PowerGear Leveling

[brrving]

Question on the PowerGear system on my '06 Endeavor (140-1226 keypad, hydraulic auto leveling). There appears to be a loose connection, whenever I attempt to put any of the jacks down they automatically retract with the alarm that the Park Brake is not engaged. Which of course it is. Fluid level is good.

But where is the control box for the PowerGear system? Is everything built into the keypad? I know where the pump and valves are located but not sure where the connections would be to check for the loose park brake connection.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[wa8yxm]

Check the parking brake switch.. I found one of two wires hooked to it ... Was not hooked to it... when I looked at mine.

Different make and model, but... what can I say.. that would do it (In my case the one hooked to it was the Power Gear's. it was the dash indicator that was D/C

[itdave]

Hi brrving,

I also have a 06 Endeavor the control box is mounted to the overhead of the rear pass through bay on the passenger side. There is a cable that goes from the keypad to the control box. There is a known issue with the plug on the control box that the cable plugs into but that issue normally causes the key pad to indicated a communication error, not the problem you described. The reply from wa8yxm makes a lot of sense. There is an electrical switch installed on the manifold for the park brake knob. It can be accessed by removing the screws from the side dash panel and gently lifting it up the whole panel.
I just had to replace my switch because every time I put the coach in gear I would get an alarm indication the Park Brake was still applied. I know the Power Gear has a interlock that retracts the jack if the park brake is released and the coach is put in gear. I don't have access to all my manuals at the moment but if you call Power Gear or check their web site they maybe able to give you more help. I also know that Monaco is still answering questions regarding all year and models so you could give them a call

[brrving]

Thanks wa8yxm and itdave.

I'm going to look for the Control Box tomorrow and will check out the switch too.

Thanks for the assistance!

[nodine]

Quote:

Originally Posted by brrving Thanks wa8yxm and itdave. I'm going to look for the Control Box tomorrow and will check out the switch too. Thanks for the assistance!

I have lost track of how many switches I have fixed on our motorhome using this sutff:
CRC Industries Product Detail

Would you believe the switch that moves the step cover in and out at the driver location would move the slide out but not back in. We had to use the co-ploit switch to get the slide back in. A good dose of CRC Contact cleaner fixed the switch without disconnecting it. I did have to get to the back of the switch so the cleaner could be sprayed inside the switch. Try some of this on your park brake switch and see if it takes care of your problem.

Bob

[RedWolf2426]

I had this problem on an '08 Knight. Found that the relay in the rodeside front compartment was bad. Relay number 1 in the '08 Knight controls the sensor showing park brake and in-gear indications. If the relay is stuck then the system causes the levelers to retract with alarm on. I went to Auto Zone and the nice tech there looked at the 4 numbers on the relay and determined it was from a Dodge system, found a replacement, and everything is ok now. Before, I had to use the system calibration mode to level the coach and then turn off the ignition key. We camped in that mode and when the key was turned on the levelers immediately retracted with the alarm. Check your relay. Get an electrical schematic from Monaco techs and trace your system. Good Luck.
RedWolf

[chirohand]

Having a simular problem with my 2007 HR Endeavor. When I level with the jacks in the "auto" mode, they work fine. When I try to retract them sometimes they retract and sometimes not. When they do not I must go outside and release the bottom valve on the pump manually. The keyboard must be in the retract mode. Did some self diagnostics and found that there is only 5.7 volts at the electromagnet that fits around the valve to release the hydrolic fluid. If I apply 12 volts to the electromagnet the valve opens and the jacks retract as the should. Called "Power Gear" but they talk only to dealers now. New policy. I then turned to a Monoco tech. He told me that all they do is to supply 12 volts to the power gear equipment. That the keyboard tells the brain to activate the valve. He thought the problem might be in the keyboard or the brain. I asked three questions. 1. What should be the voltage at the valve. He did not know. 2. Where is the "Brain". Again he did not know. 3. I then asked for a schematic. He said that if he could find any he would e-mail them to me. I have not received it as yet.

Has anyone had a simular problem? I am in Florida for now, going to call Wildwood tomorrow to see about an appointment.

Thanks for any help
Scott and Jo
2007 HR 40' Endeavor PDQ

[brrving]

Thanks to all that replied!

Looks as if my problem was a loose ground wire. I found an unused ground wire within the same area and used that one to correct the problem.

[brrving]

Well after further work the ground wire was not the final solution. The park brake pressure switch was the culprit! This is a switch made by Nason and is about $46 from Monaco parts. It is mounted on the park brake knob itself. The switch is supposed to provide a closed contact when the brake is engaged but mine was reading a high resistance value.

Not something I looked at in the beginning! I wouldn't think these switches would fail. One hint that kept me looking was that the "park brake" light in the dash panel looked to me to be "dimmer" than normal.

Another lesson learned.