Step well cover

[Tommy Gibson]

Is my step well cover air operated and is this the tank for it? Located in front passenger side wheel well next to generator.
2007 Beaver Contessa 42' Bayshore IV

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

Tommy,
Your step well cover is electric. Depending on the build month it may have 1 or 2 motors. The early versions used a single motor controlled by switching 12v and gnd to run it one direction or the other. Later in the 07 models they went to 2 motors, one to extend it and the other to retract it.  Most are the 2 motor versions. The air tank in the picture is the storage tank for the Valid / Power Gear leveling system. If you  look a bit more, you will see the compressor just to the rear of it.
Steve

[Tommy Gibson]

Thank you Steve. The tank was making a heck of a steady sound like air from a relief valve. The sound would be loud and continuous then stop, then start again. I disconnected the single wire at the back as the wire was very hot. Any ideas here? Does this affect leveling as my coach is all air leveling? Does it affect my air brakes?

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

Tommy,
It does not affect your air brakes. Its function is to supply air to the leveling system when you are parked. When you are traveling the air to the travel mode level system is supplied by the air tanks that are filled by the engine compressor.
The system is fairly straight forward. Power to the small compressor near the tank is controlled by a check valve near the tank that monitors the air pressure in the tank. You can ID valve as it will have an air line from the tank and wires running to it and from it to the compressor. When the tank pressure drops below the check valve set point, the check valve applies 12v to the compressor. The compressor supplies air until the check valve senses the tank pressure is  above a predetermined set point at which time the check valve cuts power to the compressor.
Common problems include the compressor loosing its ability to supply enough air to get the tank pressure to the required level. In this case the compressor will run a long time and wires can heat up. An air leak in the system can also cause the compressor to run for prolonged periods. So first thing I would do is ID the source of the air leak and repair it. Then allow the system to run and see how long the compressor to fill the tank. If if takes over 15-20 minutes, either you have another leak or the compressor is going bad. To check the compressor, remove the output hose and hook up an air pressure gauge to it. The pressure from the running compressor should be at least 100PSI. When my compressor went bad, it was putting put 70PSI and would run continuously as this wasn't enough to reach the check valve set point.
Steve

[Tommy Gibson]

Thank you.

[David T. Richelderfer]

Just a note - in our 2004 Marquis, the step-well cover is operated by air.  The coach has to be aired-up for it to work.

[Tommy Gibson]

Thanks

[Will Hansen]

Tommy,
I also have an ‘07 Contessa and, FYI, we found that Steve’s and mine are wired a little differently. To follow on with what Steve said, on my coach, the fuse for the compressor is F19 and I simply pull it to silence my compressor. So when talking about electrical issues, always verify.

Replacing that compressor is on my to-do list too. There is lots of info on replacing it with a more powerful and sealed Viair unit. Just search “aux compressor” here on the forum.

You started this thread by mentioning your step well cover. Does it operate ok? I had some adventures with mine.

If your concern is only with the air tank/check valve/compressor then, as Steve noted, your root problem is either air leak(s) in your leveling system causing your auxiliary compressor to work too long and/or your compressor has retired on the job and needs to be replaced. Note that the OEM unit that came on your coach is not sealed so road grit gets in there and eventually kills it.
-Will

[Tommy Gibson]

Thank you much Will.

[Tommy Gibson]

I forgot to answer your question about the step well cover. It works fine. The reason I started this thread with that subject is because my mechanic shop asked the well cover was air operated. The shop had checked for leaks just a couple of weeks ago by checking all air bags but found no leaks. I knew it was leaking down because when parked it would lose air rather quickly and cause uneven leveling..It just so happened that when I left the shop it started the loud screeching sound. Hopefully this aux compressor is my problem. Thanks for tip on fuse as well.

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

Will,
I replaced my  old compressor with a Viar 444 (200PSI). If you do, you'll need to enlarge the mounting plate. Add a noise reduction mount. (I used a AirMaxx unit). Also be sure to add a relay to supply power as the Viar requires more current than supplied from the check valve connection. Use the check valve output to activate the relay. Add a 30A fuse in the 12V supply line to the Viar.
Steve

[Will Hansen]

Thanks for the diagram, Steve. (Glad I bought a 6 pack of relays when I did the headlight fix!)

But I’m unclear about what you’re referring to by “noise reduction mount” and Googling AirMaxx gets Nike shoes. Is it a muffler?

I could see mounting with rubber grommets. Did you surround the ViAir in some sort of box?

Thanks for any clarification
-Will

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

Will,
Slight error on the name. It is AirMaxxx. I bought mine on ebay but the page is no longer active. Here's another source  https://www.bagriders.com/airmaxxx-single-compressor-isolator-kit-black.html
The cost is about the same as I paid. No I did not enclose the compressor. Since the Viar is larger than the original, I added a new. larger mounting plate  on top of the original and then mounted the Viair to it with the AirMaxxx vibration parts. The noise isn't objectionable and being  a 200 PSI unit, it only takes about a minute max to fill the tank.
Steve

[Will Hansen]

Excellent! Thanks Steve

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

Will,
Was working on the coach this AM and the Viair came on. It ran for just under 15 seconds.
Steve