Equalizer leveling system-does it automatically dump air before leveling ? Not hearing it

[bpaikman]

I'll try to call Equalizer today.
Here's a question: When I push the auto level button, it starts lowering the jacks - I don't hear any air dump. On a previous motorhome we had it HWH? system and there was a separate button for dumping air that I pushed first, and when it finished, I'd push the level button.
There's no air dump button in this equalizer system on our Newmar. I had just let it do its thing, ..... but lately I've started pumping the brakes to dump air. What's up with all this?

 

[Richpatty]

That is odd as my 2017 makes a lot of racket when it releases the air (DW hates it). Has it always refused to release the air or is this new to you? I would call and see if there is some kind of relay that is not working…

 

[Neemer]

Does pumping your brakes affect your air bag inflation?

 

[Gizmo]

I agree on my Ventana does the same thing. When I raise the jacks after one night's stay to bring the slides in the air pressure gauge still reads above 100 psi and that's not starting the engine so mine doesn't dump.

 

[Scotttkd2]

I'm not 100% sure which way, but I recall my auto working differently depending on which selection the key was in, run or acc. One of the two would allow the auto button to release the air in the bags. I am in the habit now of hitting auto, then stop and let the bags deflate for a bit then restart. It seemed like the jacks would drop immediately and bags not fully deflate, thus causing the rig to sit a lit higher than it could. The start stop method allows me to get it dropped completely before I level. Your coach may operate differently, but worth a try on the key position....I came upon it by accident on mine.

 

[Neal]

My guess is the shuttle valve is stuck, a Freightliner component. Mine was sticking from the beginning and they replaced it at a service visit. Equalizer sends a 12V signal to the shuttle valve. You can try resetting the 12V system (salesman switch) and see if that helps otherwise you'll need to contact Newmar and/or Equalizer and/or FCCC.

 

[J&JD]

I agree on my Ventana does the same thing. When I raise the jacks after one night's stay to bring the slides in the air pressure gauge still reads above 100 psi and that's not starting the engine so mine doesn't dump.

When the air bags dump, the air is leaving the suspension air bags only not the air tanks themselves. Thus the air pressure gauge should not change as it is showing tank pressure.

 

[bpaikman]

When the air bags dump, the air is leaving the suspension air bags only not the air tanks themselves. Thus the air pressure gauge should not change as it is showing tank pressure.

Ooooh. Well, we'll do things differently when we leave this campground Sunday.
The tech told us that the sound of the jacks going down would mask the sound of the airbags. that explains a lot of things.
He told us to start the engine and when the gauges reach normal pressure, THEN raise the jacks.
We were doing the opposite.

 

[bpaikman]

Does pumping your brakes affect your air bag inflation?

it affects the reading, and can even start the "Eeeee" alarm again, until it reaches normal pressure. The, no longer.

 

[bpaikman]

I agree on my Ventana does the same thing. When I raise the jacks after one night's stay to bring the slides in the air pressure gauge still reads above 100 psi and that's not starting the engine so mine doesn't dump.

Have you tried measuring the height of your coach about the ground? before and after? I have noticed the same thing.
Maybe the air pressure gauge is the tanks, not the bags. We're getting a feel for what's going on, but hoping that one of the tech types in this forum will understand and explain better how tanks, bags, gauges, jacks work together...before we figure it out

 

[bpaikman]

That is odd as my 2017 makes a lot of racket when it releases the air (DW hates it). Has it always refused to release the air or is this new to you? I would call and see if there is some kind of relay that is not working…

Freightliner tech thinks it probably is releasing the air, and the sound is masked by the sound of the jacks. He says there are three ports that are releasing air, and the sound is distributed.
Ours is 35 ft... yours is longer at 43 ft, and maybe has more airbag....so maybe that's why it's loud?

 

[Richpatty]

On ours, the noise is unmistakable…not sure I can even hear the jacks. I complained to Freightliner but they said it was working as designed… :-/

 

[bpaikman]

On ours, the noise is unmistakable…not sure I can even hear the jacks. I complained to Freightliner but they said it was working as designed… :-/

I don't recall much noise from either the jacks or the airbags releasing. We'll be watching carefully this Sunday.

 

[Gizmo]

When the air bags dump, the air is leaving the suspension air bags only not the air tanks themselves. Thus the air pressure gauge should not change as it is showing tank pressure.

On my Fleetwood Discovery, the dumping of the airbags was separate from lowering the jacks and when you dump the air both gauges will go to zero then you deploy the jacks. The Discovery had Freightliner chassis. The new Newmar will sit in storage for weeks before the air pressure drops on the gauges.

 

[Richpatty]

I think we are getting air tanks mixed up with air bags…. Not sure the tanks will deplete just because you dump the suspension. Another note, If you drop the air bags, you should feel the rv drop….

 

[Gizmo]

I think we are getting air tanks mixed up with air bags…. Not sure the tanks will deplete just because you dump the suspension. Another note, If you drop the air bags, you should feel the rv drop….

So on our Fleetwood Discovery what do the dual gauges read? Do they read air bag pressure or tank pressure? On our Discovery there is a switch below the steering wheel that drops the coach and the two gauges go to zero. Then below the driver's window, there is the leveling jacks panel that levels the coach. On our PDI we were told not to activate the levelers till the gauges read zero. It is a two-step process. On our Newmar, it is one step process and the pressure gauges don't drop.

 

[Richpatty]

I would read tank pressure….surprised anyone would say to take the tanks to zero…had never heard that.

 

[J&JD]

I’ve only owned two pushers. One was a 36’ on a custom chassis (Alpine Coach). My present coach is a 40’ DS. On both coaches, when the airbags dumped, you definitely knew it as the coach would drop substantially. Very little sound from the air bags themselves. The coach air tanks WILL NOT be affected by the air bag dump. On a Newmar coach there is no switch allowing you to dump the air tanks. There are lanyards you can pull to mechanically empty the tanks or you could pump the brakes until you exhausted the tank air (With the engine off of course).

 

[Gizmo]

I just went out to storage to check my Newmar Ventana DP coach and this is what I found.

I went out to the storage area and check the air pressure it was sitting at 10 psi and measured the front wheel wells and they were at 37.75 inches from the ground. The coach has been sitting since the end of July without starting the engine or having the jacks deployed or dumping the airbags

I started the coach and let the pressure build to 120 PSI and remeasured the wheel wells and now they are at 41.0 inches.

Hit the auto level then aborted and the air pressure gauge stayed at 120 PSI and the wheel well measurement went to 39.5 inches

Turned off the engine and pump the brakes till the air pressure went to 20 PSI and the wheel well measurement went to 38.0 inches.

I'm not saying this is the way supposed to respond I saying this is what my Newmar does.

 

[RandyB]

@bpaikman Yes, my Equalizer automatically dumps the bags upon cycle initiation.

I'd like to put a muffler on my Ventana LE air bag exhaust, it is so loud. My leveler (Equalizer) dumps the bags when an auto cycle is initiated. I then hit another button to abort the auto cycle but allow the air release to complete. Once I feel the suspension settle into it's low position I then manually level the coach with the jacks. Lower each pair to touchdown, then adjust as needed to level. I do not like the auto cycle. End result is always too high.