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BananaCollis · 08-07-2023, 07:56 PM

I’ve got a PowerGear electro-hydraulic leveling system that used to work just fine. Now it has complex electrical problems. I’m looking for advice (long)

PHASE 1 PROBLEM:

A couple weeks ago it just stopped — on Saturday it worked fine, we ran the jacks out all the way for a very unlevel boondocking spot.

On Sunday it lifted up the front just fine, then the rear jacks wouldn’t go down. Motor just ran for a long time but no action. We retracted the jacks and started over, then nothing. Instead of clunking noise followed by motor moving the jacks as usual, we get only free-spinning motor.

PHASE 2 PROBLEM:

We had a mobile tech work on it unsuccessfully. He reported hydraulic fluid is fine but a lot of corroded wiring, replaced the main starter solenoid that runs power for the motor (old one broke while trying to clean the connections), cleaned up a lot of connections, put it back together and when told to level it ran the motor briefly then blew the beefy main fuse. He gave up and said I need to order a new motor & hydraulic pump part from lippert at $$$$ and unknown delivery time.

After he worked on it, with fuse blown, of course the control panel wouldn’t light up. But after driving it the control panel DOES light up, and shows “low voltage”. So I guess I have a short somewhere in the wiring as well.

PLEA FOR HELP:

So, has anybody got any suggestions for what the heck I should do next?

I’m thinking — first get a (different) mobile tech to come out and figure my wiring short circuit out, so that I don’t have power coming in from unexpected places. And then if that doesn’t magically fix it, find a shop to order the expensive part and use their more expensive labor to replace it in a couple months when I’m in a city for an extended time and have another place to stay.

Has anybody got advice for me to get it fixed more reliably or cheaper?

TexasJeff · 08-08-2023, 10:31 AM

I know there's different circumstances for different parts of the country. I'll answer like if it were mine, here in Austin where I live, and what I'd do: Option #1: Take it to a reputable full-service RV mechanic. In Georgetown, I trust this outfit, Auer's RV, and have gone to them for warranty repair, solar installation, etc., etc. Option #2: I'd take it our local diesel mechanic yard. They service many private and commercial trucks and have extensive knowledge of both electrical and hydraulic systems.

Either way, you'll spend money. I would think especially on the electrical side of things. Ghosts in the machine usually make labor costs add up. I'm truly sorry for what you're dealing with. It's frustrating.

BananaCollis · 08-08-2023, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexasJeff

I trust this outfit, Auer's RV, and have gone to them for warranty repair, solar installation, etc., etc. Option #2: I'd take it our local diesel mechanic yard. They service many private and commercial trucks and have extensive knowledge of both electrical and hydraulic systems.

Yeah, if I had a mechanic I really trusted that would make this easier but I don't. I've got a mechanic locally who has done weather sealing just fine, but I have no idea at all how that translates to electrical gremlins.