Airbags inflate when jack are down -- ???

[Stan & BJ]

I have a 2011 Winnebago Journey. Until this recent problem, my set-up procedure is 1) dump airbags, 2) level by extending jacks, and 3) run out slides. (The first two are simply done by "Auto Level".) My "take down" procedure is the reverse: 1) run in slides, 2) retract jacks ("Auto Store"), and 3) inflate airbags simply by running engine. I mention all this because I see in IRV2 and Google searches that there are several different sequences for different manufacturers. (I cannot find my specific problem in those searches.)

Winnebago advises running the engine while moving the slides out and in for efficient alternator and battery usage. For my above sequences this would be while the airbags are deflated and the jacks are extended/down. When the jacks are down, the airbags are normally deactivated and do not inflate when the engine is running. (I don't know the mechanics of this. Electrically triggered valves?) The air tanks fill per the air gauges, but the airbags do not inflate. This has always been the normal operating procedure until a few weeks ago.

Several weeks ago my dealer corrected a worsening jack-retraction problem by putting new springs on all four jacks and by totally replacing two jacks (HWH hydraulic) that had bad seals. (My extended warranty covered all this.) Since then, when I turn on the engine to run the slides in or out and WHILE THE JACKS ARE DOWN, the air bags inflate! (I first noticed this when the motor home was parked at home with the jacks down and I wanted to run the engine only to use compressed air to inflate a couple tires, as I've done many times. But his time the airbags inflated when doing so. I didn't need or want them to.

In this scenario (jacks down) the primary air tank builds up 100 pounds of pressure, but the secondary tank builds up only to 65-70 pounds of pressure. The pressure relief ("ppfff..") never sounds. When I turn the engine off, I can hear air being released at the rear of the motor home. When the jacks are later retracted and the engine is turned on, the air tanks build to 100-110 pounds, and the airbags fully inflate for traveling.

I'm currently away from home on a month-long trip. I talked to my dealer's service manager by phone before I left home, and he didn't see how there would be any connection with their having worked on the jacks. The timing coincidence, along with the interface that I presume exits for airbag deactivation when the jacks are down, strongly suggests to me that something was mis-wired or mis-connected or something during the jack work.

Can anyone enlighten me regarding the jacks/airbag interface? I would like to be able to educate my service manage upon my return home as to what might have happened and what needs to be done to fix it (which is to get back to total airbag deactivation while the jacks are down). Thanks for reading this long post and thanks for any and all assistance. ~ Stan

[Skip426]

Just off hand , I'll say one of the first things you'll need is an air system diagram from your coaches chassis manufacturer, that will detail the , air tank involved in the aux air systems operation.
My F/L , air suspension , air horn & exhaust brake, draw from the same tank.
My coach will not run without inflating the air suspension so I can't help with the rest of your issue, but think there must have been a shut off for inflation installed with the levelers .
Possibly by the coach manufacturer ?
Do you have all the paperwork for your leveling system ?
A complete installation manual for the levelers would answer a lot of questions.

[dmurdock]

I'd call HWH and ask them if that is in the circuit and if what you are experiencing is normal.