It is my understanding that Foretravel installed several extra wires of various sizes that run from the front to the back of our coaches. Never having a need for any of them, i have never looked for their location. I will be installing an Air Force One braking system in the near future and will need to use one of these wires for a "coach notification light" for my towed's brakes.
I would assume they are in a loom, wire tied together, and possibly encased in a "ribbed" cover...where do these wires terminate at the front and back of the coach?...where do i look?
On my coach, there is an extra harness of 6 wires that is routed from the driver dash area. The wires are numbered EX-1 through EX-6. There is an additional 3 wire harness that is routed from the dash area up into the overhead television area with wires numbered EX-1 (38492) through EX-3 (38492).
Ralph, On the GV's there is a bundle ( 12 plus ) of wires in the cabinet on right side in front, all of them terminate in a bundle on the curb side of engine, they may be tucked up into a cross member.
Gary B
I've got 6 like Barry has on the passenger's side but they just go right side of dash to compartment above passenger's head. I have not seen the bundle of twelve. Which cabinet on the front right side?
Thanks,
Pierce
OK, thanks for the tips...I'll look for them this weekend
sometimes you will find the extra wires under the dash on the drivers side to the left of the steering column. sometimes they are in a circle and other times bent back over themselves. should be in wire loom
Found them...I have 6 wires. They run from under the dash, left of the steering column to the curb side of the engine block, below crankcase and transmission dipsticks.
Wondered what they were all about. Figured that they hooked up to some option that my coach did not have. Now I know!!! Thanks - and good thread!
I need to run some wires from the dash to the engine compartment for my new Transmission Lube Pump Monitor. I finally found what looks like the extra wires from the dash to the engine compartment but there is no continuity front to back. These wires are a Red 10 ga., Red 14 ga. Black 12 ga. Green, Blue and Yellow 14 ga. The front of the bundle comes out under the flip up dash cover on the passenger side and the back end comes out also on the passenger side.
Is it probable that these wires are fused somewhere? Do I have the wrong wires? Or, do you think they have been cut somewhere along the way?
If anyone has utilized the extra front to back wiring. Please share your experience.
Kent,
Think they are the same wires I found on mine. They are also in the overhead compartment just above the flip-up dash cover and think this is the other end as the colors match up exactly.
Just got back into town and will take a look on the driver's side tomorrow morning.
I have been on my back in the steering wheel area but no joy. Sure would like to find the extra wires as I have some other ideas where I need front to back wires.
Pierce
The extra wires front to rear are normally on the left side. If I remember correct they are found under the bottom of the dash to the left of the steering wheel. They might be coiled up and probably in plastic split loom
If it were a snake, it would probably have had lots of chances to bite me tonight. Just spent a half hour under the bottom of the dash to the left of the steering column and found nothing. Have not yet removed the carpeted enclosure that the wires come up through but will try that tomorrow. On a U300, its right under the DDEC low coolant module. Looks like a few screws hidden under the carpet. Also looked under the dash top but no extra wires. No split looms either.
Did see a lot of really well done wiring. Foretravel does an excellent job with the electrics.
Pierce
I don't know how different the 93 is from my 95 but the extra wires in mine are in the cabinet above the co-pilot seat in a coil. They were jammed in a corner and hard to see til I pulled them out. They exit in the rear on the right side under the radiator.
Gary B
Gary,
Kent and I both have the wires you describe in the cabinet above the co-pilot's seat and also in the little flip up compartment directly below. Assuming you have a rear side radiator on yours. I am putting up my garage building so can't get at the pit to look under but do have the radiator cover off so will take a look. Do they just pop out of a conduit or do they lead down from somewhere else?
Pierce
Pierce, In the rear they are bunched up and it appears that they come from the curb side of the engine and under the radiator and terminate just to the right of center at the rear cross frame rail. They are just wire tied together. I have never had to use them but when I bought the coach I was curious and followed them just to see what they were. Must be at least a dozen different gauge wires. When I get the coach out of storage I Will try to take a photo.
