Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 10-21-2018, 08:45 AM   #1
Winnebago Owner
 
starcrwzr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Julian CA
Posts: 122
Weird Thing Happened

Just got back from a 1,600 mile trip to New Mexico. While on that trip we hit a section of paved road that was a real washboard. Thought our teeth were going to come out of our heads it was so bad. So while driving down this section of road my Power Gear leveling control starts beeping, all the LED's are flashing and the jacks down light is on. I pulled over and check and all the jacks are up. The control panel returned to normal and the beeping stopped. Started back up again and after a few minutes of bumpiness hell, it did it again. I ignored it this time and it stopped, only to have it happen again a mile or so down the road. We finally got into a better stretch of road and the problem never returned. Any ideas on what was going on?
__________________
Scott and Martha Baker
Julian, CA
2016 Sunstar LX 27N, 2016 Ford Fiesta as Toad
starcrwzr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-21-2018, 09:45 AM   #2
Winnie-Wise
 
luvlabs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Las Cruces, NM
Posts: 415
Loose connector, loose ground, bad solder joints all are possible causes.
__________________
Roger & Mary
2017 Winnebago Navion 24V
2014 Tiffin Phaeton 36GH (Sold)
luvlabs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-21-2018, 11:58 AM   #3
Winnebago Owner
 
FishBear's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: WA
Posts: 54
Another possibility involves ATF levels in reservoir. If you are "right on the edge" of not having enough fluid in there even the slightest movement or jostling around could trigger the low fluid alarm.
__________________
2019 Vista 32YE
FishBear is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-21-2018, 05:20 PM   #4
Winnebago Master
 
Jim_HiTek's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Full time RV'er
Posts: 1,174
Don't think it's much to worry about, I've experienced the same issues with both the Power Gear and the HWH jack systems and once the problem clears up down the road, either I had to fix a poor connection after arriving at my destination, or it just didn't come back.

Those other suggestions are golden too.
__________________
'02 Winnebago Journey DL, DSDP, 36' of fun.

Visit my RV Travel & Repair Blog at : https://chaos.goblinbox.com
Jim_HiTek is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-21-2018, 05:35 PM   #5
Winnebago Owner
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Bettendorf Iowa
Posts: 203
The same thing happened to me...I had to get off a steep driveway and the rear jacks grounded out..not real heavy but touched the pavement and I was able to just continue to get back on level ground...The jacks were not turned on at the time but all the lights and bells came on ...I subsequently stopped the rig..shut off the engine..waited a bit ..restarted and everything came back to normal...They are still working fine....
Reniram is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-28-2018, 05:14 PM   #6
Winnie-Wise
 
David K's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Grayson, GA
Posts: 344
I have a HWH leveling system but I suspect that what happened is the "jarring" on the rough road caused your jacks to come down a few millimeters which causes the "jacks down" alarm to come on. When you stopped, the springs (which retract the jacks) pulled the jacks back up those few millimeters and the alarm will go off. This is not unusual as the "jacks up" alarm has very tight tolerance and just that slight movement will cause the alarm to go off. Sounds like it was a really ROUGH road. I have had it happen on one jack when traveling and hit a really bad seam between the road and a bridge where they had re-topped the surface.
__________________
Dave and Karen -- '02 Ultimate Advantage 36 C, 350 HP Cummins, Allison 3060 Tranny
'13 Ford Edge, InvisiBrake
David K is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-29-2018, 07:28 AM   #7
Winnebago Master
 
jerichorick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Full-timer/volunteer w/SOWERS
Posts: 2,734
Quote:
Originally Posted by starcrwzr View Post
Just got back from a 1,600 mile trip to New Mexico. While on that trip we hit a section of paved road that was a real washboard. Thought our teeth were going to come out of our heads it was so bad. So while driving down this section of road my Power Gear leveling control starts beeping, all the LED's are flashing and the jacks down light is on. I pulled over and check and all the jacks are up. The control panel returned to normal and the beeping stopped. Started back up again and after a few minutes of bumpiness hell, it did it again. I ignored it this time and it stopped, only to have it happen again a mile or so down the road. We finally got into a better stretch of road and the problem never returned. Any ideas on what was going on?
One of the jacks may have a close tolerance on the jack alarm switch. If this happens again, take a look at the control panel and see if one of the jack down lights is on or flashing. Hit the store button and see if it stops. Remember which jack it is and see if you can tighten the sensor switch in just a bit. This might resolve the false alarms.
__________________
Rick & Melissa Young & Dawson (RIP), 2011 Meridian 40U, FL XCL, ISL 380HP/DEF, Al 3000 MH, 2014 Honda CR-V, SMI AF1, Blue Ox TruCenter & tow equip.,EEZTire TPMS.
Servants On Wheels Ever Ready. Best job we ever paid to do . (full time volunteers)
jerichorick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-29-2018, 09:10 AM   #8
Winnebago Camper
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Maroa, IL
Posts: 13
I've had same issue, about 3 times in about 100K miles. All of the above are very good answers. Last time was two years and 45K ago. I just ingored it and it went away. I did check oil level and also checked for leaks around hoses on each jack. No leaks.
pjensen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-29-2018, 03:03 PM   #9
Let's kill some bugs!
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Yorba Linda, CA
Posts: 247
Regarding these Power Gear jacks, I have one that won't retract. I just bought this RV used with 1600 miles on it, a 2018 32YE Vista, but it's barely out of warranty. I presume the jacks haven't been used much with so few miles. The retract indicators has a light on, showing the right rear jack down. Although the spring looks good, like all the others, I have to force it up with a 2X4 which is a pain in the rear, literally. Seems awfully stiff, even though it is practically brand new. Any ideas?
John Locke is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-29-2018, 04:02 PM   #10
Winnebago Camper
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Midland Park NJ
Posts: 20
Assuming you have HWH brand jacks, there will be a white plastic lever on the end of each hydraulic solenoid ; each jack has a solenoid as do each slide out. The lever is a manual release for the hydraulic line pressure. Identify which solenoid controls the bad jack , Close the lever and the springs should lift the jack. There should be a diagram identifying which solenoid goes to the jack in question in your owners manual. Chances are the solenoid has developed an internal electrical short. The “repair “ is to replace the solenoid.
tombones49 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-30-2018, 06:24 AM   #11
Winnebago Master
 
