[pairodice]

Before I left the coach for the night I put it in LEVEL mode with the engine running and it leveled perfectly. After sitting all night I measured this morning and it looks like it did not move at all!

[pairodice]

I raised the coach to full height and jacked up the front of the coach; I put the coach into TRAVEL mode and then i put a thin long screw driver on the rear top and bottom (nearest the firewall - towards the rear of the coach and they both were magnetized. I had marked (poorly) the solenoids but enough that i could figure out what they did. See picture 
Is this a decent jack point in the front? See picture

[Richard]

Adrian, there is a huge A HA in your posts that kind of negate the data.

You have LEVEL and TRAVEL backwards in your understanding of how the system works.

LEVEL Mode - used for leveling the coach when parked. No solenoids are activated with key on or off, Raise and Lower solenoids activate when raise or lower buttons are pushed on the HWH panel or the ALL raise or ALL lower button is pressed.

TRAVEL mode- When the key is on and the TRAVEL button is pressed the travel solenoids will be energized. Even if the coach is left in LEVEL mode accidentally, the HWH brain will activate TRAVEL mode if the coach exceeds 5 mph. The travel solenoids are never energized with the key off.

The best I can tell is your solenoids are miswired. You can make no progress on ride height until that is corrected.


I have no confidence the labeling is correct. Let’s start from scratch now that you understand the difference between LEVEL and TRAVEL.

Raise the coach best you can. Support the front end.
Disconnect ALL of the solenoid wiring.

The travel solenoids are the two closest to the firewall, or in other words the end of the manifold bolted to the coach.

Turn the key on, the engine does not have to be running, and using a voltmeter, not a test light (you and I have been there, done that) find the two connections front and the two connections back that are providing 12Volts. Plug those connections into the travel solenoids, it does not matter on these if it’s top or bottom since both will be energized any time you are in travel mode.

The next steps will require a helper and careful focus. Follow the instructions exactly.
Key on, engine off.
Press the LEVEL button.
Press the Left down button.
Find the connector in the front that is energized.
Plug that connector into the center solenoid on the top.

Repeat this step exactly for the rear.

Press the Right down button
Find the connector that is energized.
Plug that connector into the bottom center solenoid.

Repeat those steps for the rear.

Press the left up button.
Find the energized connector.
Plug it into the top solenoid furthest away from the firewall. This will also be the end of the manifold with the 3/8 air hose entering.

Repeat for the rear.

You should only have one disconnected plug at each six pack now and one disconnected solenoid.
Connect them.

Remove your jacks

Crank the coach.
Put into LEVEL mode.
Press the ALL down button until the coach lowers.
Engine still running.
Press the TRAVEL button and wait.
Give it five minutes.
Turn off the coach and measure the ride heights.

Report back before going any further with adjustments please.

[pairodice]

Richard - once again thank you for the great instructions. We started performing the tests following them exactly and got through to the 2nd step front/rear and then suddenly none of the plugs were sending 12-volt - l checked the fuse in the front passenger area #28 for HWH LEVELING and it was fine… I pulled the cover off the HWH leveling box in the driver side front bay and checked the fuses there - they all look fine and we tried pushing several of the switches to see if the yellow/red lights came on - I need to check the manual and see what the lights mean… I’ll come back to this but it’s made for a most frustrating day :-(

[Richard]

I don’t know your time line or situation, so it’s hard to suggest next steps.

But IN DESPERATION, there is a fairly simple way of hot wiring the TRAVEL solenoids that will allow the coach to reach ride height and be safe to drive. This hack bypasses all the HWH controls, and you would not be able to level the coach once parked but you could drive it.

Out of curiosity. Did you get 12V at a connector that would have been Travel? How many volts exactly did you get? Did you plug any connectors into any solenoids?

When you say you checked fuses, was that visual check or with the voltmeter. I am trying to ascertain what happened so the more details you can provide on what you did will help.

This document https://hwhcorp.com/ml17140.pdf will show you the terminal locations that feed the solenoids. On the BACKSIDE of the Leveling Control board will be the fuses specific for the leveling system.

[pairodice]

I think I was just overly tired, I stopped, took a nap and then tested my voltmeter on a simple battery… it was on the wrong setting :-( Now I’m ready to try it again. We would love to get out of TX but we are staying with my Mother and Dad and helping Mom while she is recovering from a fall (didn’t break anything)… I really am missing my shop about now…

[Richard]

No worries.

[pairodice]

It’s a new morning and I’m back at the tire shop so I can get an alignment. I dumped the coach (all end dumped correctly). 
Cranked the engine and let it stay in travel mode for 5 minutes. 
Driver and passenger front 12”
Rear driver 11
Rear passenger 11
I did notice it was riding way smoother this morning.
My lovely wife helped me yesterday and we went through Richard’s directions at least twice and learned a lot about the air system (my tanks look terrible)…
We still need to adjust some things in the rear and Karen wrote down the wire color and voltage but I can’t find it here… will update so maybe it will help others. 
Thank you again to Richard for his expert advice and great patience with my ADD :-) 

[rvguy]

I have been thru all of this with coach 480.  Listen to Richard and the other gurus who have the older coaches, they will guide you in the right direction. I fought this on my coach several times thruout the repair process.  Rebuilt 6 packs, repaired all air leaks, replaced all air bags, .  I did come across a issue that I want to share.  First off  engine running , hit the travel button. Go to the rear of the coach and check the  forward solonoids( nearest the firewall, these are the travel solonoids) put a washer on there and see if it sticks. If so pull the airline off the back of the 6 pack block behind the travel solonoids and see if you have coming out of the lines. If only one side has air coming out of it, I suggest looking at the 2 check valves located at the other end of the 6 pack block.   
On the far end of the 6 pack block, on the top and bottom, there is a brass plug. With all air dumped, pull those 2 plugs off , under that is a small spring and a plunger. I found that mine was sticking causing air to sometimes go to the bags and sometimes not. I tried cleaning, but they would stick again. So pulled them out, put the plugs back in a BAM. all issues went away in the rear.
Furthermore- I have been a master rv tech for almost 35 years as well as a heavy equiptment mechanic all my life ( 18 wheelers). I know air systems like the back of my hand. BUT I Have to say Newell coaches have thrown me for a loop. Several people on this site will help you try to understand how it works, it can be confusing and expensive if not careful.
If you have no knowledge of how to support this coach when in the air, DO NOT GET UNDER IT..... I have 6 -20 ton jack stands , as well as 4- 20 ton air jacks  and I still get squirrly when going underneath this thing.
You stated you are in Texas, I might be of some assistance if you are close by

[pairodice]

Thanks Adam! I will check those items you listed but it looks like all is well for now - but would probably be a good maintenance item. 
We are in beautiful Beaumont TX if you know where that is - I recommend staying away! lol would love some company but I also am working still from 6am to 2pm so I get to work on the coach between meetings and in the scorching heat here!