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11-12-2018, 01:20 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 871
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Atwood Level Legs problem
I have a 2007 Kountry Star 3910. The levelers work perfectly to automaticly level and all retract... but that is only when you can get the buttons to activate.
My unit only works when the ignition is in the on position (with the engine off) The manuals says it should be in the accessory position, but it has never worked that way.
My problem is the you have to push the on button many times to get it on. Likewise when pushing the auto level or all up functions. Sometimes I have to turn the ignition key back and forth a few time to get the lights to come on. Sometimes they work the first time and others they do not.
I removed the keypad and cleaned the connector with De-oxit, but no improvement. My theory is either the battery voltage may be low, or that a ground connection has become corroded.
I'm thinking the problem is a connection issue, but the location of my controller is mid coach inside a compartment. Nearly impossible for an old guy to reach.
Has anyone had this exact problem and found the cause?
__________________
Craig and Susan
Morgan Hill, CA 2007 Newmar Kountry Star 3910 towing a 1998 Ford Explorer. RVing since gas was 58 cents a gallon. Amateur Radio Operator (W6ADV) since 1962.
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11-12-2018, 02:46 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 122
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My experience is you likely have a control panel going bad. There is no good fix for that. I had considered just putting toggle switches in but decided to ditch attwood and go HWH.
If that's you're problem, welcome to the club, we've been waiting for you. With a 2007, you're late.
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Jerry
2010 DS3623, 360HP, 1050 torq, Spartan
2017 Jeep Cherokee Trail hawk
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11-12-2018, 03:03 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Nor'easters Club Appalachian Campers Ford Super Duty Owner Coastal Campers
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,463
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You may be able to salvage the control panel by disassembling it and cleaning the membrane keypad contacts. They are like remote controls and get gummed up with stuff and stop working, DW would disassemble them and clean them with alcohol and get several more years of service from them. Not sure how easy it would be with the Atwood panel but it may be worth a try.
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Stewart, Brenda and kids
2008 Newmar Canyon Star 3410, now at a new home
2006 Roadtrek Versatile 210
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11-12-2018, 03:13 PM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Redmond, WA
Posts: 42
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I have a similar problem and have found that the control pad works best with the engine running at a fast idle. Seems to operate better when it is getting full voltage.
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Kraft Crew
2014 Newmar Dutch Star 4018
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11-12-2018, 03:22 PM
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Albuquerque NM
Posts: 36
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I have a 2008 Bay Star. I just yesterday finished installing A Gama Electronics RF system on my levellegs. It was like yours anyone’s guess if it would work. It hasn’t work in manual mode for a long time and it was getting cranky to power it up.
I now use a remote to lower and raise the legs works great—-no auto level but it works for me.
Cost me with wire etc $225 and it was a project that enjoyed doing.
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11-12-2018, 05:25 PM
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#6
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Moderator Emeritus
Nor'easters Club Workhorse Chassis Owner iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 30,785
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The Atwood jacks had problems with grounds to your chassis frame and it was said new ground wires from your negative battery post run to the frame of your jack. You need a good ground for your positive battery to get back to battery.
This link can lead you to all threads involving the jacks the QT's #3 link has answers and the TECH link below in my signature.
The bolts on the jack to chassis frame maybe rusting up and causing the poor return ground to battery all connections battery to chassis frame, jacks need to be clean and if you can make sure the mechanics of jack is lube and not rusting up.
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11-13-2018, 10:06 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 367
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My 2007 Kountry Star DP has to have the engine running (I put engine on fast idle) to have enough electrical power to activate the jacks. Been like this from day one when I bought new and as briefed by the dealer and factory folks. If engine not running I likely could not get them up or down
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Howard & Connie. USAF Retired
2007 Newmar KSDP tow Jeep 4dr wrangler
member of IRV2since 2003
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11-13-2018, 03:56 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 871
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imgoin4it engine running when retracting makes sense, but when extending, how can you blow the air with the engine running
__________________
Craig and Susan
Morgan Hill, CA 2007 Newmar Kountry Star 3910 towing a 1998 Ford Explorer. RVing since gas was 58 cents a gallon. Amateur Radio Operator (W6ADV) since 1962.
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11-14-2018, 10:16 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 367
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Craig36. Do not know answer to your question and never thought about it, but when I hit auto level air dumps and jacks start extending. Has worked this way from the day I bought it. I was told from day one the engine had to be running. In fact at the dealer before I even left the lot I forgot this instruction and tried to level with engine off and jacks tried to move but just didn’t have enough “juice” to work. Having said this I now have trouble retracting mine. Have to recycle them several times to get all up and it is not necessarily the same jack. Worked as I described for about 10 years now they drive me up the wall because I’m never sure they are going to retract.
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Howard & Connie. USAF Retired
2007 Newmar KSDP tow Jeep 4dr wrangler
member of IRV2since 2003
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11-15-2018, 11:23 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: BC, Cariboo, Lower Mainland.
Posts: 2,293
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I always level and store with engine running. I’ve tried a few times with engine off key on but get low voltage on controller.
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2022 25FKBS
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11-15-2018, 12:18 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,772
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rudy5
I have a 2008 Bay Star. I just yesterday finished installing A Gama Electronics RF system on my levellegs. It was like yours anyone’s guess if it would work. It hasn’t work in manual mode for a long time and it was getting cranky to power it up.
I now use a remote to lower and raise the legs works great—-no auto level but it works for me.
Cost me with wire etc $225 and it was a project that enjoyed doing.
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Which Gamma Electronics product did you get (part #?)
__________________
Terry & Alice
2006 Bounder 38L DP
2012 GMC Terrain
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11-15-2018, 02:40 PM
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Albuquerque NM
Posts: 36
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Fire doc
I used 4–28-3P-MOM toggle switches
1–RF-340-4PR-ASL Remote control system
1–LR-340 long range external antenna
I bought these from Gama Electronics’s web site. They also have a every good you tube video on the RF-340-4PR-ASL that explains how to set it up etc.
I installed these because my Atwood system was not working all the time. It was always a question if it would even power up. I always had the engine running and a good charge on the chassis battery. It would not power up with out the engine running.
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11-15-2018, 04:45 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 871
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Thanks to all who responded. My coach is at the repair shop replacing a leaking air bag, so I asked them to clean all ground connections, as that is usually the cause of problems. If that doesn't work, I'll try with the engine running.
__________________
Craig and Susan
Morgan Hill, CA 2007 Newmar Kountry Star 3910 towing a 1998 Ford Explorer. RVing since gas was 58 cents a gallon. Amateur Radio Operator (W6ADV) since 1962.
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