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Travel mode leaning issue

Yahoo Message Number: 64839
Hello, I could use the forum's help again. I have Magna 5710 built in late 1999. I will paste in below a message I sent to HWH. When I called them yesterday, they said they couldn't help since my chassis (CC) had sensors/systems they told the HWH system when to level my coach while driving so my issues were not on 'their side'. They recommended I call someone at Oregon Motorcoach since many there came from CC. I called, but no one has called me back thus far.
My message to HWH...I have a 1999 Country Coach Magna with a HWH 500 leveling/airbag system. I notice last weekend when we use the RV, it is leaning considerably to the left while driving in the travel mode. (Seems to be about 6" lower on the left (drivers side) than on the right (passenger side). It appears to be low on both the front and rear; not just one corner. The stationary level system is working well. I took it camping again this weekend and tried to troubleshoot it.
I have checked things as far as I can. I verified all the fuses in the leveling system fuse panel are good. I crawled under the RV and don't see any damage to the front height control linkage. I can manually raise it thorough the control panel and all seems to function well. So it is just not leveling properly in the travel mode while driving.
One more datapoint. It may be the right (passenger side) is very high... not the left side too low (or a combination). In taking the RV to storage tonight, I stopped off to refuel. The step was very high off the ground... but again, it could have been caused if the left (drivers side) was very low.
Can you give me some ideas on what the issue could be? I live in Lexington KY so no former CC repair shops close by.

Thank you,

David Current

Cell 502-316-3283

Work 859-234-6616 x108
Home 859-271-2378

So good CC friends, any ideas?

Thanking you in advance. David

Re: Travel mode leaning issue

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64841

David, there is an adjustment item, or leveling the coach. It should be located in the center bay, where all the electronics are. It will be something attached to the ceiling, and has adj. screws for setting the level. It would be possible for that to be off, or maybe someone was messing with it.
Never heard of one of those sending a bad signal, and causing your problem. Hope maybe someone else will have a better answer. I had a 2000 affinity #5725, and that level sending unit was in that bay, pretty sure yours will be there too.

Dale Morris 91 Savanna, #4702

Re: Travel mode leaning issue

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64852
Sounds like a ride height valve to me. They can fail without any apparent external damage. When you put the coach in Travel mode the HWH discontinues its leveling and the leveling is handled by the ride height valves.

Bob

'05 Intrigue 11872

Re: Travel mode leaning issue

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64853
David,

HWH is correct. The HWH controller is only used to level the coach. Once the coach is calling for travel mode the HWH controller relinquishes all control of the air bags and opens up the air supply to the ride height valves. It is the ride height valves that control the attitude of the coach in the travel mode. Your problem sounds like a classic case of a bad ride height valve.
You can temporarily bypass the problem by manually setting the correct attitude (not level) with the HWH leveling and then remove the fuse to the HWH controller. This will prevent the controller from opening the air supply to the bad ride height valve. It is then safe to drive the coach for extended periods as long as you keep an eye on the overall coach attitude. Of course you have to replace the fuse in order to level the coach in a camp site.

Don Seager

2004 Allure 31046

Re: Travel mode leaning issue

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64854
It's important to note that the problem described exists only when the coach is in the "Road" mode - not when using the stationary leveling system which is inactive when traveling down the road except possibly for the "dump" capability. From this it seems likely that any level sensor in a bay would relate to the stationary leveling system - sort of an electronic "bubble" to send a signal to the electronics controlling the distribution valves in the stationary leveling system. The road system has nothing to do with this and functions to position the coach symmetrically relative to the axles even if the coach is on a slope. It doesn't necessarily "level" the coach. As I recall from a similar type of failure in my 02 Intrigue there is a leveling valve in the center at the front suspension and one on each side at the rear. I do not believe these are functional when stationary using the leveling system. It is likely that one on the side that is low leaks or it's linkage has broken or just become disconnected. It seems unlikely that the problem is on the "high" side. Since the leveling system works OK it's unlikely that it's a leaking air bag.

Jim Monnahan, 02 Intrigue, #11410

Re: Travel mode leaning issue

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64856
David,

I would try to level it and if it does that correctly then you know there is nothing wrong with a bag or the plumbing. Then you can bet if it only does it in travel mode it is a ride height valve on the Left rear. It will cause the whole coach to lean. Mine was leaning to the right but the linkage came off the valve while traveling down the road.
Kevin Burns

00 affinity 5865

Re: Travel mode leaning issue

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64857
I had the same problem. Caused by bad ride height valve. If your coach has the original ride height valves you'll probably want to have all of them changed and the coach ride reset to spec.

I got my ride height valves at NAPA.

Dan

Allure 30180

Re: Travel mode leaning issue

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64859
Thanks everyone for the excellent suggestions. I initially thought the ride height value in the rear was just like the single one I saw in center of the front. So I never checked the rear. I wrongly assumed that the valves just controled the overall front to back height, not the side to side heigth. I will now bring it home and inspect the rear valves. My hope is is as simple as something came loose; but if not, looks like I just need to replace the valves. Sounds like the good news is I now don't have to sell both my kidneys to fix this issue. Best regards to all!!!!
p.s.: I did get a voicemail from Vern at Oregon Motorcoach, but got it too late to call him back tonight. Very impressed that he called back. Hats off to Bob Lee and all the great folks at Oregon Motorcoach. I wish them well.

