Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: Farrarkc on June 25, 2021, 08:23:24 pm

Title: Windshield wiper issue leading to more....where to start?
Post by: Farrarkc on June 25, 2021, 08:23:24 pm
Good evening,

I am writing this in Bear Lake, Utah and enjoying nature!

I was headed here in a light rain and, being I had had a problem with my windshield wiper adjustment in the past, the final time I did use the wipers they stuck to the outside of the windshield and the motor was whining. The controls were not responsive and before I could pull over the motor went out. Not a big deal other then my cruise control now does not work.

Can anyone lead me in the direction of what to check? I am hoping it might be a fuse for the wheel controls. 1500 miles without cruise control does not sound fun.

Warm regards,
Tom
Title: Re: Windshield wiper issue leading to more....where to start?
Post by: Larry Rubin on June 25, 2021, 08:52:14 pm
Do the other functions - headlight and clearance light flashers - on the wheel work?
Title: Re: Windshield wiper issue leading to more....where to start?
Post by: Larry Rubin on June 25, 2021, 09:06:47 pm
Also from other posts , info on wiper fuse.
Title: Re: Windshield wiper issue leading to more....where to start?
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on June 25, 2021, 09:16:40 pm
Those things in the photo Larry posted (above) are not fuses - they are circuit breakers.  They should auto reset if the problem that caused them to open is corrected.  If the problem persists, they will keep tripping.

See if the thread linked below has any helpful info on trouble shooting the SmartWheel (see Reply #4):

Smart wheel on the blink (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=27794)

Title: Re: Windshield wiper issue leading to more....where to start?
Post by: Farrarkc on July 05, 2021, 08:59:45 am
Update: It seems the cruise control breaker reset and I once again had cruise. Most of the time. I started to notice that the cruise became very sensitive. When I would crest a hill and start the downward side the cruise would often disengage. It would not always turn back on upon demand and I would have to wait. In fact sometimes I would have to hit the resume and not the set to get the cruise back on. WEIRD!

I am home now after 3600 miles and am continually amazed by my Foretravel!

I intend on tackling the windshield wiper dilemma and I will keep everyone posted. If anyone has had a similar issue with the cruise please let me now.

Thanks everyone!
Title: Re: Windshield wiper issue leading to more....where to start?
Post by: Journey, Roam, Explore on July 05, 2021, 10:40:27 am
If you have the retarder on and engaged the cruise control will disengage frequently. It may not do it right away. Hitting the resume button will then re-engage it but if you keep the retarder on it will disengage again at some point.
Hope you get your windshield wiper issue resolved. Getting to the motor requires removing the whole dash top so hope that's not an issue for you.
Title: Re: Windshield wiper issue leading to more....where to start?
Post by: oldguy on July 05, 2021, 11:19:38 am
When the retarder is on every time the cruise backs off the throttle the cruise
will disengage.
Title: Re: Windshield wiper issue leading to more....where to start?
Post by: bigdog on July 05, 2021, 04:51:53 pm
When the retarder is on every time the cruise backs off the throttle the cruise
will disengage.
On our 1998 320. The cruse and trans retarder work together. When the coach speeds up on a small down grade. The retarder does it's thing and the cruise auto-resumes to it's set speed when the coach slows.  It must be an ECM programing thing.

To me, The way our coaches cruise control works makes perfect sense and is how a cruise control should work.

Our Mercedes SUV did this as well. It just used the brakes as the MB diesel doesn't have a retarder.
Title: Re: Windshield wiper issue leading to more....where to start?
Post by: Farrarkc on July 05, 2021, 05:46:57 pm
The last few comments make perfect sense now!! I often had the retarder on due to the terrain and me liking the increased stopping power.
Title: Re: Windshield wiper issue leading to more....where to start?
Post by: bigdog on July 05, 2021, 05:55:40 pm
The last few comments make perfect sense now!! I often had the retarder on due to the terrain and me liking the increased stopping power.
That's what it's there for. But yours (as you explained) the Cruise control shuts off when the retarder comes on and you have to hit resume on the wheel? Or did I misunderstand you?

If your retarder totally shuts off the cruise. I'd say (based on how my coach works) that something is wrong and needs programing/fixing. Perhaps the Transmission ECU and Engine ECU are not talking to each other about the retarder/cruise cooperation. Of course as these are low volume rigs built by hand. They could have left the floor sans that cooperative link.
Title: Re: Windshield wiper issue leading to more....where to start?
Post by: oldguy on July 05, 2021, 06:57:19 pm
Jerry if you check probably your brakes lights don't come on with retarder
On mine the brake lights come with the retarder so that knocks out the
cruise and it can be set up either way.
Title: Re: Windshield wiper issue leading to more....where to start?
Post by: dsd on July 05, 2021, 07:09:15 pm
Jerry if you check probably your brakes lights don't come on with retarder
On mine the brake lights come with the retarder so that knocks out the
cruise and it can be set up either way.
The retarder brake light relay has been disconnected. Does not turn brake light on with retarder application. Makes cruise control work if retarder has been applied automatically. I too have to reset cruise after retarder application. So I leave joy stick in zero position and retarder in auto on. If I apply brakes retarder does also. This allows cruise to function and doesn't need to be reset. My brake lights come on every time retarder is applied. Relay connected.
Scott
Title: Re: Windshield wiper issue leading to more....where to start?
Post by: bigdog on July 05, 2021, 07:55:58 pm
Jerry if you check probably your brakes lights don't come on with retarder
On mine the brake lights come with the retarder so that knocks out the
cruise and it can be set up either way.
That makes sense. I just like the way it works on this coach. Seems more intuitive as just sloughing off a couple of MPH and no lights shouldn't cause an issue with traffic to my 6.
Title: Re: Windshield wiper issue leading to more....where to start?
Post by: oldguy on July 05, 2021, 09:14:44 pm
My Jake brake doesn't knock out the cruise as it isn't hooked up to the brake
lights and if I didn't have a Jake I might have my retarded not knock out the cruise.