AIR leveling system

[dwaugh10]

My coach only has AIR leveling using the Valid Trueline system. The Valid system is an electronic leveling /ride height system. After leveling, the system "wakes" up about every 2 hours to check and adjust the level of the coach. It has a small compressor located at the front of the coach which is supposed to run if the tanks don't have enough air to adjust the level. I have never heard the compressor run, even after sitting for 10 days. I know the tanks are low after that long as I get a low air alarm if I turn the key on.

Does anyone know if the compressor is supposed to refill the air tanks or does it only put air into the airbags when needed? (I asked Tiffin and they basically told me what I already know...not helpful )

Has anyone been able to test this compressor to make sure its working?

Thanks

[Treetopguy]

Originally Posted by dwaugh10

My coach only has AIR leveling using the Valid Trueline system. The Valid system is an electronic leveling /ride height system. After leveling, the system "wakes" up about every 2 hours to check and adjust the level of the coach. It has a small compressor located at the front of the coach which is supposed to run if the tanks don't have enough air to adjust the level. I have never heard the compressor run, even after sitting for 10 days. I know the tanks are low after that long as I get a low air alarm if I turn the key on.



Does anyone know if the compressor is supposed to refill the air tanks or does it only put air into the airbags when needed? (I asked Tiffin and they basically told me what I already know...not helpful )



Has anyone been able to test this compressor to make sure its working?



Thanks

Tiffin and Valid both helped me with my unit. It didn't work when new. A 3 week dealer stay only showed me that the talent is missing in their shop.
There is a way to test it. call valid and they will walk you through it on the phone.
The problem with mine ended up being a defective pressure valve. This valve activates the aux air pump when the system air drops below 80 psi. I also had another issue which was the massive air leaks in the air system
My freightliner dealer did a great job of fixing leaks.
I have also heard from owners that their air pumps were found to not be connected off the bat. If you want to, open the front and get a flashlight and look at the pump up under the driver seat area bolted to the side of the frame rails.Look to see if the wires are connected.
I'll send you pictures of mine as I worked with it. The one photo shows me putting 12 volts direct to the pump. This was the first check I did to prove the pump would run.
Good luck!

[dwaugh10]

Originally Posted by Treetopguy

Tiffin and Valid both helped me with my unit. It didn't work when new. A 3 week dealer stay only showed me that the talent is missing in their shop.
There is a way to test it. call valid and they will walk you through it on the phone.
The problem with mine ended up being a defective pressure valve. This valve activates the aux air pump when the system air drops below 80 psi. I also had another issue which was the massive air leaks in the air system
My freightliner dealer did a great job of fixing leaks.
I have also heard from owners that their air pumps were found to not be connected off the bat. If you want to, open the front and get a flashlight and look at the pump up under the driver seat area bolted to the side of the frame rails.Look to see if the wires are connected.
I'll send you pictures of mine as I worked with it. The one photo shows me putting 12 volts direct to the pump. This was the first check I did to prove the pump would run.
Good luck!Attachment 363349Attachment 363350

Thanks for the info. Mine was one that didn’t have its power connected…that has been corrected. Do you have the number to call for Valid?

Ps, looks like you’re just up the road from me…I’m in okc

[Treetopguy]

Originally Posted by dwaugh10

Thanks for the info. Mine was one that didn’t have its power connected…that has been corrected. Do you have the number to call for Valid?

Ps, looks like you’re just up the road from me…I’m in okc

Yep. in Edmond!
Right now I'm in Red Bay inline for some warrantee work on my rig.
Took the factory tour and really enjoyed seeing how these things are built.
The guy I talked with at Valid was Dan North. He is in Canada. Smart guy that can step you through the process. I believe the number I called was 888-632-6477.
Also had help from Corbette Davis with Tiffin.

[thegats1]

I watched the Tiffin tech test it. He literally rapid pumped the brakes to bleed pressure to get it to kick on. Well it didn't. As with many of us owners, mine was never connected. The tech told me it does in fact top off the tanks. He said this pump is not designed to fill the system from empty. It is only designed to top it off as needed. He said you'll burn it up otherwise. While mine is in storage, I don't have it on auto level for this reason. Theoretically it should be fine since it will just top off as needed. I just like to be around when that is on auto. If for some strange reason I get a massive leak while it is in storage, I don't want that pump to kick on and burn up. Full disclosure, my system is still pretty tight. I haven't heard it kick on since the tech wired it up. The longest I've stayed parked in a CG since then is a week. I can't recall the set point. I may do the test also.

[dwaugh10]

Originally Posted by thegats1

I watched the Tiffin tech test it. He literally rapid pumped the brakes to bleed pressure to get it to kick on. Well it didn't. As with many of us owners, mine was never connected. The tech told me it does in fact top off the tanks. He said this pump is not designed to fill the system from empty. It is only designed to top it off as needed. He said you'll burn it up otherwise. While mine is in storage, I don't have it on auto level for this reason. Theoretically it should be fine since it will just top off as needed. I just like to be around when that is on auto. If for some strange reason I get a massive leak while it is in storage, I don't want that pump to kick on and burn up. Full disclosure, my system is still pretty tight. I haven't heard it kick on since the tech wired it up. The longest I've stayed parked in a CG since then is a week. I can't recall the set point. I may do the test also.

Thanks for the info. I think my air system is also pretty tight as the coach can be in storage for a month and still have 100 lbs indicated in the air tanks (not on auto level). I was recently out for 10 days with the coach on auto level and when getting ready to leave, I got a low air alarm before starting the engine. Makes me wonder if that compressor is working...however I don't know how much air pressure the air bags require and obviously what the cut-in pressure for the compressor would be. I do know the Valid system is working as it wakes up and I hear air adjustments being made. May need to give Valid a call.

