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Manual override and bringing a dead room in

There's no crank on an in-wall system. Lippert gives three ways to get a room in when the controller won't do it: electronic override from the board, unplugging the motors and pushing, or disengaging the motors and pushing.

The short version

Electronic override

Lippert lists electronic override on C1, C2 and D-0 boards. In override the board puts 12 V straight to both motors, with pulse counting and stall detection off. Over-current and short-circuit protection stay on.

If you enter override and don't touch the wall switch within 60 seconds, the board drops back to normal mode. Lippert lists the stuck-out case as a retail procedure and the stuck-in case (override to extend) as dealer only.

Lippert's removal procedure gives the three methods in order: A, electronic override; B, disconnect the motor harnesses and push; C, disengage the motors and push. Work them in that order. Because over-current protection stays on in override, a room that's truly bound will still stop, so clear obstructions and fix low voltage before you lean on override.

  1. Find the controller.
  2. Press the mode button six times quickly, then press a seventh time and hold for about 5 seconds.
  3. Release when the red and green LEDs flash. The board is in override.
  4. Hold the wall switch in and watch both ends of the room until it's fully in.
  5. To leave override, press and hold the mode button until both LEDs blink together, then resync.

Jog mode: one motor at a time

The 13398-C1/C2 manual gives C1 and C2 boards a manual jog mode that moves one motor at a time from the wall switch. It's the tool for walking a lagging side even with the other, a little at a time, instead of letting override rack the room.

  1. Press the mode button twice quickly, then hold the third press about 5 seconds.
  2. The green LED flashes: the wall switch now moves Motor 1 only.
  3. Press the mode button once more: the switch now moves Motor 2.
  4. Press and hold the mode button until the red and green flash to return to auto mode.

Unplug and push

Unplugging both motor harnesses at the controller releases the brake. The room can then be pushed or pulled by hand. Big rooms take several people, and both ends have to move together, so put a person on each end and measure as you go.

When the room is in, plug both motors back in. That reapplies the brake and locks the room. Lippert's older owner's manual says it plainly: don't move the RV unless the motors are plugged in.

Disengage the motors

If the room won't push with the motors unplugged, the motors themselves are holding it. Lift them off the torque shafts and push.

  1. Remove the motor retention screw near the top of each column on the outside of the coach. It may be under the bulb seal.
  2. Find the motor: on units built before 2011, bend back the wipe seal from outside. On 2011 and later units, use the slot in the H-column from inside.
  3. Pull the motor up about 1/2 in until it disengages. A flat screwdriver pries it up.
  4. Reinstall the retention screw to hold the motor up, or remove the motor.
  5. Push the room in evenly, then travel-lock it for the road.
  6. Room stuck in: the retention screw may be behind the exterior fascia, which has to come off first.

Careful: With the motors unplugged or disengaged, nothing holds the room. Work with the coach as level as you can get it, keep hands out of the gear racks, and travel-lock the room before the coach moves.

When one motor is dead

Don't try to override a room in with one side dead. The good side will drag its end in alone and rack the room. Lippert's instruction is direct: if one side moves much slower than the other or not at all, stop and use motor disengagement.

Disengage both motors, push the room in evenly, and travel-lock it. The fix is a later visit: prove the motor (lesson 4), replace it (lesson 8), and resync.

On the job

  1. Clear obstructions and get good voltage first. Many stuck rooms come in once the battery is up.
  2. Read and record the code before you change modes.
  3. C1, C2 or D-0: electronic override, one person on the switch, one watching both ends.
  4. One side lags or stops: let go of the switch.
  5. Unplug both motors at the board, or disengage both motors at the columns.
  6. Push the room in evenly with enough helpers, measuring both ends.
  7. Plug the motors back in or travel-lock the room before the coach moves.
  8. After the repair, leave override and resync.

Numbers

Shop tip

Put a tape measure on both ends of the room during any override or push. You can't see an inch of rack from inside the coach, but the tape shows it.

Where this comes from