Zaefire
anywhere everywhere
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Joined: 06/07/2004
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1988 Suncrest 32.' (no longer made)
We bought the RV in a hurry as we had a family emergency back east and had just sold our house.
The previous owner was so darned nice and the RV has features that were ahead of their time. So we bought it.
He told us that there are 2 little switches 'right here on the dash' and this is how to use them: "When you are going up a steep hill, if you start bogging down, flip this one to switch over to the auxiliary fuel tank which has a shorter fuel line. If that doesn't work, here is another switch..flip it to turn on the electric fuel pump. That pump is located under the steps. Works every time." And sitting in his yard, he showed my husband how it would work.
Well we were in the Valley in California; had to bring the RV on a winding narrow road up a mountain to where we were staying.
So we hit the first hill, the engine bogged down, my husband hit the first switch, nothing...hit the second switch and the engine stalled totally and wouldn't start again.
It was 8 at night, 2 lane road and some California Forestry Dept. firefighters stopped near us and diverted traffic around us. Then the Highway Patrol came and called a tow truck. We asked if anyone could just push us over to the other side of the road to a big pull off so we could decide what to do. The CHP did that.
We called our son and he came to where we were (a few hours had passed) and he said maybe using those switches didn't work as the guy said, maybe doing the '2 switch thing' had caused a vapor lock in the 108* heat and it would now start. It did. We made it to our son's house safely.
What we learned when the guys checked out the motor home was that the engine uses a mechanical gas pump which is on the engine in front. The auxiliary gas tank is actually under the bed in the rear of the coach further away than the main tank, and there is no fuel pump under the steps. That is where the solenoid for the switch from one tank to the other is placed.
The electric pump is in the back as well and was dead and had been for awhile, and is hooked to the main tank anyway. The auxiliary tank is used only for the generator. So when he used the second switch nothing happened and the engine stalled.
After the electric fuel pump was replaced, we had no problem going up hills, as using it boosts the gas flow when needed. We keep an extra pump 'just in case.' The guys also replaced the original parts and fluids, belts and hoses etc.
There were so many inconsistencies in what that guy told us, we realized later he didn't know much about the RV at all. And we knew less at the time. We know much more now and it is all written down now as well.
To end the story on a good note, we have lived in the RV for nearly a year, we have put 12,000 miles on it. The coach is set up well and has the features we like so we are happy with it.
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Zaefire
anywhere everywhere
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Joined: 06/07/2004
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RV particulars: Class A Suncrest (no longer manufactured) Driveline (Engine, Transmission):n/a
Miles:n/a
Year:1988
Break Down Description![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/scratchead.gif "scratchead") eaded north from San Diego at beginning of mountain pass. Wind blowing hard, gusting at 60MPH Symptoms: First heard a flapping sound like the awning had broken loose. Pulled over when we could get off highway. Nearly Christmas.
Effect: Roof on driver's side lifted by the wind gusts, ripped up as far back as bathroom, destroying trim at top of shower and giving me and husband more grey hair. Got to San Bernardino where CamperWorld told us they don't do insurance work. A small RV repair shop owner told us the following:
Cause: Suncrest known to have this problem. Later after removing the strip which covers the screws it was revealed that only one of each 4-5 screws was actually in place. If you own a Suncrest, you might want to check this.
Outcome: Couldn't have it fixed before Xmas.. so husband put 7 screws in a line neatly into top part of roof overhang to hold it down (it is a 1988..who will notice a few extra screws). Caulked excessively. When we got to destination and removed strip, husband put a screw in every hole where Suncrest had not. Caulked everywhere needed and some places not needed. Removed strip on passenger side, found same lack of screws...added screws where needed, and for good measure put 7 in a line above in roof overhang to match those on opposite side.
6 Mo later, have to recaulk occasionally and shower top trim under skylight is now strips of white duct tape till I find a way to replace the ripped up trim. Want to own stock in caulk and duct tape companies.
Addendum: Wind is a bummer in an RV anyway. If you hit high gusts, park it. Hopefully facing into the wind or tail into the wind. Where we had our incident, there were cars and trucks off the road and a truck container blown off on one lane.
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chloesmom
Leesville, South Carolina
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Joined: 01/09/2004
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RV particulars:
Driveline HR Rambler Endeavor DP
Miles: 11K
Year: 2000
Break Down Description: (You can add any description of the problem here that you think would help others in understanding the situation and problem.)
