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Air Suspension - HELP

Yahoo Message Number: 13888
Just traveled from Michigan to Orlando, Florida staying just ahead of the snow storms. While checking in at the RV Park my 1998 Intrigue decided to let all of the air out of the air suspension lowering the unit to the axle stops.

I still have air pressure (100 psi) but coach will not return to travel level. The HWH manual controls also will not raise the coach.

While I am sure the air was dumped to atmosphere when it lowered there is no audible sound of air escaping anywhere around the coach so I don't think there is a hose or fitting leaking.
I suspect a faulty switch or solenoid that is not allowing the air to the air bags.

I know I have read of a temporary repair for this problem on this board but have searched the archives and cannot find the old posts.

Can anyone help. If I can get the bags to inflate I can drive approx. 1.5 hrs to Lazy Dayz in Tampa to get repairs.

Appreciate any info anyone may have.

My email is kzrvstuff@...

Re: Air Suspension - HELP

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13891
Quote
>not sure what RV park you are in, but the BEST local place in ORL would be JOSAM at 441 & Turnpike area. Ask for Barry 407.438.7020

Re: Air Suspension - HELP

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13906
joeycam,

I have a '98 Intrigue that had the same symptoms as yours. I had both rear air height control valves fail. I suspect your problem may be the same as mine. You can override the air suspension system by removing the panel in front of the co-pilot's seat, open the aluminum cover from the HWH panel and remove the fuse marked "travel"(I believe it is number 12). You now will have to adjust your ride height manually by using the up/down arrows on your HWH control touchpad.
Once at ride height it is safe to drive as normal. When you get to your next destination you can level as normal, but will have to manually reset ride heights.

A helpful hint to all is to measure wheel well heights prior to having a problem & keep those measurements in your owners manual. If you have a problem it may save you a trip under the coach to make a measurement.

Merry Christmas
Steve

Intrigue #10673

Re: Air Suspension - HELP

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13910
Thanks for the help. I pulled the "Travel" fuse (#12) but the raise button and the up arrow buttons, while they activate the compressor will still not lift the coach. It remains bottomed.
I also ran the engine and noted that it will only build to 95 PSI. I dumped the air to 50 PSI by repeatedly pressing brake pedal and the engine compressor quickly built it back to 95 PSI but stops there.

Prior to this incident it would always build to 125 PSI.

When I push the up arrows or the raise button the small electric compressor comes and you can hear the solenoids activate but it will not raise either the front or rear of the coach.

I plan to spend Sunday trying to trouble shoot the system so I can relate what ever I find to HWH on Monday

Quote from: rheavn
joeycam,

I have a '98 Intrigue that had the same symptoms as yours. I had > both rear air height control valves fail. I suspect your problem

may

Quote
be the same as mine. You can override the air suspension system by > removing the panel in front of the co-pilot's seat, open the

aluminum

Quote
cover from the HWH panel and remove the fuse marked "travel"(I

believe

Quote
it is number 12). You now will have to adjust your ride height > manually by using the up/down arrows on your HWH control touchpad.
Once at ride height it is safe to drive as normal. When you get to > your next destination you can level as normal, but will have to > manually reset ride heights.

A helpful hint to all is to measure wheel well heights prior to > having a problem & keep those measurements in your owners manual.

If

Quote
you have a problem it may save you a trip under the coach to make a > measurement.

Merry Christmas
Steve

Intrigue #10673

> Just traveled from Michigan to Orlando, Florida staying just

ahead of

Quote
the snow storms. While checking in at the RV Park my 1998

Intrigue

Quote
decided to let all of the air out of the air suspension lowering

the

Quote
unit to the axle stops.
>

> I still have air pressure (100 psi) but coach will not return to > > travel level. The HWH manual controls also will not raise the

coach.

Quote

> While I am sure the air was dumped to atmosphere when it lowered > > there is no audible sound of air escaping anywhere around the

coach

Quote
so I don't think there is a hose or fitting leaking.
>

> I suspect a faulty switch or solenoid that is not allowing the

air to

Quote
the air bags.
>

> I know I have read of a temporary repair for this problem on this > > board but have searched the archives and cannot find the old

posts.

Re: Air Suspension - HELP

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13912
From: "joeycam" kzrvstuff@...>

(snip) > I plan to spend Sunday trying to trouble shoot the system so I can relate what ever I find to HWH on Monday HWH's service is excellent, so rest assured that you'll get good troubleshooting service on Monday.

Dick (& Geri) Campagna
'98 36' Intrigue #10571
Mfd: 11/97

Re: Air Suspension - HELP

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13914
joeycam,

Sounds like your problems may be more serious than mine. I'll second what Dick said that HWH tech service is the best. When you find the problem, please post the solution.

