Hydraulic Slide pump and reservoir

[Bob Jae]

My 2006 Monterey has 4 hydraulic slides and I only have air leveling.  I have not been able to pinpoint the pump and reservoir.  I also have not information on how to access the pump to check the level and what type of fluid it takes.  I am wondering if / when I find it I would check it with all the slides in or all the slides out.

[Bill Sprague]

Bob,

On my 04 Monterey, it is under and behind the front steps.  As I recall, the fluid is ATF.  It has been a couple years since I've needed to add fluid.

When it is low, there is a electronic bell that "dings".  The first sign on mind is "dinging" when I drive over a dip in the road, but I think that is a result of the jacks pushing against the springs.  I don't remember a dipstick.

I can look it up for you, but the filling process involves pouring fluid in until the dinging stops.  I recall that over filling can cause problems.  

Let me know if you need me to look in my book.  

[David T. Richelderfer]

The constant lower level dinging noise means low hydraulic fluid.  It's a warning type of dinging.  Mine dings whenever I use the hydraulic leveling and/or have either front slide open.  In my experience the dinging continues until all hydraulic devices are ready for travel - hydraulic legs completely up and slides closed.  The other audible noise is the low-air alarm buzzer.  The low-air alarm buzzer is much louder than the low-fluid warning dinging.  I am unable to hear the low fluid dinging when the low air buzzer is blasting.

I too can tell when the hydraulic fluid is getting low, but not low enough yet to cause steady dinging.  While traveling, at every dip or bridge bump the dinging sounds for a few seconds, then stops.  If memory serves me, I believe I'm supposed to lower one hydraulic leveling leg about six inches, then fill the reservoir until the dinging stops.  I do not know the procedure for filling the reservoir when the coach is not equipped with hydraulic leveling.  Again... memory... I think mine calls for Dexron III ATF or higher.  I have not put any oil in the reservoir for a year or so.

Oh yes... my hydraulic oil reservoir and pump are located just to the center from the entry step as well.

[Bob Jae]

Thanks guys I do not have hydraulic levelers just the 4 slides.  Bill can you lift up a step or do you have to crawl under the unit to get at it.

[David T. Richelderfer]

I crawled under from the front of the coach to avoid the exterior entry step.  I don't want that step actuating while I'm under there, but if it does due to someone opening or closing the door, then I want to be out of its way.

Since I last put oil into the reservoir I have heard of some coaches having a "liftable" interior entry step above the reservoir that makes it super easy to access and fill from above.  How it lifts, whether or not it has hold-down screws, if all coaches or my coach has a "liftable" step, I don't know.  I have not looked that closely yet.