BAC Forum

General Boards => Technical Support => Topic started by: Richard Higley on October 24, 2016, 02:39:23 AM

Title: Air Leveling Issue
Post by: Richard Higley on October 24, 2016, 02:39:23 AM
I have a 2005 Patriot Thunder. My coach has HWH air leveling.  Occasionally after the coach has been leveled and and the leveling computer auto adjusts, the air compressor comes on and then there's a noise from the right front of the coach that sounds like a pop or maybe a pressure relief valve. It does this several times and then stops.  Wondering if anyone has an idea of what the problem might be. Thanks.
Title: Re: Air Leveling Issue
Post by: Keith Moffett Co-Admin on October 24, 2016, 11:35:42 AM
When on air leveling there is an air electric compressor which keeps the pressure up so the system can adjust as needed.  When it senses the level is out it adjusts and that may be what you are hearing.
I think I have that right though air leveling is new to me too.
Title: Re: Air Leveling Issue
Post by: Richard Higley on October 24, 2016, 12:33:51 PM
Keith, I hear the compressor run, but after a few seconds there is a pop. Sounds like a pressure relief valve. This repeats for a couple minutes then stops.
Title: Re: Air Leveling Issue
Post by: Jerry Emert on October 24, 2016, 01:07:28 PM
Mine does the same thing at the end of every cycle when the compressor is working.  I just took it as normal and ignored it.
Title: Re: Air Leveling Issue
Post by: LaMonte Monnell on October 24, 2016, 02:41:25 PM
Same on mine. It's just the way it is I guess.
Title: Re: Air Leveling Issue
Post by: Keith Moffett Co-Admin on October 25, 2016, 12:10:47 AM
Sorry guys but I have never heard a pop sound on ours.  Perhaps I should pay more attention.
Title: Re: Air Leveling Issue
Post by: Joel Ashley on October 25, 2016, 01:06:36 AM
Ditto;  no popping noise.
Title: Re: Air Leveling Issue
Post by: David T. Richelderfer on October 25, 2016, 01:30:51 AM
Double ditto.  I rarely hear the compressor, and no popping noises.
Title: Re: Air Leveling Issue
Post by: Neal E Weinmann on October 25, 2016, 02:37:04 AM
Normal routine on ours is hearing a pressure bleed off what I expect is the high zone, followed by the pump coming on (very quietly) to ostensibly bring up the opposing low zone. As the pump shuts off, there always seems to be pressure bleed from the pump. To my ears, the sound mimics a bit louder version of quickly opening the screwtop on a bottled carbonated drink with a bit of a whistle added in.
Title: Re: Air Leveling Issue
Post by: Roger Rempe on October 25, 2016, 02:51:51 AM
Well put Neal...mines the same!
Title: Re: Air Leveling Issue
Post by: Jerry Emert on October 25, 2016, 03:18:17 AM
Normal routine on ours is hearing a pressure bleed off what I expect is the high zone, followed by the pump coming on (very quietly) to ostensibly bring up the opposing low zone. As the pump shuts off, there always seems to be pressure bleed from the pump. To my ears, the sound mimics a bit louder version of quickly opening the screwtop on a bottled carbonated drink with a bit of a whistle added in.
Exactly the noise I hear and a great description!
Title: Re: Air Leveling Issue
Post by: Edward Buker on October 25, 2016, 12:41:44 PM
It may be a normal vent function built into the pressure cut out switch. I have heard that on other compressors as they reach cut out pressure and kill the power to the motor. The compressor manufacturer or the leveling system company should be able to tell you for sure.

Given so many hear it, sounds like part of the normal function.

Later Ed
Title: Re: Air Leveling Issue
Post by: Jerry Carr on October 25, 2016, 01:11:37 PM
no pop on ours we did change the air compressor to a viair when the HWH failed
Title: Re: Air Leveling Issue
Post by: Gerald Farris on October 25, 2016, 02:48:00 PM
Most HWH air leveling systems have a small water separator in the compressor discharge line that vents to purge any collected water at compressor shut down. The compressor location differs greatly with different year models from in-between the front axle and front cap to above the rear axle, so all coaches will not sound the same, and some of us old guys just can not hear that well anymore.

Gerald
Title: Re: Air Leveling Issue
Post by: Robert Wagner on October 25, 2016, 07:13:11 PM
We hear the bleeding off when releveling and then we will hear front come on and lift front end up to relevel. Have never heard a pop sound ever.

Let us know what you find out.
Title: Re: Air Leveling Issue
Post by: Richard Higley on October 26, 2016, 03:49:07 AM
Thanks for all the replies. I've had the coach for 31/2 years and never heard the pop sound before.   Going to call BCS next week.

Rich
Title: Re: Air Leveling Issue
Post by: Dale Walker on October 26, 2016, 09:47:47 PM
Richard, my uneducated guess would be the pop you heard, was an air bag, that had a fold in it, and when it was pressurized the fold came out with a pop. That used to happen on our trucks when the air leaked out over night with a load on them. ???
Title: Re: Air Leveling Issue
Post by: Joel Ashley on October 27, 2016, 12:40:38 AM
I would hesitate to agree with that, Dale.  If on Auto-level, I've found the coach doesn't sink very far in one corner before the auxiliary pump briefly kicks it back up.  Unless virtually all the air was dumped to begin with, and it wasn't very far off level from that, there shouldn't be any "wrinkles" in any bag.  Unlike your trucks, the compressor on our coaches shouldn't let all the air leak out in Auto-level mode.

That said, I often dump quite a ways down prior to Auto-leveling in order to get the entry step as low as possible for the wife.  That doesn't always work out, depending on the specific site, but even at the extremes I've not heard the described popping when the pump kicks in.  Now it is common during the dump to hear the chassis pop here and there in protest on the way down toward the extremes;  but not associated with the auxiliary compressor, nor even when air is let out in one corner by Auto-level as an alternative adjustment.

My guess would be the sound is related to the valve others mention.

-Joel