Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Montana Owners Club - Keystone Montana 5th Wheel Forum > GENERAL DISCUSSIONS > General Discussions about our Montanas
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 12-28-2013, 01:38 AM   #1
astrungis
Montana Fan
 
astrungis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Green Valley
Posts: 174
M.O.C. #13151
Leveling System "Times Out" ?

I bought our Montana in February of 2013. I have been using it for 4 months at least. Traveled 6,000 miles with it. Hooked and unhooked dozens of times. Towards the end of our last trip, the leveling system including the slide operation would stop. The battery voltage would drop to/below 12V. Once they recharged, the slide/leveling system would operate for 10 seconds and stop again. I took it to the dealer for warranty. Keystone referred them to Lippert. They said it was operating and wired as designed!

The dealer technician said that the batteries were charging at 13.7V. He found that the hydraulic pump trips the main hose breaker in the battery compartment and "times out". Then you have to wait for it to "time in" and try again until it "times out" Frustrating...

The tech said for 1.2 hours labor he would add a 80A breaker dedicated to the hydraulic slide pump to resolve this issue. Anyone else ever experience this? What did you do?
 
__________________
Tony & Sharon Strungis / Green Valley, AZ
2011 Chevy Silverado LTZ HD3500 dually
2019 Montana FB3921
astrungis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-28-2013, 01:51 AM   #2
Tom S.
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Waterford
Posts: 3,693
M.O.C. #7500
I have the same problem and will replace the breaker myself as soon as the spring thaw comes.
Tom S. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-28-2013, 02:42 AM   #3
scott-pati
Montana Master
 
scott-pati's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location:
Posts: 608
M.O.C. #12894
Sounds to me like something is binding up. Have you tried turning off the slides except one and see how that goes, then turn on a second and try etc. that way you may find which slide is giving you trouble.
scott-pati is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-28-2013, 02:43 AM   #4
mhs4771
Montana Master
 
mhs4771's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Sebring
Posts: 3,657
M.O.C. #9969
We had to do that mod to our 2010 Montana so it's not a new problem. We had the same problem with our SOB when the weather got colder, but found the Mfr put in the wrong breakers, they sent me the correct ones and once installed no further problem.
__________________
Michelle & Ann
2018 Chevy 3500HD High Country DRW 4X4 Crew Cab w/Duramax/Allison, Formally 2010 Montana 2955RL, Now Loaded 2016 SOB, Mor/ryde IS, Disc Brakes & Pin Box, Comfort Ride Hitch, Sailun 17.5 Tires.
mhs4771 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-28-2013, 02:59 AM   #5
richfaa
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: North Ridgeville
Posts: 20,229
M.O.C. #2839
Our 2013 3402 has never done that. We are never in very cold weather 'They said it was operating and wired as designed!'

.So lippert is telling you it is designed to fail??
richfaa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-28-2013, 03:11 AM   #6
bethandkevin
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Davison
Posts: 786
M.O.C. #12331
Our 2013 is operating normally and we DO use it in cold temps. Never had an issue. Did the dealer test your batteries and check your connections? Low voltage will cause what you describe. The batteries may have the voltage, but if the reserve capacity (crank amps in a start battery) aren't there they need to be replaced. Being hooked to the TV may not help.
bethandkevin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-28-2013, 03:15 AM   #7
jimcol
Montana Master
 
jimcol's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Posts: 2,702
M.O.C. #7992
Send a message via AIM to jimcol Send a message via MSN to jimcol
The problem is common and the fix is easy. I use to have the service bulletin from Lippert describing how to increase the amperage of the auto circuit breaker. Can't locate it now but one of our members BB Tex posted pictures of his fix at: http://s906.photobucket.com/user/BB_..._1136.jpg.html Might search this forum using auto circuit breaker for more info. Jim
__________________
2006 3000RK
2009 Ram 2500
jimcol is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-28-2013, 03:33 AM   #8
TAKPAK
Montana Master
 
TAKPAK's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Hillsboro
Posts: 593
M.O.C. #8238
The battery voltage would drop to/below 12V. Once they recharged, the slide/leveling system would operate for 10 seconds and stop again.

Part of the key here too, is what you are saying about the battery voltage. As the voltage goes down, the amp draw goes up. Could be a battery problem, or could be "line loss". Fully charged batteries without any load should be at least 12.6 volts or a bit higher, if they just came off a charge cycle. They should have enough "oomph" not to drop very much when in use, at least at first.
__________________
Terry and Patsy
Vietnam Veteran, US Navy
2017 3810
2015 GMC Sierra 4X4 3500 SRW
TAKPAK is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-28-2013, 03:34 AM   #9
Irlpguy
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Chilliwack
Posts: 1,520
M.O.C. #12935
What I am seeing here is the voltage at the batteries. You say it drops below 12V that suggests to me that the batteries/battery has about failed. Have you checked them for water since you bought the unit.
The fact the batteries are showing a charge rate of 13.7V does not indicate the condition of the batteries.
I would buy a hydrometer to test the batteries after checking the water level in them. Fully charge them and let them sit for at least a half hour and check the voltage again, Should be at least 12.8V.

As the voltage drops the current goes up, explaining the tripping of the circuit breaker, try the process with the RV plugged into shore power and see if it acts the same.

Any tech that wants to charge for 1.2 hrs to put in a new circuit breaker that should be a 15 min job is a robber in disguise.
While replacing the circuit breaker may appear to solve the problem, you need to be sure the batteries are in "good" condition and all connections are good first off.


Irlpguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-28-2013, 03:36 AM   #10
DQDick
Site Team
 
DQDick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
We had ours replaced with 80amps by Keystone under warranty because of that very issue once it got cold. If I were you I would also check the batteries, they also may not be heavy duty enough for what your doing and the temperatures.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
DQDick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-28-2013, 03:57 AM   #11
richfaa
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: North Ridgeville
Posts: 20,229
M.O.C. #2839
Our 06 3400 did trip the breaker at first. We had the slides properly adjusted by a qualified service facility and that reduced the tripping problem 90 % or better. Of course we do not use the Montana in cold weather. I do not think the slides have ever on either of our Montana 's been operated in temps below 60 degrees.

we also do not just hold the slide switch in and let then operate. We will do the bedroom and kitchen slide first then pause for a few seconds then the opposing slide, pause then the large slide. We did purchased a couple of 80 amp breakers way back and still have them in our" things that break" department.
richfaa is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
LCI 3.0 Leveling system Fire_Hazard Additions & Improvements 6 08-01-2016 04:44 AM
LCI leveling system 1retired06 General Discussions about our Montanas 2 07-23-2014 02:05 AM
Another Leveling System Dave and Pat General Discussions about our Montanas 0 03-19-2011 09:36 AM
Anyone using this Leveling system? Drifty1 Additions & Improvements 7 04-07-2010 11:36 AM
Hydraulic Slide-out system stops multiple times judanl Montana Problems, Problem Solving & Technical Help 17 11-29-2006 07:34 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Montana RV, Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:13 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.