suspension air bags

[doghouse]

what causes my rear chassis airbags to deflate when parked? 1992 Monaco Dynasty 38

[doghouse]

what causes my rear chassis airbags to deflate when parked? 1992 Monaco Dynasty 38

[Happycarz]

More than likely one of the air lines is leaking coming out of the rear air tank. When the rear air bags deflate, what is the rear tank air guage reading? If it is around 60 or so, run the air pressure up to normal and spray the lines/fittings going to the air bags with soapy water, watching for bubbles. If the pressure is way below 60, spray the other lines/fittings instead. The air bag lines are connected to the tank through a valve that closes off the supply to the air bags lines at approxiamately 60 psi. So, you either have a leak in the air bag system or somewhere in the other lines. Be carefull underneath the coach. We don't want you to get squished. You just signed on with us and we want to hear from you for a long time. Welcome aboard.

[doghouse]

Thanks for the info.
I discovered my engine battery had boiled over, three cells were completely dry. I removed the battery and refilled. but I think it is dead. When I reinstalled the battery it became hot to the touch. Could a bad battery have anything to do with the airbags?
Thanks
Scotty

[Happycarz]

Scotty,
The air bag system has mechanical air valves. If the air system is tight it should hold air with the battery disconnect switches off.
Put a volt meter on that hot battery and test it. 12.7 volts is fully charged with the battery switches off. If it is higher than that, turn the battery switches off until you determine the cause. Is your coach plugged into a land line?

[doghouse]

The coach is plug into shore power, 50 amp.
But once the battery started to boil over, I disconnected and removed the battery cables. So the air bag system is mechanical, but does it need power for any type of sensor or to activate valves? And why do only the rear air bags deflate?
Thanks
Scotty

[Happycarz]

Scotty,
You have two air tanks on your coach. The front one runs the front brakes and front air bags and the rear works the rear brakes and bags. So, if the rear tank looses air, the rear air bags deflate. Again, look at the rear air gauge. Is it above or below 60 psi when your rear settles? The air bag systtem is mechanical only. The mechanical ride height sensors add or let the air out of the air bags as long as you have over 60 psi in the storage tank. I have adjusted mine, keeping the key in my pocket while under the rig, and can raise or lower the coach by moving the arm on the valve, once the linkage is disconnected. This can be dangerous if one is not familiar with the system. If you are in the wrong spot under there when the air bags deflate completely, you will get hurt. Check out that gauge.

[doghouse]

Thanks Harry
Don't worry, I am not going to adjust the ride til I gather more information on how everything operates on the coach. Don't want to get smashed. After more observation I noticed that the front air bags also defleted. I am buying new batteries today, and once I install them I will continue my investigation. By the way, where is the guage located?

If you want to email me direct sbroussard@prideoilandgas.net

Thanks
Scotty

[Happycarz]

Scotty,
My '93 had one air gauge on the dash with two needles on it, one for the front tank and one for the rear tank. You should have one.

[doghouse]

Thanks
Put in new batteries, and cranked her up. Air gauge went to 100psi. After engine shut down, slowly sank to 90psi after 1 hour. Funny ping noise every 2 minutes comming from front air tank (top)???. Also what is the proper start up for my cummins engine? Seems I have to keep starter engaged longer than I feel comfortable. After startup she purrs like a kitten.
Thanks for all your help
Scotty

[Happycarz]

Where are you located? What is the tempeerature? Turn the key on, wait 15 seconds, then turn the engine over and see if that helps. The Cummins has a heater in the intake, heating the incoming air, which in turn aid a rapid start. Most have a "wait' light on the dash. Maybe yours doesn't or the bulb has burned out. Try waiting with the key on and see if that helps it start quicker.

Does the air gauge have two needles? Sounds like you have a sustantial leak and shouldn't be a big deal to find it with a spray bottle of soapy water.

[moisheh]

In order to find the air leak you will have to crawl under your unit. PLEASE make sure you use jack stands. You would not want your air bags to bleed down while you are underneath!!!!

[doghouse]

Harry
I am located in Lafayette, LA. Air temp about 50 at night, 75 during the day. I turned the key to the right for about 15 seconds, then tried to start. Did not help much. If I do have a light on the dash, it is not working.
Where is the induction heater located?

My air gauge does have two needles, one white and one red. They seem to move together most of the time and top out about 110psi and after about 6 hours after engine shut down move down to about 60 psi. I put down the jack stands when parked. Should I put more stands in place before attempting to find my leak?
Thanks again for all the help.
Scotty

[Happycarz]

Doghouse,
There are two heavy gauge wires going to a plate on the intake manifold. Underneath the plate is a grid which the intake air passes over. The key switch sends a signal to a relay, the relay closes sending battery currrent to the grid, heating it up. Use a 12v test light or volt meter to test for voltage when the key is first turned on. These are usually fused with a 50 amp fuse for each wire. If they are not working, ands the temperature drops, it will be more difficult to start. With Cummins using grid heaters in the intake manifold, you will not be able to use starting fluid.

By all means, play it safe and use jack stands. Saying that, I have extended the coach jacks, rolled underneath on a creeper and sprayed lines, all the while staying in a safe open zone underneath. Think the worst case senario and leave youself an out.