Jump to content

Valid Mfg. Air Leveling System

jimtaylorville
 Share
Go to solution Solved by Tom Cherry,

Recommended Posts

jimtaylorville

jimtaylorville

Posted
Posted

While coach parked and engine idling yesterday, our Power Gear Valid leveling system starting beeping. Called Lippert, they advised not their system. Called Valid and they advised faulty keypad due to water damage. I pulled keypad to investigate. No water damage evident. Checked 12V, unit receiving 13.92 with engine running. Plugged back in, unit operating correctly. Called Valid back, they verified working fine. New Keypad, controller $491.40 & Freight for Valid PN: VTL02A009-5 (newer version of the -1 in coach now. Has anyone experienced similar problem? You must have air in bags to drive unit, so is $500+ a good purchase to have on hand? This coach is air only leveling. No Jacks. Thanks!

 

 

PowerGear Controller.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Frank Bergamo

Frank Bergamo

Posted
Posted (edited)

Mine has done the same thing. Shut off ignition, then restarted and system resets. Haven’t been able to diagnose problem, as it works fine after reset. Happened once while driving, didn’t seem to affect ride height. Be interested to hear any similar experiences and any solutions. As a side note, mine has never been wet.

Edited by Frank Bergamo
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Solution
Tom Cherry

Tom Cherry

Posted
  • Solution
Posted

Many FOLKS have had similar issues.  The USUAL ( but not guaranteed) fix is to make SURE that the Connector on the keypad (underneath) is on TIGHT.  Also, do a "tug" on every wire in the harness from the connector.  NOT a King KONG pull, but a good firm and steady pull.  THEN inspect the interior of the connector.  Are all the pins pushed in and seated properly or are some of the pins....pushed back or "OUT" and not making contact.  Some have uses a small tool to push back in the pins and get them all level and seated.

Don't KNOW if this is the problem, but it has been beneficial to many. We have had some "BAD" or damaged keypads....but the bulk was the connection or lack thereof or POOR connection from the keypad to the harness.  The years of vibrating and such will take its toll.

If that solves it, please post.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites
jimtaylorville

jimtaylorville

Posted
  • Author
Posted
16 hours ago, Tom Cherry said:

Many FOLKS have had similar issues.  The USUAL ( but not guaranteed) fix is to make SURE that the Connector on the keypad (underneath) is on TIGHT.  Also, do a "tug" on every wire in the harness from the connector.  NOT a King KONG pull, but a good firm and steady pull.  THEN inspect the interior of the connector.  Are all the pins pushed in and seated properly or are some of the pins....pushed back or "OUT" and not making contact.  Some have uses a small tool to push back in the pins and get them all level and seated.

Don't KNOW if this is the problem, but it has been beneficial to many. We have had some "BAD" or damaged keypads....but the bulk was the connection or lack thereof or POOR connection from the keypad to the harness.  The years of vibrating and such will take its toll.

If that solves it, please post.  

Thank you for all the suggestions! I am still debating a $500 part I may or may not need. I did pull controller and inspected for water damage. no signs of water anywhere. I also pulled both molex connectors (an 8 pin and 2 pin for canbus) inspected, and reseated both. Tom, you are very correct, check connections first, and often it will solve the problem. Oxidation buildup on connectors, a loose wire entering the connection, all great points of failure. I am leaving in a few weeks on a 1700 mile trip, so this will be a good test. 

ALSO, if anyone interested, the Valid rep e-mailed me a 1 page Valid/Monaco Leveling system troubleshooting guide, a 98 page trueline leveling service manual, and a 24 page leveling system operation guide.  Happy to send this to anyone, or post on website. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
KwBill

KwBill

Posted
Posted

Our valid panel beeps at times. I just unplug and drive. Doesn't effect driving. When parked I plug back in and reset monitor then level. This was two years ago. Happened several times.  Hasn't beeped in last five or six trips so maybe stuck solenoid or wiring.Fixed itself so far.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Ivylog

Ivylog

Posted
Posted
8 hours ago, KwBill said:

Our valid panel beeps at times. I just unplug and drive. Doesn't affect driving.