Gary B
I have thoroughly checked under the flip up dash and under the dash on the drivers side by the DDEC connector. I see no wires that appear unused and no bundle similar to those in the engine compartment. The only unused wires I have found are those that come out on the passenger side, see photo, but there is no continuity with the wires in the engine compartment. Does anyone know of a 12V fuse block other than the one on the base of the bed? I have to assume that the extra wires have either been cut, oh no, or have an open fuse somewhere along the line.
The factory printing on the red wire is identical in both the front and back. The green, yellow and small black wire in the front bundle are in use under the dash. They look like factory connections. They sure look like they are the same bundle front to back.
Kent,
Are your extra wires numbered? The ones I found in our 99' were marked with ex1, ex2, etc. It was difficult to see because I had to get the black tape residue off. I haven't checked
for continuity yet because I ended up using wires I pulled instead.
Don
Sadly, these wires are not numbered in the front or the back.
On the 93 there were no numbers on the wires, only different colors, and no there is no fuses between the front and the rear on the extra wires. Does your coach have an electric brake controller? If it does they may have used some of the extgra wires for that and that might help you find the wires. I don't remember, but is there carpet on the firewall ahead of your feet? If there is the wires could be behind that carpet.
I found a bunch of wires of different colors and gauges in the small compartment by the navigator's seat. Two or three of them had the ends stripped, but most of them didn't. Haven't looked for the other ends at the rear yet. They are all loose, just jammed in the space. Tomorrow I'll see about untangling them and coiling them neatly, as well as snipping off the stripped ends.
Look closely in the overhead compartment directly above with a flashlight. You may find the other ends of the same wires if yours is like ours. There is a possibility that they may be spliced into others that may lead to the back. I can't image what they could be used for. A mystery for now.
Pierce
Thanks for everyone's input.
To my knowledge there has never been an electric brake controller. I have taken the carpeted box off under the drivers feet area and can find no unused wires. They all go up into the dash and are attached as far as I can tell.
The wires on the passenger side compartment are the ones in the photo above that I felt sure went to the back of the coach. The colors and gauges match but there is no continuity front to back. The wires in the back are in a split loom that comes out near the exhaust tube for the air purge canister on the passenger side.
I have checked trying to find where these wires might have been cut but nothing so far. I called Foretravel but they were closed for the Holiday. I had already tried James T but thought I would see if Mark Harvey knew anything but he will be out until April 8th. I will try to get Carol or Jeff to talk to Alton in the shop on Monday.
I have checked the overhead thoroughly and can find no wires that match the colors or gauges of the ones in the dash or the back.
If anyone knows the pathway front to back, PLEASE HELP!!!
Kent,
I had forgotten that I bought a cable/wire tracer when I was doing the same thing as you are. It works well, not the 12" range that some models advertise but will pick up a signal 3 or 4 inches away. You just go to one end like the wires you found at the back, connected the signal injector part and go forward and the probe will give an audible signal when it gets close to the same wire.
Also attached a photo of the overhead wire loom that matches the one in the flip-up cover.
I would do a bit of investigation but Gaylie and I have terrible colds plus are remodeling the bathroom so am out of it for a couple more days.
Hope this helps. Here is an Amazon link with lots of wire tracers. Think I bought ours at Home Depot or Harbor Freight.
Amazon.com: cable tracer (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=cable+tracer)
Pierce
Pierce, they are just where you said they would be.
I too found the wires in the overhead that come out on the passenger side of the dash. They were very well hidden beneath black vinyl but they were there. I should have know not to doubt Pierce.
Now all I have to do is find the ones from the rear to the front. I'm betting they are by the drivers left foot but I still can't find the bundle. I have order a cable detector from Amazon. It is to be delivered Tuesday. I will post again as soon as I find the hidden wires.
I have the same configuration of wires on the passenger right side overhead compartment.......I wondered what they were for years ago but just never did ask. Would be interested in the final answer as well.
I FOUND THEM!!!
