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Old 06-23-2013, 06:52 PM   #1
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Airbags don't inflate??

Anyone had this happen?? Hit retract all on Eq Sys jacks. Jacks all come up OK. Start engine and idle 10 minutes for air pressure to come up completely.

Drive away. Ride is like a rodeo bull. I actually "got air" between my butt and the seat a couple of times.

Stop. Discover the airbags did not inflate even though coach ran for 10 minutes after jacks were completely retracted.

Hit auto-level; wait for jacks to extend all the way. Hit retract all. Jacks come up, airbags inflate, everything's great and drive 400 mi with no problems.

So, WTF???

Boowho??
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Old 06-23-2013, 06:57 PM   #2
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Yes that has happened to us... What my Husband does is after the jacks are retracted, he then puts them down a little way and retracts them again.. seems to work for us. Who knew Boowho?
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Old 06-23-2013, 07:43 PM   #3
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I had that yo-yo ride about a year ago... Scared the h--- out of me... Bounced my washer/dryer part way out of the cabinet and all our clothes off the bar..

Since then, I hit the retract button multiple times and then I get out of MH and actually look to see that the MH has actually lifted off the tires... By doing that I've not had the problem occur again...
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Old 06-23-2013, 08:35 PM   #4
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I get out of MH and actually look to see that the MH has actually lifted off the tires... By doing that I've not had the problem occur again...
^^^^This
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Old 06-23-2013, 09:58 PM   #5
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I had the same problem. Now I start coach, let air build, then retract jacks. Works every time now.
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Old 06-23-2013, 10:10 PM   #6
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Do the same here, start engine, let the air presure come up and then raise the jacks. Had the problem once and haven't had it again. We always double check by walking around to make sure the jacks are up.
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Old 06-24-2013, 07:32 AM   #7
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Had that happen a couple of times. What a thrilling ride we had in an unpaved campground! Now I hit the jacks up a couple of times after they come up. I also build up air in the bags before I hit jacks up. Then a visual check.

Good Luck
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Old 06-24-2013, 09:42 AM   #8
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Yes have had this happen too. It seems that the valve that supplies air pressure to the air bags needs to see a certain amount of air pressure before it will dump air to the bags or activates once you power off the equilizer system. If you wait and let air pressure build up, then do a retract you should be good as the valve will open (because of enough pressure and it knows the jacks are retracted). You'll also notice that when you retract and then push the power button on the equilizer pad (to power off the system) you will hear a very slight snap sound from under the coach (of course when you have at least some pressure in the system). That is the valve being triggered to open.
All this is of course is what I have deduced. I am sure there is a better explanation or schematic that someone has.
So you can either wait and let coach build over 75lbs of air then do a retract OR once you have some air pressure on the guages do a retract and once complete make sure you push the power button to turn the system off manually (that's when you'll hear the little "snap" sound). If you let it auto shut off on the power it won't fill the air bags if you originally retracted with not enough pressure.

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Old 06-24-2013, 10:15 AM   #9
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We also double check the distance betweem the fender the top of tire, about even when air bags are down, about 4" seperation when aired up.
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Old 06-24-2013, 07:15 PM   #10
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So letting the engine run and build air before raising the jacks makes great sense but when I try that, my Equalizer squawks, squeals, beeps and flashes the "Ignition ON" led and does nothing more. Is there something (step wise) you all are doing to get the jacks retracted with the engine on? As always - THANKS in advance.
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Old 06-24-2013, 07:22 PM   #11
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I have the same issue that J has.... Won't raise with engine running.... What's up with that???
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Old 06-24-2013, 07:22 PM   #12
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Originally Posted by JBoyer View Post
So letting the engine run and build air before raising the jacks makes great sense but when I try that, my Equalizer squawks, squeals, beeps and flashes the "Ignition ON" led and does nothing more. Is there something (step wise) you all are doing to get the jacks retracted with the engine on? As always - THANKS in advance.
. Make sure the equalizer panel is off. No power. Let air build turn it on and raise jacks. Should be good to go.
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Old 06-24-2013, 07:26 PM   #13
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Alright!!!!! Didn't think about turning off the Equalizer first.... Will try that next time out....
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Old 06-24-2013, 07:35 PM   #14
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OK - I can run the engine with the Equalizer panel off but I have to kill the engine before turning the Equalizer panel back on to retract jacks. I have indeed done that after an extended stay. I thought the posts were folks saying they could raise with the engine on and my system does not seem to want to do that in anyway, shape or form.
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Old 06-24-2013, 08:12 PM   #15
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WOW!!! Struck a nerve on this one!!! Thanks for all the interest. The guys at FR pretty much told me that the valve that controls the air inflation is only "energized" for a pretty short time and if you miss that "window" you'll have that problem.

Funny, it's the first time I ever tried to raised the jacks BEFORE starting the engine. Since all the air had bled off the tanks (while parked for 4-5 days) then the valve was only open while no air on the system.

Wouldn't ya know... I'm trying to go "by the book" and look what it got me!!

Just left Elkhart a few hours ago.... More on that visit in the overweight thread!!

Thanks all.....

boowho??
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Old 06-24-2013, 09:05 PM   #16
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Our procedure is turn on equalizer system, start engine, wait about 10 seconds until alarm goes off (buzzer) let air presure build up to normal, push auto re-retract, wait until jacks are up, let the air bags fill, walk around and double check jacks up, final walk around and off we go. the equalizer system on ours clears the warning lights, buzzer etc. In about 10 seconds when the engine is running.
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Old 06-24-2013, 10:02 PM   #17
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Folks, as per Forest River the Equalizer system has a electronic sensor that trips the inflation of the chassis air bag system when the jacks are retracted if the engine is running. The electronic switch, which triggers the air bag inflation will time out after a few seconds if the engine is not running.

As one poster said the way to trigger inflation, if this happens, is to deploy the jacks and retract them with the engine running.

Best way to insure this doesn't happen is to start and warm up the engine before retracting the jacks. I let the front and rear pressure gauges hit 100 psi and then retract the jacks. You will hear the alarms but this is normal.

If for some reason you forget about the alarms and put the transmission into gear with the jacks down they immediately begin to retract.
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Old 06-25-2013, 07:17 PM   #18
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Sounds like a plan. I will give it a try.
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Old 06-30-2013, 02:45 PM   #19
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Thanks to all for this thread. We had the same experience in OR this year. Got airborn too ! Thought it was the bridge transitions on I-5. Ill be more attentive to the airbags and the way the jacks are lifted.
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Old 08-20-2013, 10:16 PM   #20
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air bags

Visited the "rodeo" today. Had to call freightliner because the dealer had no idea what to do. Just coming out of the campground and almost lost breakfast on a speed bump. Freightliner tech also had me level coach, start engine and then release leveling jacks. Guess there's a few of us out there that have seen this.
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