12 Volt DC Short to RV Frame Caused Leveling Jacks to Malfunction - Bonus Lake Crescent Quick Look
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- Опубликовано: 6 фев 2025
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Certified Mobile RV Technician, Darren Koepp, was called out to troubleshoot this RV's leveling jacks that were not working. By following the trail of 12 volts, he located a wire that was shorting to ground causing overheating of some wires and the malfunction in the leveling jacks.
Bonus feature: Quick look at Lake Crescent in Washington.
If you are in need of RV Repairs in the Olympic Peninsula area of Washington state, submit a service request on our website at myrvworks.com today!
Great video, very helpful, my system on my coach is acting strangely, as a retired mechanic over the years I've found if a system is acting odd its generally a ground issue, you have given me a place to start, thanks alot.
Sometimes these videos are quite baffling, just as the RV tech is often baffled while doing service. I am learning the language and visual understanding of the parts despite the confusion. It is very helpful that you use the language of pathways and turn it into a story. My goal is to watch everything you release in an effort to gain a holistic understanding of all the mechanisms that are involved. Thank you for pressing on in your quest. I am in the process of changing careers from Construction to becoming an RV tech. Thanks a million for allowing me to tag along!
Thank you for using a common sense diagnostic procedure that lends itself to accuracy in the repair and not unloading the “parts cannon” at the customer’s expense. That is a value one can never complain about.
Great job! I appreciate how you don’t edit out some of the bloopers like your negative probe falling off of the chassis ground. Great reminder that such things happen to everyone. Thanks again for a thorough real-world explanation.
I try my best to keep it real. None of my videos are scripted. So my dyslexic words are in full display to everybody. On some videos I call refrigerators air conditioners and vice versa. Thanks for watching and happy camping.
Great video. Even 5 years later. I’m Chaco g down a complete meltdown of the break away switch and both wires leading from it to the junction box. No wires left after melting thru and hard plastic case for the break away switch is melted also. Am hoping the blue wire from the junction box to the brakes still has integrity. Will see soon.
Oh my...bad things can happen when big wires short...hammer the alternator..burn up the rig...crazy stuff...you fixed the levelers but more importantly save their rig from burning!
Yes, this one came with curve balls. When I got the call that the levelers weren't working I was thinking no big deal. Well 2 hours later I found the problem. Customer was happy. Never know how these things are going to turn out. But I will say that when I found that it was better than crack lol.
You are a wealth of knowledge and watching your videos have helped tremendously with my used RV. Thank you for all you do to make us understand and help us trouble shoot our systems!! You are awesome!!
As a Fire Control Technician working Missile Fire Control Radars, DC grounds were the worst (hardest) casualty to troubleshoot. Sure wish I had one of those Fluke meters to help us. Great job, I really enjoyed the "Refresher Training". :-) v/r, TS USN(Ret), Denver, CO
I don’t know much about electricity and it’s flow but you have definitely enlightened me how to find a starting point when it comes to trouble shooting electrical problems, thank you
It's fun to follow the trail of 12 volts with you. I learn something on every video. Thanks. i've been a lot of lots of Olympic trails too. Beautiful up there. Hurricane Ridge can't be beat.
It is a very beautiful lake a couple of friends and I took a motorcycle trip up to Washington from California several years ago and took that road out of Port Angeles and discovered Crescent Lake. We were riding all the way back down Highway 1 to Calif. The road and the view was amazing.
Sounds like it would have been a great ride! They just milled and resurfaced the entire road along Lake Crescent. So smooth now!
I don't know if your video has helped me with my slide out problem yet or not, I've been troubleshooting the electrical for a while now, but I want to compliment you on not only your thoroughness but also your explanation/camera work in your troubleshooting as you go along! Awesome job! I have a feeling I have a ground short somewhere in the electrical mess under my RV as well so back to hunting!
What a service manual tell you how to construct a battery lol. I really love the video. I will have to
get me one of those TS90 really nice. I keep forgetting I'm retired I just can't help it. I have worked
on power systems repair down to the component level. I really enjoyed watching your trouble shooting procedures !
