Foretravel Owners' Forum

Just wanted yo move the coach, but can not retract the slide outs .
Yellow light flashes , but does not go solid on either slide.

My coach batteries were low after a load test, but recharged and I am back on shore power.
 Advice appreciated

Regards


Klaus

Is your 12v compressor running?  Is the bladder deflating?

Do you have the HWH troubleshooting manual?  It has lots of good info including a description of the interlock indicator lights.

I'm sure it is on the forum or I can email you a copy of the one for 2002.

Rich

^ This ^

If the aux compressor isn't running in a 2003, you won't pull vacuum for the sensor that allows the slides to move.

make sure the coach is LEVEL, then try retracting the slides

Thank you Ms Michelle,

If one needs to pull vacuum with the Aux Comp for the sensor that is the explanation.

Coach is level, but aux compressor does not come on and has no pressure.
Is there a fuse or a reset for the aux compressor?

That is one of the few systems I have no technical info on.

Regards

Klaus

A recent thread.

TWO SLIDES SUDDENLY WILL NOT EXTEND (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=40897.0)

Rich

Thank you,


I will troubleshoot the Aux Comp tomorrow.
I looked at the fuses tonight, but it was getting dark. Have not seen a resettable breaker so far.
I will report the outcome.
Regards

Klaus

There is an inline fuse.  Look at the wiring going to the aux compressor for a small inline device.

I believe there is also a resettable 12V breaker for the system as well - look in the same bay as the compressor/inverter/HWH tackle boxes.  They are "pushbutton" type breakers. 

See reply #6 for info on the reset able CBs.

Need help locating fuses (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=36196.msg342753#msg342753)

Rich

Where exactly is the breaker, having difficulties finding it.

Regards

Klaus

In the basement I think there is a relay .. behind the fiberglass cover .. on my 02 if you look around the harness behind the compressor mine had a 5amp blade fuse.. I remove it when I need to shut the compressor off for any reason.. your might be popped if the compressor ran continuous for any reason.. would start there .. not sure about the foot well of the dash relays .. but start at the blade fuse and check for power on the one side then work backwards.

In my 03 in the same bay as the 12v compressor is also a large breaker panel, behind a carpeted cover.  The breaker for my 12v compressor was there.

When you remove the cover you will see this

Thank you, Ms Michelle,

I am still stuck here in the boonies, but this is an electrical technical problem, and therefore solvable. (For a technician familiar with these units it is probably easy). Not for me, I can not find a wiring diagram of the set up.

I had in the meantime removed the panel and it looks exactly as in your picture. The two white boxes are obviously 12 V breakers. I think they switch the water pump on and off (I can hear it).

 In the lower right corner of your picture a yellow and a black cable goes into the direction of the Aux compressor.
There is battery voltage between the terminals, but that battery voltage does not come to terminal on the electrical load side of the compressor (Red cable to the terminal block)

I have attached a picture of that terminal block, I assume it is some sort of solenoid.

If I jumper the left of the terminals to the panel power, the air compressor starts. (My black jumper cable is still attached , but not connected)
This being a piston compressor I am unsure if I can let it run, because I probably have bypassed some limit switches.

Any advice is appreciated

Regards

PS

I probably would have spent money on my weekend trip, I can apply that to the repair now.

See the attached photo.

Klaus

I sent Klaus these photos and schematic as well as the complete HWH manual. The HWH control box and schematic on the lid show all the fuses inside. If anyone knows the changes made from 1993 to 2002, please post any difference.

Pierce

Pierce,

That first photo JUST AIN'T RITE!

Did the nest builder end up in the stew pot???

Big Significant differences from '93 to 2002 and 2003.  Completely different system.

The manual should be in the media section - look for a 2000 series.  The aux compressor is a different one from 1993 as well.

https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?action=media;sa=album;in=254

https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?action=media;sa=item;in=1459#viewitem

Klaus, the breaker behind the panel should be an auto-reset breaker whose 12v output goes to one side of the Essex Relay (sort os a taller cone shaped thing with connection posts on top. 

The Essex relay is triggered by the HWH controls, the pressure switch or by the dash switch which opens the solenoid valve to fill the wet tank and turns on the compressor (via the pressure switch).

There is a 5 amp fuse from the Essex relay to the dash switch. 

What Michelle said!  There are three different air systems in the 2001 U320s. Assumptions can lead you down the wrong path.

There should be about a 4 gauge wire red from the essex solenoid to the breaker panel. On the left side is a row of breakers and just to the left of the breakers is a tag telling you what it is for. The breaker has a reset button on it.

Unfortunately not! This has been a year like the hurricanes down south but here it's fires and rodents. The rats are back and I mean thousands and the ground squirrels are here for the first time in a big way. A lot like the tree squirrels but smaller and not so pretty tail. They tunneled into the greenhouse and have eaten thousands of tomatoes.

On top of that, all the oak trees are dropping acorns by the millions and I'm not exaggerating. If a breeze comes up at night, it sounds like a machine gun on the deck and they hurt when they hit you. Some of the trees are well over 100 feet tall so they have achieved terminal velocity by the time they arrive.

OK, small problems compared to elsewhere. I'll find and send the schematics link to Klaus and he can pick the one he has. He's a sharp guy and I'm sure he can figure it out. Pretty good sailor it seem too Brett.

Pierce

 Pierce and Brett,

No , I am an average sailor at best.

