POWER GEAR PHONE NUMBER: 1-800-334-4712 ( 7:30A - 5:00PM Eastern Time, M-F)
Although the Powergear levelling system is normally very reliable, your jacks are exposed to weather, dirt and grime that makes them prone to problems. Like any mechanical/electrical system, you will likely eventually experience some problems with your jacks. This webpage will hopefully help you fix your problem yourself, or at least save you money if you have someone else repair your jacks.
The Powergear manual leveling system is a hydraulic system based on the following components:
Your D has four jacks. However, the two jacks in front are hydraulically connected together. Three of the solenoid control valves control hydraulic fluid TO the jacks (for jack lowering) and the fourth solenoid is the dump solenoid that allows the hydraulic fluid to return to the resevoir so the jacks can retract. Although your jack control pad has four buttons, you cannot control each jack independently. The REAR button lowers both rear jacks simultaneously. The FRONT button lowers both front jack simultaneously. The LEFT button raises the left rear and left front jacks simultaneously. The RIGHT button raises the right rear and right front jacks simultaneously. So, levelling your coach is somewhat akin to levelling a three-legged stool.
In a properly-operating system, here is what happens when you use your jacks:
Most problems are either a failure of the jacks to retract, or the "Jacks Down" alarm will not go off. Another less common failure is that the jacks will not go down.
The Powergear system monitors the hydraulic fluid level in the resevoir to determine if the jacks have been retracted. The most common problem - and the easiest to fix - is an incorrect hydraulic fluid level. You can also look at your jacks to determine if they are retracted - if your jacks are retracted and the "Jacks Down" alarm is on, then you most likely have a low hydraulic fluid level. It is absolutely necessary that you only check your hydraulic fluid when the jacks are RETRACTED. When you open the cap on your hydraulic fluid resevoir, you will notice that it has a dipstick attached to it. For a round resevoir, the fluid should be 1/8" from the bottom of the dipstick and for a square tank, it should be 7/8" from the bottom. Be very careful not to overfill the resevoir.
If low hydraulic fluid was the cause of your problem, you need to inspect your jacks and hoses for a leak. Most likely, the seal on one of your jacks has developed a slow leak. If you have a leaking jack, the most cost-effective solution is to remove the jack and take it to a place that repairs hydraulic jacks. This should cost approx $70 - $100.
If one of your jacks has not retracted, a jack may "bind" and not retract. Start the engine, raise the bags and then retract your jacks.
If your jacks still will not retract, your solenoid dump valve is probably not working. This could be a bad solenoid (a problem mostly with late 1997 and all 1998 coaches) or it could just be a bad ground. With your volt-ohm meter or electrical tester, you will find that one lead on the solenoid will have 12v on it. The other lead is the ground lead. Try a new ground lead as this is mostly likely the problem. With 12v on one terminal and a good ground on the other terminal of the dump solenoid, your jacks will retract if the solenoid is good. If the solenoid is bad, the jacks will still not retract. In this case, the solution gets messy as you can disconnect the hydrualic hose forward of the dump valve to retract the jacks.
You turn on your Jacks at the control panel by the driver, and nothing happens. First, on some coaches, the Powergear system is on the same main 12v fuse as the power mirrors. If your mirrors do not operate, then you likely have found the problem. In some coaches, there is a solenoid instead of a fuse.
However, there are several other locations of fuses. There are small minifuses under the control pad. Check and make sure these fuses are good. There is also a 10amp minifuse in the wiring harness to the hydrualic pump. This fuse is hard to find. It is the first 12" from where the electric wires plug into the tank where the solenoids are located.
Another possibility is that the hydraulic pump has failed. Click Here to learn about this problem. This is also an excellent troubleshooting guide.
It is recommended that you (at least) monthly wipe down your jack shafts (with the jacks extended, the shiny surface) and lubricate the shiny surface with a lubricant that will not attract dirt. Also, it is a good idea to use some "jack blocks". This serves two purposes. First, it will give your jacks a solid footing so that they will not sink into loose or wet soil, getting the jack arms dirty. Also, it will minimize the jack travel required to level your coach.
Before you retract your jacks, it is also a good idea to inspect the inside of the jack pads for dirt and rocks. Rocks are especially dangerous - at least one D owner suspects that a loose rock from his jack pad was responsible for a hole in his radiator.
This article was developed based on information provided by several D owners.
The DISCOVERY OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC, was formed to promote the sharing of information and the camaraderie of fellow Discovery motorhome owners. Membership in the club is limited to owners of Fleetwood Discovery motorhomes.