LCI Leveling jacks fail - help!

[Ohiosnowbird]

We’ve just returned from our second trip and when we got home on to the driveway while trying to put down jacks, they failed. Turned the power on at the control panel, the control panel lit up, pushed the auto level button, it lit up and then everything went off. We spent all day yesterday trying to figure this out, looking for fuses, breakers, didn’t find anything tripped. At the end of the day, Tried it again just in case this was a bad nightmare but the same thing happened.

None of the manuals which were supposed to be for ours match what we’re seeing under the coach. We believe the fluid levels are fine but plan to check that today, also going to verify that the leads to the control panel are receiving power, to verify that the control panel is functioning properly. Any ideas on what else to do/check? At least it didn’t happen in the campground.

Lippert 4 point leveling system.

Thanks

 

[phil-t]

Have you tried activating the jack(s) other than with the auto-level featrue? Make sure you are in Park with engine running, or key on, emergency brake set? All the basic stuff to check. I'm pretty sure LCI website has a support section with troubleshooting.

 

[Ohiosnowbird]

Have you tried activating the jack(s) other than with the auto-level featrue? Make sure you are in Park with engine running, or key on, emergency brake set? All the basic stuff to check. I'm pretty sure LCI website has a support section with troubleshooting.

Thanks. Did all that stuff. Looking at LCI website now.

 

[Kirk]

Since I don't know which leveling system you have I don't have much to offer.

 

[Ohiosnowbird]

I would definitely start with the Lippert Tech support to see what it offers. Do you have a copy of the Master Owner's Manual as each model section has some troubleshooting? Since I don't know which model you have that is about all that I can offer.

This is what’s on the wall:

 

[Kirk]

LCI ELECTRONIC LEVELINGCLASS A LEVELING SYSTEMOPERATION AND SERVICE MANUAL
Have you gone through the level zero point calibration on page 4? Also checked for error codes?

 

[Onyrlef]

Did the levelers work in the exact same parking spot with the MH oriented the same way, previously? If not or if it’s a sloped driveway try moving it to a more level spot and try.
Or alternatively try doing it manually, turn it on and instead of auto, press and hold the manual button for 3-5 seconds or until the light under “manual” comes on, then push front until the coach lifts about 3”, push rear until those jacks touch the ground.

 

[Ohiosnowbird]

Did the levelers work in the exact same parking spot with the MH oriented the same way, previously? If not or if it’s a sloped driveway try moving it to a more level spot and try.

Yes. We’ll try manual as a last resort. We believe right now it’s some sort of electronic fail, searching for that gremlin.

 

[Onyrlef]

Yes. We’ll try manual as a last resort. We believe right now it’s some sort of electronic fail, searching for that gremlin.

That’s likely, but eliminate the simplest and work up.

 

[Kirk]

Turned the power on at the control panel, the control panel lit up, pushed the auto level button, it lit up and then everything went off.

Have you tried to use manual control, just to see if the reaction is the same? That would narrow down the problem possibilities if the do work in manual.

 

[Ohiosnowbird]

Still working on this issue. We believe it’s an electrical issue with the controller. Does anyone know what the yellow thing is? Is it a fuse or a dip switch reset of some kind?
We’re attempting to chat with Lippert support, but maybe someone here knows something?

 

[Kirk]

Since nobody has responded, it does look like a push button of some kind. I think that I'd try pressing it to see if it moves, but don't push too hard. Hoping that the tech people help you!

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

Looks like a component soldered to the circuit board inside, like a ceramic capacitor. Why that'd be something sticking out of a hole in the case seems odd, unless it's supposed to be laying down. It's certainly in harm's way if one were to use the "aux harness connector".

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[Ohiosnowbird]

Since nobody has responded, it does look like a push button of some kind. I think that I'd try pressing it to see if it moves, but don't push too hard. Hoping that the tech people help you!

Thanks!

 

[Ohiosnowbird]

Looks like a component soldered to the circuit board inside, like a ceramic capacitor. Why that'd be something sticking out of a hole in the case seems odd, unless it's supposed to be laying down. It's certainly in harm's way if one were to use the "aux harness connector".

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

You are correct! Thanks!

 

[Ohiosnowbird]

Update. After chasing the electrical gremlins for a couple of days (on and off - gets frustrating) here’s what we’ve learned. Two of the wires (the red and black) at the touch panel and the green one at the brain in the bay in the touchpad to brain(controller) harness had come loose. We think the wires at the touch panel got loose because we were testing the voltage at the request of support folk, but that’s not what caused the problem, it was the green one in the underneath bay by the brain had slowly come loose causing the brain to be fried. Power was getting to the brain via the harness, but the brain wasn’t responding by the time we got to our driveway. We were lucky this happened at home.

If you look at the ends of the harness, those colored wires are in a crimped bit then shoved into the plastic plug. The wire is 20 gauge and probably should be 16 gauge. (Just another example of the fine craftsmanship.) The motion of the coach going down the road caused the green wire to come loose and caused the brain to fry, at least that’s our theory. We’ve ordered a new harness and brain to be overnighted to repair tomorrow so we can leave on Friday.

 

[Laura & Charles]

Thanks for the follow-up!

 

[Kirk]

The motion of the coach going down the road caused the green wire to come loose and caused the brain to fry, at least that’s our theory.

Green wires are usually ground but may not follow conventions in this case. I'll be very interested to hear what happens when you get the new parts.

 

[Ohiosnowbird]

Green wires are usually ground but may not follow conventions in this case. I'll be very interested to hear what happens when you get the new parts.

The things we are learning!

 

[Ohiosnowbird]

Update. We’ve worked with lippert techs and they haven’t been much help. Goose chases mainly. Here’s where we are.

We’ve replaced the the touch panel, the touchpad to brain(controller) harness and the controller. Nothing. The biggest change came when we cleaned up the ground. It was not attached to the frame very well and there was corrosion causing what we believe a lot of the problems in addition to the wires coming out of the plug units. Once we repaired it, the control panel came to life and all of the lights are flashing except none of the buttons do anything they are supposed to. We’ve tried the reset sequence, the sequence to get to zero point setup(new controller) nothing. Those stupid lights just keep flashing.

Fluids are at the right level, battery power is fine.

In looking at deploying the jacks manually, hubby believes because of how the power unit is situated the one jack would crush him(again we’re newbcakes trying to muddle thru) but want to try to look more closely today.

The one guy at lippert suggested testing solenoid and ground on the power unit, but again how it’s situated on the frame is making it very difficult.

We’re going to try to call Thor today, not sure how well that’s going to go once we have the devil himself on the line….sugar goes further than vinegar I always try to remind.

We were supposed to leave this past Friday, so disappointment and much frustration is adding to this. He keeps saying “this breaks faster than I can fix it”.

If anyone has any ideas in a direction we can try, we’re game.