"Creaking and noisy' Levelers

[garymunson]

Our new Winnebago with Lippert hydraulic levelers will make noises all night from all 4 corners. I'm assuming this is a tiny leak somewhere in the system. Is this a normal thing? Once, after sitting for a couple weeks, I also encountered a 'jacks down' error that required me to reset the control panel (holding down enter and retract) although the jacks did not look 'down'. After reset, the pump ran for a few seconds and things were back to normal. Looking around under the coach, I do not see any obvious oil leaks. Any thoughts?

[dougrainer]

Sorry, did not see the problem with the jacks down and he retracted and it fixed it. LCI jacks use a Pressure switch on the Manifold that sends the signal when jacks are retracted. LCI jacks do NOT have sensors for the jacks down or retracted in the usual sense. They use a pressure switch on the manifold that since LCI jacks are power up and down, when retracted there is a static pressure. When the jacks all fully retract, the pump then pumps the pressure and shuts off. THAT pressure is what the manifold pressure switch reacts too. IF you have a small internal leak in the system, the pressure drops a little and the Jack down error is called for. You then do a ALL retract and the pump pressurizes the system again to satisfy the switch. MOST times the pressure switch is defective and you replace it. Doug

This is the pressure switch.

http://www.lci1.com/assets/content/support/sheets/TI___044_Pressure_Switch_Identification.pdf

[STBRetired]

Tom/Barb wrote:
How can it be the jack system when he says the jacks were up?

I have seen that issue on occasion. Jacks retracted when it's cool outside then get jacks down warning when it gets warmer. Expansion of hydraulic fluid as it warms up. Pushes the jacks down far enough to trigger warning. Quick touch of retract button solves it.

[Tom_Barb]

How can it be the jack system when he says the jacks were up?

[DownTheAvenue]

dougrainer wrote:
What you need to do is add ANTI-STICKSION oil additive to the reservoir. This fixes this error on both PG and Lippert HYD jack systems that have very small creaking and groaning problems. Doug

Doug is probably one of the most knowledgeable people in the US and we are fortunate to have him post on this forum. Thanks Doug for your sharing your knowledge with everyone.

[dougrainer]

What you need to do is add ANTI-STICKSION oil additive to the reservoir. This fixes this error on both PG and Lippert HYD jack systems that have very small creaking and groaning problems. Doug

[garymunson]

I should clarify the 'jacks down' error was when it was parked in my yard with the jacks up....

[Gordysvette]

Call Lippert , they are aware of the issues . I have drained and changed my fluid to synthetic which did help the noise issue . The biggest improvement was to make blocks of wood 12in by 12in and stack under all the legs so they do not extend more than 3 or 4 inches .For extended stays I still have to relevel the coach every two weeks to stop the ticking sound at night .I have returned to the Winnebago factory twice there are no leaks . I have learned to live with it .