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02-18-2017, 04:26 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 979
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Help! Airbags won't air up!
We are on a trip traveling through Arkansas when suddenly the motorhome starts to vibrate and shake. The road was extremely bumpy just prior to this happening. I was able to limp it in to the RV park on Little Rock Air Force Base. After inspecting underneath I saw that the coach was not at ride height. The airbags were not inflated at all but the air tanks were inflated and my gauges show that the air is at over 100 psi. But again the airbags are not inflated. What is going on here? Any ideas what I can do myself to remedy the situation?
__________________
U.S. Army Retired, 2002 Beaver Patriot Thunder
40 Ft, CAT C12, 455 HP, 1550 Ft Lbs Torque
Towing 2019 Chevy Equinox, AWD Turbo Diesel
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02-18-2017, 05:05 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: So Cal
Posts: 1,368
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Have you checked the ride height rod that is connected to the air leveling valve. I have had this very same thing happen to my Peterbilt the rod gets bent and or loose and will not maintain correct ride height
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02-18-2017, 05:07 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Gulf Streamers Club
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 19,925
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I'd check the ride height valves. If the rod is disconnected or broken, the valve might be stuck in the shut off position. There are generally 3 valves, 2 at one axle, one at the other. By removing one end of the rod, you should be able to manually raise/lower the lever and get air to fill the air springs.
Driving with the chassis at the wrong height can damage U joints and even the transmission end bearing.
__________________
Bob & Donna
'98 Gulf Stream Sun Voyager DP being pushed by a '00 Beetle TDI
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02-18-2017, 07:50 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 979
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BFlinn181
I'd check the ride height valves. If the rod is disconnected or broken, the valve might be stuck in the shut off position. There are generally 3 valves, 2 at one axle, one at the other. By removing one end of the rod, you should be able to manually raise/lower the lever and get air to fill the air springs.
Driving with the chassis at the wrong height can damage U joints and even the transmission end bearing.
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Here is a photo of the ride height control in the rear. There appears to be a loose hose and also something appears torn off the arm. I don't believe that flimsy hose attaches to that arm.... Does it?
__________________
U.S. Army Retired, 2002 Beaver Patriot Thunder
40 Ft, CAT C12, 455 HP, 1550 Ft Lbs Torque
Towing 2019 Chevy Equinox, AWD Turbo Diesel
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02-18-2017, 07:54 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 979
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Trying photo upload again.
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U.S. Army Retired, 2002 Beaver Patriot Thunder
40 Ft, CAT C12, 455 HP, 1550 Ft Lbs Torque
Towing 2019 Chevy Equinox, AWD Turbo Diesel
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02-18-2017, 08:16 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Gulf Streamers Club
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 19,925
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You might Google ride height valve to get an idea what it's supposed to look like, or look at one of your other ride height valves. Typically a flat lever arm attached to the valve and the end of lever is a rod connecting the lever to the axle or suspension. At each end of the rod is a rubber isolator with a socket or hole to fasten on a pin. On mine, I had the rubber isolator dry rot and break. I got a replacement rod and ends at a truck parts shop.
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Bob & Donna
'98 Gulf Stream Sun Voyager DP being pushed by a '00 Beetle TDI
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02-18-2017, 08:44 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Oregon
Posts: 642
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It is possible that the ride height arm got flipped over (went past center) and it dumped all the air out of the bag. It could also be that the rubber "T" broke in two. I had this happen on my last trip. I used electrical tape to put it back together until I could get home. It lasted 800 miles
Be sure to get this up on blocks before you get under neath the coach.
BTW, your photo is not coming through, if you want send me a PM and I'll call you.
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02-19-2017, 06:53 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 979
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Quote:
Originally Posted by John Jones
It is possible that the ride height arm got flipped over (went past center) and it dumped all the air out of the bag. It could also be that the rubber "T" broke in two. I had this happen on my last trip. I used electrical tape to put it back together until I could get home. It lasted 800 miles
Be sure to get this up on blocks before you get under neath the coach.
BTW, your photo is not coming through, if you want send me a PM and I'll call you.
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Thanks John but I was able to jerry rig the adjuster arm for a temporary fix and the bags air up now. I just now need to find a replacement part.
__________________
U.S. Army Retired, 2002 Beaver Patriot Thunder
40 Ft, CAT C12, 455 HP, 1550 Ft Lbs Torque
Towing 2019 Chevy Equinox, AWD Turbo Diesel
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02-19-2017, 09:19 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: North America somewhere
Posts: 30,593
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Most any truck stop with a repair shop carries them in stock. I had the rear rod replaced at a Petro truck stop. Took about a hour including wait-time, and cost <$70 total.
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2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD , ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA IN 1SG 11B5MX,Infantry retired;Good Sam Life member,FMCA. " My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy
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02-19-2017, 09:29 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,772
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MO Fred
Trying photo upload again.
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Still don't see.
__________________
Terry & Alice
2006 Bounder 38L DP
2012 GMC Terrain
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02-19-2017, 10:39 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Oregon
Posts: 642
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Most parts can be bought at Napa or any truck parts house. Mine was a Haldex ride height valve and I got the replacement rubber "T" from Napa, it was 4.00
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02-20-2017, 07:29 AM
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#12
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Moderator Emeritus
Monaco Owners Club Texas Boomers Club
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 13,426
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Are all four corners flat? I doubt it's a ride height valve if all four corners are not inflating as you should have multiple ride height valves for the front and back and side to side.
Here's a picture of the valve on my Monaco.
A rod connects to the end of the lever on the left side and the frame of the RV. Here it is installed on the coach. There is a small black hose which is actually the exhaust which is used to let air out of the bag if the coach height is too high. The air supply should be a fairly rigid 1/4" plastic hose inside a corrugated conduit. You can see it at the top center of the picture.
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Dennis and Katherine
2000 Monaco Dynasty
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02-20-2017, 11:46 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: South of Houston Tx.
Posts: 395
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sounds more like the valve that inflates and dumps the air bags.. they are known to go bad as i just changed mine out.. I would look there they are controlled by 12v on my set up thru the HWH leveling system..
try a complete shut down and start up make sure all jacks are up e brake set and released a few times... etc etc
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2018 Entegra Anthem 44B Victory Blue..
2016 F150 4x4 Platinum and 2014 Jeep Rubicon X
M&G brake on both. Using hydralift for 2014 HD CVO Limited
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02-20-2017, 12:47 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Gulf Streamers Club
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 19,925
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MO Fred
Thanks John but I was able to jerry rig the adjuster arm for a temporary fix and the bags air up now. I just now need to find a replacement part.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Slice
sounds more like the valve that inflates and dumps the air bags.. they are known to go bad as i just changed mine out.. I would look there they are controlled by 12v on my set up thru the HWH leveling system..
try a complete shut down and start up make sure all jacks are up e brake set and released a few times... etc etc
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Slice, he found a bad ride height link and fixed it. OP replied in post #8
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Bob & Donna
'98 Gulf Stream Sun Voyager DP being pushed by a '00 Beetle TDI
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