Seems so easy to watch and understand when I'm the one watching. You are really quick to notice things that
so many other would not have noticed. Such skill only come with many years experience . Thanks so much for sharing
this with me !
Your videos are Soooo Informative !!! I learned and will do many of the items you explained to us... And,,, you have that perfect Speaking/Toned Voice that a quality RUclipsr need's when explaining your video...
Thank's for your Help...
Jack in Little Rock, Arkansas
Hi JaLyn, Thanks for the kind comment. I never ever expected this channel to take off like it did. My family and I have been exciting to see each milestone - it took months to hit the first 100 subscribers and now it is off the chain! LOL. It is because of folks like you that I will continue to make more video's of the repairs I work on.
Cheers,
Darren Koepp
Excellent diagnostic skills. I wish I had 1/10 of that ability. Thank you for sharing.
Love Lake Cresent. I grew up going to the log cabin resort. Grandma ran it for years and also had a house on the lake
I love your videos because you explain your thought process. I use to be a mainframe computer tech at IBM before I became a software developer. My biggest advantage in software development was I knew how to debug. They don't teach students how to debug in Comp. Sci classes. While getting my BS in Comp Sci I would be asked to come in early by other students to show them how to use the debug tools and explain how to attack a problem.
Thanks for that comment. One thing you might notice is on my new videos I'm starting to get a little bit more into the thought process on why I am beginning if point A and moving to point B instead of moving to point C excetera I think you understand what I'm trying to say. A lot of people might understand theory of operation but it's knowing where to start that is sometimes the thing that has them beat. I appreciate your comment. Happy camping.
Good job! Your the best and most professional RV mechanic on you tube.
Hi Greg,
Thanks for that vote of confidence! I just do what I do eh'. It is good to hear that is is helping so many others out there!
Happy Camping!
Cheers,
Darren
really enjoyed this one. I did the same type of work for 24-8 years as an industrial electrician with a natural gas company. great job
I stayed at camp David on the west end of the lake for a church youth summer camp many years ago. Such a beautiful lake.
It is certainly one of my favorite places and it is a 15 minute drive from us. Last fall we baptized my son in its waters so it has a special connection for that reason too.
My RV Works, Inc. So not only do we follow 12v. But we follow the Creator as well. Congratulations on the baptism.
Thank you, DC Electric is my greatest weakness when it comes to working on the RV, thanks again, And the lake was a nice bonus!
This would be a great time for the client to walk up with a file folder filled with schematics for the coach... one can always hope. Lol.
Those power cables are looking quite crispy. Love a good troubleshoot. Very satisfying to solve.
Finding things like that is better than crack! LOL. The sad thing is even with schematics in hand they would not point to where the fault was. Schematics is how it is SUPPOSED to be and not how some yahoo mechanic wired it right!
I have all the new parts on order and will be going back to make the final repair and making another Happy Camper!
Cheers,
Darren
It'll as though it was an overdosing flaw on the negative side of the 12 volt system. They probly looped all negatives to the battery then ran a jumper to the floor of the battery box and you just simplified it... nice job.
Thanks for doing this video. I have electric jacks and cannot get them to go down or come up and I know there is power to them. Looks like I need to start a hunting expedition like you did. Thanks again.
Hi Dale, Good luck! This one took over 2 hours solo to track down so stay with it. The tools I use do make it a whole lot easier - especially when I know the fault was 41' feet away.
I will be rooting for you. The feeling you get when faults like this are found is better than any drug out there though. Have a look at t his other video I did on leveling systems and it may help you get your head in the game: ruclips.net/video/9zvPGBhTK70/видео.html
Best of luck to you!
Cheers,
Darren
That loose cable near the front batteries originally went to the positive terminal of the closest battery. It was to use the leveling jacks with chassis battery.
That's what I was thinking as well... And if you hook that back on the seloniod and on to that same prong and just remove that short wire to the battery isn't it going to be hot in the back still
I guess you just don't hook it back up to the seloniod and whatever the little red wire was connecting to won't work off chasis battery either????
