you say "solenoid" are you talking the magnet part that is held on with a single nut? Or the whole air solenoid you have to unscrew out of the HWH 6 pack block?

Chris

Chris

Re: Raise/lower malfunction

Reply #37 – April 14, 2021, 05:18:59 pm

Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie – April 12, 2021, 03:22:44 pm

John,

At last report, Steve was unable to fully raise the coach so he could remove his safety stands. In his current predicament, travel mode would try to lower the coach.

BUT, now that you mention it, it would perhaps be possible to trick the front height control valve into raising the front end. If the linkage was disconnected from the height control valve, then the control valve lever could be rotated to the "add air" position, and it would inflate all 4 front air bags. After the safety stands are removed, get safely out from under the coach and use a long stick to manually move the height control valve lever to the "exhaust air" position. The coach will drop down. Stop it at close to ride height, put the lever in the neutral (horizontal) position, and reconnect the linkage. The travel mode should keep the coach at ride height while driving even if the left front "raise" solenoid is not working.

John - that is a BRILLIANT IDEA! I only hope Steve checks in to read this.

I am beginning to believe I'll have to look at this option. You both have pretty good confidence it could work? I believe the travel solenoids will work once it's down. The LF bag does try to inflate for travel when I cut the raise off, so air is able to get to it when trying to move to travel.

Re: Raise/lower malfunction

Reply #38 – April 14, 2021, 05:19:47 pm

Quote from: gracerace – April 14, 2021, 05:10:21 pm

When you say "solenoid" are you talking the magnet part that is held on with a single nut? Or the whole air solenoid you have to unscrew out of the HWH 6 pack block?

Chris

Chris

The whole thing.

Re: Raise/lower malfunction

Reply #39 – April 14, 2021, 08:00:15 pm

I had one do the very exact thing and it was the check valve that screws into the side of the manifold. If you take it out be very careful that you don't lose the tiny spring. Mine the plunger was stuck.

Re: Raise/lower malfunction

Reply #40 – April 14, 2021, 09:48:53 pm

Will check that out.

Re: Raise/lower malfunction

Reply #41 – April 15, 2021, 01:22:18 pm

Well, it's off the blocks and back at travel height. I checked out both check valves on the manifold, but no apparent issues with either and no subsequent effect on LF raise function. Went ahead and raised with height control valve as suggested by John and Chuck. Worked beautifully. Raised it a little higher than normal raise height and I got all blocks removed. I experimented a little before the action to remove blocks and found it lowered quite slowly. I just quickly repositioned the HCV bracket and scrambled out to see if it was going to stop at travel height. As hoped, it did. Though I'm still looking at a high probability of having to pay (Aarrrg) to get the LF raise function fixed, sure know a lot more about how all that works now. Suppose the biggest thing that may be of value to others is to remember the way the HCV came to my rescue getting the coach back drivable. This is the first issue I've had that help from this forum hasn't solved and I really want to thank everyone who tried. Of course, I'm still open to anything else that is suggested.

Re: Raise/lower malfunction

Reply #42 – April 15, 2021, 01:59:01 pm

Glad the idea worked! First time HCV has been used in that manner (that I can recall). Good trick to remember.

Too bad you are not a little closer to HWH headquarters. I bet they could figure out the problem pretty quick.

Welcome to HWH Corporation

Re: Raise/lower malfunction

Reply #43 – April 15, 2021, 02:10:55 pm

Yeah, already checked on where they. It would be nice to know who's working on it could get to the problem right away. With most of the tech folks at MOT being FOT alumni, I have hope somebody there has skills I don't.

Re: Raise/lower malfunction

Reply #44 – April 15, 2021, 03:18:27 pm

BE SURE you come back to this thread and close it out when you finally get the problem fixed. We all want to know the solution, and we want the answer archived here for future reference. Nothing more irritating than a long thread like this and we never hear the end of the story.

Re: Raise/lower malfunction

Reply #45 – April 15, 2021, 07:34:22 pm

Ok.

Re: Raise/lower malfunction

Reply #46 – April 16, 2021, 11:17:49 am

Morning Steve,
You have confirmed the system from the touch pad to to the manifold.
But you haven't confirmed that the new solenoid you installed in the left raise position is any good.
Before I would pay someone to work on it I would swap the raise solenoids just to confirm that new solenoid is good.

Re: Raise/lower malfunction

Reply #47 – April 24, 2021, 09:46:06 pm

Turned out to be the raise solenoid. Top one on the road side. I was focused on the lower one, thinking it served both raise and lower functions. Oh well, all ready for the road again. Just a little lighter in the pocket.

Re: Raise/lower malfunction

Reply #48 – April 24, 2021, 09:52:11 pm

Glad you solved it 😁

Re: Raise/lower malfunction

Reply #49 – April 24, 2021, 11:21:36 pm

Quote from: Thedude – April 24, 2021, 09:46:06 pm

Turned out to be the raise solenoid. Top one on the road side.

Unless your 6-pack manifolds are different from every one I've encountered or read about, the top solenoids are the "travel" valves. Bottom ones are the "raise" solenoids.

Whatever - glad you got it fixed and everything is working correctly.

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