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Help needed in the Houston area

June 20, 2012, 11:01:49 am

I have been contacted by a widowed member. Her husband passed away last year. She would like to move the U300 out to a lake but the DDEC shuts the engine down in a few seconds after starting, not long enough to build air to move it far enough forward from the back wall to open the engine compartment and add coolant. She has not checked the codes but this was my initial diagnosis. We live way too far away but thought a local member would like to help. Please PM us if you can assist her.

Thanks,

Pierce & Gaylie

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Re: Help needed in the Houston area

Reply #1 – June 20, 2012, 12:06:07 pm

Not able to help as I am 250 miles away, but I know that you can maybe put air into the system at one of the tanks to get the parking brake to release.  Bill Chaplin has done it, as he has been chasing and correcting the minor leaks he had last summer.  I think he changed the drain on his forward tank and installed a quick release to receive shop air.  I know that the tow companies are able to do that to take over the coach brakes when loading or towing.

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Re: Help needed in the Houston area

Reply #2 – June 20, 2012, 02:30:51 pm

I wouldn't think the engine would overheat fast enough indicating a low coolant issue before you built up enough air to move it?

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Re: Help needed in the Houston area

Reply #3 – June 20, 2012, 02:50:50 pm

Benjie,

When the coolant is below the sensor on the tank, the DDEC goes into shut down mode and you only have 30 seconds before it shuts off. There is an override button but I hesitate to recommending using it without being there as it could be something else that triggered the auto shut down and would hate to damage the engine if no oil pressure for example. On my coach, I would just start the engine, wait a couple of seconds for oil pressure and then put it in gear and drive ahead a few feet. The engine can easily overpower the springs on the rear axle parking brake. We are only talking about enough room to be able to swing open the engine door.

Pierce

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Re: Help needed in the Houston area

Reply #4 – June 20, 2012, 04:07:49 pm

Pierce,

I do not anything about DDEC but I can drive by and check the fluids.  Perhaps you could share your phone number with me and we could consult while I looked it over.

My e-mail is jrlegett at gmail dot com

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Re: Help needed in the Houston area

Reply #5 – June 20, 2012, 04:22:27 pm

It can be done to pressurize both air tank.
Replace drain valves with standard shop pneumatic air chucks.
The use a standard air compressor to pump up the the tanks.
I use a hose with "T" fitting to air both tanks at the same time, or on tank at a time.
This is for the front tanks only. The "wet" tank need not be filled

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Re: Help needed in the Houston area

Reply #6 – June 20, 2012, 05:31:09 pm

If you have an air operated toad brake system you can use the short air line from the coach to the toad to air up another coach.  Pull our your auxiliary air line in the bay, attached the short line and then couple it to the coach you want to air up. Or make up a similar line.  I keep one in the bay and when working on the coach I will air up the tanks this way from my air compressor so I don;t have to start engine for a short period.
Great for finding leaks also.
Gary B

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Re: Help needed in the Houston area

Reply #7 – June 20, 2012, 06:31:36 pm

I sent a PM to the owner offering help. Rudy has offered help as well. We are each about an hour from her location. We'll see if some of us can help her with her U300.

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Re: Help needed in the Houston area

Reply #8 – June 20, 2012, 07:57:56 pm

i am in galveston, if i can help please advise.

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Re: Help needed in the Houston area

Reply #9 – June 20, 2012, 08:27:47 pm

Hey guys, if you are going to help her, don't overlook the possibility that she is out of fuel or the filters are clogged. I don't know how long its been sitting but fuel starvation could also be the problem. I don't know this from my personal experience but I traveled with Jeff S a lot.

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Re: Help needed in the Houston area

Reply #10 – June 20, 2012, 11:03:01 pm

Thanks for all the responses. Just received an email that she is going to try and reach the coolant tank from under the bed. Don't think she can reach it but said she would get back to me if she could not reach it.

Don't have Yo's phone number or last name yet as this was the first thing I asked for. I know you are all scratching your heads I but just don't have it yet.

All the other systems, generator seem to work but difficult for someone on their own to figure a big beast like this out.

Pierce

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Re: Help needed in the Houston area

Reply #11 – June 20, 2012, 11:46:13 pm

Everyone!  Wow, you are all so great.  Lots of suggestions, some I truly have no idea of what you are talking about (should have listened more to my late husband when he was trying to explain everything to me!).  After reading this, I may have some problems getting to the radiator even by trying to get to it under the bed.  So, I'm still going to try it Saturday.  If that doesn't work, I'm going to start it, see if the oil pressure is good, if so, try to start it long enough to move it out some to reach the radiator in the back.  I do have a guy from Mobil Lube coming out Saturday afternoon to change the oil.  So I have to get her moved Saturday morning.  Me cell is 832-368-9758.  Sorry I didn't give it out earlier.  I'm new to this.  This forum and all you folks are great!  I see there is a lot of helping hands and people out to help others!  Thank you so much!  Last name is O'Meara.  Everyone calls me YO!  Rudy gave me his phone number and I sent him a message that I may call him if what ever I do doesn't work.

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Re: Help needed in the Houston area

Reply #12 – June 21, 2012, 10:29:33 am

If it really is that low on coolant you'll need to find out why, and also make sure you get the correct coolant for it, there are differences.

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Re: Help needed in the Houston area

Reply #13 – June 21, 2012, 05:34:41 pm

Wow.  This is such a great forum and a great group of people who are willing to help others!  Kudos.  Very impressive!  If I were close I'd offer my help too.

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Re: Help needed in the Houston area

Reply #14 – June 24, 2012, 10:18:56 am

Hi everyone!  Great news!  It was the coolant.  It was almost bone dry.  Added the coolant and she is running great!  The oil change didn't happen yesterday.  Having that done in 2 weeks.  Then, off to Nacadoches to Motorhomes of Texas for a complete checkup.  From there, hopefully if I get the property developed with electric, septic and water, I will be putting it out at the lake!  I'll be able to pull it out when I want and keep it in a spot where I can get all around it when I need to.  I couldn't have figured this out with out all of you on this forum!  THANK YOU EVERYONE!  Especially you Rudy!  Pierce, a big thank you to you too for posting the call for help!  J.D., thank you too!  I'm soooo happy!!!!

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Re: Help needed in the Houston area

Reply #15 – June 24, 2012, 11:41:11 am

Rudy & Pierce,

Awesome!  Karma +1!

Benjie

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Reply #16 – June 24, 2012, 12:33:18 pm

Sounds like a happy ending...Great job people

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