Very good video, loved the step-by-step discovery and solution....amazing what you find sometimes.
You are so thorough on these vids...I really enjoy them & have learned a lot...that being said...I haven't figured out how to do the patreon (sp) yet so I can really get into these.
& yes I DO want to see more bonus features...I lived for a while in Pacific Beach & really enjoyed the area...except for the salt air rusting every thing I owned...lol.
Keep the videos coming.
Beautiful lake thank you! It never ceases to amaze me how you can start with one project and it turns into much much more on an RV!
Thank you for the extras. I had not yet ever seen that lake. 👍
I have a 2018 thor and just found out that thor posts all of there schematics for there customers on their website. So, I downloaded them all... saved them to my drive and even printed out a book that j keep in my coach.
That is a great idea.
For this one, even if I had all the schematics I am not sure it would have helped. The schematics would have shown where that wire was 'supposed' to be not where some mechanic decided to leave it hanging. Still having schematics would have helped me in my sleuthing.
Happy Camping!
Cheers,
Darren
Daren,
WOW... Totally got into this video. Good job.
NRVIA Inspector Eugene Elder
I enjoy your videos they are very informative and helpful thanks for taking the time do do them.
Thank you for the great video of troubleshooting...very informative and pleasant to watch
Thank you for the great video. I always learn something. PS Lake Crescent is an amazing lake. Been there many times.
great video like always People here's a helpful tip when you have multiple wires connect to the positive side of the battery before or as you remove the wires tape then with red tape so you can identify the positive wires and know where they go minis side can be taped green that's the standard code red + green _ once again great video
I really appreciate you taking the time to make these videos. Keep it up.
Bought a 2006 bounced with a auto level system was.told the panel was bad but no one makes a replacement
I ended up installing 8 toggle switches an now it is perfect
Question though the wire was hooked to the hot of the selonioid and ran to the the lose wire if you don't hook that lose wire to the positive of that battery and just terminate it at the post isn't the post going to be hot without anything covering it from something shorting off on it again
Great video. I am hunting a problem where all my slides are working backwards and I believe is that solenoid messing with me. Thanks
I like this guy. Experienced and enjoyable to listened to. Learning a lot. Reminds me of a Les Stroud type but as an engineer rv technician :) thank you for sharing.
M an i stumbled across your videos and channel and I can't stop watching. Thank you your helping to pass my time during these COVID days
This is cool. Loved the bonus
I liked both bonus features 💜
Thanks Mary, I plan on doing that more, folks seem to like it.
I had a meeting with my 8 year old son that accompanies and helps on many of these service calls. We decided to let him do some troubleshooting in some upcoming video's so stay tuned for that. Even bought him a uniform shirt like I have - I will call him "Mini Me"... :-)
@@MyRVWorks wow that's cool. I love the idea.
Excellent troubleshooting video - really learned something - Thanks
Thanks for the comment!
Sometimes when you find the culprit it is better than crack!!! LOL. Will be heading back out there to make final repairs soon.
So the loss wire that was grounded should have been on the positive of the battery?
Thanks
We're going to your area next year to have you do a complete systems-check on our 1990 Holiday Rambler Imperial we bought last year. Camping World wouldn't do it for us because we didn't buy it from them. The only other place around here that would work on it kept it for 2 months and didn't solve the starting problem. I figured it out later...starting battery that would drop to 7 volts within 2 seconds and a starter relay with crusted lubricant on the contact-washer that connects the 2 terminals. I kinda figured that professionals charging $125 an hour would figure out basic stuff like that. So, I hope you can give us a list of problems and solutions and hopefully repair a couple things like leveling jacks, heater, etc. We're sincerely looking forward to meeting you. A good Mechanic is worth a long trip (from New Orleans/Baton Rouge area.)
It would be great to meet you. I grew up in Covington and graduated from Saint Pauls. So it'd be good to get some other Southern folk up here but make sure you bring sweet tea LOL. I don't work on anything on the Driveline or mechanical engine systems but on your RV systems I'll be able to help you out. See you in the spring
@@MyRVWorks It took me a few hours to understand...not a Mechanic, a Technician! They're worth a long trip too.
