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Topic: Pre-heat on 2007 Nimbus (Read 640 times) previous topic - next topic

Pre-heat on 2007 Nimbus

Folks,

We took the wrong turn when we got on 95 and ended up back home in Northern Virginia. Temps have been down in the teens and are right now in the upper 20's. Planned on topping off the fuel today (currently about a third down), but am concerned about getting the Cummings started. We have the 500 ISM engine. The coach is parked at our house and is plugged into 50 amp. The bays are heated and we keep the inside temp around 50.

I routinely flip on the engine pre-heat for a least an hour before restarts and have no problem. However, coldest start so far has been in the high 30's. Read some older posts about a separate switch, in addition to the Aqua Hot, for electrically pre-heating the engine. Was this carried over to the Nimbus series? Have look under the bed for the switch (site of the older location), but no luck. There is an unmarked toggle switch hidden between the mattress and one of the side bed tables at the head of the bed, but no one has been able to tell us what that is for. Would expect that any engine pre-heat switch would be labeled.

Does the AquaHot pre-heat now handle the engine block as well?

Would appreciate any info.

Thanks and hope everyone else is smart enough to be somewhere else much warmer!

Don
2007 Nimbus 340 quad slide
Build #6386 FMC #17360 FMCA #441779

Re: Pre-heat on 2007 Nimbus

Reply #1 –
My preheat is only through Aqua-hot. Uses one of the aqua-hot's pumps to circulate the engine antifreeze in the block. works great just allow some time for it to circulate.

Re: Pre-heat on 2007 Nimbus

Reply #2 –
Hmmm. That sounds right to me. Thanks.
2007 Nimbus 340 quad slide
Build #6386 FMC #17360 FMCA #441779

Re: Pre-heat on 2007 Nimbus

Reply #3 –
The ISM series are not hard starters, would recommend using either the electric heater built into the engine or the Aqua Hot for atleast an hour prior to starting, leave idle for while if you can.

Re: Pre-heat on 2007 Nimbus

Reply #4 –
You will start up just fine.  It will be 6 tonight here in NOVA.  Put on the aquahot engine preheat and the block heater if you want too. I do not really use the block heater as I have the aquahot running.  You will start up fine in the morning. Leave your coach plugged in and push the boost switch and you will turn over maybe a second longer.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: Pre-heat on 2007 Nimbus

Reply #5 –
Guys,

Thanks for the replies. Left the  pre-heat switch on for an hour and had no problems starting. However, the suggestions still lead me to believe there may be an engine pre-heat that is separate from (i.e., in addition to) the Aqua-Hot.

Is that correct? If so, would appreciate any pointers as to where that switch would be. The Aqua-Hot preheat (I really should be saying Hydro-Hot for my model) switch is in my information panel, next to the electric and diesel heat switches for the hydronic heat. Those three switches are labeled "Electric", "Diesel", and "Pre-Heat".

Don

2007 Nimbus 340 quad slide
Build #6386 FMC #17360 FMCA #441779

Re: Pre-heat on 2007 Nimbus

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Don Rickey –
However, the suggestions still lead me to believe there may be an engine pre-heat that is separate from (i.e., in addition to) the Aqua-Hot.

Is that correct? If so, would appreciate any pointers as to where that switch would be.

The couple of replies you had suggesting using the block heater are from folks with older coaches who definitely have a block heater; they might not realize some of the newer coaches don't have that feature.  Elliot has a slightly newer coach (2008 Phenix) than yours which does not have a block heater.  Hopefully someone else with a 2007 Nimbus can confirm whether or not they came so equipped.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Pre-heat on 2007 Nimbus

Reply #7 –
Don, when you get a chance, lift up the bed and see if you can see where the wires go from the back of that switch. Just a thought.
Richard & Betty Bark & Keiko our Golden Doodle
2003 U320T 3820 PBDS
Build # 6215
MC # 16926
2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 diesel

Re: Pre-heat on 2007 Nimbus

Reply #8 –
As a owner of a Nimbus 2007, there are no block heaters on the rig. The pre-heat using the HydoHot is the only engine warmer. I personally leave the switch on overnight on the day before I am going to leave if the temperature will be 30 degrees or less. We have started the engine this way when it was zero degrees outside. I would also allow the engine to idle for a half hour after starting when real cold. Remember, the transmission temp is not heating so watch the transmission shifting for a while.
Bob
Bob & Kathy
2007 Nimbus
Full Timers
Retired Charter Bus Owner/Operator

Re: Pre-heat on 2007 Nimbus

Reply #9 –
Folks,

Thanks for all the replies--think I understand now. Am fairly sure the 2007 does not have a separate preheat from the Hydro-Hot.

BTW, that switch at the head of the bead is mounted into the side table. I can lift the bed and look, but I'm fairly sure it would not be routed under there. Brings up an interesting idea, though. I'm going to take a closer look and see if I can access any area under the side table--maybe by pulling the drawer completely out. Odd that I don't see anything on the schematics. Definitely has the look of a factory installed switch.

Also, thanks for the suggestion on engine idling. I usually idle for at least 20 minutes in cold weather and work to slowly bring up trans temp.

As usual, the info I get here is fantastic.

Don
2007 Nimbus 340 quad slide
Build #6386 FMC #17360 FMCA #441779

Re: Pre-heat on 2007 Nimbus

Reply #10 –

Don, the switch that you are describing if for the sound system for the TV in the bedroom. I have this too on my Nimbus. When you turn it on and raise the TV sound, you will hear the sound come through the speakers above the bed.
Bob.

(Deleted excessively long, entire post quote - Michelle)
Bob & Kathy
2007 Nimbus
Full Timers
Retired Charter Bus Owner/Operator

Re: Pre-heat on 2007 Nimbus

Reply #11 –
Aha!!

Thank you, Bob. That makes sense. We haven't used that TV. It is the original model and is not digital HD. Ergo, no over-the-air reception without a converter. We replaced the front TV and will be doing the rear shortly.

I probably never would have figured that out. Even the guys at Foretravel were stumped.

Thanks again for pointing that out, Bob!

Don
2007 Nimbus 340 quad slide
Build #6386 FMC #17360 FMCA #441779

Re: Pre-heat on 2007 Nimbus

Reply #12 –
Don, hopefully the TV your replaced in the front is not in the cabinet. The TVs in the cabinet overheated and basically destroyed themselves. This cabinet was not vented and cause many problems. We lost a TV this way and have since removed the cabinet and replaced it with a 42 inch LCD television. Since we have a HD television and a HD antenna system, it was very easy running HD wiring from the cabinet where is direct tv box is to the television.
Bob.
Bob & Kathy
2007 Nimbus
Full Timers
Retired Charter Bus Owner/Operator

Re: Pre-heat on 2007 Nimbus

Reply #13 –
Bob,

We have a large panel on the back of the front TV cabinet that is fully vented. Still, I am keeping a close tab on temps. So far, it is running remarkably cool. Going to run a temperature probe back there, though, to accurately monitor and see if I need a small circulation fan.

Thanks,

Don
2007 Nimbus 340 quad slide
Build #6386 FMC #17360 FMCA #441779
 

Re: Pre-heat on 2007 Nimbus

Reply #14 –
Quote from: Don Rickey –
We have a large panel on the back of the front TV cabinet that is fully vented. Still, I am keeping a close tab on temps. So far, it is running remarkably cool.
Sounds good.
Bob
Bob & Kathy
2007 Nimbus
Full Timers
Retired Charter Bus Owner/Operator