Thor Chateau 31W jack won't stay up

[TimLCooley]

Note: This is my first time ever with a camper.

I took my camper Boondocking this weekend and have taken it out a few other times. I get the retraction error.

When I go to check all the jacks, right after doing the double button thing, they are all up. A few seconds or minutes later, the left front one comes down and I end up banging it on the road, scary and not fun.

Any idea why this is happening?

[MJC62]

Do you have an LCI system? The Lippert (LCI) levelers require hydraulic pressure to keep the jacks retracted. Sounds like your left front has a leak.
If you are handy the first thing to check would be the hose connections at the jack for leakage & at the pump. If it is not an obvious fitting leak, follow the line back from jack to pump looking for fluid.
Hopefully it is as simple as a loose fitting.

[TimLCooley]

Originally Posted by MJC62

Do you have an LCI system? The Lippert (LCI) levelers require hydraulic pressure to keep the jacks retracted. Sounds like your left front has a leak.
If you are handy the first thing to check would be the hose connections at the jack for leakage & at the pump. If it is not an obvious fitting leak, follow the line back from jack to pump looking for fluid.
Hopefully, it is as simple as a loose-fitting.

I do have the Lippert. I haven't noticed any pools of liquid. i will run back on the hoses and see what I can see. TY.

[lwmcguir]

No hydraulic fluid leak then likely a worn o-ring in the ram

If it is a bolted cylinder it is easy to take apart and replace if your handy

Non bolted cylinder order a replacement

Hydraulic shop otherwise

[lwmcguir]

Originally Posted by TimLCooley

Note: This is my first time ever with a camper.



I took my camper Boondocking this weekend and have taken it out a few other times. I get the retraction error.



When I go to check all the jacks, right after doing the double button thing, they are all up. A few seconds or minutes later, the left front one comes down and I end up banging it on the road, scary and not fun.



Any idea why this is happening?

I press retract only after turning the system on

What 2 are you pressing?

[TimLCooley]

Enter and Retract at the same time.

[lwmcguir]

Originally Posted by TimLCooley

Enter and Retract at the same time.

Is that what your manual says? Normally when you push buttons at the same time you are resetting somthing

[Pillbox]

Enter and retract rests the lci error jacks not retracted, send in for service…..
Terry

[Chateau_Nomad]

It may be as simple as air in the system. I'm sure Lippert has a procedure to bleed air from the hydraulic lines. Start with the simple stuff first.

[10scDust]

I would think, from my hydraulics experiences, that cycling the rams (jacking cylinders) 2 or 3 times should sufficiently remove any trapped air.

There is a procedure, from Lippert, to manually retract each jacking cylinder using an allen wrench and a drill motor to spin the motor & pump. Do some research to familiarize yourselves, if you attempt a DIY.

Each jacking cylinder has its own control valve you need to turn its set screw to set up that procedure.
(At least it is so with our LCI Leveling System).

That particular valve could be the culprit allowing leak-by & causing this problem. Not saying it is, just it could be.

Each of these valves has a wired plug attached to it that actuates the solenoid, on that valve, to control it during the system process'.

They are easily removed. System off first.
I would make sure loose debris, around the valve, is removed before taking it out. Then disconnect the plug. Using the correct size deep well socket w/ratchet, take it out. Not metric size.
Most all of them seal with an o-ring, so beware to look for it and make sure it is present replacing.

Upon the valve itself, should be mfr's info and a part number (this will not be a Lippert number}. From there, an industrial store should be able to get the part for you, say like Grainger, or somebody.

My experience having a different type of valve go bad, minimum purchase caused me to buy two, when I only needed one. They were like $37 each at the time.

FYI: all those valves are what is known as logic valves.
Shuttle valves are large and more bulky, technology has streamlined them they way they work for the same purpose.

[lwmcguir]

Originally Posted by TimLCooley

Enter and Retract at the same time.

Did that solve the dropping jack problem by pressing retract?

[Connieb]

Mine have acted up since new when start rv the panel shows error but levelers aren't down. It goes away . When putting Jack's up I press retract all and that is it. the board will shut off by itself. I have a 31w chateau,but according to the dealer it has 5th wheel levelers on it. I bought it new, but this does not surprise me.i do know they need to be recalibrate every year or so.god luck