Good detective work!
You are awesome sir. Thank you
Awesome work👍
I just liked and subscribed. I also want to say Semper Fi. I have a question that I hope you may be able to help me with. My auto park seems to act up when my headlights are turned on, any idea where I should look first? Thanks.
Great detective work! 😀
Great job
the wire at the solenoid that you found an issue with, shouldn't be grounded and should be sending power to the pump motor or whatever device needs to be powered correct? but in the end it looks like you reconnected it to a ground?
GREAT Video, excellent for learning to diagnose problems like this! Thank you! Wish you were in the Sacramento area! If you know of a good tech in this area please let me know?
Super job troubleshooting
So, it was a lose ground, correct? So what did you do! Did you tighten everything in the ground side? You didn't show any of that. I still like your programs. It's still very informative.
I see lots of info on jacks that won't retract and on the whole system will not deploy. What about when one of my hydraulic jacks suddenly refuses to deploy but all the others go up and down just as they should?
You are truly awesome. Great job. Wish I had just a little of your electrical wisdom. Thank you so much
Great video. You are a good teacher. Thanks. Stay safe and havagudun.
It seems logical that the "orphaned" front cable that was the source of the short, may have slipped back there, and was forgotten to reconnect, when someone replaced the batteries at one time in the past. Did you try reconnecting to the positive battery pole and see if everything (except the melted solenoid) worked then?
Since everything worked once I orphans that wire we did a full stop. The customer did not want to keep running the bill up while I continue to troubleshoot other possible circuits.
I love the way you explain and trace shorts.... what's the meter called that showed short 41 ft away? I just subbed
I have Atwood levelers . 3 out of 4 will go down on auto ,one won’t . I can do them individually. What should look for on the one that won’t respond on auto .thanks
It looks like at one time the source of power was the second set of batteries and that shorted wire (maybe #2 copper ) that was touching ground (and connected to the ANL fuse) was at one time connected to those batteries. Someone that did not know what they were doing rewired this. Thats why it's always so important to mark the positive wire with Red tape or heat shrink. Good job showing us the process.
Also it might be helpful for your followers if you drew a simply diagram showing the battery and the solenoid and the path the hydraulic jack motor so they can follow along with the process as you trouble-shoot .....cheers.
Thanks for the tip, if I get time in the middle of all these jobs I could do that.
So what was thar wire suppose to go to in the battery box? It was fuded with a big fuse and...…? Did you find out from Jayco what it was supposed to go to or do?
We have all the parts on order and when they arrive we will be heading back out to make the repair. We have a call into Jayco for schematics on that unit but they have not sent them yet. The customer states that everything works so I will be very curious to find out myself.
Cheers,
Darren
@@MyRVWorks So I didn't see a follow up video and it looked to me like the (maybe 00) wire that got hot was suppose to connect to positive in the forward batteries due to the fuse near that source and travel back to the relay.
It looks like the relay was a combiner relay for the two battery banks and allowed emergency jumping or tying the two banks together and charging by connecting the two battery banks together when the alternator was charging. Were you ever able to confirm this?
I am looking for trouble shooting of hydraulic levels and slides. I have forgotten most of what I had learned at NRVTA about Hydraulic systems.
Great Video Thank you
great information
Very informative and methodical !!!
I appreciate your time and information !!!
❤️ these videos. 😎
Your awesome thanks for going through all this.
I 2ish you were in Tennessee!
So it looks like that loose wire should have been connected to the positive on the battery in the front and through the fuse for some reason. I guess checking with the manufacturer would clear up what the connection was for. The fuse must be there for a reason. I suspect someone changed or disconnected the battery and forgot that wire. Good troubleshooting. I watch gain more knowledge of RV wiring for the time i need to trouble shoot mine
I have a similar problem on my Keystone fithwheel.
Thank you for the video and I like the bonus feature!!
