Warning light comes on while driving - Level jacks down!

[donnyB7]

While driving down the highway, my warning light came on, along with a ringing bell noise that my leveling jacks are down. Scared the tar out of me, so I stopped to look. The jacks were all up and the warning stopped. About 10 minutes down the road, the warning started and stopped a few more times. Can I assume it is a bad sensor, or is there something else I should check?

[tropical36]

donnyB7 wrote:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/OCqQv4qY6YQq0RNy2
Try this link.
My chassis is the Ford. It's the V10 engine.

Some info on an ...
09
Some images and a trouble shooting guide and still not sure if you have a Lippert or a Kwikee...Pics
Possible your filler cap, also houses the float, with two wires coming out, but most likely the cap is alone and shown to the upper left in one image.

[donnyB7]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/OCqQv4qY6YQq0RNy2
Try this link.
My chassis is the Ford. It's the V10 engine.

[MrWizard]

What chassis? Work horse with Chevy engine
Or
Ford chassis and engine

Either way , the reservoir is there in the front at the pump
You need to retract the slides and Jack's
Crawl under Neath, remove the fill plug and add some fluid
No you can't do it properly with the slides out, you will need to much fluid to fill it, and it will blow out all over the place when you retract everything

You could measure out, about 4 ounces of ATF and put that in
And go for a test drive, and see if it alarms
But you have to be real careful to add only a couple of ounces per try or to will overfill it

[tropical36]

donnyB7 wrote:

Here is a drawing that shows a schematic of my leveill ling system. I am still not sure where I check the fluid level.

Image didn't come through, but It should be a long black cylinder if Kwikee brand and maybe 6" dia. x 18"L, would be a good guess, with the filler cap at the top.

[donnyB7]

Here is a drawing that shows a schematic of my leveill ling system. I am still not sure where I check the fluid level.

[tropical36]

donnyB7 wrote:
While driving down the highway, my warning light came on, along with a ringing bell noise that my leveling jacks are down. Scared the tar out of me, so I stopped to look. The jacks were all up and the warning stopped. About 10 minutes down the road, the warning started and stopped a few more times. Can I assume it is a bad sensor, or is there something else I should check?

Add a little fluid and see what happens. Most likely the cause.

[dougrainer]

donnyB7 wrote:
I finally had some time to check the fluid level. I had to extend the slide out behind the drivers seat to get access to the HWH system. There were four horizontal cylinders that looked something like oil filters. They were attached to a metal block that had an oil plug above each of the four cylinders. Do I have to check each one or is there another place where the fluid level is checked?

NO NO NO!!!! Do NOT remove those plugs. The reservoir is the large BLACK CAN mounted to that solenoid assbly. 1 easy twist off filler plug mounted in the center. Doug

[MrWizard]

unless you have (2) independent hydraulic systems, one for the jacks, one for the slides, the slides will need to be retracted
IF your slides are 12vdc motor gear driven, that is NOT Hydraulic
then check the pump reservoir for a large plastic cap/nut

level has too be checked in the hydraulic reservoir
with jacks retracted

putting fluid in the system with slides or jacks out , will result in over flow (possible damage) when retracting

you are in the wrong place

the reservoir on this Safari is in the engine service bay, curb side rear of RV

please post a picture of the pump ?

IDK where yours is at, it should be Labeled

Power gear levelers, have the reservoir at the pump

[donnyB7]

I finally had some time to check the fluid level. I had to extend the slide out behind the drivers seat to get access to the HWH system. There were four horizontal cylinders that looked something like oil filters. They were attached to a metal block that had an oil plug above each of the four cylinders. Do I have to check each one or is there another place where the fluid level is checked?

[dougrainer]

psquire wrote:
This happened all the time in my former coach, a 2004 Newmar Kountrystar. It even occurred on my first trip in the coach which scared me to death.

It mostly happened on hot days. And of course no technician could ever figure out what the problem was.

Eventually it turned out that one of the hydraulic lines to the jacks was run close to a hot part under the coach. When the hydraulic fluid heated up it caused just enough expansion to cause one of the jack cylinders to descend about 1/4 inch, just enough to trip the alarm. Apparently it was a design flaw.

No design flaw. READ my post on the 300 series HWH jacks. The 600 series has a different magnetic switch and control system so you don't experience this type problem. ALL you had to do was push STORE each time you started the chassis engine to drive. This is stated in the HWH 300 series operators manual. Doug

[psquire]

This happened all the time in my former coach, a 2004 Newmar Kountrystar. It even occurred on my first trip in the coach which scared me to death.

It mostly happened on hot days. And of course no technician could ever figure out what the problem was.

Eventually it turned out that one of the hydraulic lines to the jacks was run close to a hot part under the coach. When the hydraulic fluid heated up it caused just enough expansion to cause one of the jack cylinders to descend about 1/4 inch, just enough to trip the alarm. Apparently it was a design flaw.

[Mile_High]

garyemunson wrote:
If it has the Lippert hydraulic system the jacks are held in the retracted position by hydraulic pressure. A pressure sensor detects low pressure on the retract side and alarms. Bad sensor or a leak can be the cause.

Cool, I didn't know that. I thought they maybe used limit switches. Another spring project 🙂

[garyemunson]

If it has the Lippert hydraulic system the jacks are held in the retracted position by hydraulic pressure. A pressure sensor detects low pressure on the retract side and alarms. Bad sensor or a leak can be the cause.

[wa8yxm]

mccsix wrote:
Some models it means low fluid level.

At least 2 companies I know of that is what it means.

One is POWER GEAR.. Not sure of the other but AVA seems to be what I recall

In the heat of summer the fluid expands faster than the tank and thus it overflows

THen when it cools off. the fluid "Contracts" faster than the tank and LOW FLUID happens so the Jacks Down alarm,,, is very alarming.

Could be worse.. This AM while I was taking down to go for an oil change I kept hearing beep beep beep.... beep beep beep.

I have a few alarms that do that in my RV, every last one of 'em means "YOU WILL BE DEAD if you don't do something fast"... I called Security.