03 Monaco Dynasty Generator slide inop

[texnet]

I was checking fluild levels today and after adding windshield washer fuild and checking the generator oil and radiator level I pushed the button to close the generator slide and it did not close. The hydralic pump made the normal sounds like it was trying to close. I closed and opened all the other slides and they worked fine but the generator slide refuses to close. All the slides in my coach use the same hydralic pump.

Is there a check value or something easy that could just be stuck. Any advice as to where to start would be appreciated!

[Zbugsii]

There are probably one of two reasons why. Each of the slides and generator slide works by turning on the hydraulic pump and activating the hydraulic solenoid (either the open or close one depending on the direction of travel you want). Now, the most probably cause is because the contacts on the switch are pitted and are not making proper connection for the solenoid. The circuitry is different for the solenoids and the pump. I found this to be the problem with my 05 Dynasty. The solenoids seldom go bad. Anyway, I took the switch off and opened it up and cleaned the contacts. I previously had an 03 Dynasty and the switches were the same.

But, taking them apart is painfull and you must take care to not loose pieces or how to put them back together.

You could, for temporary solution, get to the hydraulic manifold and loosen the nut (check your manual in regard to this) on the back of the proper solenoid and while someone activates the switch get ready to tighten the nut once the slide comes in. You need to tighten it once the slide comes in or it will creap out once the switch is let go.

Another option, once you figure out the switch wiring, is to make a temporary override connection while pressing the switch to operate the hydraulic pump.

I think you will find it is most likely a pitted contacts switch.

Hope this helps.

[texnet]

Zbugsii... Thanks for the tip, but when I activate the in/out switch the pump is activated. Doesn't that mean the contacts are making, or am I missing something?

[KIX]

Zbugsii is advising that the solenoid switch is potentially faulty NOT the pump switch. It's the switch that controls the gen slide solenoid.

[targaboat]

KIX, don't you mean the solenoid operated switch for the slide and not for the pump or the manual switch you activate with your finger?

[texnet]

Kix and targaboat... thanks for the additional info. I looked through the schematics and found the one that has the HWH Hydraulic Pump Wiring and will check to make sure it is not a bad switch, a bad connection on the switch or wiring before I look at the solenoid.

The slide switch is DPDT. Two sets of contacts for in and two sets for out. One set goes to the pump and the other set goes to the solenoid. So it is possible for the switch to be bad on the solenoid side and still work on the pump side.

[Zbugsii]

Texnet, that is correct, two separate circuits, and the one designed for the hydraulic pump is the way it should have been done for the solenoids, that is, by activating a relay that has contacts suited for the current needed such that the contacts do not get pitted.

On my 05, I had the exact problem you had but it was on two of the slides and I fixed both with cleaning the pitted contacts.

The solenoids pull more current than the switches are rated for, thus the pitting.

Hope if works out for you.

[texnet]

Zbugsii... Thanks for the tip on the pitted contacts on the switch, which led me to actually look at the schematic to see how the switch was wired.

I pulled the switch and checked for 12vdc on the center terminal for the slide solenoid section of the switch and found 0vdc. Then looked at the fuses that are located in front of the pump and found the 15amp fuse that goes to the gen slide "IN" solenoid blown! New fuse and all back working! Amazing what happens when a person decides to open the book (schematic PDF) and see what is in the circuit! You would think after working on electronics since I was 9 years old (now almost 65) I would look at the schematic FIRST