weird air suspension problem

[powerboatr]

THis past few weeks on our wild journey to AR, i was in a spot that was fairly level. i dropped the coach to the stops and then auto leveled it. NO problems
but the driver front tire was just hanging on the edge of the site, it was a curved site with a huge drop off on each side.
when i got ready to leave the bags inflated and i selected retract jacks, no problems.... then a LOUD metallic POP, dogs lept from their sleeping spots.
i did a look under the coach and could find no issues
then at the crater of diamonds state park, the site was unlevel towards the front and again i dumped the bags, let it settle and then auto leveled, i ran out of front jack range to bring the nose up to level, mind you it was pretty darn close, so i retracted jacks, rolled forward about 1 foot and did it all over again. we ended up about 1-2 degrees out of level for and aft.
so the next morning i filled the bags, so i thought and retracted the jacks,
during my pre drive off inspection the nose was still LOW so i peered under the front bags were empty, i thought what now did i blow a bag or line.
so i recycled teh dump valve and nothing happend, so for grins i released the brakes and rolled about 3" and there was a LOUD pop and up we came the front bags filled up. So what was binding? i havent found anything odd underneath
thanks

[DiamondDan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by powerboatr THis past few weeks on our wild journey to AR, i was in a spot that was fairly level. i dropped the coach to the stops and then auto leveled it. NO problems but the driver front tire was just hanging on the edge of the site, it was a curved site with a huge drop off on each side. when i got ready to leave the bags inflated and i selected retract jacks, no problems.... then a LOUD metallic POP, dogs lept from their sleeping spots. i did a look under the coach and could find no issues then at the crater of diamonds state park, the site was unlevel towards the front and again i dumped the bags, let it settle and then auto leveled, i ran out of front jack range to bring the nose up to level, mind you it was pretty darn close, so i retracted jacks, rolled forward about 1 foot and did it all over again. we ended up about 1-2 degrees out of level for and aft. so the next morning i filled the bags, so i thought and retracted the jacks, during my pre drive off inspection the nose was still LOW so i peered under the front bags were empty, i thought what now did i blow a bag or line. so i recycled teh dump valve and nothing happend, so for grins i released the brakes and rolled about 3" and there was a LOUD pop and up we came the front bags filled up. So what was binding? i havent found anything odd underneath thanks

Same problem here in an 08 Astoria.
Call Freightliner - they suggested it's a {xyz} valve (don't remember exactly) and will be replaced under warranty.

I haven't been in for the fix yet, but they issued me a ref number in their system for the freightliner service center.

-dan

[pepawntx]

Have the same problem here... and at times it is really loud. Just had it checked while at a Service Center (they found nothing). But all they did was cycle the leveling jacks a couple of times. "DiamondDan"... might be a big help if you can get the name of that valve. "powerboatr"... you mention dumping the air bags prior to auto leveling. First time I've heard of doing that. How do you "dump" the air bags?

[KIX]

It may be the ride height valve control rod. It would be a 1/4" rod connected from the front ride height valve to a fixed point on the chassis. Should run in a vertical plane. The valve should be over the front axle. Some chassis have dual ride height valves and some only have a single valve.

[DiamondDan]

Freightliner replaced my leveling valve. It was either that or the proportioning valve, so they started with the easy-to-get-to one. It is still slow to inflate the front bags when the wheels are up off the ground (2 mins), but they will come up now. The banging and popping as the front bags inflate remains a feature of my fine coach :-)
-dan

[powerboatr]

I have sort of worked out the bug
when i dump the bags and then level, if i reset the bag dump switch back to inflate, it will work perfectly the next day.
but if i leave it in the dump mode, say overnight, it will not inflate until i roll a few feet or recycle the valve a few times.
i try now to inflate the bags before i lift the jacks up, this prevents that scream of hyd fluid back through the pump and stops the coach from going DROP.
i have a trip coming up to freightliner for rear ride height and i am going to have to checked out once more.

[doc]

Hmmmm? I have leveled prior to lowering and when it leveled it was fine, BUT the coach settled on its on - maybe the bags leaked down and was leaning severely to one side. Now I always lower it, then auto level. Flip the switch back to inflate the next AM when we head out again. Hope I don't get into that banging business!