You are one smart guy 👍💯👌
Where is the chassis group for the leveling system
so the 41' long wire was correctly attached at the rear of the coach with the red wire? if no, where was it supposed to be connected?
We never took the time, and the customer didn't want to pay for us to figure that out. The best we can assume is that at one point it was connected to a battery. When a previous Tech change out the battery they did not connect it.
@@MyRVWorks so that entire 41 ft span of wire was orphaned
We love your videos,they have helped us a lot .Thanks
My 1998 Fleetwood bounder dash lights on all jacks down and red light blinking,I filled the reservoir and it still blinks ,the power on does not light
Awesome lake!
Great video. Thanks.
My rear RV Jack's will go down but not up (without significant force) the front have no problem at all. I thought it was the springs at first but now that it just doesn't even go without force I'm worried I could be damaging something. Any thoughts? It goes down no problem, just not retracting.
Did you end up also replacing the melted solenoid? What was done with the two disconnected cables?
Thanks for the bonus.
Great video. Did you need to change the solenoid?
Yes, once all the failed parts were determined we ordered them and got back a week later to make all the proper repairs. Now it's good as new.
Good deal. I love watching a real professional work. Thanks again for sharing this valuable information.
We have a 2003 Tiffin Allegro with HWH hydraulic jacks and manual only controller. We have installed 2 new jacks (we have 4) and all the springs. The right rear jack will not retract. I watched a video that said loosen the hydraulic line to the jack. If it retracts, it is not the jack. I loosened the line, nothing happened, I took the line connection all the way off and the jack slammed to the top and the line squirted oil all over me. lucky I didn't have hold of the jack or I'd be missing a hand! It seems if the jack won't retract but does when I remove the line, there was still pressure keeping it extended. It has to be the hose or the solenoid? how do I check for this?
do you have somebody here in the bay area? i have the same problem with my leveling jack and the power at the tail lights are gone too
What was the tester that gave you the distance to the short?
That is a Fluke TS90. And a secret weapon if there ever was one... That has helped me trace out some of the most difficult wiring faults and with out it I am not sure I would have been able to have found them. I have other video's that I use it in. Here is one that I do a quick demonstration on using it, starting at the 10:50 mark: ruclips.net/video/lJXTBdirykQ/видео.html
Cheers,
Darren
Seems whomever swapped the engine batteries forgot to connect the one positive cable. I imagine that cable charges the coach batteries when the engine is running.
What is the name of the tool for finding shorts
Great. Search. Patients. Is. Pay off
well done video
What is the info on the tool that measures wire distance from short? Make/Model
Thank You 👍
Hi Mike,
Here is the info on the Fluke TS90 Cable Fault Finder...
amzn.to/2UcTVDf
Thank You for the information.
Cool Tool
Always room for another tool in my toolbox :)
Nice lake!
Thank you for this!
Well done, thxs
am i to understand that when the solenoid is engaged it sends voltage up to that fused wire up by the batteries? if that is the case it powers NOTHING. So was that wire supposed to feed voltage to that solenoid by the fused wire if it were hooked up to the batteries? And maybe the other wire that is now feeding voltage to the solenoid is picking up voltage from somewhere else. Im still confused how that wire coming from the solenoid goes up the the battery compartment and dead ends. Makes no sense to me
Others had worked on this before I got involved and obviously took some shortcuts making a mess of things. Schematics are not clear on what happens there. The net result is that everything is working correctly and the customer is happy. They don't want to keep paying me to diagnose problems that don't exist so we just terminated the wire safely in the battery compartment.
I’m having a problem retracting my hydraulic jacks on my Damon Astoria 2006 RV. It is stuck in the down position and the safety switch must’ve been tripped, but I cannot find the switch. The hydraulic pump comes on, but the relay does not activate to retract the jacks. Can you help me?
MAN ! < I tell everyone ," LOOSE WIRES CAUSE FIRES "
Can someone tell me if WF8945PEC WILL REPLACE A Magnetek 6345 converter.