Still trying to slay these beasts...........
Steve

Intrigue #10673

Re: Air Suspension - HELP

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13915
Sounds like the governor has died. You can get one at any truck shop or NAPA and it's not hard to change out depending on your configuration. If you get a rebuild, sometimes they need adjusting to get the start/stop pressure right, but very easy to adjust. You should tell us your year, model and build number so someone can tell you the location of the governor. On my previous 02 Allure, it was on the outside of the battery compartment held in place with two bolts. You will find 3 lines going to it. I carry a spare, I've changed out 2 of them over the past 4 years.

That may be your problem with the HWH, if it doesn't have enough pressure, it won't work. Good luck.
Tom

04 Allure 30979

Re: Air Suspension - HELP

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13919
I thought my signature had my model, etc. Until I get that fixed I have a 1998 Intrigue #10540.

Any idea of the location of the air pressure govenor and the HWH "travel" solenoids.

Thanks,
Joey

Quote from: truk4u2003
Sounds like the governor has died. You can get one at any truck

shop

Quote
or NAPA and it's not hard to change out depending on your > configuration. If you get a rebuild, sometimes they need adjusting > to get the start/stop pressure right, but very easy to adjust. You > should tell us your year, model and build number so someone can

tell

Re: Air Suspension - HELP

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13962
Finally got to the root of the problem. I will try to summarize in the event that the hope that it may help someone in the future.

Summary:
1. Pulled into RV park in Orlando and the Intrigue decided to sit down on the frame stops as we were pulling into the site. Did not hear any air leaks. HWH leveler had all the normal lights and clicking of solenoids but would not raise the coach off of the stops.

2. Air would only build to 95 lbs and so HWH leveler would not activate even with "Travel" fuse pulled.

3. All indications were the govenor was faulty. I could evacuate all of the air and start the engine but while the air appeared to build normally it would always stop at 95 psi. I replaced the govenor. ($17.59 for new Haldex from NAPA - Bendix was not available locally).

4. With new govenor symtoms were still the same. A local mechanic told me I needed a new compressor but I wasn't ready to part with $400 plus labor just yet. Plus I understand the engine must be raised to remove the compressor.

I purchased small electric air compressor from Sears. Removed plug from output port of the govenor and plumed electric compressor to this port. Still would not build above 95 psi. However, now with engine off I could detect a faint sound of air moving through lines.
The search for where it was going began.

5. I Fabricated ramps from several pieces of 2'x10"x4'lumber and drove up on them to raise coach 5". After nearly a hour under the coach I found that the rear ride height valve had blown the large (approx. 1" diameter) air port completely out of the valve. This left such a large opening that the air was very quietly flowing out rather than the typical hissing you get from a 1/4 opening.

6. Removed the valve and found all ports to be severely cracked
(this is the old Ridewell plastic valve)and surely have been leaking for some time.

So now I have a "good" used govenor as a spare and will be trying to find a new ride height valve in the morning. I will avoid the plastic type as it is absolutely not acceptable. Yes, they are 6 years old but the plastic is not suitable for this type of application as evidenced by numerous cracks in the housing even though there is no apparent stress on the areas that are cracked.

Bottom line: If you find that the compressor on your CC loses the ability to build to the normal 125 psi and consistently appears to cut out at a lower pressure the problem may be a leak that is large enough that you will not hear escaping air with the engine running.
While it acts very much like a faulty govenor don't jump to that conclusion too quickely.

I want to thank all of you that responded to my request. The diagnostic steps suggested helped me get to the root of the problem.

Joey Campbell

'98 Intrigue #10540

Quote from: rheavn

Re: Air Suspension - HELP

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13963
Hi Joey,

You are one great trouble shooter.
You certainly earned your PHD (Piled Higher and Deeper).
I wonder when CCI learned their lesson and got rid of thise plastic valves?
Fred Kovol

Re: Air Suspension - HELP

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13964
Joey,

I would replace both sides at the same time & have a spare for emergencies. Got mine from CC for $117.82 a piece. They were the all brass Haldex replacements. CC # is 24691.

Food for thought..............
Steve

Intrigue #10673

Re: Air Suspension - HELP

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13970
I would be curious as to when they switched also.

You know they build a pretty good coach but I frequently run into things that I wonder why they didn't go for more quality. To name a few: Why not brass kitchen and bathroom fixtures rather than plastic, why not stainless push rods on the propane and battery doors, why not 30 amp inverters so they are not always on the edge of popping a breaker and why do they continue with the double pane glass source that dosen't take care of customers with "creeping seal" problems.

Don't get me wrong, my next unit will be CC again but items like those above and others could be easily improved (and have been on mine). When looking at the total coach I still think CC is the best non-Prevost on the market.
Joey

'98 Intrigue #10540

Quote from: fredkovol