[Treetopguy]

Originally Posted by dwaugh10

Thanks for the info. I think my air system is also pretty tight as the coach can be in storage for a month and still have 100 lbs indicated in the air tanks (not on auto level). I was recently out for 10 days with the coach on auto level and when getting ready to leave, I got a low air alarm before starting the engine. Makes me wonder if that compressor is working...however I don't know how much air pressure the air bags require and obviously what the cut-in pressure for the compressor would be. I do know the Valid system is working as it wakes up and I hear air adjustments being made. May need to give Valid a call.

From what I learned, the aux pump is not there to simply air up the system, it's used for the leveling system. It cuts on at 80 psi or lower. The pump won't come on just to increase the psi unless the auto level system is activated, but doesn't pump it up to 150 psi. I believe the pump only goes to 95 psi. This is controlled by the pressure switch located on the aux pump frame. Mine has a red electrical plug on it.

[Treetopguy]

Originally Posted by thegats1

I watched the Tiffin tech test it. He literally rapid pumped the brakes to bleed pressure to get it to kick on. Well it didn't. As with many of us owners, mine was never connected. The tech told me it does in fact top off the tanks. He said this pump is not designed to fill the system from empty. It is only designed to top it off as needed. He said you'll burn it up otherwise. While mine is in storage, I don't have it on auto level for this reason. Theoretically it should be fine since it will just top off as needed. I just like to be around when that is on auto. If for some strange reason I get a massive leak while it is in storage, I don't want that pump to kick on and burn up. Full disclosure, my system is still pretty tight. I haven't heard it kick on since the tech wired it up. The longest I've stayed parked in a CG since then is a week. I can't recall the set point. I may do the test also.

fyi, it doesn't top off the tanks. I've been parked a week and the pump comes on every 2 hours and runs maybe 10 seconds. My gauges hang around 80 psi and the system is working well keeping the rig level.

[dwaugh10]

I emailed Valid and this is what they said:
"Thank you for contacting Valid Manufacturing. The auxiliary air compressor will only run in certain situations to assist leveling but not to generally keep the air tanks full. It will only run when two things occur: If the system is trying to raise the coach in Auto or Manual mode and at the same time it is detecting air pressure below 90 psi (It’s cut on/cut off range is 90-120psi). It can be the case where it may not run very often at all if these two conditions aren’t occurring at the same time."

Also they sent me the service manual for the system. Very nice of them to do that! I was going to upload it, but the IRV2 site says it's too big (17 MB). I am posting the schematic for the aux compressor.

David

[Treetopguy]

Originally Posted by dwaugh10

I emailed Valid and this is what they said:

"Thank you for contacting Valid Manufacturing. The auxiliary air compressor will only run in certain situations to assist leveling but not to generally keep the air tanks full. It will only run when two things occur: If the system is trying to raise the coach in Auto or Manual mode and at the same time it is detecting air pressure below 90 psi (It’s cut on/cut off range is 90-120psi). It can be the case where it may not run very often at all if these two conditions aren’t occurring at the same time."



Also they sent me the service manual for the system. Very nice of them to do that! I was going to upload it, but the IRV2 site says it's too big (17 MB). I am posting the schematic for the aux compressor.



David

Thanks. That looks like a new design. My pressure switch and the manifold it screws into is of different design, but doing the same thing. I timed the last time my pump ran and it was on for 6 seconds! The psi was just above 80 psi on the gauge when it stopped.
Did they help you to check whether your unit was working?

[dwaugh10]

Originally Posted by Treetopguy

Thanks. That looks like a new design. My pressure switch and the manifold it screws into is of different design, but doing the same thing. I timed the last time my pump ran and it was on for 6 seconds! The psi was just above 80 psi on the gauge when it stopped.
Did they help you to check whether your unit was working?

I have not asked for direct help yet. I thought I'd look it over first and see what I could do.

Did you do anything specific to test yours or did you just happen to be in the coach when it ran? Can you clearly hear the compressor inside the coach when it runs?

David

[Treetopguy]

Originally Posted by dwaugh10

I have not asked for direct help yet. I thought I'd look it over first and see what I could do.



Did you do anything specific to test yours or did you just happen to be in the coach when it ran? Can you clearly hear the compressor inside the coach when it runs?



David

Here is what they had me do.
Turn key on but don't start the engine.
pump brakes to get psi down. I pumped them until I got low air warning.
Then put the valid system in manual level and raise the back or front. The pump should come on. Yes, you can definitely hear the pump run. Some have complained that it's too loud and wakes them at night.
I just now did this on my coach to be sure I told you correctly.
When I had to trouble shoot mine, Corbin at Tiffin told me to put 12 volts on the pump lead. He told me to unplug the connector from the pump and put the 12 volts on the lead to the pump. Mine ran when I did this. Then Valid helped me to trouble shoot. We first replaced the relay on the pump. It's a black relay plugged in next to the pump itself. That didn't help. The we bypassed the pressure switch and the pump ran. This is how I got mine fixed. We replaced the pressure switch and it was finally fixed.
Hope that helps!

[dwaugh10]

Success! Found the problem.... Tiffin never hooked up the ground wire

Thanks for all your advice on testing the compressor!

David

[Treetopguy]

Originally Posted by dwaugh10

Success! Found the problem.... Tiffin never hooked up the ground wire



Thanks for all your advice on testing the compressor!



David

Glad it was a simple fix. enjoy!

Sent from my SM-G950U using iRV2 - RV Forum mobile app