What was the grounded wire buy front battery for? did factory tell you? was there an inverter or air pump missing ? wish i had u here in Alaska my 1994 28'' c class ford just started having electrical problems like furnaces quit put new 1 in worked 3 times and now starts for 5 to 10 seconds and off the old 1 would not light i found a cracked burnt battery negative terminal when i put new batts in. i have good dc power to every thing else charger is working. the old heater fan would run faster when running 120v than a little slower when on dc batts now no change in fan speed and new furnace is kapuut and the wall outlets just quit after last trip but microwave has power? and the geny started surging. I did just put 2000 hard Alaska miles on it and after the last earth quake we had the roads are like a moto X track i actually jumped the front tires over 1 foot off the ground on a bump (or jump) at 60+ mmmm better go check for loose and chafed wires or low volts from that charger converter thing .P.S THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOU TIME AND TEACHING U ARE 100% BETTER THAN MY SCI TEACHER. HE DIDNT TEACH ME SHIT I love your termoligy bullets gn or water hose psi to flow for amp to volt it clicked 4 me so (THANKS FROM ALASKA WISH I WOULD OF HAD INTERNET WILE ON LAST MOOSE HUNT MY CAMPER WAS LIKE A SAUNA USING THE OVEN FOR HEATER TO DRY SOPPING WET RAIN GEAR AND IT RAINED EVERY DAY AND SNOWED ON LAST DAY FIRST TIME IN 20+ YEARS SNO IN SEPT NOW MY CAMPER SMELLS LIKE THE INSIDE OF AN OLD HOBOS SHOES MIXED WITH MOOSE RUT HAHAH
Well greetings from the Olympic Peninsula we're just below you. I'm reading through this and I can't help but question your battery charger/converter operation. Make sure that that is putting out about 13.6 volts DC. As far as the AC receptacles sometimes that could be something as easy as a faulty GFCI. I do have quite a few furnace videos on my channel, you can find them under the playlist. If you watch all of those you'll become a furnace expert LOL. I hate to hear that you're using your stove for heat, that's very dangerous because you're sucking the oxygen out of the air and you could suffocate or worse. So please, please do not do that. The Moose need somebody to hunt them LOL
@@MyRVWorks Thanks for safety info I have run kerosene heater in a 18'' 5th wheel down to -40 F thats when I've almost died all the vents freeze shut. I was lucky a loud voice woke me up telling me to open the door it took me 10 to 30 minutes to get off the bed maybe longer than another 15 min having an argument with this voice telling me to open the door at -40 I'm saying to my self its to cold, it saying open the door, when i finally opened the door and got fresh air i realize I was drunk from no O2 or CO2 so i will not run open flame heaters with out opening vets or past -20 (co2 alarms never went off )and when i use oven for heat the first this year the flame makes funny noise and creeps out of the stove when air is bad i have a buddy heater that will shut off and tells me bad air. i dont like to run open flame heaters this year i did for moose so now i have meat in my freezer and 58" bull and a motor home that is full mildew. I just checked dc volt to furnace and its 12.5 with charge pluged in 11.5 when on batterys witch may be lower than normal didnot plug in to charge. And today after 4 days of rain today i find the top front window blown out thanks to the sate of Alaska and there cheep ass road fix after earth quake 200miles of shot gun blasting chip seal every time a truck went buy 100+ rock hit the windows. I didnt see window was broke but do remember when i open the door while driving the door almost riped out of my hand thats weird and its cold in here? so im done off to the rv shop soon .P.S THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND SAFETY CONCERNS HHAHA FN GFI SWITCH ILL CHECK IN A MINUTE ILL BET YOUR RIGHT 100% YOUR THE MAN SO THANK YOU FROM ALASKA GREAT VIDS IM GOING TO SEE ALL OF THEM
@@bearbait2221 if you got 12.5 volts at the furnace, and you're plugged into Shore power going through the converter, I'm thinking that should be higher - maybe closer to 13.6 volts. Again I suspect your battery charger is not putting out. One thing you can do is use jumper cables on your truck to see if you can get more juice. You don't have to have the RV type battery charger/converter. A simple battery charger from the auto store would work for you.