Help! My Freightliner chassis air bags will not inflate. Today, as I was checking the coach for a trip, I tried bring the chassis up to traveling level. I brought the slides in, the levelers up, closed the door, started the engine, and waited for the chassis to rise. After 10 minutes, no motion at all with the air bags.

This is not the first time. In Apache Junction, when leaving for the day's travel, the air bags also did not deploy. I called my service provider, and they towed me to Freightliner in Tolleson and they replaced the main air valve which controlls both front and rear air bags (believing that was the probable cause, since they could not get the air bags to not rise) and we experienced a few weeks of proper operation. So today, I am dismayed at the prospect of having to find someone to try to figure out the cause of the problem.

Is there something which interlocks on the 2004 Journey and the Freightline chassis which is a mystery to me. I really need help.

Wendell
AA4WP

This message has been edited. Last edited by: AA4WP,

Wendell,

When I push the "Jacks store" button on my HWH leveling panel on my coach the airbags start to inflate.

Freightliner supplied the air system and probably the solenoid admitting air to the suspension. However it seems that the control over that solenoid is handled by the HWH system.

You might want to check with both HWH and FCCC customer service and see what they have to say.

I have had this issue in the past when manually dumping the air. It took me 20 min crawling around before before I went and hit STORE and let the system close the dump valves. Live & learn..

Hello, all.

Many thanks for your prompt and helpful replies. Just after I posted the query, I searched the forum with the term: "air bags". I should have done that first. There were some good ideas there, too. Also, I think that the travel insurance people should have suggested what you all suggested, but probably didn't know of the "store" button requirement. Actually, when one brings the levelers up, one presses "store"; evidently the signal didn't make the journey from the "store" button to the air valve in the air bag system. Anyway, as we all like to say: "Live and learn".

Thanks again to all.

Wendell Pyles (AA4WP (my vanity call sign))

Wendall ...

Don't feel bad ... it took me a long time to figure this out ...

I generally retract my slides ... then turn the switch to auxiliary position and hit store ... that lets the jacks retract without any bells dinging (which I destest) ... then I start my engine ... it took me a long time to figure out that I needed to hit the [store] after starting the engine to
a) inflate the bags
b) prevent bells ringing while travelling ...

So now every time I start my engine I hit the [store] button ...

I hit the 'store' button to retract the jacks and let the system lights go out before I start the engine. I then press the 'rabbit' button which inflates the bags.

Sorry...no rabbit button.....


Where may I get one????

I guess different models have different procedures. Mine, HWH 625 System, according to the owners manual - to deploy jacks, key in on position or accs, engine off. Hit the button. Air bags deflate as the first step in the leveling sequence. To retract the jacks, start the engine, then hit the auto-store button. Air bags inflate as part of that sequence.

quote:

Originally posted by AA4WP:
Sorry...no rabbit button.....


Where may I get one????

Not sure you can if your HWH system doesn't have it. My dealer told me the air bags will inflate on their own if the 'store' sequence is followed. Once the engine is started on mine, if I have stored the jacks and let the system lights go off, the bags inflate slowly. The 'rabbit' feature accelerates the inflation so you can get underway more quickly...at least that is what the tech told me when I got the rig. He also had a Journey of the same model year so he seemed to know the rig pretty well.

The bags are also supposed to inflate (if they haven't already) when the transmission is put into gear...

Also if you have initiated the store procedure without the engine running you may not have sufficient pressure/volume to rapidly inflate the bags.

Another recommendation is to let the let the HWH controller time-out or turn itself off (10 mins. or so) rather than manually shutting it off after initiating the store process -- it will ensure that the jacks are fully retracted. So, if you do the store before turning on the engine, I'd reissue the store command after engine is running and let the unit turn itself off in due time.