Dash solenoid can leave you stranded

Topic: Dash solenoid can leave you stranded (Read 2162 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Dash solenoid can leave you stranded

Reply #25 – January 05, 2012, 10:08:40 am

Brett and Others, I am all in favor of marking battery leads whenever you disconnect them for any reason, I am also lazy.
I found some short tie wraps ( wire ties ) in various colors, I put red ones on the cables at the batteries that are positive and yellow or black on the grounds. They are almost permanent. Reminds me of some olds cars I have had, very simply postive cable was red and ground black. Seems like a simple engeering fix don't it.

Gary B

Re: Dash solenoid can leave you stranded

Reply #26 – January 05, 2012, 11:15:49 am

THANKS....great idea about the colored ties. I just got back from visiting technical folks at MOT to ask about the option solenoids. Keith Risch, and Keith Davis, told me it fine for anyone to call them if need more direct information and they could install or ship the parts (800-651-1112) if you do not find what you want elsewhere. Per Mr. Risch, when FT went to higher electric draws, as with adding Aqua Hots, it created more likelihod of a problem. So FOT came up with a warrant fix (now expired) and a pre-wired system fix to install. MOT has that, and I am sure FOT does too. I hope that helps. Mike

Re: Dash solenoid can leave you stranded

Reply #27 – January 05, 2012, 06:57:48 pm

Happy New Year all! I've been reading, with interest, about the solenoids. I cannot locate one in the dash area and I only see one in the back under the bed. I would appreciate some help on locating the other two solenoids. Have not had a problem but I don't want one either. I sure would be out of luck if I didn't know where they were. Thanks.
Richard Anderson
1999 U320 40'

Re: Dash solenoid can leave you stranded

Reply #28 – January 05, 2012, 07:33:23 pm

I hope one of the more technical folks will quickly help you, but when we were out beside the road, Keith Risch of MOT took a panel off right inside the door of a 1997. When you go up the steps, before you get to the steering wheel, there was a panel that came off and there were many electrical "parts" there. I did not watch what Mr. Risch do as I stayed outside, out of his way. I hope Mr. Wolf weighs in, gives you help, Otherwise tomorrow I will go out to MOT and take some photos for you. Let me know if you need me to do that, Mike

Re: Dash solenoid can leave you stranded

Reply #29 – January 05, 2012, 07:41:08 pm

Thanks, Mike, I appreciate the help.
Richard Anderson
1999 U320 40' Build 5586

Re: Dash solenoid can leave you stranded

Reply #30 – January 05, 2012, 10:33:30 pm

Quote from: wolfe10 – December 28, 2011, 08:13:38 pm

Graduated Culver Summer School (Sailing) 1966. Graduated Culver Winter School 1967.

Brett

Outstanding Alumni who preceded you:

C. Lyle Cummins, Jr. '46
Internal Fire (1976) *
Diesel's Engine (1993) *
The Diesel Odyssey of Clessie Cummins (1998) *
Diesels for the First Stealth Weapon: Submarine Power 1902-1945 (2007)*

Re: Dash solenoid can leave you stranded

Reply #31 – January 05, 2012, 11:26:13 pm

Richard, I did confirm that they are behind the panel so you can check there.....right to the right of the door as you go up the steps into the coach. Photos Friday for you. Mike

Re: Dash solenoid can leave you stranded

Reply #32 – January 06, 2012, 12:16:01 am

Thanks, Mike, I'm looking forward to the photos.
Richard Anderson
1999 U320 40', build 5586

Re: Dash solenoid can leave you stranded

Reply #33 – January 06, 2012, 10:17:09 am

Here's one...

Re: Dash solenoid can leave you stranded

Reply #34 – January 06, 2012, 10:26:08 am

The solenoid should be at the bottom, behind the black hose. Be forewarned, the screws that mount it to the board are hard to get to, at least were on mine. There's a frame in front of them.

Re: Dash solenoid can leave you stranded

Reply #35 – January 06, 2012, 12:52:33 pm

Good Morning, I appreciate the information and the picture. I still cannot find a solenoid in the dash area. Decided to look at the electrical schematic even though my knowledge of this type of thing is small. The only solenoid that I can find is the boost solenoid located on the isolator board under the bed. The drawing does not have any other solenoid appearing figure on the whole schematic. Could it be that this year Foretravel had only one solenoid and used some other wiring to do the same thing? I have searched the dash under, over and from the front and no solenoid. Any ideas? Thanks.

Richard Anderson
1999 U 320, 40' build 5586

Re: Dash solenoid can leave you stranded

Reply #36 – January 06, 2012, 01:23:55 pm

Good morning, again,
I called MOT and asked where the solenoids were. My coach has TWO Bosch solenoids on the bottom of the board just inside the entry door. Mike said he had not seen any problems with this arrangement. Foretravel evidently had problems with the solenoids back then and the Bosch solenoids were the change that they made. Thanks to everyone for the help.
Richard Anderson
1999 U320, 40',build 5586

Re: Dash solenoid can leave you stranded

Reply #37 – January 06, 2012, 03:03:09 pm

Points for and thanks again to FOT for their continued support with tech issues, by phone for us "older" coach owners.

