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Ride Height

Yahoo Message Number: 2638
After three great months on the road and + 8,000 miles, we are heading home, BUT.............
This morning (Saturday) we thought we were going to start home, but the coach would not come up to travel height. The left side of the coach stayed way down. When the coach is parked the level system works just fine. I limped across the street to a truck service center (by pressing the "raise" button every few seconds, but they had no idea what to do. I called Coach Net, but they were not helpful.....couldn't find anyone to help us......so much for their "great service". No one is home back at the factory.....so we'll have to sit here for a couple of days
Has anyone experienced this type of problem and do you know what I should tell the local service people (when I find them)?

Denny Zarnt

2001 Affinity # 5972

Re: Ride Height

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2639
The ride height acctuator is not working right on the left side...Had the same problem just last month on my magna....I had to disconnect the leveling system by removing the fuse that was located in the center bay...This allowed us to drive the coach to a service facility where they replaced the accuator...

John B

Re: Ride Height

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2640
As the female passenger I will try to describe what happened to us....the arm right behind the wheel that extend when you raise the coach or just sometime level on a difficult site...over-extend and flip over the wrong way when you go to travel...call a tire shop and maybe they can get under there and flip them back..have to usually drive the coach up on a block or ramp for the wheels that do this...
We had this happen on the road too...not much help from service...but a tire man in the mountains of N. Mexico helped us...good luck...

Re: Ride Height

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2643
A friend had the same occur and they told him to manually use the leveling system (use the up arrows on your leveling system) to keep the ride height up to get to a service place.
We had our ride height adjusters replaced just last month...our symptoms were a "grating sound" when we bounced along rough roads.
They were "going" and we were lucky to have a warning.
Call CC for info to get to a service station...not the road service.
Jan McNeill

2001 Intrigue 11320

Re: Ride Height

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2644
After three great months on the road and + 8,000 miles, we are heading home, BUT.............

This morning (Saturday) we thought we were going to start home, but the coach would not come up to travel height. The left side of the coach stayed way down. When the coach is parked the level system works just fine.

We had the same problem on a 2000 Allure. CC service instructed us on how to remove the "travel height" fuse in the HWI control box.
We were then able to set the ride height manually and it would stay at the set level when we traveled. The bad valve was the left rear and we used a ruler to set the height on the left side ( by comparing height from top of tire to the bottom on the wheel well) the same as the right side, We were able to drive from Florida to Michigan where we had the ride height valve replaced.

Re: Ride Height

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2647
Mary,

If your coach is an Intrigue or Allure I can give you the fix for that situation. I experienced the same on my Intrigue, but now have it corrected. Not sure if the Magna & Affinity work the same. E-mail me & I'll explain the fix to anyone that needs it.

Hope this helps someone...........Steve..#10673

Re: Ride Height

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2648
It is a '97 Intrique...send info so if it happens again...thanks...Mary

Re: Ride Height

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2650
Had same problem with our '01 Intrigue last year on East Coast. Wife had to hold the up button down (keeping the compressor pump operating at maximum) while I drove to Lazy Days in Florida who immediately diagnosed and solved the problem. Ride Heighth adjustors had oil that had gotten into the mechanism and was not operating. Changed both ride height adjustors and all was fine. Note that I was told that anytime those adjustmentas where changed the front end alignment needed to be re-checked, which was my next stop anyway so had that adjusted to resolve an odd front tire wear.

ron bodeen '01 Intrigue #11262

Re: Ride Height

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2651
I have a 1999 Intrigue #10700 and the system may be different but I would like very much to receive the instructions CC gave you. Maybe you could even put it in the files section of this newsgroup providing CC and you can clear it. This seems to be a common problem and may be good grist for the mill for future use.

George Becker

Re: Ride Height

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2655
MaryLin61

For Intrigue & Allure owners(not sure if Magna and Affinity chassis are same) who have experienced the ride height linkage "high centering" here is the fix according to CC service manual. I experienced the problem and it is now fixed. The problem occurs when returning to travel from full dump or full raise.
Their are two leveling linkage rods. One connects to the axle and goes straight up. The other runs (perpendicular to the up/down rod) from the actuator valve and connects to the up down rod at a slider that is used to adjust ride height. The actuator rod must measure
7.75" from the center of actuator valve connector point to the center
of slider on up/down rod.

On front there is no problem getting 7.75". On rears one must make sure you get the 7.75" without causing air bag rub. Less than 7.75" is what causes the ability for the rods to reverse in a high center situation.

Hope this helps.........Steve Intigue #10673

Re: Ride Height

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2657
Hi Steve:

I have a 2002 Intrigue and have a problem in that the driver's side rides a little high since JC did something to the adjustments in Aug. Any info would be helpful. Thanks Lou. My email address is loubnv@...

Re: Ride Height

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2659
Quote
have a 1999 Intrigue #10700 and the system may be different but I[/tt] would like very much to receive the instructions CC gave you. CC Service instructions for 2000 Allure Ride Height Temp. Fix: Open panel in front of passenger seat. remove front cover on HWI control box mounted wall.
On cover is a curcuit and fuse[/tt] diagram.
Remove fuse from Travel position (Position # 12 on our 2000 Allure).
This disables the automatic ride height adjustment Curcuit.
Use manual leveling buttons rear right & left and front to adjust ride height. ( I tried to set the height a little above half way on the air bags) With the "travel' curcuit disabled, the manual settings used to level the Coach when parked should hold while you drive.
You lose the automatic ride heightr adjustments for curves, bumps etc., but I didn't notice much difference in the ride in about 1,000 miles of driving on I-65 and I-75 from Florida to Michigan.
This fix was for our specific problem of the left rear "travel" air valve not working and being locked in the down position. It may not work for other types of air bag valve problems. My understandiing is that each air bag has a separate valve used for leveling when parked, and that is the valve I used to level the coach for travel.
Hopes this helps.
Dick

Re: Ride Height

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2660
had the same problem with my intrigue after a mech worked on the system because an air valve was shot you can fix it your self by trial and error this is what I did for $70 /hour I did it which took 3.5 hrs

good luck

Brian Intrigue 10030

Re: Ride Height

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2661
A friend had the same occur and they told him to manually use the leveling system (use the up arrows on your leveling system) to keep the ride height up to get to a service place.

