What does a Level-Up control board actually do, and why does mine fail?
The control board is the computer that tells your leveling jacks when to move. It reads signals from four corner sensors, processes the slope of your RV, and sends voltage to jack motors. Lippert Level-Up boards handle everything from deployment to manual override.
They fail because of moisture intrusion (leaky roof or condensation), corroded connector pins, blown capacitors, or age - most boards last 8-12 years before electronics degrade. We've pulled failed boards from Forest River Sunseeker, Jayco Pinnacle, and Winnebago Adventurer models across 15+ years of service calls.
Last month, a customer's Grand Design Momentum fifth-wheel parked in a humid Florida storage facility wouldn't level on arrival. The Level-Up board showed no response to button presses, but the jacks themselves worked when manually activated.
The issue: corroded pin contacts on the sensor harness connector where moisture had gotten between plastic and metal. We replaced the connector assembly and the board, flushed the hydraulic lines, and confirmed all four corners leveled evenly.
Total time on-site: three hours. That's a scenario we catch every week.
Why boards fail most often:
- Moisture and corrosion in connector pins
- Blown capacitors from power surges or bad campground pedestals
- Cracked solder joints from vibration and road shock
- Failed relay modules that control jack motors
- Shorted wiring harness from rodent damage
- Age degradation beyond 10-12 years of use
What are the actual symptoms when your control board is dying?
You'll see error codes on the display, or nothing at all. Some boards flash a light pattern (one blink, two blinks) that means different faults - we can decode those. Others just go silent.
You hit the level button and nothing happens, but you hear the hydraulic pump running. Or the board powers on, but only moves one or two jacks instead of all four.
Some customers report the system level-out just fine at the campground, but fails after sitting for two weeks. That's classic capacitor or relay failure starting under load.
A Tiffin Allegro owner in Idaho called us saying his jacks extended on the driver side but the front jacks wouldn't respond. The Level-Up board was powered - he could hear the pump prime - but no jack movement on command.
We diagnosed a failed relay on the board's motor-control circuit. Rather than troubleshoot further, we swapped in a refurbished Lippert board we stock, confirmed all four corners lifted evenly, and checked the sensor signals with a multimeter.
Done in 2.5 hours. No mystery.
Red flags that point to control board failure:
- Jacks move slowly or not at all when button is pressed
- Only some jacks respond; others stay silent
- Error code display on the panel (varies by brand)
- System worked fine, then stopped after power loss or surge
- Pump runs but no jack movement (motor relay failure)
- Manual override works but auto-leveling does not
How do we actually repair or replace your Level-Up board?
We use three approaches depending on what we find: board replacement, connector/harness repair, or sensor swap. If the board itself is toast - no power output, failed relays, or shorted circuits - we pull it out, disconnect the wiring harness, and bolt in a replacement (new or refurbished Lippert board, $600-$950). If the board is fine but the connector is corroded, we clean or replace the connector and reseat the harness - that's a $150-$300 job.
If a corner sensor is reading false, we swap it for a new one. We always test the system under power before we leave, leveling all four corners to confirm response time and sensor accuracy.
A Coachmen Leprechaun customer's board showed power but had one jack that refused to lower. We pulled the Level-Up board, inspected the relay for that jack circuit, found a burned-out component inside the case.
Rather than repair it (too risky), we installed a new Lippert replacement, checked continuity on all motor leads, and pressure-tested the hydraulic lines for leaks. The system leveled smoothly.
We also cleaned the sensor connectors while we were in there and flushed the fluid with fresh Lippert HWH compatible hydraulic oil. Peace of mind for the next three years.
Repair steps we follow:
- Power down the RV and disconnect the 12V control wire
- Remove the old board from the pump or cabinet housing
- Inspect wiring harness and connectors for corrosion or damage
- Install new or refurbished Level-Up board
- Test all four jack motors under power and pressure
- Verify sensor signals and leveling accuracy
- Document work and explain findings to customer
What do Level-Up boards and parts actually cost?
Lippert Level-Up control boards run $600-$950 depending on model year and whether you want new or refurbished. Labor to pull and install is usually $200-$400 (2-3 hours flat-rate quoted by phone). A failed sensor replacement is $150-$250 including the part.
Connector or harness repair without board replacement is $150-$300. If you need a hydraulic fluid flush because the old fluid is contaminated, add $100-$150.
We quote flat-rate over the phone before we show up - no surprises. Most Level-Up board jobs land between $900 and $1,400 total, including labor and parts.
A customer with a Keystone Cougar called us saying his jacks wouldn't level. We quoted $950 for a refurbished Lippert board plus $250 labor plus a $100 fluid flush - total $1,300.
He approved it. We showed up in his driveway in 3.5 hours (Florida), swapped the board, flushed the lines, pressure-tested, and confirmed all four corners leveled evenly.
He paid flat-rate on the spot. No hourly guessing, no dealer waiting list.
Typical pricing breakdown:
- New Lippert Level-Up board: $750-$950
- Refurbished board (90-day warranty): $600-$750
- Board installation and testing labor: $200-$400
- Sensor replacement: $150-$250 per sensor
- Harness or connector repair: $150-$300
- Hydraulic fluid flush: $100-$150
- Emergency after-hours dispatch fee: $100
How long does a Level-Up control board swap take, and when can we come out?
A full board replacement takes 2-4 hours from arrival to test. That includes pulling the old board, inspecting the harness, installing the new one, connecting sensors and power, testing all four jacks, and verifying level accuracy. If we also flush hydraulic fluid or repair a corroded connector, add 30-60 minutes.
We respond in 2-4 hours across our our covered metros service hubs, and we can often same-day an emergency call depending on the time and location. We're mobile - we come to you at the RV park, campground, or your driveway.
A Winnebago Vista customer stranded at a Florida RV resort called us at 10 a.m. on a Wednesday. His Level-Up board was dead - jacks locked, no response.
We dispatched a tech 30 miles away who arrived by 12:15 p.m. By 2:45 p.m., the new board was in, system tested, and he was level for dinner.
He didn't have to unhitch, call the dealer, or wait days in a shop. That's what mobile service means.
Typical timeline:
- Call for quote: 5-10 minutes
- Dispatch approval to arrival: 2-4 hours (core area)
- Full board replacement on-site: 2-3 hours
- Test and walkthrough: 15-20 minutes
- Out the door and level: same day
What warranty do you offer on a new or refurbished control board?
All parts and labor carry a 90-day workmanship warranty. That means if the board we installed fails, or the jacks don't respond to commands, or the sensors misread, we come back and fix it at no charge. Refurbished boards often come with a 90-day parts warranty from Lippert as well, so you have double coverage.
New boards carry the manufacturer's full warranty (typically 1-2 years depending on the model). We also warranty our labor - if the wiring harness we repaired corrodes again within 90 days, we fix it. The only thing not covered is damage from an external surge, water intrusion caused by a leaky roof (that's on you), or abuse.
A customer with a Jayco Redhawk installed a new Level-Up board with us in June. In August, after sitting at a humid storage facility, the system started showing intermittent sensor errors.
He called us back. Under our 90-day labor warranty, we came back, inspected the connections, re-seated the harness, and flushed the system.
No charge. That's our promise: you're protected from our mistakes and from parts defects for 90 days.
What your warranty covers:
- 90-day workmanship warranty on all labor
- Refurbished board parts warranty (90 days from Lippert)
- New board manufacturer warranty (1-2 years)
- Return visit at no charge if issue reappears in 90 days
- Sensor and connector repairs under warranty
- Fluid flush quality guarantee