Power Gear Jack Problem

[max49]

My jacks seem to work just the way they were intended. They go down and back up fine . The problem is the beeper and the lights flashing, saying "wait" , "jacks down". When it does this , I have no control. I can't put them back down to start again. I 'can' turn the key off and start the process again but I usually have to just go ahead and drive withe lighs and beeper going. Thank goodness, the beeper has been stopping after 5 to 15 minutes and the lights go out a min. or so later.
Has anyone had a problem like this with their jacks? and did you figure out how to fix it?
I'm thinking that possibly it could be a just a bit low on oil , If I'm lucky that might fix it. The owner manual does'nt say what kind of oil or even how to check it. Does anyone know what kind of oil is normaly used in the jack system?
Any other ideas? Thanks for your help

[max49]

My jacks seem to work just the way they were intended. They go down and back up fine . The problem is the beeper and the lights flashing, saying "wait" , "jacks down". When it does this , I have no control. I can't put them back down to start again. I 'can' turn the key off and start the process again but I usually have to just go ahead and drive withe lighs and beeper going. Thank goodness, the beeper has been stopping after 5 to 15 minutes and the lights go out a min. or so later.
Has anyone had a problem like this with their jacks? and did you figure out how to fix it?
I'm thinking that possibly it could be a just a bit low on oil , If I'm lucky that might fix it. The owner manual does'nt say what kind of oil or even how to check it. Does anyone know what kind of oil is normaly used in the jack system?
Any other ideas? Thanks for your help

[YosemiteBobR]

OK, so "jacks down" light does not go out when all jacks are retracted means you need to fill resevoir to proper level with recommended fluid. type A automatic transmission fluid (ATF, Dexron III, etc. ) will work satisfactorily. You didn't say if you had a 3 jack system or a 4 jack system. 3 jack takes 1.2 gal of usable reservoir capacity and a 4 jack system takes 2.4 gal of usuable reservoir capacity.. You should change your fluid every 36 months. Fluid should be witin 1/4 inch of the fill port lip and checked only with all jacks retracted. And again this is for a "Power Gear Hydraulic Leveler System"

[max49]

It's a 4 jack system with touch pad. The rear can be operated separately but the front ones go together. My reservoir has a dipstick with no marks on it but has a screw to remove and suppose to fill til it comes out. It was full, and I am in fact letting it run out into a coffee can while I type this. May it being slightly overfilled is causing this. Hope I don't trade this problem for another. It's and 05 so the fluid shoul'nt need changed.
I don't know but the tank could'nt possibly hold more than a gal of oil but if you're talking about the entire system , 2.4 gal is possible

[YosemiteBobR]

You could have air in the lines. Check each cylinder to make sure you have no leaks. run them up and down a few times to disperse the air and then check again. It is a very easy thing to overfill a system if the jacks were not all the way up when they were checked and filled the first time. Too much overfill and I believe you won't get the jacks all the way up. Also make sure your lines are straight and not kinked or bent from a possible obsticle being thrown up form the road.

[GStream40]

Our Power Gear system did this a couple of times when we first got our coach. Dealer found a loose wire connection and an air leak where the connection for the leveling system taps in so that it knows when the suspension air has been lowered.

Here is the Power Gear website that has a troubleshooting chart that might help you:
Power Gear

But truly, I would call the dealer and make an appointment to take it back since it is a new coach. I have heard that several had to have the computer board replaced in the Power Gear full auto systems like I have.

Ron

[max49]

GStream, thanks for the power Gear link, I googled it and came with nothing taking me the their site. It has a lot of instuctions as to how to change parts, bleed the system and how the systems and electronics are supposed to work but oddly enough has no trouble shooting section for the jacks down light and beeping signal.
I drained the oil down til it quit running out the full hole and whether coincidence or not , the beeper and flashing lights will not stop at all now til I turn the ignition off.

[max49]

I think I found the problem.
I figured it was'nt a jack problem cause they come up pretty fast. I've used pry bars, and even another jack to make sure they were up and other than one time when I found mud/rocks jamming it , they are always all the way up.
What I think is the problem is, what I guess is the sensor. It's blue plastic with 2 wires going to it. I got the nerve to take the lock nut off and just drop it down deeper in the reservoir, and surpise, surprise, no more jacks down light. It appears that the reseervoir is full but Iguess the sensor wants a little more oil. Either that or I'll have to put a spacer on it so the lock nut does'nt pull it up so far. Thanks again guys. I know other ppl have had this problem and I hope they see this. I'll have to trip test it but I feel pretty confident I'm barking up the right tree with the sensor elevation or oil height thing.

[GStream40]

Max,

Glad to hear you found the problem. Which pump/power unit do you have? Power Gear uses at least two, Dewald or ???

The one on our coach uses the Dewald pump power unit.

Ron

[bldrbob]

I have powergear jacks.On mine the sensor is on the side and has an up side.There is a mark on the switch that has to face up.
Bob

[max49]

G Stream, the only name I foud was on a housing on top of the pup with the solenoids in it, It said "Innotek" , not sure if that is the pump or power unit brand. It's got a round drum style reservoir with the sensor in the top, very esy to get to.