Yahoo Message Number: 16744 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/16744)
I'm interested in starting a discussion on suspension issues. Looking for any information and conversation on the air suspension and auto leveling systems. I have a 98 allure and I have had quite a bit of trouble with the rear suspension. The travel light comes on but then goes off and a corresponding red light comes on. Red light stays on for maybe 15 seconds then the green light comes on again. Coach seems to go down the road correctly though. I was in Tucson awhile back and had it checked and they found the Ridewell valve at the left rear corner was cracked. They replaced this and said that the original valve was no longer serviced and there was an uprated replacement. Prior to this repair it seemed like the leveling rod on the left side kept coming off. Put it back on and it would stay on for a few miles then come off again. I recently contacted Ridewell and they confirmed that they stopped using the original valve in 1997 due to the body of the valve cracking. There was of course stock in the pipeline so that's why a 98 still was built with the old valves. The right side seems to work fine and I haven't had a problem with it. I'm thinking about changing it too, though. I still am not totally satisfied with the way the travel light works erratically . Wonder if anybody out there has dealt with any of these issues.
Thanks
Ron 98 Allure 30185
Yahoo Message Number: 16749 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/16749)
Well, see my earlier posts on the issue. I have a 2000 Magna and am currently at Buddy Gregg in Dallas trying to solve this issue. In the last month I have replaced all of the ride ht valves, which had to be replaced here because they weren't installed correctly. I also had the left rear ride ht valve replaced in August of last year. The coach was torqued after the valve failed, the windshields popped out and the countertop cracked and it has been downhill from there. We have found records that this coach has had problems from day one with the left rear suspension working and that ride ht valve has been replaced 5 times. I certainly would like to find out if this can be fixed. We have checked the level in the bay. We have to pull the fuse once we get it up to travel ht.
We have found that there was water in the air lines, as apparently no one purged the air valves before we got the coach. I will keep you posted if I find anything else. Judith 2000 Magna 5919
Yahoo Message Number: 16751 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/16751)
Hi Ron,
The pneumatic system is probably the most complex system in our coaches. Think of what it does - braking, and stationary & travel leveling. To understand the complexity of leveling, one most study the plumbing side found in schematic D19553 Pneumatic Systems and the electonic side found in the HWH mamual M191.1015. The first document comes from CCI and you must have the correct revision (mine was a transition year and needs two different revisions to reflect my configuration), the second can be downloaded from the HWH web site.
For leveling, the ride control valve, 6 valve air manifold and air bag are the plumbing side which gets its air from the primary air supply which also feeds the pac brake solenoid. The electronic & air control is covered in the HWH troubleshooting, repairs and diagrams manual (be sure you have the right manual number as the number I gave above is for my coach - get this on the HWH web side). I suspect when height valves are not functioning properly, it's a mounting issue. My approach to this is to get photos of a serial number coach close to mine for comparison. Consider conducting further testing whereby the coach is tilted up and down from front to back and side to side in singular and compound configurations to verity that the extended travel of the coach body does not cause the control arm to fail. In other words, the control arm should have more travel capability than the coach can be tilted. There are at least 8 tilt configurations to fully exercise the height valve/arm assembly, but 4 may get you a quick answer.
Fred Kovol
2000 Allure 30593
Yahoo Message Number: 16752 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/16752)
Wow Fred thanks and it's going to take me awhile to digest your information so no quick answers. I agree a complex system but not really brain surgery insofar as Class 8 trucks have been using this gear for years. Not so much in the area of HWH leveling but in the rest of the systems. Have you looked at the Ridewell site? I don't even know if you use Ridewell components on your rig but if you do you might find this interesting. They are and have been for many years vendors to the heavy truck industry.
Again thanks
Ron 98 Allure 30185
fredkovol wrote:
Yahoo Message Number: 16753 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/16753)
Hi Ron,
Also, The leak down rate of no less than 5 psi per hour is a secondary issue. There is more to the air system than brakes and leveling with over 270 junctions.
Fred Kovol
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Yahoo Message Number: 16754 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/16754)
Ron Schonscheck,
Your coach and mine ('98 Intrigue) were manufactured with two height control valves in front & one in the rear. In '99 a recall reconfigured the valves to one in front & two in the rear. On mine the dealer that performed the recall plumbed the right rear air bag to the left control valve and the left rear air bag to the right control valve. The way I caught this was I did a plumbing diagram & compared it to the HWH installation plumbing diagram. I spoke with HWH & pointed out the plumbing discrepancy & they stated it would work anyway. Mine would go to travel like yours & then get a lean & the airbag red light would come on. I recontacted HWH & they assisted in checking the "six pack" air valves & they proved good. I then exhausted all air from the air system & put the left air bag line to the left control valve & the right to the right. I readjusted my ride heights and have traveled without the problem for 40,000 miles. I do check my ride height yearly and I replaced both rear height valves after one failed.
I suggest that you diagram your rear height control plumbing and have HWH assist you in checking your "six pack" valves. Then reset your ride height to factory specs which should be in your owners manual along with where to make the measurements. I believe many good ride height control valves have been replaced needlessly.
Hope this helps...............
Steve
Intrigue #10673
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to go
Yahoo Message Number: 16793 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/16793)
Thanks Steve for the info. Just came back from a weekend jaunt, not long, about 300 miles pulling my car trailer and everything seemed to work correctly. I have the specs. for the ride height, 7.5" front and 8.0" in rear. My problem is getting under the coach to do this work. How do you do it? Ron 98 Allure 30185
rheavn wrote:
Yahoo Message Number: 16796 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/16796)
From: "rheavn" ssfarms1@...>
FWIW, I called CC in '03 right after we bought our non-slideout '98 Intrigue and learned that there were no recalls that applied to ours, including the ride height control valve recall. Apparently there have been a number of slideout motorhome recalls that don't apply to non-slideout models.
Dick (& Geri) Campagna
'98 36' Intrigue #10571
Mfd: 11/97
Yahoo Message Number: 16797 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/16797)
Ron Schonscheck,
I park mine on wood blocks(2X12's) which give me some extra room.
At ride height I can get under the coach to an area so that if all the air exhausted I would be ok. I also do it with the engine running so it is pumping air.
Hope this helps...........
Steve
Intrigue #10673
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Yahoo Message Number: 16798 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/16798)
"Dick Campagna",
I'm sure you are right. The recall only applied to slide coaches.
I forgot that in '98 they still offered the non slide models.
Steve
Intrigue #10673
Intrigue
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number of
Yahoo Message Number: 16806 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/16806)
Steve very interesting. Mine has 2 rear and I never thought this could have been a replumb job. Maybe I can find out from CC who did the work and maybe it wasn't done correctly which caused the constant problem with the left side coming off. I appreciate the help. Did you see what I said about a revised Ridewell valve due to problems with the original ones which carried the number 7423 on the body? regards,
Ron 98 allure 30185
rheavn wrote:
Yahoo Message Number: 16810 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/16810)
Ron Schonscheck,
I did see the Ridewell info. I replaced mine with Hadley valves that CC now uses. They no longer have plastic parts & are working well on my coach currently. I'm not at home so I can't give you the number. If you find you want or need it try a "ride height valve" search as I posted it. Otherwise e-mail me & I'll answer when I get home this week.
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why a 98
work fine
travel
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Country-Coach-Owners-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com?subject=Unsubscribe>