jerichorick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Full-timer/volunteer w/SOWERS
Posts: 2,734
Quote:
Originally Posted by John Locke View Post
Regarding these Power Gear jacks, I have one that won't retract. I just bought this RV used with 1600 miles on it, a 2018 32YE Vista, but it's barely out of warranty. I presume the jacks haven't been used much with so few miles. The retract indicators has a light on, showing the right rear jack down. Although the spring looks good, like all the others, I have to force it up with a 2X4 which is a pain in the rear, literally. Seems awfully stiff, even though it is practically brand new. Any ideas?
Have you cleaned the jacks with WD40 or CRC Power Lube with PTFE? Even a mild soap solution will work for a short time. You need to clean the fine dirt buildup off the jack shaft from time to time. A small squirt of one of the above sprays at stow time will help greatly.
__________________
Rick & Melissa Young & Dawson (RIP), 2011 Meridian 40U, FL XCL, ISL 380HP/DEF, Al 3000 MH, 2014 Honda CR-V, SMI AF1, Blue Ox TruCenter & tow equip.,EEZTire TPMS.
Servants On Wheels Ever Ready. Best job we ever paid to do . (full time volunteers)
jerichorick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-30-2018, 06:40 AM   #12
Site Team
 
creativepart's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Spring Branch, TX
Posts: 7,780
Quote:
Originally Posted by starcrwzr View Post
We finally got into a better stretch of road and the problem never returned. Any ideas on what was going on?
It’s the hydraulic fluid level. You don’t have a problem or are too low. That’s just what it does any time you hit a big bump or jolt. It has to be a pretty sharp one.

By the way it is the same thing that will happen if you are low on fluid. The jolt just sloshes the fluid so much that the controller thinks the fluid is low for a second.

It will alarm more often on bumps and sharp angles if your fluid is just on the edge of low. So it’s wise to check it. But even fully topped up it will set off the alarm on really big, sharp bumps or jolts.
__________________
2017 Winnebago Adventurer 37F
2016 Lincoln MKX Toad
creativepart is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-30-2018, 01:17 PM   #13
Let's kill some bugs!
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Yorba Linda, CA
Posts: 247
Quote:
Originally Posted by jerichorick View Post
Have you cleaned the jacks with WD40 or CRC Power Lube with PTFE? Even a mild soap solution will work for a short time. You need to clean the fine dirt buildup off the jack shaft from time to time. A small squirt of one of the above sprays at stow time will help greatly.
Funny you mention that. This RV is practically new, I bought it with 1677 miles on it last Thursday. When I was driving it home to Calif from Penn, I stopped at Walmart to buy a dump hose. I also bought WD40 to clean the shafts of each jack, however I didn't use it because I was afraid to put the jacks down, in fear I couldn't get them retracted for the drive home, so I postponed that job. I didn't have a 2X4 to push the jack up, so I decided to address the problem later. The WD40 is in the sink of the RV, waiting to be used when I get the time. I'll work on this problem this weekend, now that I'm home.
John Locke is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-05-2018, 11:41 AM   #14
Winnie-Wise
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 282
Quote:
Originally Posted by FishBear View Post
Another possibility involves ATF levels in reservoir. If you are "right on the edge" of not having enough fluid in there even the slightest movement or jostling around could trigger the low fluid alarm.
This would be the first place to start had the same problem on another rig and ATF Fluid was always the problem due to a slow leak in the system.
__________________
Ray & Diane
2005 Winnebago Vectra 36RD
Honda CRV
RD Eagle is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Strange thing happened extending the Jacks Dunnpe General Maintenance and Repair 12 05-25-2010 12:52 PM
Well, it finally happened... JWatkins Winnebago General Discussions 20 12-17-2008 02:49 PM
WEIRD TELEVISION WITH MIND OF ITS OWN emmmw Tech | Toys and Gear 15 07-09-2008 07:52 PM
Weird Basement A/C problem Moder2 General Maintenance and Repair 22 02-09-2008 04:22 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Winnebago Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:46 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.