How to Dump Air?

[afrank1971]

Anyone else have the Atwood electric Jacks? Just picked ours up, on our first night in it, but when I went to level the coach, I push the auto button and it levels, but never dumped. Looked and looked, cannot find a "dump" button anywhere. Called the dealer, they'll look into it, but have no immediate answer. Should the air dump when one pushes the "Auto" button? I mean, is it possible to have an air ride DP that doesn't dump the air? Wouldn't make mush sense I don't think. Anyone that has this same setup, whatever info you can provide would be appreciated, thanks!

[afrank1971]

Anyone else have the Atwood electric Jacks? Just picked ours up, on our first night in it, but when I went to level the coach, I push the auto button and it levels, but never dumped. Looked and looked, cannot find a "dump" button anywhere. Called the dealer, they'll look into it, but have no immediate answer. Should the air dump when one pushes the "Auto" button? I mean, is it possible to have an air ride DP that doesn't dump the air? Wouldn't make mush sense I don't think. Anyone that has this same setup, whatever info you can provide would be appreciated, thanks!

["007"]

Do not know if this will help but here is a couple of posts on AIR DUMPS.

[Spikester]

We have Atwood Electric Jacks on our 08 Ventana. There is a procedure in your Atwood Electric Jack operators manual for manually dumping your air bags. Have to go through a series of button pushes on your pushbutton control panel. The air dump is a pretty subtle event, especially from inside the coach, I would consider it more of an air bleed than an air dump. Remember the jacks are deploying as the air is dumping, so at some point jacks take the weight of the coach while the bags continue to deflate. The air dump process is more evident from outside the coach than the inside. The Atwood operators manual also has the procedure to set up the automatic dump feature, but it is a bit complicated, if in fact your air is not dumping I would have your service center do the work for you so it is documented in case you have problems in the future.

Spike

[Spikester]

To further answer your questions, when you hit your auto button the air suspension is supposed to start to dump (bleed) as the jacks start to deploy down. The jacks deploy until all four have hit ground, as the air dump process continues. Once all four jacks have sensed the ground the leveling process begins. The air suspension also is supposed to automatically dump when you manually deploy the jacks.

The air up process is exactly the opposite, when you hit the retract button the jacks will start to retract in conjunction with the air bag pressurization. So again it is a pretty subtle process.

There is no manual air dump button, as I stated before you can manually dump them using a series of button pushes on your control panel, operators manual has the procedure.

Spike

[Pusherman]

Gee, Alan, on my 2007 Winnebago Journey, all I do is push the 'auto level' button, and the air bags dump and the coach levels.

Miss ya on the Winnie forum!

[afrank1971]

Thanks Spike, I figured that's how it should work. Mine must not be hooked up, or maybe some blown fuses, I'll take a look around. Coach has to go back anyway as my power steering has sprung a pretty major leak, luckily made it back from Vegas. Now have to find the reservoir and fill it up for the trip to the shop!

Yeah, Don, I think the Auto button should work just the same as the HWH did, it just doesn't right now. We'll get 'er. Ahh the fun of debugging a new rig again!

[h moffitt]

On my 2007 KSDP you power up the jacks and press "auto". As soon I hit the button the air dumps. I have to have the engine running to have enough voltage to make it all work. Ignor the instructions that say the engine should be off. I asked Newmar about it and their response was to blame the jack manufacturer.

[afrank1971]

Well, I think I may have found the culprit, or at least part of the problem. In the fuse block in the front driver side compartment, there are two slots each with a 5 amp fuse and a relay. One is labeled Tag Dump, the other Air Dump. My Tag Dump has a 5 amp fuse and a relay, the Air Dump has no fuse and no relay. Trouble is, I don't have a tag! So I figured maybe they just plugged them in the wrong spots, went to plug them in the right spots, won't work, they'er blank!! Looks like some wires got crossed at the factory on this one! (pun intended). Ought to be interesting how they'll shake this one out, hopefully won't be too tough. We'll keep you all posted. Thanks, for all the info.
Alan

[afrank1971]

Thought I'd put an update here in case anyone else is having similar issues or found the same configuration in their fuse block. Back at the shop yesterday, I snuck into the showroom to check a couple other coaches, checked a Kountry Star and an All Star, they are all wired the same as mine, they have a 5 amp fuse and relay to the plugs labeled "Tag Dump" and nothing in the "Air Dump" slots? So apparently that's the way they wire all of them, and is apparently not the problem. Tech agreed it is not dumping, and something must not be hooked up. When/if I get a definate answer and get it fixed, I'll post again, just wanted to post that the Tag vs. Air Dump is apparently not an issue.

[afrank1971]

Well, back from the shop and now it dumps like a champ. Apparently the computer was not programmed to do so. Hopefully this set of fixes (air dump, power stearing leak, 1 loose compartment door, and no sound on TV's from SAT or DVD) will be it, I'll keep my fingers crossed, but you know how it goes.