HELP RV Stuck, Rear Air bags won't inflate

Sped up video showing pressure from 90 psi to 0 psi. Decent range for what it is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-mAQq6vAzE&feature=youtu.be

Yes - it functions 100% like it should. When switched to auto it dropped it to where it thought it should be. I've never driven it (I bought it with a blown engine) so I assume the ride height was calibrated by Jet Co. It looks about right.

And yes I'm not sure how these pumps fare tucked behind the rear wheel with debris being flung at it. I would think it would be happier indoors.

Thanks for posting your results. It is installed so you have complete functionality including automatic leveling while driving? Smart idea to keep it out of the elements.

Got the new pump installed. Since there is no replacement pump from Jet Co or otherwise that fits the stock bracket, I moved the pump inside under a bed. It worked out perfectly because the storage area under this bed is directly above where the old pump was:



Using the schematics from the original Jetco literature I wired up the 40-amp relay that came with the new pump. Basically it's this:

- The original Jet Co blue wire from the ignition feed gets installed the same way: through the pressure switch. The other side of the pressure switch controls the relay that runs the pump.
- Replaced the bulky old solenoid with a 40-amp relay
- Tiny black wire from the Jet Co harness is spliced into the blue ignition wire - it feeds power to the soleniods
- You can use the original Jet Co constant hot, but it my opinion it was grossly undersized for a 15-amp draw and 35-foot cable run. It had obviously been getting hot. I ran a new 4-gauge cable with a 60-amp circuit breaker. This will protect the electric motor, too, by making sure it has the appropriate voltage.
- Hook the tiny purple wire from the Jet Co harness to the pump's hot wire - this lights up the "COMPRESSOR RUNNING" light on the control box.
- The new pump has 3/8" fittings. Needed about $25 in brass fittings to adapt to the original 1/8" Jet Co lines and to install the new pressure switch.
- New pump and relay can ground at the original spot on the Jet Co bracket

The pump works FAST. And my air horns work now too!

The pump arrived today. I'm going to need a few plumbing bits to make it work, but it's the same principle and controlled by a pressure switch (included). Instead of the old solenoid arrangement, it came with a relay kit and 60 amp circuit breaker.

The primary wire JetCo used was pretty small (12 gauge) for the 35-foot run. I guess it worked, but I'm paranoid so I ordered some 4-gauge wire to run from the battery to the pump.

The pump mounts differently (so does the Jet Co replacement) from the original so I will need to find a new home for it. The storage tank is installed at the rear of the RV. Directly above it, inside and under a bed, is plenty of room to mount the compressor. I think I'll put it in there for ease maintenance. It won't run while I'm parked so noise shouldn't be a concern. I don't think so anyway - I'll know soon.

Okay - I spoke to the people at airbagit.com. They sold me their DC480 pump for $189. It provides 2.5 CFM and has a 100% duty cycle. Airbagit said the pump would be plenty for filling the bags when making adjustments at a campsite, which was my biggest concern. The pump Jet Co sold me for $334 was 1.2 CFM and had a 33% duty cycle. It would not likely keep up with major height adjustments.

The airbagit pump came with a circuit breaker, pressure switch and relay too (Jet Co's did not, though I could have reused the 30-year-old stuff).

Please keep us posted. Mine Jet Air system 23 years old and may need replacement one day.

Okay - word to the wise.

Eldon @ Jet Co is really nice and helpful and they seem to be a decent company. BUT...I paid $334 for that new compressor including shipping. It arrived yesterday. It's a woefully small Pacbrake HP325 brand compressor that I can get anywhere for $170. It's on Amazon for $169.99 with free shipping.

Price gouging aside, at 1/4 HP and 1.2 CFM it would take forever to fill my 5-gallon tank. It would kill itself in no time. I can get a compressor with more than twice the output for $190 elsewhere. So I'm going to go that route once I get a return authorization from Jet Co.

I don't want to burn that bridge since Eldon was so nice and helpful, but paying twice as much for an inadequate part rubs me the wrong way.

Well, no parts are available for the compressor. $319 for a new one from Jet Co. Not sure if that's a good deal or not. I've seen them for "up to 5 gallon tanks" for between $200 and $400. Best I found was a Firestone pump for $185. I'll have to ask Jet Co what the specs are on the $319 pump.

iamcanuck45 wrote:
Let us know if that solves your problem, or if you have some holes also. Good luck.

That's an excellent point now that I think about it. The compressor not compressing issue aside, it wasn't holding air even when I filled it with my garage compressor. Hmmmm.....

The solenoids seem to be holding. There's nothing leaking back to the disconnected pump line from the bags. I did have the line open to the air horns up front - might be a leak there that drained the air from my garage compressor. But I can close that valve.

More trouble-shooting is in my future for sure.