Parking a recreational vehicle is trickier than you think. Besides competing for the most level spot, you can’t tell for sure if that spot is perfectly flat.
There will always be a discrepancy that your naked eyes can’t see. Sometimes, you only realize the slope once a furniture piece falls over.
Thankfully, newer RV models have the Lippert leveling system. This additional feature comes with leveling jacks that can be raised or lowered to adjust your RV’s gradient.
Once you finish parking and disconnecting the tow vehicle, you can press the auto level button on the control panel, and the system will automatically level everything.
But this isn’t an exact science. Some conditions must be met for the Lippert leveling system to work correctly. If you don’t meet those conditions, you’ll get error messages, even if everything looks fine.
One of the errors you might get is the infamous “retract time out return levelers for service.” What’s annoying about this error message is it makes the recommended solution sound so easy.
Do you seriously have to take your RV to a service center just because the leveling jacks won’t retract? You probably won’t do that because it’s costly and can ruin your vacation, and instead, try a few basic fixes.
Why are you getting an error message?
Before we discuss those fixes, let’s first find out why this error message is showing up in the first place. What’s causing it? Is it severe that Lippert would urge you to take the levelers in for servicing?
As it turns out, the system is programmed to respond within a specific timeframe. You’ll get that error message if it takes longer to level your RV.
That’s because the system cannot detect where the levelers are or how far they’ve been lowered. The system and the levelers have to be in sync. Luckily, it’s nothing serious, and most of the time, it’s a false alarm that can be cleared with a few tricks.
You also must understand that these levelers are not suitable for high slopes. They can only level your RV for a degree or two. That’s why sometimes, you’ll notice that their feet aren’t touching the ground, which means they ran out of range and can’t stretch any further.
Therefore, most of your RV’s leveling-related issues occur because your RV isn’t level enough, to begin with. There’s a minimum gradient error you have to meet for those levelers to work.
In other words, the best way to avoid getting error messages like this is to park the vehicle on the most level ground.
LCI Electronic Leveling Error Retract Timeout
Finding level ground is no walk in the park, especially if you’re in the boonies. Sometimes, you’ll find a good spot but the ground where the levelers should be lowered is too low.
If you can’t find a better location, you must manually adjust your RV’s level before calibrating the levelers.
You can put leveling blocks underneath the leveling jacks to provide support, but make sure the ground is compact and stable enough to hold up the weight of your RV.
Once the blocks are secure, you can try adjusting the leveling jacks. That brings us back to the leveling retract time-out error. If it appears on the digital panel even after stabilizing the leveling jacks, here are a few things you can try.
1. Reset the Code
Suppose you parked on a level field. Everything is fine. You lowered the leveling jacks, and they’ve all been adjusted to the right height to correct the slight tilt of your RV. Then, suddenly, the leveling retract time-out message comes up. What would you do?
If you know there’s nothing wrong with the leveling jacks and your RVs control system, there’s nothing to worry about. This message is most likely just a visual glitch you can ignore.
In fact, you can simply reset the code to make it disappear. Press “retract” and “enter” on the control panel simultaneously until the error code clears.
2. Rehome the Leveling System
If the issue is more mechanical than visual, re-zeroing the system is the best action. You can do this by retracting the leveling jacks and then pulling everything back down at least six inches.
Once the jacks are extended, give the retract button on the control panel a long press until all of the jacks are raised. That should reset the system.
But what if the control panel isn’t showing anything? There’s a way to reset the system with a dead control panel. Just click “front” five times and then “rear” five times.
After doing that, you’ll see all the warning lights on the direction buttons turn on and a message on the screen that says “enter to set” or “power to exit.” That means the leveling jacks have already been re-leveled.
3. Wiring Interruption
If both methods fail, then it’s probably a wiring issue. There’s an intricate network of wires between the leveling jacks and the control panel. One of the cables or connectors must have been loosened or detached.
It takes a detailed inspection to find it, and when you do, reconnect any cut-off joints. That should take care of the problem.
If one of the connectors is broken beyond repair, don’t worry because you can buy these tiny electronic components online. You don’t have to go to a service center to get the broken one replaced.
However, remember that most of these components come in sets, so it’s going to cost a bit.
Always Consult Your MyLCI
Lippert has an app where you can get all information you need about their products, from axles and slide-outs to tailgate storage and leveling.
Before fixing anything or calling someone, check out the error code through MyLCI first. The app also shows what line to call when dealing with a specific leveling error.
Conclusion
Leveling an RV is a skill you’ll develop after years of RV driving. Lippert takes the hard work off your hands by continuously innovating to make its products more convenient.
Soon, they’ll be able to expand the range of the leveling jacks so you can level your RV to more than two degrees.
They’ll also be able to eliminate the leveling retract time-out error completely. But right now, and until you get the latest RV model, use these tips and information as a guide whenever you encounter a leveling problem.
