At first, it would not start

[CoastieSCPO]

Yesterday, we were getting ready to drive home from Dandridge to Monterey, Tn. I pulled the slides in and tried starting the engine to bring up the HWH levelers. No start. Had all the lights, bells and whistles. I checked the brand new battery connections. Had the wife turn it over as I smacked the starter. No nothing. Then I remembered: put it in neutral! Guess what...started right up. Of course I was glad, but a tad confused why it wouldn't start in park. I even "played" with the shifter but she would not cooperate. This has happened in the past with the same solution.

I tried a search on this forum to find out why this may have happened, but no luck. Anyone have any words of wisdom.

Thanks

Bob

[bjsheldon]

It may be a protective feature that is wired so you can't start ( and drive off) with the jacks down.

[CoastieSCPO]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjsheldon It may be a protective feature that is wired so you can't start ( and drive off) with the jacks down.

Thought of that but nope, the HWH manual say's to start the engine, press the "off" button, then press the "store" button. That's the way we've been doing it for a long time. Now, the jacks down when driving is another story for another time. My right front jack came down just enough yesterday to make the darn chime ring for the 110 mile trip home and I know the jack was only down just a little (1/2 inch).

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoastieSCPO My right front jack came down just enough yesterday to make the darn chime ring for the 110 mile trip home and I know the jack was only down just a little (1/2 inch).

Chief, On an HWH System, you can turn the system on and press store while running down the road. That should allow the down jack to store and silence the alarm. I've done this several times on my rig. There's no need to set the brake for a jacks up command.

[bdaball]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DriVer Chief, On an HWH System, you can turn the system on and press store while running down the road. That should allow the down jack to store and silence the alarm. I've done this several times on my rig. There's no need to set the brake for a jacks up command.

Ditto, been there done that. The vibration of your rig running down the road may help with a stubborn cylinder. However that being said. Be careful as to how long you wait before pulling over.

As to the no-start. I would still double check all starter wire connections. For ease of access disconnect your battery BEFORE you attempt to check the connections. You will be surprise how little room you have to turn a socket and ratchet before you see sparks. (been there done that!)

[dieselclacker]

Directions on my 2004 with HWH state that you should be in the store mode while traveling down the road. I seem to always forget to push the store button after shutting down the engine for fuel stops etc. When a jack down alarm sounds, simply hit the store button.

Dieselclacker

[CoastieSCPO]

We always run with the system in the store mode. Sometimes, when the red light goes on and the chimes start, a simple press of the store button works, but not yesterday. Had 110 miles of ding ding ding. I know that sometimes I've been called a dingbat, among other things, but this is ridiculous, I tell ya. I'm looking for the fuse, but Tiffin was smart and made the fuse a combo. My buddy told me to cut the wire to the chime and hook up a toggle switch and turn the darn thing off when it acts up. Hmmmmm!!! Oh, I'll check the starter connections tomorrow, thanks Dieselclacker.

Bob

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoastieSCPO Sometimes, when the red light goes on and the chimes start, a simple press of the store button works, but not yesterday.

Bob, It is unsaid in your post BUT I hope you turned the system ON before you hit store.

[CoastieSCPO]

Thanks for the thought Mike. I don't remember. In the morning, I will go out and go through the steps that I actually do and those that I should do. Hopefully, they are the same. I think they are. You know, a mind is a terrible thing to waste or something like that.

[JohnRR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoastieSCPO No start. (in park) put it in neutral! Guess what...started right up. Of course I was glad, but a tad confused why it wouldn't start in park. I even "played" with the shifter but she would not cooperate. This has happened in the past with the same solution.

Possible faulty neutral safety switch in the P position?

[pkmesser]

It is obvious there is a sensor in each jack, that tells position. There is a set of wires going to the top of each jack, which I am sure, is to the sensor. I have never read what type of sensor it is, but based on the application, it is probably a magnetic proximity sensor. It is not uncommon that this type fails. Depending on how the circuit is wired, a bad sensor would probably give the alarm all the time. This should not keep you from starting the engine, but could explain the alarm for 110 miles. I would expect the sensor could be replaced if needed, without opening the jack up or perhaps without removing it from the coach. I suggest, if you still have the alarm, and the jack is all the way up, as indicated by how much of the ram is (not) showing, to look into the sensor on that jack. BTW, on mine, a half inch of polished shaft showing will generally alarm.

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pkmesser BTW, on mine, a half inch of polished shaft showing will generally alarm.

My jack will alarm with less showing than that.

[pkmesser]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DriVer My jack will alarm with less showing than that.

Mine probably do too, I was just making the point that it does not take much "down" for them to alarm. I have never gotten under there and put a tape on one, It is visually disconcerting, a little bit of "bright" shaft looks like a lot to me.

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pkmesser Mine probably do too, I was just making the point that it does not take much "down" for them to alarm. I have never gotten under there and put a tape on one, It is visually disconcerting, a little bit of "bright" shaft looks like a lot to me.

pkmesser, I bet it's less than an 1/8th of an inch of visible shaft until the alarm will be satisfied. It doesn't take much at all to set off the alarm any where near that point.