Problem with wireless air assist suspension

[travelin2]

We recently bought a 2013 motorhome with a Firestone air bag assist on the suspension. My problem comes in that there is no remote control for the system. The Ford E350 is actually a 2012 model. I am attaching some photos in hopes that someone may recognize the system as the same one they have and can tell me what remote I need and where I might get one.

If the replacement remote is unavailable, I'm wondering if the system could be operated by plugging in the manual style switches to the empty, blanked off plug that is visible in the pictures. Any ideas are welcome.

[Skip426]

Boy ; you're having fun with this coach .

Do you have 12 volt power anywhere to the system ?

The connection block with a yellow wire running to what appears to be a control module , with no wire attached ; next to a black wire , that I assume is a ground connection .

Is there a Firestone model number on any of the modules ?

[Skip426]

There are numbers on corner of the board , beside the two air lines to the suspension ; they're too blurry to read when I blow the photo up .
Can you post what they are ?

This system ; like your converter ; may have never been properly installed.

[travelin2]

Originally Posted by Skip426

There are numbers on corner of the board , beside the two air lines to the suspension ; they're too blurry to read when I blow the photo up .
Can you post what they are ?

This system ; like your converter ; may have never been properly installed.

Hi Skip, Thanks for your help on the other problem that we solved. Yes, this is a problem that comes from the same owner and his cluelessness. I noticed the two inflation valves on the exterior of the rig when looking at it to purchase, so I knew it had air bags and figured they were totally manual. It was when I went looking for the reason the converter didn't work that I discovered the compressor system. I looked all through the rig for a remote and after finding none, I called the PO thinking he may have it at home. He didn't even know it had air bags and had driven it for several years with the bags flat. So, now I have just got the new bags installed and am on a mission to get the system working as it should. I will check out the numbers/letters you were talking about and try for a better picture.

The number on the bottom labeled "Unit is the last few digits of the VIN of the chassis. The other number may be referring to the manufacturers number of their build.

John

[Skip426]

John; did the air bag installer , indicate the bags are connected to this pump system ; or only the manual fittings , or both .

To me the capped wiring connector would indicate there is wiring to the dash missing , as well as 12 volt supply.

[travelin2]

The air bag installer is me. The compressor air lines are teed into the manual Shrader valve lines near the bumper.The bags will inflate from either point.
In earlier years they used two rocker switches and gauges. One for port and one for starboard side airbags. That plug with a dummy in it makes me think that there is a harness with control switches and gauges that lets that system be operated without the wireless mess. Without a schematic, I have refrained from messing about by jumping between the wires in that plug for fear of spoiling the circuit board in the wireless black box. I took the cover off the wireless control box, and it is totally potted. I found no name or number inside.

[Skip426]

John , as I mentioned , I'm seeing a ground wire onto the mount board , but no power wiring ; can you confirm that on the system mounting board there is no 12 volt supply .

If you do find power can you point it out ?

[travelin2]

I had some stuff going on this afternoon. I will get out there in the morning and open that up and see if there is 12v at that junction block. I see some red wire coiled up behind the black box also. I will dig a little deeper.

[travelin2]

This morning, I checked for 12v in the system and it is not powered. However, the power wire intended it is there and capped off.



Then, since I had found no indication anywhere as to the manufacturer of the equipment, I removed the black box and low and behold, a name on the back. I will see if they have any sort of owners support and hopefully get the system going. If anyone has a phone number or email for that outfit, I would appreciate seeing it.

[Skip426]

John; I'm beginning to think that this RV was on the assembly line on the Friday before a long weekend ; when half the workers took off early ; and was finished on the Tuesday morning after the weekend ; when the other half of the workers phoned in sick .

I see your using a 12 volt test light with an incandescent bulb ; but to me the bulb looks a little dull ; do you get the same intensity from the bulb directly on a 12 volt battery ?

I don't have any contact info for Firestone ; but I'm sure they maintain a web site.

[Skip426]

A second thought ... I always have them.

I'd be very reluctant to hook up power to the system , without a wiring schematic in hand, to first check all the existing wiring connections .

Any number of thing could have been done wrong.

[travelin2]

I agree with your thoughts about manufacturing snafu. There was something odd about the fact that it had never been powered but the power was there and capped. Maybe the buyer wouldn't pay the up-charge for the remote system and they already had it installed so they just covered it up and shipped it. Who knows?? I just drew the short straw. As you mentioned, I will not apply power till I have some way of controlling the system. I sent an email to Firestone. I got a note saying they will have someone respond within 48hrs.

Good catch on the dim bulb on my tester. I worked for a lot of years in heavy construction. Dredging and bridge building mainly. A lot of our equipment was 24 volt systems and I got tired of burning out 12v bulbs by accident so I started putting 24v bulbs in the tester and no more burned bulbs. Just dim on 12v and bright on 24v. I did put my multi meter on that wire and it showed 13.2v. The rig is plugged in here at home.

If there is no replacement available for that remote set-up, I may look into eliminating all that wireless stuff and install a switch/gauge panel like the old ones used to be. I would just have to make sure the solenoids are the of the same spec. Less headache, I think.

[Skip426]

John; I worked for 33 years at a Chrysler dealership , doing mostly 12 volt system repairs , so the bulb brightness jumped out at me .

Whenever , I got a particularly strange electrical ( or other ) issues on a new vehicle ; I checked the MDH ( Month, Day, Hour ) info against a calendar.
Tuesday morning specials we called them in the shop .

[travelin2]

Skip, I received an answer from Firestone already.....