I received my "Ideal" brand Tone Generator from Amazon to trace the wiring and it actually worked. The bundle of extra wires that I discovered on the passenger rear of the coach do come out on the drivers side under the dash. There is a carpet covered plywood box near where the drivers left foot goes that contains a lot of wiring. In that bunch is a loom with the extra front to back wires. It is buried deeply and not readily visible. It goes up under the dash over to the steering wheel column where it exits the loom and is then looped back toward the drivers side of the coach. There is a wrap of black tape at the end of the six wires. The colors are 12 ga. black and red, 14 ga. I had to clip several of the zip ties holding the huge bundle together but before I cut them I pre-installed replacement zip ties to make it easier to tighten everything down when I am through.
I have attached a couple of photos.
Outstanding Kent! I will have to pull the plywood box off and get them ready for use. Glad the "Ideal" generator worked. You and Ken should set up shop. :))
Once I open the box, I will see if my Harbor Freight generator will find the end at the back. Glad to know which side it's on.
Thanks
Pierce
Its a whole lot easier to find the ones in the back. They are right out in the open. Just look for a loom with no wires coming out of it. The stub end of the extra wires will be up inside loom. On mine it is right beside the air drier purge slobber tube. Once you find them, the tone generator will make it easier to find the buried wires in the front.
Steve, the extra wires in the passenger overhead run down the wall to the dash in case you need to run power from the dash to the front overhead.They are in a loop on the under the flip up dash all the way to the right on the passenger side.
Kent excellent work. I bummed I didn't get to see you use your new toy. I just checked and I have the same box that I presume the cable run is in but how the hell did you squeeze between the seat and the steering column? I know you don't bend all that well. :)
see ya
ken
Ken, a little guy like me had no problem. I'm sure you noticed my neck is three feet long and I'm triple jointed. I'll give a more detailed explanation when the pain levels in my shoulder and back diminish.
You have to be a contortionist to get in there but it can be done. I don't know if you noticed the wood chips on the floor but I did get a little frustrated getting the box out. The two bottom screws were removed with extreme prejudice. It can be repaired.
Kent,
Have pulled the carpeted wall off in front of the passenger's seat so know how hard it is to find the screw heads. And that was with easy access to the front of the panel. I got in there were you were but not easy and I found the first screw but not the rest. I changed kitchen sink faucet and that was a pain but not as bad as getting around the driver's seat.
Hats off to you for the sacrifice. Lots of time to relax now with your new toad and the pump to go with it.
Pierce
Kent,
The toner sounds like a good tool to own can you give us the model number of the toner you bought? Would you buy a different one now some experience?
Thanks,
Rick
I have only used it a little bit but in my research I found that some of the cheaper ones would not broadcast the tone over long distances like the length of a 40 foot motorhome. The one I bought is a Tracetone by ideal (Amazon.com: Tracetone? Tone Generator and Amplifier Probe: Electronics (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000IBTDHM/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1)) for $30. The tone volume was just as loud at the front of the coach as it was where I hooked up the generator to the wires in the rear so it worked great. You do have to get the receiver tip within a few inches of the wire in question so you need to have a pretty good idea of where the wire will be. For instance if you were trying to find a wire in a wall you would not hear anything until you were within say 4" of the wire but all I needed was to determine if the extra wires in the front of the coach were in that bundle coming out of the carpeted box and not up under the flip up dash. I did not want to open up the bundle if the extra wires were not there.
Just an additional note on removal of the carpeted box, it is actually just half a box, L shaped plywood. The carpet is stapled onto the plywood so I just pulled the carpet loose from the top left and bottom left of the box until the wood screws were exposed. The right hand side is held by two wood screws near the floor at the bottom of the box. Again, just peel up the carpet to expose the screws. If that doesn't work just yank the sucker out like I did. It's just plywood so it can be repaired.
Kent,
Wow!
Great effort in tracing those wires. Now the rest of us won't have to twist our backs and tear up our coaches just to find em! Now we can figure out the best use for them. Definitely worth a Karma point.
PS
A shot of Jack Daniels with a Heineken chaser is a good back pain and frustration reliever!
