Air spigots

[Keith Oliver]

98 Contessa, 3126 CAT, air over hydraulic brakes.
In the engine bay there are 2 spigots for letting the water out of the air lines.  When I open the front one, water and air spew out.  When I open the rear one, nothing happens.
Also, when I dump air, the front of the coach settles 5 inches.  The rear doesn't move.
Are these conditions proper? Are they related?

[Larry Fritz]

I have a 98 Patriot. Both of the mechanical valves should spew air and water. They are just connected to the port on the bottom of the air tank. I'm not sure why you have this condition. Did it ever work?

When you air dump, yes the rear should also participate. You must have air in the tank or the rear end of the coach would be dragging; therefore, I suspect the air dump valve located above the rear axle area is either not working or not getting power to activate the valve to dump the air.

Larry Fritz

[Keith Oliver]

Larry:
Thanks.  I was thinking there must be something in the circuit that leads to the rear spigot and also to the air dump that has been turned off.  
I don't know how long this condition has existed.  I bought the Contessa in March, in Indio, and I had the dealer raise and lower the coach to get a proper measurement of the hitch height, so I noted the total lack of movement of the rear at that time.  I also noted no air or water from the rear spigot at the same time, but time was short and I didn't get around to asking about that at the time.

[Gerald Farris]

Keith,
The two valves that you are referring to are tank drains that go to two different air tanks. You are just getting more condensation in one tank than you are in the other one.

One thing of interest is that if your coach is equipped with an air dryer and you are getting any quantity of water from the tank drains, you should have your air dryer serviced.

In regards to the rear of the coach not lowering when you dump the air from your air suspension. The dump valve for the rear suspension is not functioning, and it should have no connection to the water that you are getting in the tank drains. When you dump the air your coach should lower approximately the same amount all of the way around.

Gerald  

[Keith Oliver]

Gerald:

The rear spigot doesn't put out any air either.  I don't have air brakes, so I don't think there is an air dryer.  Next time I am at the coach I will look for one just to be sure.

The rear suspension dump valve should be something I can find, right?  Any idea where it would be located?  The rear of the coach doesn't settle on its own after 3 weeks sitting either.  The front will settle on its own within 1/2 a day.
And thanks for your help.

[Richard And Babs Ames]

If you have one (I think you do ) and it is operating properly you will hear a discharge of air under pressure every few minutes. If it is several times a minute it is time to service the dryer.  


Our 1997 Patriot with air over hydraulic brakes and air ride has an air dryer. It is located on the curb side next to the engine and we remove it and service it on a bench. Ours has a spin on dessicant canister and a coalasing filter that will need replacing.

[Keith Oliver]

Thanks Richard.  I will search for it.  As for the regular spewing of an air discharge, negative on that, although I haven't been letting the coach sit and idle.  I don't expect I would hear it while under way.

[Keith Oliver]

Well, now I have to report some progress.  I tried to attach an air hose, to add a little to one of the tires, and got water out of both the air chuck and the spigot.  Turns out that all previous times I had tried that spigot the engine was off.  This time it was on, so worked.  Further investigation, as a result of the keen ears of my wife "what is that hissing sound?" detected an air leak at one of the fittings on the bottom of the air tank, where it looks like the fitting touched down hard enough to break the hose, but not hard enough to do any obvious damage.  Replaced the last compression sleeve, shortened the hose 1/2 in.  No more leak.  I haven't had time to more thoroughly examine the system, so will report further when I do.