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More adventures

This afternoon we drove about 3 blocks to get the propane tank filled. In preparation for that trip I turned on the block heater last night, so the engine coolant should have been fairly warm. The engine fired right up, and in short order I had full air pressure. A few minutes later we were getting propane. After paying the bill (MUCH less than expected) I was surprised to see that the air pressure had dropped quite a bit. This happened last March, and we had the D-2 governor replaced. I was told that one temporary fix is to fan the brakes so that the pressure drops down far enough that the compressor will kick in. I did so, and the pressure dropped all the way down to zero. Time to call CoachNet.

I got the usual questions about whether we were safe, membership number, etc. I then briefly outlined the problem and was told that a tech would call me back in 10-15 minutes. In the meantime the propane company was wanting to close the gate and I was blocking it. They gave me the number of a local tow company that they deal with, so I called them. They called back in a couple of minutes saying that they were sending a "large" truck to help. I so informed the propane company and suggested that a small car might want to move because I was expecting that the local guy would just get my air tanks filled so I could release the brakes and get back to the church parking lot.

Pretty soon someone came out and moved the little car. I happened to glance at the air gauge and was surprised to see that it was up to 30 pounds. Jo Ann and I watched the gauge for a minute or two and decided that it was, indeed, headed upward, so she went in to tell the propane people that we would be leaving soon and I called the tow company to cancel the truck. A few more minutes and we were headed back to the church parking lot that has been our home for the past six weeks.

While we were waiting I thought I'd fire up the generator. To my surprise it wouldn't start. Not even a grunt. Then I noticed that the backup camera wasn't working. Hmmm, wonder of the salesman switch got bumped. Nope. Oh well, by this time we were nearly ready to go, so I thought I'd deal with that question another time.

Back at the parking lot the coach wouldn't level. It would try, then the interior lights started blinking and the leveling system went back to travel mode. After a couple of cycles of this I decided to see if the inverter was on. I had turned it off after we arrived here in Pevely. It was one! Jo Ann had been digging in that bay for some sewing stuff, and she must have turned it on with the remote switch (something I've not been able to do). After I turned the inverter off all was fine. I did notice that I had NO 12 lights.

Anyway, our project here in Pevely is nearly done and next week we move to a nearby State park and I can spend some time trying to figure out all of the various issues going on here.

Re: More adventures

Reply #1 –
Wow, that's gotta be the most confusing post I've ever read on here! Hahaha!
Scott Cook
1991 U300 36' 6V92TA
Old Town Penobscot 16
1984 Honda VF1100C (V65 Magna)

Re: More adventures

Reply #2 –
Quote from: RRadio –
Wow, that's gotta be the most confusing post I've ever read on here! Hahaha!


It's up there.  What can I say, when it rains it pours.  Did you happen to break a mirror and walk under a ladder recently?
Tom Lang K6PG (originally  KC6UEC)
and Diane Lang
2003 38 U295 build 6209
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Ecodiesel
still have tow-ready 2006 Acura MDX 
Temple City, California
Motorcade 16681 California Chapter President
SKP 16663 member of SKP Park of the Sierra, Coarsegold California
FMCA F071251
Retired electrical and electronic engineer

Re: More adventures

Reply #3 –
Obviously the question is whether this an electrical/gauge issue or actual PSI issue.

If you can push in the parking brake switch and it holds in/releases the parking brake, you KNOW the PSI is above 30 PSI. Indicating an electrical issue. 

Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: More adventures

Reply #4 –
I probably should have put the story in another section and asked some specific questions here, so here are some questions.

1. What might cause the air pressure to drop so much? Last March the D-2 governor was replaced due to similar symptoms, so do I need another one this soon? When the tech from CoachNet finally called back he asked about the temperature. When I said it is cold here, he said that Foretravel and others used a pressure device that doesn't like cold temperatures. When the engine cools off, he said, a spring doesn't allow pressure to build. Unfortunately for that theory, the engine was running the whole time, and built pressure normally at first.

2. I thought that the inverter would power the refrigerator overnight, and the house batteries (2 8-D AGM less than a year old) would handle at least a few lights and the inverter. NOT the case today.

3. The non-starting generator also points to lack of power in the house batteries.

Brett, I tried releasing the brake - no luck. I'm pretty sure that it is an air pressure issue.

Oh yes, one other issue has arisen. I can't see my tank levels on the tv anymore. I've checked to make sure that the cable is plugged into the proper place on the television and all I get now is a pretty green screen. I suspect that the Audit may be completely dead. I'm looking into switching to the SeeLevel system for tanks and a plug-in digital volt meter for the batteries.

Re: More adventures

Reply #5 –
might be worthy of thinking "air dryer" if it was a freezing weather  day, ice in air  acts like that sonetimes too.
 

Re: More adventures

Reply #6 –
Check connections on house batteries. Main engine running should charge engine and house batteries. Check Audit and 12V stuff with Detroit running. No 12V may mean bad isolator. Use toad and jumpers to house batteries for a few minutes and start generator. Use schematic and digital voltmeter to trace problem.

Don't leave boost switch on as the solenoid will deplete the batteries in a few hours.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)