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Old 04-14-2016, 03:30 PM   #1
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Cardiff , California
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Electic Jack not working - fuse good - manual not working

Folks - just coming through Utah having now gone through the US and its been a dream in our 2014 International 23D.

That being said ... batteries went dead somewhere in Wyoming, and we had Sears replace both of them. Having not tested the electric jack we now have no power to it -and are in the middle of nowhere. I pulled the yellow plugs apart and checked the fuse -- all good.

I then grabbed the manual crank and attempted to manually lower the jack - nothing. It grabbed like it was still connected w/ power and not allowing a manual override. So 2 questions:

1) is there a way to check where the power has failed to the jack?
2) is there a reason why the manual function isnt working given the above description?

Thanks all - I appreciate as always.
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Old 04-14-2016, 03:58 PM   #2
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If you have your owner's manual with you...perhaps there are directions in it. Also, Airstream has a customer support number you can call for assistance. It is (877) 596-6505
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Old 04-14-2016, 04:12 PM   #3
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The jack wire should be wired directly to the battery. Confirm that it's hooked to a positive terminal. Also check the ground by making sure the 3 bolts holding the jack to the frame are tight and not rusty.
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Old 04-14-2016, 04:13 PM   #4
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Do all the other 12 volt functions work? Check the jack's ground wire too, sometimes they get loose or rusty/corroded. [edit and bolts too per sb55] Just because the fuse is OK is only 1/2 of the circuit. Have a meter to check 12 volt connection points? Why did 2014 batteries go dead is a larger question? Not getting a charge from the tow vehicle?

Not sure about the hand crank but as Steve just said the manual should offer guidance. I think your physical force should be enough to overcome the motor's resistance, although could the motor be fried and bound-up?

Will be back home soon and can check your manual online.

Good luck,

Peter

PS is this a used trailer you just bought? Any chance it is still under warranty?
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Old 04-14-2016, 04:28 PM   #5
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That's a bummer. If the fuse is good, it probably got inadvertently disconnected when the batteries were changed out.

I would first bypass the glass fuse with an alligator clip as sometimes fuses that are bad can look OK. My next suspect would be the tongue jack's connection to the battery.

I wouldn't bother messing with the Airstream owners manual, it is, for the most part, junk. Get the brand and model of your tongue jack, and go to the manufacturer's website for a manual and information.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Brian
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Old 04-14-2016, 04:41 PM   #6
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Here is your 2014 International owner's manual FYI:

https://www.airstream.com/wp-content...tional2014.pdf

Page 51/127 of the PDF discusses the jack and is next-to-useless as Brian just said.

It says you have a Hi-Power Acme 3000 jack, for which the manual is here:

http://www.expediter.com/pdf%20folde...cme%20Jack.pdf

Discussion of proper grounding . . . any chance your high limit switch got hit or is defective, and you can manually lower it until the limit switch is not active?
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Old 04-14-2016, 07:17 PM   #7
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Friends,

great responses!
i think the one that intrigued me is the positive / negative connection to the battery terminals since thats the only thing that has changed recently -- recall the Sears tech. that switched out 'old' batteries, replaced with 2 new batteries and reconnected - ...

When i inspected, I only saw the 'black' connector from jack to battery -- see pic (with yellow ring) - i couldn't identify the POSITIVE connector ... but SB55 says: "Confirm that it's hooked to a positive terminal..." -- in the attached pic, you can see its connected to Black/Negative ...

Odd?

(cant seem to attach a pic in this thread - unless I have a separate URL address... so let me figure that out -- heading home from vegas to San diego now- but wife can check replies on iPhone) ...
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Old 04-14-2016, 07:18 PM   #8
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hopefully pic is attached here?
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Old 04-14-2016, 07:24 PM   #9
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By the photo the jack wire is connected to the negative terminal. Remove and reattach to the positive battery terminal. I had the same thing happen when I swapped out batteries.
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Old 04-14-2016, 07:34 PM   #10
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The manual for your jack (posted by OTRA15) shows only one wire from the jack with the negative made through a mounting bolt. IF the black wire comes from the jack, it should be connected to plus.

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Old 04-14-2016, 07:42 PM   #11
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I had the same issue. The light gauge wire goes to a + terminal. Afterwards I marked it with red tape as AS should have!
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Old 04-14-2016, 09:56 PM   #12
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I followed the above link to the factory manual (thanks)
and reviewed the maintenance suggested for the electric jack
It said to lubricant the power head once a year with a high melting point grease.
Did not know to to that..... Mm mm I am a year over due.
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Old 04-15-2016, 04:59 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ryandanz View Post
hopefully pic is attached here?
Hoping you got this squared away and are on the road again!

Happy Trails . . .

Peter



PS -- Surfed Swami's in my younger years -- safe home to Cardiff.

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Old 04-15-2016, 05:54 AM   #14
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Hmm, on my 2008 Classic 25fb my Barker jack,only has one wire for connection to the positive but it goes inside into the trailer to the positive bus where the red positive battery cable terminates.

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Old 04-15-2016, 10:09 AM   #15
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All Good!

All good folks! thanks - the solution? Taking the connector wire to the positive terminal from the negative.

Lessons learned -

1) know your jack and how it works (i did find the fuse - which was good to know - and noted it was in good condition )

2) ensure your connector is to the positive battery terminal - not ground / NEG

3) if you replace batteries, ensure wires are all reconnected by yourself or under your supervision (recall, i had a Sears battery tech. replace the batteries and the wires .. incorrectly).

happy travels!
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Old 04-15-2016, 11:13 AM   #16
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The real lesson here (and it's a good one) is to color code with red tape all the wires connected to the positive teminals.
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Old 04-15-2016, 03:05 PM   #17
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If the jack cannot be manually lowered, it is likely to have jammed internally and will need to be replaced; my experience.
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Old 04-15-2016, 03:43 PM   #18
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Thanks for the good news ryandanz!



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Old 04-15-2016, 08:14 PM   #19
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A photo is cheap insurance...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob662 View Post
The real lesson here (and it's a good one) is to color code with red tape all the wires connected to the positive terminals.
And IF you never got 'round to color coding with tape, at least take a pic with your trusty cell phone before you let the "mechanics" at it!
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Old 04-23-2016, 06:54 PM   #20
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And the tech assumed black wire .... must be a negative or ground wire. Connect it to the battery - terminal.

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