Re: Ride Height

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2662
Hey Jan if you are from the San Diego area I played golf in your name at the reunion rally with your husband Chris You have not got the new coach you bought there yet either good luck

Brian Eichhorn Intrigue 10030 1995

Re: Ride Height

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2663
It seem the ride height proble is always with the left side I have read most of the postings and everyone had the same problem with the drivers side if you are brave at heart when the valve fails you can set a up a crossover to the right side I have one installed on my Intrigue if it happens again all it is is a 1/8 pipe tee and 1/8 pipe plug remove both ride valve air lines and fitting from the bottom of the solenoid bank and plug the left side which is not working install the tee in the right side and put both air lines on the right side valve this will work in a pinch we travel 3000 miles making trips to PA and MI before I had time to fix the real problem

hope it helps

Brian Intrigue 10030

Re: Ride Height

Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2664
Mr. Zarnt: We had same trouble on our 2000 Allure after about 15,000 miles. Could not get it to ride height, so called CC and they told us to manually bring it to level and then pull the 7.5 fuse which controls the ride height and stablizes it until you shut off the key. Then you need to reinsert the fuse and do it each time until you arrive at your destination or service center. It worked for us for 500 miles and then we took it to Freightliner who uses the same system to have it repaired. We needed to replace the height control valve.

JJinCC2000 Coach #30510.

Re: Ride Height

Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2666
I have replaced all three Neway ride height air valves on my '00 Magna, one after the other. According to Beaudry the valves are defective but CC will only replace them under waranty. The first one was under waranty but the other two were not (approx eight hundred bucks so far). CC has always been very good to me replacing parts until now. I just hope the new valves are better than the old ones.
I think the front fiberglass cap has shifted by driving the coach while it is bottomed out on one side. The windshield is bulging out on the passenger side just behind the mirrow. When the front air valve failed, I had the air lines capped and used manual leveling to keep going. I didn't know about the fuse trick. jerry in NM.

Re: Ride Height

Reply #18 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2673
From the number of responses it is obvious that these valves are weak points in our suspension. So far I've changed out both rear valves at the factory, and then another at Buddy Gregg's in Knoxville. (One of the same ones changed earlier this year). Unfortunately Gregg's tech. did not tighten the nuts on the adjustment arms and one fell loose at about 70 mph, while passing an 18 Wheeler. Thought we had a blowout with all the smoke from the burning insulation in the wheelwell, but having had the problem before, I figured it out quickly. Luckily we found a good-ole-boy mechanic at the next truck stop who rolled us up on blocks and reattached it. We then had correct adjustments made at the Freightliner shop in Branford, CT.

To date we have spent over $1500 on parts & labor.

The only thing to add to the tips is that before pulling the travel fuse, you should turn on the ignition key, and put the HWH in the "travel" mode. (Green light on). Then pull the fuse, turn the key to the off position, then press the HWH "on" button once. Next use the manual controls to bring the coach to a safe travel position.

Tom B.
2000 Magna

Ride Height

Reply #19 –
Yahoo Message Number: 24669
The left front air bag is 2 inches taller than the right and I only have one valve to adjust. I tried dumping all the air out and that did not fix it. Any suggestions would be appriciated. New valve???? Brad Ribelin
2000 Magna #5906

Re: Ride Height

Reply #20 –
Yahoo Message Number: 24670
Simply put ... put more weight on the high side. Air pressure will be equal in each bag, the amount of lift will change with the weight they are lifting.

Mikee

The left front air bag is 2 inches taller than the right and I only have one valve to adjust. I tried dumping all the air out and that did not fix it. Any suggestions would be appriciated. New valve???? Brad Ribelin

2000 Magna #5906

Re: Ride Height

Reply #21 –
Yahoo Message Number: 24671
I did not explain very good. The left front air bag is 10.5 inches and the right is 8.5 so the coach leans to the right on level ground. The target for both bags 8 5/8 inches. The coach is empty plus a full fuel tank.

Re: Ride Height

Reply #22 –
Yahoo Message Number: 24673
Check the ride height in the rear. If you even those out, I suspect the front will come closer to adjustment.

Mike

'95 Magna #5266

Re: Ride Height

Reply #23 –
Yahoo Message Number: 24674
Has the coach been like this forever or is this something that just started? What year and model?

Mikee
Quote
I did not explain very good. The left front air bag is 10.5 inches and the right is 8.5 so the coach leans to the right on level ground. The target for both bags 8 5/8 inches. The coach is empty plus a full fuel tank.

Re: Ride Height

Reply #24 –
Yahoo Message Number: 24675
We have just been through Ride Height Hell. I retrospect, we got as warning because the front would bottom out on moderate bumps. It turned out the front valvle was bad. HWH has good over the phone support, but it can be difficult to fine a tech who understands the computer and the air system.
The work needs to be done over a pit. When you are working with the air sytem. it can rise or fall wuexpectedly. There isn't much room under there.
The right combination can be faitle.

Everett

99 Intrigue 10758