Unable to extend slide outs. - Montana Owners Club

Arizonacouple · 06-30-2019, 09:43 AM

On Friday we packed up in Lake Havasu and made the five hour journey to Phoenix. We had to hang around in a parking lot for 3 hours until we got the keys to our new house. Once we got the Montana stowed we started transferring some items into the house.

First thing I noticed I had left the pump on the whole time we were traveling and parked. When we attempted to extend the slide outs they would move a few inches then start clicking just like a car would with a dead battery. So, believing that was what is was I charged the battery. Still the same result. This morning I tried connecting my truck battery in parallel. Again same result.

Is it time for a new battery?

Incidentally, I moved the rig this morning and the battery raised and lowered the jacks just fine.

awheeler · 06-30-2019, 10:02 AM

We have had an issue like this in the past. Have you tried hooking up to shore power? We always stay hooked to shore power when opening and closing the slides - as well as retracting the jacks.

**Carl n Susan** · 06-30-2019, 10:33 AM

I don't understand your statement that you "..had left the pump on..."? The hydraulic pump only has power when you depress the in/out switch.

My guess is the 50 amp CB to the pump is weak/failed. Change it, as documented elsewhere here, and life will be good again.

What about the jacks working you ask? The Ground Control electric motors may be fused differently, not draw enough amps to trip the breaker, or ? I know little about HCs.

ChuckS · 06-30-2019, 02:10 PM

I’d remove the battery terminals and clean them and the battery posts and reinstall

Arizonacouple · 06-30-2019, 05:47 PM

Thanks for all your responses. Just when you think you have covered all your bases in your first post, you realize you hadn't.
Other than that I'm at al
Yes. I have my shoreline connected.

The pump I left on was the water pump.

I don't use the round terminals but the ones with the nut. They are good and tight.

The only thing that was different from ALL the other times I've extended and retracted my slide outs is the water pump. And again, I fully charged the battery.

Anybody think of anything else. I could try and hook up one of my car batteries to the rig to see if I have the same result. Other than that I'm at a loss as to what to try next.

BTW, the shoreline has been connected for over 48 hours now.

1retired06 · 07-01-2019, 06:54 AM

Not sure that water pump is the issue, not much draw on the battery until demand activated.

mazboy · 07-01-2019, 07:03 AM

water pump would have no relationship to what you discribe. the water pump doesn't run unless you use water, you can keep it on all the time.

but your problem seems to be related to your battery if you are on shorepower and it doesn't move. how old is the battery.

Arizonacouple · 07-01-2019, 12:54 PM

I agree on the water pump draw but mentioned it because in three years its the only thing I've done differently.

Battery is maybe 2 1/2 years old.

Although it didn't work I thought hooking up my truck battery in parallel with the rig battery might do the trick.

Other than changing the battery out, I cant think of anything else.

Thunderman · 07-15-2019, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arizonacouple

I agree on the water pump draw but mentioned it because in three years its the only thing I've done differently.

Battery is maybe 2 1/2 years old.

Although it didn't work I thought hooking up my truck battery in parallel with the rig battery might do the trick.

Other than changing the battery out, I cant think of anything else.

Are the slides hydraulic or chain drive? If hydraulic is the fluid level correct?
What age is your RV? You must have a good battery for the slides to work.

jsb5717 · 07-15-2019, 08:22 AM

Don't know if this will help but I had a similar issue on an older 5er. I eventually went around the entire rig and tighened every 12 volt electrical connection in every box and on every relay I could find. It solve the problem for me and was never an issue again.

jimcol · 07-15-2019, 10:58 AM

Not sure how you paralleled the truck battery. If you did it via the 7pin cord not the same as jumper cables truck battery to 5'er battery. Have the battery tested with a load tester at an auto parts store. A battery can test good looking at voltages but can't produce the high amps required to retract slides.

Arizonacouple · 07-18-2019, 03:20 PM

My battery tested ok. Also the brand new battery I bought from O'Reilly's (700 amp) that I used did not do the trick so I returned it.

Other than the obvious answer between IN and OUT what is the difference between retracting and extending slides? Does one need more torque, amps, what? Because I can retract all day long. I just can't extend!

Bridge4d · 07-20-2019, 08:50 AM

Are these hydraulic or electric slides?

Arizonacouple · 07-20-2019, 04:18 PM

Electric slides. The living room/bedroom slides were reinserted by Keystone two rallies ago when they gave me a new wall and I have had zero issue with them in 18 months. Just very mystified why three gear boxes would go out at the same time.

mazboy · 07-20-2019, 07:24 PM

interesting. well, when an issue like this, get to a repair shop after you've tried replacing batteries.

and as for the 'water pump', we leave it on just about all the time. once it is primed, that's it.

good luck

Arizonacouple · 07-22-2019, 02:24 PM

I want to thank everyone that responded. I tried many of your ideas but unfortunately none worked. We will be heading to the repair shop in the next couple of weeks.

I will summarize. Montana HC with electric slides. All three slides retracted around 9am on 6/21. All three slides failed to extend 5 hours later. Nor did each one of the slides respond to manual extending. Sounds like the gears are jumping on the worm screw when extending. No such problem when retracting. I just don't get it.

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