Community Forums

WeBrzn2 · 07-20-2008, 05:52 PM

We had the vanity slide worked on a while back and it is now backwards, when I press retract, it extends and when I press extend it retracts. That said, it is now wanting to extend part way after I retract it, about 2 or 3 inches while driving. I saw the post about the 3 seconds on the switch and will try that. It did not do this on the way down to Paso Robles, but it is doing it now and did it today had to retract it several times.

Any ideas if the fact that the solenoids are reversed may be a factor? Seems I saw something on slides creeping out, but I could not locate the post. It would be helpfull not to have to watch it in the mirror the entire trip home.

WeBrzn2 · 07-20-2008, 05:52 PM

We had the vanity slide worked on a while back and it is now backwards, when I press retract, it extends and when I press extend it retracts. That said, it is now wanting to extend part way after I retract it, about 2 or 3 inches while driving. I saw the post about the 3 seconds on the switch and will try that. It did not do this on the way down to Paso Robles, but it is doing it now and did it today had to retract it several times.

Any ideas if the fact that the solenoids are reversed may be a factor? Seems I saw something on slides creeping out, but I could not locate the post. It would be helpfull not to have to watch it in the mirror the entire trip home.

OldForester · 07-20-2008, 07:23 PM

You may have reversed solenoids, but I think you also have a solenoid that's leaking or not holding like it should. My bet is that you need to replace the extend/retract solenoids. My living room slide did the same thing and we replaced the solenoids and it stopped the problem.

rmmpe · 07-21-2008, 02:02 AM

Before I started messing with the solenoids, I'd reverse the 2 wires on the single-pole, double-throw control switch. Use a voltmeter to determine which of the 3 terminals is hot and reverse the other 2. That should fix the switch issue.

For the creep; try holding the switch in the retract position for about 5 seconds after you hear the pump start to labor when the slide is completely retracted. Doing that should help the hydraulic rams/cylinders equalize.
If that doesn't work, there may be something in the solenoid valve keeping it from closing all the way. Try cycling the slide a few times. Perhaps that will clear the problem.

swansnest · 07-22-2008, 03:56 PM

For what it's worth - our solenoid was just replaced on the galley slide in MN at FMCA. The first few days of travel afterwards it kept slipping out several inches. But then it stopped. We have had it happen on the other slides also. Tris figures that air gets into the line when they work on it and once it is out it is OK.

Also we have learned that when we activate the slides to count 100-1, 100-2 up to 100-5 before releasing the button and problems are usually eliminated.

EngineerMike · 07-22-2008, 04:49 PM

Partial slide opening can also be leaking hose or hose fitting. On our 06 the FR slide did just what you describe; I found the leaking fitting among the lines below in the basement. The oil is nearly transparent, so you have to look close to see a drip. Vanity slide has hoses up thru floor so fittings are along each side of slide, and above the radiator assuming you haven't done the hose reroute yet (if you have rerouted then check where the reroute went).

swansnest · 07-22-2008, 06:26 PM

[Vanity slide has hoses up thru floor so fittings are along each side of slide, and above the radiator assuming you haven't done the hose reroute slides[/quote]
Mike - That isn't an issue in the Apex - the hoses aren't on the radiator and we don't have a vanity slide!

WeBrzn2 · 07-23-2008, 05:18 PM

Well, I tried counting to 5 then 10 then 20 with no difference. Also tried pulling the slide in then changing to the backup pump real quick manually. I did have some work done on the system and have a jack to be replaced tomorrow, so I will ask the shop to fix it if they can. They are the ones that got the extend/retract backwards when I had them look into the vanity slide not going all the way out at the bottom. The shop here says the slide not going all the way out at the bottom is due to having an undersized mechanism and there is nothing they can do about it. I will see though if there may be air in the system as they have been working on the HWH a lot lately.

The good part, it only went out about 3 inches and stayed there, so I drove home with that way!

EngineerMike · 07-24-2008, 08:57 AM

I'm pretty sure the mechanism is the correct size and the shop is giving excuses for not being able to figure out the adjustment. If it was the wrong size, nobody's slide would go fully out.