Jerry
Hmmm... timely thread. Today, I planned on installing a Trimetric to measure both house and start batteries. I put one in our 320 and was able to use a couple of the extra wires. Pretty straightforward. Not so with this one. I found the bundle behind the instrument panel (10 18 gauge wires). Also found four extras in the cabinet above the pax seat (2 18 gauge and 2 14 gauge). As someone mentioned in an earlier post, on these older models the wires are not numbered. e.g. the four above the pax on mine are each labeled "extra wire." In the back I found the taped off loom which has 2 10 ga, one 14 and two 18s. None of the colors match up with what's up front and compared to our 320, there are fewer extras.
This rig came with a complete security system (door, all windows, panic button) and I suspect some of the extras were used for that. Anyhow, I think I'm going to pick up one of those tone deals and see if I can figure out what's what. Can't install a Trimetric without wires!
jor
Best to use twisted pair wires from the shunt to the Trimetric if the wires are next to other current carrying wires (as they all are...) since the measured voltage across the shunt is in millivolts, and it doesn't take much changing current in neighboring wires to induce more millivolts. If you get funny readings using "unused wires", you may want to pull a twisted pair cable.
I am a believer concerning induced voltage on control wire, mostly around the Generac generator controls, very sensitive, so need for separate conduit run or shielded cabling.
I spent some time this evening trying to troubleshoot my non-working monitor system. As I was poking around under the dash, tracing wires I found some wires coming up from below that have never been connected to anything, or else the ends were VERY cleanly cut off. At any rate, I think I've found some of these extra wires. No need to pull a permanently mounted box (maybe). I haven't tried looking for the other ends of them, though, as right now I don't need them.
FT has run extra wires front to back for you. They should be in a wire loom at the rear in the engine compartment. Brake controller is one reason that springs to mind.
You heard of "snakes on a plane"? Try wires in a Foretravel. For all the documentation, wire labeling and diagrams i still can't find the other end of EX2-38492. U320, 2001. The book says it goes from the OH by TV (found that end) to the Front Dash Area (still looking). Has anyone ever looked for and found the other end? I spent quite a bit of time looking behind the panel in front of the pass seat where all the circuit breakers are with no luck.
I found the Satellite wire hot and gound up in the TV area and where they get power from the circuit panel. I could use them but then I will surely want to add a sat dish at some time. Anyway, I'll keep looking and hoping for some help.
Thanks!
I have some underneath the lift-up curved dash in front of the driver.
I FOUND 'em !!!!
On the '93 U300 they were just under the dryer ( in the way of R & R actually )
I cut the tie wraps to gain access to the dryer, and 6 wires of different colors were in the conduit . Match the colors in the passenger side overhead
Bill those wires in the overhead probably are not the same ones as you found by the dryer. The ones by the dryer terminate under the dash in front of your left leg as you sit in the seat. I think it was Kent Speers that had a hard time finding the wires under the dash. The overhead wires should be able to be found by raising the dash and looking on the passenger side
Kent used a signal injector found at HF or HD. Cheap and works like a million bucks.
Pierce
Bill, my 93 U300 is five units newer than yours. I have a bundle of wires on the navigator's side running from the cabinet above down to the little hatch at the right end of the dash. The bundle of wires on the driver's side goes from the left end of the dash back to the rear of the coach.
And the bundle is folded back on itself and hard to identify without signal injection from the rear.
Pierce
I think the installers at foretravel put these wires in a different spot on each coach on purpose to mess with us 2nd 3rd and later used Foretravel owners. I spent an hour looking for these extra wires in the engine bay over the last two days and finally found them in the large loom running down the passenger side rear most part of the engine, on the engine. The ex 1-6 wires were inside this loom along with 3 other wires that are in use. I know it's an old thread but thought this was worth adding so the next guy that has these wires in this spot doesn't over look them over and over like I did 😂
Did you ever find them? I'm my 96 u270, this bundle was directly behind the bundle that runs to the engine bay in the lower left side of the driver's foot well under the dash