As Bill implied, it’s for leveling, not driving… ride height valves control that so why spend $500 on something that won’t stop you from driving?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
KwBill

KwBill

Posted
Posted

I am on the road. All you have to do is Google valid leveling and all that info is there. To reset the valid system hold down power and travel button the same time for 10 seconds. Panel will beep then go ahead and relevel. My monitor started beeping today after 2 years of not being a problem. Pulled over and unplugged power. Plugged backing at campground and reset. Then leveled coach. Do have Jack's but seldom use.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
jimtaylorville

jimtaylorville

Posted
  • Author
Posted

It was my understanding the Valid system leveled coach while coach is in travel mode. For those who unplug the control board while traveling, I assume the air bags just maintain the air pressure they had in them prior to the control board being unplugged? 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Ivylog

Ivylog

Posted
Posted (edited)

NO and NO! The 3 manual Ride Hight valves are used in the travel mode… maintain the 9” height the S-10 chassis uses regardless of how much stuff you put in the rig.

The 6 pack electric solenoid valves (one up front and one in the rear) are what level the rig based on the signals from the control board.

Edited by Ivylog
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Ivan K

Ivan K

Posted
Posted

Once power to leveling controller is removed, what ever air pressure is in the bags is what stays there (assuming no leaks). So, yes, if you have deflated bags, the sixpack travel valves need their signal from controller to open and let air into bags. No power to travel valves, no ride hight control.  The 3 mechanical ride hight valves do nothing at that point since they are now isolated from bags. Only way they can send or remove air to or from air bags is through sixpacks.

However - HWH sixpack manifolds have emergency manual bypass for that situation,  I would hope Valid thought of that as well so the rig can be driven without functional controller.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
timaz996

timaz996

Posted
Posted

And one thing that a lot of people disagree with me on is the six pack valves can leak to the point even when you’re going down the road that they can twist the chassis and make it pull or lean in One Direction. I had this exact same problem in 2018 and posted all that I did to cure it on irv2. Even though there was people on there that said that’s impossible for it to happen. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
KwBill

KwBill

Posted
Posted

With coach at ride height it takes a signal to solenoids to level coach. I unplug leveler if beeping. Coach is a ride height. To dump I replug and do a hard reset on control panel then coach levels. May or may not beep on next trip or start at any time. I live with it. The peep does drive the wife crasy.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Pduggs

Pduggs

Posted
Posted
On 8/9/2024 at 4:46 PM, jimtaylorville said:

While coach parked and engine idling yesterday, our Power Gear Valid leveling system starting beeping. Called Lippert, they advised not their system. Called Valid and they advised faulty keypad due to water damage. I pulled keypad to investigate. No water damage evident. Checked 12V, unit receiving 13.92 with engine running. Plugged back in, unit operating correctly. Called Valid back, they verified working fine. New Keypad, controller $491.40 & Freight for Valid PN: VTL02A009-5 (newer version of the -1 in coach now. Has anyone experienced similar problem? You must have air in bags to drive unit, so is $500+ a good purchase to have on hand? This coach is air only leveling. No Jacks. Thanks!

 

 

PowerGear Controller.jpg

Six years ago my air system was acting strangely. Called Valid and they told me the EXACT same thing. I pulled the panel removing power to it. There was no evidence of water damage. Put it back and it’s worked fine ever since. 
Valid’s customer support appears to be dishonest. 

14 hours ago, Ivylog said:

NO and NO! The 3 manual Ride Hight valves are used in the travel mode… maintain the 9” height the S-10 chassis uses regardless of how much stuff you put in the rig.

The 6 pack electric solenoid valves (one up front and one in the rear) are what level the rig based on the signals from the control board.

Hi Dick, do you know how I can check if my ride height is correct?  Just recently I noticed I seem low up front and coach isn’t handling as well. 
I did a reset of the Valid panel, but that didn’t correct it. While parked, everything is okay. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...