But, I ran aground in Europe ( I once missed Rhodes), Asia, Africa and America.
My sailing days are over.
My Foretravel days are on hold until I can retract my slides.

But I bought a Cassens&Plath Navistar sextant after the house fire out of sentimentality.

Everyone should have a sextant.

Regards

Klaus

I assume the picture that I posted in #5 shows the terminals of the Essex relay.

Regards

Klaus

Looks like it, Klaus.  Here is a picture of one, there are different mounting plates, and mine next to my compressor.  Yours may be in a different location and orientation.

According to wiring diagram # 9 one pole should always have battery power.
Mine does not.
If the connectors on the left side of the panel are resettable breakers, where is the reset?

Regards

Klaus

Klaus,

My coach is different than yours.  But those look like my auto-reset breakers.  If they can be reset manually, there will be a small push button on the side.  The (very small) button is not much bigger around than a thick pasta noodle.

I think the copper bar is the 12V positive bus bar for all those circuits.  Put a DVM on it and check.  And check a couple of the other breakers on the wire side for 12Vs.

You may have a short in the compressor wiring/system and the breaker will not auto-reset.  Or the breaker may be bad.  You can disconnect the wire and see if the breaker resets and you get 12V on that wire terminal.  You may also be able to check for continuity between the end of the disconnected wire and ground to confirm a short.

If the breaker is bad, you could also jumper the wire to a different breaker and see if the compressor works.  If it does, you should be able to get your rooms in and get home.

My advice is worth what you pay for it ;-).  Good luck tracking this down!

Rich

Without the advice from Ms Michelle, Roger and Rich Bowman and talking to the previous owner, Jim McNeece, it would have taken me weeks to solve the problem.

If there is a pension fund for widows and orphans of Forum members I would gladly donate to it.

Regards

Klaus

Solved it, see my post "Happiness is......."

And I bet it was one of those  :headwall: I'm an idgit moments when you found out it was a simple fix.  :))  :))

I'd like to merge this with the threads describing the problem and the aux compressor breaker location to keep the entire discussion together for future searchers - but before I do, what was the problem and the fix?

What was the solution?  May help the next person find a similar problem.

Buehler?...  Buehler?

Lessons learned report will be sent out tonight  (and there were a bunch)

Regards

Klaus

Looking forward to it, I have an '03 to so might be handy

To all who have helped me:

Thank you,

I knew it was worthwhile when I paid  all this money for the Forum Membership.

Indulge me, I know I am too verbose.

Paraphrasing Caspar Weinberger, Defense Secretary who once stated: Never mind the things you know  you do not knoww, the once that you do not know that you do not know will bite you.

I bought the coach from a gentlemen, who among other detailed written documentations and receipts, gave me a 300 Mb of detailed technical information about system in this specific coach.

I will gladly send a copy of the file to anybody who requests in from me:  petersklauserwin@gmail.com

Well, now I was stuck with a flashing yellow light that never turned solid when I wanted to retract my slides.

So I cried HELP  to the Forum.

The first important note was from Michelle, who stated, that I in order to operate the slides, the aux air compressor has to be running, to pull a vacuum on some sensors as a permissive for an interlock.

So, going to the air compressor, it was not running for sure, and showed 0 psi.

Then, looking at the cabling for the air compressor, there was no 12 V feed  to a relay solenoid. (Roger sent me specification and the schematic).

So, no 12 V supply to the compressor is the reason.

Rich Bowman supplied the second important piece of information after I posted a detailed picture of the wiring panel,  by stating that the connection between the terminals is resettable. He compared the reset button to the size of an Italian spaghetti.

I would have never found that.

Everyone who has the same electrical distribution panel should stick a not onto it saying : yes, there is a tiny reset button on the  left side that you can not see.


The Aux compressor was running now, but the yellow flashing light still did not switch to solid flashing. In one of Michelle's post I read, that there is a vacuum pressure interlock requiring 50 psi . Sure enough, the compressor was stuck at 40 psi with a hissing sound. Found the leak, fixed it. 

Happiness is retrieving the Side Outs.

By that time I received an Email from the previous owner, stating that I should look at drawing BE-2254 (attached), which I did.
 
This schematic shows the interface (among other things) between the main and the auxiliary compressor. It lists the two vacuum switches, but does not state their respective set points. I still do not know where they are or if they can be bypassed.

But BE - 2254 E  schematic that is fundamental to understanding how the system works.

Regards

Klaus




 

See the schematic

Klaus

Klaus, Here is the vacuum block I think your talking about. The one on the left in the pic in new and was replaced last week with my slide bladder.  on my 2003 it is on the back of the left wall as you look in the compartment, here are mine, if you have 2 slides you will have 2 like me.
Could you send me that file of technical info please. kn919@comcast.net


Keith

Sending you an e-mail from my gmail account - we will try to get that file uploaded to the forum.

Merged all three topics to this one to keep all related discussion together

To Michelle,

Can not  just attach 350 MB to email.

What about Dropbox?

Regards

Klaus

I too would like this information. If we end up having a place to access like on the forum that would be real nice in the future
Scott

In response to Keith reply # 36

Thank you for the pictures, now I know where the vacuum switches are.

If I would have seen a gauge showing pressure below 1 atm I could have figured it out. But apparently only the newer switches have gauges.

Regards

Klaus

E-mail sent - maybe Google Drive and shared folder since we're both on Gmail?

I have burnt a DVD, just need mailing address.

Regards

Klaus