Re: Dash solenoid can leave you stranded

Reply #38 – January 06, 2012, 04:53:49 pm

Richard, I hope this is how to post the photos! I went to MOT and my wife took these inside our coach that is being prepared for delivery to us. This panel is immediately below the handle that assists you getting in the coach, just as you get up the steps into the coach. The two black boxes you hope to see, that replaced the solenoid, are shown with pencils pointing the way. Since I have not however figured out how to post the photos, I will email them separately to you. Then as I figure out how to post them, I will do so....I need to go read how to do that. Call me too if that would help. Mike

Re: Dash solenoid can leave you stranded

Reply #39 – January 06, 2012, 06:43:30 pm

Quote from: Michael Jackie – January 06, 2012, 04:53:49 pm

Since I have not however figured out how to post the photos, I will email them separately to you. Then as I figure out how to post them, I will do so....I need to go read how to do that. Call me too if that would help. Mike

Hi Mike,
Check the Help section for instructions on uploading photos
How to Add Images to your Posts

Create a Photo Album & upload photos on Foreforums

Re: Dash solenoid can leave you stranded

Reply #40 – January 06, 2012, 07:08:18 pm

Hope the photos come through as attachment. Open panel plus one with pencils pointing to the two Bosch devices that replaced the usual solenoid. So if you have this, you are better off. If you do not, then you may want to consider. MOT has them and I am sure others do as well. mike

Re: Dash solenoid can leave you stranded

Reply #41 – January 06, 2012, 07:14:38 pm

Well okie dokie....thanks to Barry Beam, I got the photos in! I had searched the site for how to do this, I guess did not asked the right question and he got me on track with this, as he has with quite a few other items. Patience with the Newbies thankfully is a virtue. Five people have already called to order these things so maybe this has helped. Have a beautiful weekend, Mike

Re: Dash solenoid can leave you stranded

Reply #42 – January 06, 2012, 10:27:43 pm

Mike, The pictures came on fine. Thanks again for your help. I learn something new every day and I am certainly glad I now know where the solenoids are.
Have a great evening.

Richard Anderson
1999 U320, 40', build 5586

Re: Dash solenoid can leave you stranded

Reply #43 – January 07, 2012, 09:43:08 am

Hi Mike,
I hear the factory upgrade, to the solenoid problem, is bullet proof. Are the solenoids made in plastic cases? Your set up looks like a pair of relays.

Raymond

Re: Dash solenoid can leave you stranded

Reply #44 – January 08, 2012, 07:27:57 pm

Sorry late replying, but will get by MOT late tomorrow (Monday) morning and check if plastic, etc. Keith Risch, who was a popular mechanic at FOT and moved to MOT, told me these came with "pig tails" ready to connect in place. But I did not hear that they are identical to what FOT used for recall or warranty work. My wife, who took the photos while I was talking to the mechanics, said that they look like a hard plastic. They are a dull black. But I will check tomorrow, get a reply back to you before LSU takes a loss from the Tide. Mike

Re: Dash solenoid can leave you stranded

Reply #45 – January 09, 2012, 10:52:02 am

Wouldn't just installing a second solenoid in parallel fix any future problem?

Re: Dash solenoid can leave you stranded

Reply #46 – January 09, 2012, 11:35:37 am

Quote from: Gayland Baasch – January 09, 2012, 10:52:02 am

Wouldn't just installing a second solenoid in parallel fix any future problem?

Well, it would certainly reduce the load on each and would therefore reduce potential problems due to high % of capacity load (assuming the two were the same amperage as the original).

A higher quality/higher amp rated relay/solenoid would be the other alternative that a lot of us have taken.

Brett

Re: Dash solenoid can leave you stranded

Reply #47 – January 09, 2012, 06:18:23 pm

For Raymond, we went out to check at MOT and the cases are plastic. I hope that helps but if you need more info, then shoot me an email and I will run down an answer for you. Mike

Re: Dash solenoid can leave you stranded

Reply #48 – January 09, 2012, 06:37:59 pm

Brett Said "A higher quality/higher amp rated relay/solenoid would be the other alternative that a lot of us have taken."

My problem with that is I just bought and installed the standard one, but I did buy a second one so just a matter of making up the jumper wires and finding a place to mount it.

Re: Dash solenoid can leave you stranded

Reply #49 – January 09, 2012, 07:16:49 pm

Quote from: Gayland Baasch – January 09, 2012, 06:37:59 pm

Brett Said "A higher quality/higher amp rated relay/solenoid would be the other alternative that a lot of us have taken."

My problem with that is I just bought and installed the standard one, but I did buy a second one so just a matter of making up the jumper wires and finding a place to mount it.

If you do that, an ammeter to do a reasonable job of splitting the loads (i.e. moving some wires to the new solenoid to balance what the OE and new solenoid handle) would be a good idea. Yes the "control"/hot and ground (small lugs) wiring would be simple.

Affiliate Notice