Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: Class A Motorhomes: Breakdown Information

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Topic: Breakdown Information

Posted By: Patty98311 on 12/13/06 07:39am

Patty98311 wrote:

New owner

F/U Problem below repeated after short trip to Hot Springs, Ar. Was able to get Mid-South Cummins of Little Rock to look at it(seems no one in Ar will work on anything > 5yrs old, " its not worth our time") after 10 days of diagnostics and ording parts, transmission computer was replaced w/ all associated wiring harnesses that were burned and damaged cost $3900.

1994 36' Allegro Bay DP cummins 5.9(40k miles) w/ 6speed Allison Transmission

Purchased unit from private individual in MS drove home to Ar(300 miles) with no problems, two weeks later drove to Mo(250 miles) camping no problen during road trip. Set up and tried to move next morning jacks come up, engine started, transmission would not engage or light panel. Had just signed on for GSC(w/ERS) the day before they responded on site in about an hour with service truck, could not find problem called tow rig which was on site in about 2 hrs from original call. Will conectingtow rig to unit, unit was started to straighten wheels and everything started working. Tow was cancelled, cause has not been identified. Unit has operated normally since but have been afraid to use levelers as this is what the technician suspected was the problem but could not verify.

2000 Country Coach

Posted By: ke4648 on 12/17/06 12:09pm

Yes my Clas B was well maintained. But....there are just too many things to go wrong. I had just had my gen worked on by a certified dealer in Sikeston Mo. $958.00 for new carb, exhaust and oil change and so on. One month later, same problem with the carb. And before that it was my fuel pump in my gas tank, kapput! Now we know what it cost to replace those also. And I could go on with a nice long list, but we all know that this list is almost on any MH you buy. Even the new ones have way too much trouble. You are right though when you say many do have less problems than others. But my maintenace was good, on time and always someone "certified" but that did not seem to help that much. Just too many things to break down on a MH and that is my whole point. I guess when you try to put so much and so many different things and systems in a moving object you have more break downs. But as I said, kudos to you that can keep on pouring good money after bad into these money eaters, lol. I still liked the travel in one, but have come to the conclusion it is not for me. But enjoy yours, it can be fun, and makes for some great vacations

Posted By: outsider1924 on 12/21/06 08:40pm

I picked my RV back up from the dealer tonight... They claimed they had fixed the problem by replacing the fuel filter. It ran great for about the first 15 miles, but then began to slowly lose power. By the time I made it to my house (50 miles away) it was dying everytime I let off the accelerator. Also, while cruising on the highway, you can feel the power surge about every 15 seconds. The motor will slow waaay down to about 1400rpm's and then it will jump up to about 2200rpms for about 15 seconds, then slow back down... and over and over. I thought maybe I was low on fuel, so I stopped and put 20 gallons of diesel in and the problem presisted... The dealer is very unhelpful, does anyone have any ideas ?

1992 M34 Tiffin Allegro Bay Pusher '34
41,000 Miles
190HP Cummins, 4spd Allison
6X10 Pace Journey Enclosed Trailer

Posted By: ElieC on 12/26/06 05:42pm

Just returned from a 3 week trip down to quartzsite, and slab city. all went well till on the way home to Santa Cruz Ca. I pulled into a rest area on I10 and at the same time my throttle cable and my shifter cable both gave up the ghost. what are the odds of that happening?/? I called good sam and was told that they couldn't send anyone till the next day ( monday) They send out a mechanic who assessed the problem and charged me 90 bucks the that info. and tried to get me to pay for his trip back to his shop. after another call to good sam, they told them that they would be paying for that trip. then 5 hours later a tow truck shows up and after about 3 hours of getting ready we finally took off to Colton Truck where they hadn't recieved any call from Good sam that we were coming. By wed, they told me that Freightliner told them that they didn't make those cables anymore??? I had to have them made 550.00, by friday I was on the road again after a bill of 11oo.00, only to have the new throttle cable to sieze up just as I was getting close to home. This has not been one of my better trips.
94 Fleetwood Flair Diesel Pusher

Posted By: lazybear on 12/27/06 10:18pm

I have broke down twice in the last 8 weeks. Both times, I blew a head gasket, and had some bad injectors. I have a 2005 Tiffin Phaeton with 7,041 miles on it, with 170 total hours on the Cat 350 engine.I bought the unit new 16 months ago. It is in the shop now awaiting word from a Cat Supervisor as to weather they will repair it again, or install a new engine. The 1st time they installed a new block and head. This time they say the head is bad. I am very disappointed in the treatment Cat supervision is treating me.
Thanks, Jack

Posted By: outsider1924 on 12/28/06 08:37am

lazybear wrote:

Holy cow. Two blown head gaskets on a motor with 7k miles... Maybe it overheated the first time, warped it, and they didnt resurface the head correctly before they put it on the second time... Why did it overheat in the first place ?

Posted By: outsider1924 on 12/28/06 08:39am

outsider1924 wrote:

Texas Kenworth in Dallas took care of the problem for me. The vent on the fuel tank was clogged. Runs like a dream now.

Posted By: ygohome on 12/28/06 08:41am

Sorry~ Please do not make the mistake we made on our first long trip in 1991 with a Fleetwood Pace Arrow manufactured in June, 1990.
Talk with patience to the manufacturer & insist on a replacement.
After thinking all the problems had been addressed by Fleetwood Factory in Decatur, Indiana, we NEVER had a trip without problems. Had good service in Indiana where they did find many things wrong by original oversight. INSPECTIONS??? Hadn't even completed reinforcing the floors or allowing for the electric step to open out fully. (Minor, compared to following troubles, have print-outs as proof).
Do not have the time to even discuss problems found under the hood over the years. Some record, and in time, very expensive. Can not even sell "As Is". Waited, sentimental reasons and also mistakenly thinking each time we had a better rig.
Please, do some research in connection with the dealer attitude, relate there also. Hopefully this will help.
Still a wonderful way to travel & see the U.S.. Good luck!

Ygohome Jean

Posted By: lazybear on 12/28/06 06:48pm

It did not overheat the first time. I checked on it today and they advised that the head has grooves in it, and that is the reason the second gasket blew. They took a new head out of a crate and it has groves in it too. They are sending it back to Cat to have it milled. I may get it back someday. Bad service from CAT for sure. Very disappointed in the company. Lazybear

Posted By: outsider1924 on 12/29/06 08:33am

lazybear wrote:

I still dont understand... How did it blow a head gasket the first time ?

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