Symptoms: Flat tire (blowout)
Effect: Stranded 4 hours
Cause: Hit unmarked construction in Virginia
Outcome: $$$ for new tire
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Allegro
Mishawaka Indiana
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Joined: 12/18/2000
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I have a 1998 Allegro Bus with 5.9 Cummins ISB and at 92,000 miles a valve broke and had to replace the head, bore cylinder to 1st oversize, and install new piston, injector, and turbo as well as head. Good thing was Cummins warrantted engine for 7 years or 150,000 miles. Bad thing was I paid for oil, antifreeze and freight on new head. They had to ship from fractory as their distribution point did note have it. Oh well, anyway I saved about $4000.00
Cause: valve head broke off stem, probably just fatigue as weld broke. Happened about 3 miles from our campground in Lanacaster Pa. We stayed with a cousin, completed our trip and drove our toad home. Three weeks later picked up MH. Run like a kitten coming the 600 mile home. Hope it does so for another 92,000 miles.
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wa0mqe
Florida
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Joined: 06/15/2003
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RV particulars:
Driveline (8.1 Vortec, 4L80E GM 4-speed Auto):
Miles: 18,500
Year: 2001
Break Down Description: Alternator putting out 15.5 volts (to high)
Symptoms:
Effect: Not sure but could boil batteries, chassis & house
Cause: Appeared to be alternator
Outcome: Replaced alternator and ignition switch
Warrantied the alternator, but the service shop also found a problem with burnt connectors on ignition switch. Said this could have caused the alternator to put out more voltage due to sensing circuit in alternator thinking it needed more.
Bob Bowers
2006 Monaco Camelot PDQ 400ISL Cummins
Colorado Springs, CO
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jimsan
Harrison, Ar
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Joined: 07/07/2001
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RV: 1999 Georgie Boy Cruise Master w/21000 miles. GM 454 ci engine
Traveling east on I-40 just west of Albuquerque when I lost so much power I couldn't climb the hill from the Rio Puerco. Towed to an rv park cg on Sunday and Monday morning I limped into Alb to see if I could get it fixed.
Turned out to be a badly plugged fuel filter that made the engine hot (this did not show on the temp gauge) and it destroyed the guts of both cat coverters. All the cat innards flowed downstream to the muffler and plugged it completely. If anyone runs into this large loss of power, recommend you have a mechanic shop put flow meter on the hard points to see if it has happened to you.
Mechanic said he'd been doing work on cars for 31 years and never ran across this.
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au_ee
Athens, AL
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Joined: 05/04/2003
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We had two breakdowns when we had our Winnebago Brave. Unfortunately they both occurred on the same trip. The first was a transmission transducer that went out, the other was a short in the electrical harness. We had to get a tow on the second one. I asked the tow truck driver what his experience was in towing motorhomes. He said his experience was that the vast majority of tows involved gassers. I don't know if the newer units have improved since the 90's but we do seem to notice more gas MHs on the side of the road than DPs.
Steve & Beth
2002 F250 Lariet Crewcab PSD 4x2
Non-towing: 20 mpg Towing: 14.5 mpg
1996 Sunnybrook 27RKF
Garmin Streetpilot 2610
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george parks sr.
Cottage Grove Wi. U.S.A
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Joined: 04/23/2002
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1999 DISCOVERY 5.9 CUMMINS 275HP PROBLEM; Cracked block. 22000 miles Replaced with no cost to me, but 2 weeks in a hotel in San Antonio. Cause stated Flaw in the casting. George Parks
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argie71
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Joined: 02/05/2004
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Hi All:
A question about a problem I am having with my Onan Generator in my '99 32Y Southwind.
Generator starts on its own - realize it is probably a short somewhere as the starter keeps running. Any thoughts or ideas about whwre to start.
argie71 (Ron)
Ron & Yvonne, Ringo (the cat) and Genji (the pug)
'99 32Y Southwind - Ford F53 w V10
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underwe
Brandon, MS USA
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Joined: 12/03/2001
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The following is painful to recount even now, but this is an important topic.
RV Particulars: 2002 Itasca Horizon CAT 330 Allison Tran 6 speed
Mileage: 37,600
Breakdown Description: Traveling South on I-25 rolling in Trinidad, Co about to go over Raton Pass. Lossing power
Symptoms: RPM needle is irratic and I am losing power, managed to make into a WalMart parking lot. Checked tran fluid level is was good.
Effect: No power, could not get over 35/40 mph. Called Allison. I was instructed, if I can, drive to Stewart/Stevenson in Pueblo, Co. (80 miles away). Service manager will be there to meet us. It was Sunday aftenoon.
Cause: Tran wiring harness had detached from the frame and landed on the exhaust manifold.
Outcome: with wiring harness repaired and properly attached, all's well.
Addendum: that was the longest drive of my life from Trinidad to Pueblo.
Second, it took several hours for the tech to find the problem. Discussed with Winnebago, they were not aware of this ever happening before. On the forum, I read where someone reported that fully extended jacks can cause problems with wiring detaching. I did very much appreciate the good service at Stewart/Stevenson and that Allison paid the bill.
2002 Itasca Horizon 36' DP CAT 330
3000MH Allison Tran Double slide
2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Blue Ox
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