Jacks will not go up or down

[n4hwl]

I have a 2004 Tiffin Phaeton built on a freightliner chassis. I have had an intermittent problem for some time getting the HWH control panel to recognize that I have pulled up the knob and locked the brakes. After I pull up the parking brake knob that dumps the air and locks the rear brake I then try to turn on the HWH control and it says "NOT IN PARK/BRAKE". Until today I could just unlock the brakes and relock them with the big yellow knob and then the HWH unit would work. Right now sitting in my driveway, the jacks are down and they will not go up or down. I need to know where is the switch or relay is that is activated when I pull up on the parking brake knob. The HWH unit is not recognizing that I have pulled up the know so I assume that there is a bad switch or relay somewhere that is not working.

Any suggestions.

Ken

[wagonmaster2]

n4hwl wrote:
Ok here is how I fixed the problem. All of my grounds in the area under the yellow parking brake knob were not at ground potential. They all were showing about 43 ohms on the meter when I checked between the frame and those grounds. I went to check the fuses and connections in the right side compartment that the Jack controls and valves are in. I found about 1/2 inch of water in the bottom of this compartment. I came through a lot of rain and water on the road on this last trip. I got all of the water out and resealed the compartment the best I could. ( it is right behind the right rear wheels, great place to put electronics) I then disconnected every quick disconnect plug going to the Jack electronic board and cleaned them with deox it spray. I then pulled every connector off of the back of the control board and cleaned with deox it spray. I also tighten all grounds and cleaned all of the fuses. When I went back up to the panel to the left of the drivers seat all of the grounds were now at frame potential (0 ohms on the meter). I put a can of damp rid in the compartment that houses the electronics for the jacks in an effort to keep down moisture.

I am also keeping a can of damp rid in the left front compartment that have all or most of my other 12 volt fuses .

Now everything is back to working fine. I don't think I ever go on a trip unless I have some kind of trouble that needs to be fixed when I get home. Is it just me?

Ken

Don't feel bad Ken. I bought a new 2004 Meridian 10 years ago. We take 2-3 several week trips a year and have always had to either fix something while on the road or after returning home on each trip. It could be something as simple as a broken window shade string or more complicated like the washing machine leaking 3 different times, water heater quit on both electric and propane, or leveling jacks/slide outs not working, but it's always something. I think these machines are engineered to agravate us.

[n4hwl]

Ok here is how I fixed the problem. All of my grounds in the area under the yellow parking brake knob were not at ground potential. They all were showing about 43 ohms on the meter when I checked between the frame and those grounds. I went to check the fuses and connections in the right side compartment that the Jack controls and valves are in. I found about 1/2 inch of water in the bottom of this compartment. I came through a lot of rain and water on the road on this last trip. I got all of the water out and resealed the compartment the best I could. ( it is right behind the right rear wheels, great place to put electronics) I then disconnected every quick disconnect plug going to the Jack electronic board and cleaned them with deox it spray. I then pulled every connector off of the back of the control board and cleaned with deox it spray. I also tighten all grounds and cleaned all of the fuses. When I went back up to the panel to the left of the drivers seat all of the grounds were now at frame potential (0 ohms on the meter). I put a can of damp rid in the compartment that houses the electronics for the jacks in an effort to keep down moisture.

I am also keeping a can of damp rid in the left front compartment that have all or most of my other 12 volt fuses .

Now everything is back to working fine. I don't think I ever go on a trip unless I have some kind of trouble that needs to be fixed when I get home. Is it just me?

Ken

[Vacation_Bound]

We have a 2011 Tiffin Allegro Red and had the same problem. Be very careful because our motor home rolled so slowly we didn't know it was moving until my car stopped it. Over $5000 damage between the MH and the car. We took our MH to Freightliner in Gaffney, Sc because over the phone they said it was a chasis problem. After we got there, they said it wasn't a chassis problem. They did check some items and bled the brakelines but said they couldn't find the problem. Somehow I think they fixed the problem without trying. When we pull the yellow knob since that visit, it has worked properly every time so our slides and jacks will work. We are now in Red Bay, AL with over a 100 other units waiting on service. Good luck in your repairs.

[Fishinghat]

A potential cause could be the solenoid that powers up certain things only when the key is in the accessory position. Check your electrical bay for a small, beer can looking thing with copper posts sticking out on each side. (They look just like the starter solenoids used on cars when we were kids.) When someone else turns the key, it should click. Sometimes they fail intermittently, just due to age. Replacements are cheap. Just disconnect the power and unbolt.

You probably have several of these. Each one performs a different function, and if one is failing, I'd replace all of them.

[n4hwl]

I would love to have a concrete pad to work on. Right now my jacks are down and I am in my gravel driveway at home.

Ken

[Busskipper]

n4hwl wrote:
I have a 2004 Tiffin Phaeton built on a freightliner chassis. I have had an intermittent problem for some time getting the HWH control panel to recognize that I have pulled up the knob and locked the brakes. After I pull up the parking brake knob that dumps the air and locks the rear brake I then try to turn on the HWH control and it says "NOT IN PARK/BRAKE". Until today I could just unlock the brakes and relock them with the big yellow knob and then the HWH unit would work. Right now sitting in my driveway, the jacks are down and they will not go up or down. I need to know where is the switch or relay is that is activated when I pull up on the parking brake knob. The HWH unit is not recognizing that I have pulled up the know so I assume that there is a bad switch or relay somewhere that is not working.

Any suggestions.

Ken

Could be a bad switch or just a bad connection - My switch is passenger side front, by the tire and I have had issues with the connections. Might be a good time to find a good concrete pad and get on the creeper to clean all the connections.

BOL,

[n4hwl]

I found a diagram to my system and it shows a PARK BRAKE SWITCH on page 12 "http://www.hwh.com/ml28247.pdf" Now if I can just find where this switch is I can check it out. I may have to wait till Tuesday and call Tiffin and get some help.

Ken

[wagonmaster2]

Hope you get some answers since I have a 2004 Winnebago with HWH levelers and I haven't had that problem, Yet. Twice I've had to replace the shuttle valve cause the jacks wouldn't go down and the rooms wouldn't move but that didn't have anything to do with the yellow emergency brake knob.