Another HWH Leveling System Problem

I see that you posted this issue on another forum. There you got another answer which I think is pertinent to this response for troubleshooting purposes. On the other forum, a poster suggested that the unit is bolted to the firewall and which is how the unit is grounded. In their situation, the unit lost ground. They wired a separate ground to the unit and solved the issue.

dougrainer wrote:

As you stated originally, your problem was intermittent and then it completely failed. You jiggled some wires and it now works. Once you go in transit that loose wiring will jiggle loose again and you will be in the same boat. The multiconnections on the control box are weathertight and have locking tabs to hold them secure. You need to take the Plexiglas cover OFF and tighten the few screw secured ring terminals. Doug

I haven't reinstalled the cover. I will try to secure everything before buttoning it up, if possible.

I had the same problem on my Essex and I found the two 3/4" bolts that come up from the bottom to hold the pump on the frame were loose and that was the motor ground. Luckily it was at night and when I had the wife push the key pad it lit up across the bad ground. Tightened up the bolts and two years, no more problem.

sealevel ram wrote:
Hello Campers,
To those of you following this thread (and care) today I:

Turned the ignition to start as usual. No lights lit up on the pad (original problem) or in the control box (something new today).
Started to do the troubleshooting again from step 1.
Opened the control box (plastic cover). Checking a fuse, I had to move some of the wires in the box, NOT disconnecting anything, just jiggling wire around.
Had lunch.
Turned ignition to start as usual. Touch pad lit up. Control box lit up. Everything appears to be working.
Any more comments? I appreciate all the expertise on this topic. Thanks.

As you stated originally, your problem was intermittent and then it completely failed. You jiggled some wires and it now works. Once you go in transit that loose wiring will jiggle loose again and you will be in the same boat. The multiconnections on the control box are weathertight and have locking tabs to hold them secure. You need to take the Plexiglas cover OFF and tighten the few screw secured ring terminals. Doug

I think you solved your issue inadvertently, by doing what "dougranier" suggested you do....go into the plexiglass box and tighten all of the connections and screws.

My new coach has the HWH system and this post really taught me a lot about how this system operates and how it's powered. This was a great post!

Hello Campers,
To those of you following this thread (and care) today I:

Turned the ignition to start as usual. No lights lit up on the pad (original problem) or in the control box (something new today).
Started to do the troubleshooting again from step 1.
Opened the control box (plastic cover). Checking a fuse, I had to move some of the wires in the box, NOT disconnecting anything, just jiggling wire around.
Had lunch.
Turned ignition to start as usual. Touch pad lit up. Control box lit up. Everything appears to be working.
Any more comments? I appreciate all the expertise on this topic. Thanks.

OK, you have NO 12 volt ignition side power to the main control box.
8 PIN BLACK CONNECTOR - CN8 on the plexiglass control box will have pin 6 wire number 6120 (red wire), THAT wire should have 12 volts when ign key is ON. If not, find where Winne connected the 12 volt ignition on the front area chassis fuse block or dash. The fuse holder(HWH) is in the area of the parking brake and dash red down indicator. The odds are it either came out of the fuse block or the fuse for that circuit is blown. Once you find that 6120 wire, jump a 12 volt positive to that wire protected by a 5 amp fuse. Then see if the touch pad comes alive. I bet it will. Then find the problem where Winne connected the 12 volt ignition. If HWH system wired CORRECTLY (most are not) the 6120 ACC wire may be on the Ignition side. The reason HWH has 2 wires at the Dash (Ign and ACC) is, if the system is wired to the ACC, you can operate the jacks system and the down Buzzer will NOT sound when either extending or retracting. The Ignition side is for when you start the engine and jacks are extended you will get the warning buzzer. Most would prefer it wired correctly, where you can extend and retract using the ACC side and not listen to the warning buzzer. Doug

dougrainer wrote:
1. Have you removed the touch pad to verify that the multipin connector is connected and secure?
2. The touch pad requires Ignition(or acc) power to power it up. Have you checked that source via the online HWH service manual?
3. Your post is unclear. I believe you stated NONE of the LED lights on the touch pad come on regardless of the slide rooms operating. True?
4. There are 2- 12 volt solenoids at the HWH pump mounted on the motor. The primary, which the main battery positive cable connects to is the "power on" solenoid. THAT solenoid is what is activated by turning the key and touch pad on. The 2nd solenoid just activates the pump motor for hydraulic pressure. Do you have the rectangular control box with the clear plastic cover? Have you removed the plastic cover to check the various fuses AND the tightness of the various machine screws that secure the wire terminals on the circuit board?
5. Have you tried pushing the touch pad buttons REALLY HARD? If you have no LED lights at all when the key is ON, then forget this. Older touch pads get bad contacs and you have to push the buttons extremely hard which means you replace the touch pad.
6. The control box does not really control the slide operation, so your control box may be burnt out. Doug

1. Yes, I checked the connections to the pad.
2. I checked the power at the touch pad connector. It is less than one volt. Don't know what it should be.
3. No LED lights come on the touch pad except the "Travel Mode" light when I activate a slide either in or out.
4. Haven't checked the solenoids. The slides work fine.
5. Yes, I push hard. There are no lights coming on the touch pad except the "Travel Mode" light when I activate a slide.

1. Have you removed the touch pad to verify that the multipin connector is connected and secure?
2. The touch pad requires Ignition(or acc) power to power it up. Have you checked that source via the online HWH service manual?
3. Your post is unclear. I believe you stated NONE of the LED lights on the touch pad come on regardless of the slide rooms operating. True?
4. There are 2- 12 volt solenoids at the HWH pump mounted on the motor. The primary, which the main battery positive cable connects to is the "power on" solenoid. THAT solenoid is what is activated by turning the key and touch pad on. The 2nd solenoid just activates the pump motor for hydraulic pressure. Do you have the rectangular control box with the clear plastic cover? Have you removed the plastic cover to check the various fuses AND the tightness of the various machine screws that secure the wire terminals on the circuit board?
5. Have you tried pushing the touch pad buttons REALLY HARD? If you have no LED lights at all when the key is ON, then forget this. Older touch pads get bad contacs and you have to push the buttons extremely hard which means you replace the touch pad.
6. The control box does not really control the slide operation, so your control box may be burnt out. Doug

Sea Level Ram,
Well Sir, it sounds like you're proceeding in an orderly manor here. And, if the parking brake interlock (source for grounding for the HWH system) is working and, you're getting the slides out just fine, well then as you say, it might be leading you to the control board for the jacks. I'm not schooled enough on the system to assist you anymore than what I've suggested so far. They make these systems do darn complicated that, for the average "good" do-it-yourselfer", it gets hard to analyze when a problem crops up. Good luck.
Scott