David

Re: Travel mode leaning issue

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64866
David,

I had a similar problem with my Intrigue 2008 and for mine, the problem was that the rubber connector which controls the air level in the air bags had broken and the passenger side rode all the way down onto the tires. The rubber connector looks like a T connector and connects to two rods that move to adjust the air ride. There is one on each side about the drive axle and should be visible under the coach. The front and the back one each side are controlled by that sides rods. That's why you get the lean in that direction. Had a mechanic come and disassemble and manually set the level just so that we could get it to the shop. The weight of the rod was enough lever action to cause the air bags to release all the air on the passenger side in my case. The travel mode air control and the stationary systems are separate. The stationary system will work just fine with this problem. If that is your problem as well, you will need to call Oregon Motorcoach or similar to get the measurements to reset the ride height to the proper height for your coach after fixing the problem.

don

08 Intrigue 12223

Re: Travel mode leaning issue

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64867
I had a similar leaning problem, went around a sharp right hand corner and hit the curb, 2 minutes later while getting fueling the right side of the coach was 6" inches higher. I was yelling at my wife to stop playing with the HWH levelling controller, she was yelling back at me what are you talking about. Fortunately there was a truck repair shop only a few hundred yards down the road, after crawling under the raised side of the coach the mechanic had it fixed in about 30 seconds. When I hit the curb it apparently flipped the linkage between the ride height valve control arm the connecting rod which continued to allow air into the airbag, mechanic just flipped it back over? One of the cheapest repair bills I've had so far.

Graeme Arnott

09 Allure CP #31690

Re: Travel mode leaning issue

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64869
Interesting conversation as I also have a 99 Magna with this exact same problem. I have had the 2 rear valves replaced twice trying to fix the problem to no avail. The coach still leans to the driver's side, but not quite as bad. I've had 2 former country coach techs try to fix it. It looks ok till I drive a few miles and then the lean problems comes back. I've had the travel mode fuse out for a while now. Please keep me informed if you are able to fix the problem.

Jim

99 Magna #5629

Re: Travel mode leaning issue

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64935
Thanks Graeme. Very interesting. I will look under there tomorrow. Could be mine did same thing. I just saw your posting. I crawled under it earlier today and took pix of left side valve, but didn't take pix of right or look to see if linkage on right side was the same orientation. I think by the pix I did take that I am studying tonight I could see the part of the linkage that could rotate.
I might drive it home from storage tomorrow after Church and crawl back under.(Storage lot is gravel; ouch crawling on my 59 year old skinny backside).
I bought two 6 ton jack stands tonight (Harbor Freight special) so I can secure it before I actually touch anything. I will place both on the one side I'm under to be real safe. Don't won't wife to get life insurance too soon. After being cancer free for almost three years, hate to go out being flattened by RV.

Best wishes to you and all who responded.

David

Re: Travel mode leaning issue

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 64955
Unfortunately, my earlier Ridewell (RD-227 system ?) ride height valve linkage was not flipped over. So back to solution that appears to be replacing bad valve(s).
If mine is indeed a RD-227, it appears from Ridewell's site to be a HCV part number 6240605.
Has anyone else had their Ridewell HCV's replaced on 1999 or so Magna and if so, the hours/amount the repair shop changed? If so, can you confirm that the valves are indeed the 6240605?
I am hoping I can find someone local who can replace the valves and level the coach if I get the components. Although I'm a pretty good handyman and normally do most of the maintenance, wife is worried about me doing it. Plus it appears to be real easy if RV was on a rack or driven over a pit.

Again, I greatly appreciate all of the help.

Best regards,

David

Re: Travel mode leaning issue

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 65014
David,

this has probably been beat to death already.

Can you see each of your ride height valves and their linkages ?
If so, when in travel mode, and engine running and full air, the lever attached to the valve should be pretty much horizontal.
If the coach is in a level and steady state, engine running and that arm is up or down more than 15 degrees, then that valve is bad. The valve moves air any time the arm is not level. Raise the arm up, it puts air into the bag. Lower the arm, it takes air out of the bag.
We just changed our third one, they are now all Haldex brand valves from a truck shop.

For what it is worth.
John

2001 CC affinity 42 with tag #6004
 

Re: Travel mode leaning issue

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 65442
Positive, update from my issue...

I bought the Ridewell ride height valves from Northwest RV Supply at a much better price than I could find elsewhere. ($59.95 each).
As my wife was worried about me becoming flat Albert if the RV fell, I took it by the local Wingfoot Truck repair (associated with a Pilot Truck Stop). What the tech discovered it wasn't a bad valve, only the rubber "P" looking grommet was cracked. So when it pushed up, it just flexed. What caused it to flex was the 1/4" rod that went through this grommet had cracked. From the outside, all looked intact. It is hard to believe the rod could have cracked, but true. The good news is the ride height valves I bought came with rods/grommets, so the tech was able to just install the new rod kit. Got out of there with only a $43 charge. I believe many shops would not been so honest and charged me to install the new valves. So I gave the tech a $20 tip for his honesty. So if/when my valves do go bad, I have them.
I am thankful to this forum, the honest Wingfoot mechanic and God for this great outcome.

THANKS!!!!!!!