Chuck Linn
southeast OK
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Went out to start my coach yesterday to take it to he dealer for some work and my auto retract for my leveler would not work. Had to retract 1 at a time until i got them all up. Then when i got ready to start the engine was very sluggish before it finally started. My question is 2 fold
1 would a low battery cause the auto retract not to work,
2 does the chassis battery, run the hydraulics.
When I got to the dealer ( about 120 Miles) every thing seemed to work
coach has 9600 miles on it (mostly to and from Elkhart )
Chuck & Linda
Fred & Molly
2007 Four Winds Hurricane 33h
WH Chassis 8.1L Chevy
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ozman
Ma.
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Joined: 06/16/2001
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They may run off of the chassis, but chances are both your battery sources may have been low.,you dont say what kind of leveler system you have. Four winds uses Equalizer Systems and HWH. The equalizer needs full battery charge to operate correctly.I know,because it happened to me .You can reset the system,I dont trust the auto level anymore.I do it manually and prevent frame torque.
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WA1RI
FL
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Joined: 09/26/2004
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Definitely traces back to batteries not up. The extra load to run all jacks vs. 1 at a time could be the difference. Can you power the jacks with engine running? If so, start it first, then retract jacks.
Different mfg's use different situations. Mine won't run unless engine IS running. Lots of interlocks can be involved, from emergency brake, to trans, to ign.
Some Monacos won't let the transmission go into drive if the slides are out. (DP, with console)
With the power consumption of the levelrs, it is a good idea to have engine running.
As to not torqueing the frame by using 1 at a time? Don't you think that would add torque vs. all jacks retracting together?
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2cyber71
Pennsylvania
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Joined: 11/21/2003
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You should check a few things...
1. batteries
2. instructions on the jacks....some MHs need the motor running like my 1999 Storm and 04 Southwind....but not my DP
I bet you will get an answer.
Most likely you need the motor to be running and you tried to do it off the battery......you ran out of juice.
Just a guess....from my experience.
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ozman
Ma.
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As to not torqueing the frame by using 1 at a time? Don't you think that would add torque vs. all jacks retracting together?
Sorry,should have phrased it better. I agree on all 4 retracting together.Setting the jacks was what I meant.I feel the need to let others know about the problems I have had with auto-level on the equalizer system.After you set the null it still wants to over raise the jacks to high, to set level and twist the frame.I popped a windshield when I first got my MH.
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Chuck Linn
southeast OK
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Thanks for the replies. My jacks will not operate with the motor running. so if i start the engine with the jacks down i get all kinds of alarms going off. so the only thing i could think of would either keep it on shore power or always park with the levelers up until i can figuer out what the battery problem is
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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Well.. On MY coach low batteries should NOT cause auto-retract to not work, however .... if the battery were low enough.. yes it could
now lowering the jacks is another issue
There are basically 3 or 4 types of jack systems.. Most area hydraulic and to retract all you need is enough power to open a valve
However there are also electric jacks, where each jack has an electric motor and with that type of system auto-retract, which tries to bring up 3 or 4 jacks at one time.. Would indeed "Crap out" if the battery was too low.
Bringing up just one jack, however, might work
Even with hydraulics... Auto opens 3 valves, One at a time just one, however I don't have the "one at a time" option
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
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s79vette
Twin Lake.Mi.USA
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Equalizer requires the hydraulic motor to be running to raise jacks and it will run when one jack or more is being used at the same time up or down.
* This post was
edited 06/08/08 02:09pm by s79vette *
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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ozman wrote:As to not torqueing the frame by using 1 at a time? Don't you think that would add torque vs. all jacks retracting together?
Sorry,should have phrased it better. I agree on all 4 retracting together.Setting the jacks was what I meant.I feel the need to let others know about the problems I have had with auto-level on the equalizer system.After you set the null it still wants to over raise the jacks to high, to set level and twist the frame.I popped a windshield when I first got my MH.
No, I don't.. In most cases.. here is why
If you have electric jacks then all four will retract at the same speed and the rig will simply settle onto the tires which is normal as it drives
If you have 3-point hydraulic (May be four jacks) then the rear jacks will retract slightly faster (Larger bore) than the front but the front pair "Teeter" so there is no torque on the frame (That is what I have)
If you have true 4 point hydraulic jacks,, Then it's just like the electrics. All 4 retract at the same speed and the rig settles upon it's springs normally.
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cltkids
Lake Park, North Carolina
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Joined: 05/29/2006
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Chuck,
My Hurricane had the same problem...turned out the House battery had 2 bad cells. Replaced the battery and the jacks work fine now.
But I had the same issue...how to pull up the jacks. Mine managed to pull them up enough to release weight, then quit. I then managed to pull them up one at a time.
One note: I did get a "Low voltage" warning on the jacks console....
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