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Tachometer, speedometer is it solenoid?

July 01, 2013, 03:56:38 pm

Tachometer was acting up; it appeared to be only working in 2000+ range. This morning speedometer stopped working; it tries to work here and there but goes back to 0. On a 94/U225 they are cable driven correct? So cable shield or the cable maybe damaged? I had read some postings here and come to conclusion that upgrading the solenoid may solve such problems ... (I am also advised to carry a spare one) I did not understand it much but never the less I have purchased one expensive marine quality 200A one and a replacement $40 one. Do you all think it could be something else?
One of the wipers also sometimes stops mid-way but reactivating it puts it back down.
I realize I am bugging you all so much these days, getting ready for our first out of town trip & trying to cover all I can to be safe
( last night I washed under the MH with a regular garden house to know off some dirt, nothing excessive, no soap no pressure washer, just sprayed around)
Thank you,
AL

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Re: Tachometer, speedometer is it solenoid?

Reply #1 – July 01, 2013, 05:04:01 pm

Propman,
I don't know if this original equipment or not but on my coach there are two large wire nuts behind the instrument panel - each with many wires.  One is 12VDC (all red wires) and the other is ground (all brown wires).  All the dash instruments are powered through these.  Tighten the wire nuts to see if this improves anything.

The use of a voltmeter across the two main terminals of the ignition solenoid will tell you if it needs replacing - should only be about .1-.2 volt drop (with ignition on) at the most.
If you already purchased the high dollar marine unit, you should probably install it when you get a chance - why wait?

I think the wiper issue is internal to the wiper motor - there's a contact inside that keeps motor running until it reaches it's parked position.  Contact probably has some resistance built up.  With usage it might clear up on it's own.  Raise the arms and let it run for a while.

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Re: Tachometer, speedometer is it solenoid?

Reply #2 – July 01, 2013, 06:04:53 pm

John,
Would you please see attached pictures and see if you can see the wire nuts you think i should check and tighten. I am not sure.
Thank you,
AL

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Re: Tachometer, speedometer is it solenoid?

Reply #3 – July 01, 2013, 07:42:02 pm

Al,

How many miles do you have on the speedometer? I replaced my ignition solenoid (the one in your picture) several times and it never affected the speedometer performance. Speedometer kept bouncing up and down, then working, until at 133,000 miles, it finally died. Coach was 16 years old at the time.  The entire unit, sender, cable and VDO gauge in the dash had to be replaced. Since then, all is well.. We didn't have a tachometer issue and still have the original (knock on wood). So, I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but I think you may have to replace the whole system. IMHO.

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Re: Tachometer, speedometer is it solenoid?

Reply #4 – July 01, 2013, 07:50:51 pm

Sorry Al,  I don't see them.  Attached is what they look like on my coach; looks like there's a bundle of green wires too - I can't put my head where my camera can go.  Like I said, I don't know if this is OEM or not.  Maybe they did away with them by '94.
I can only suggest wiggling some of the wiring to see if the instruments improve.  It's suspicious that both your tach and speedo are acting up.  Maybe measure the voltage directly on the instrument?

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Re: Tachometer, speedometer is it solenoid?

Reply #5 – July 01, 2013, 08:06:35 pm

From my experience, the speedometers from that era were one of the weakest components of a Foretravel. Most every coach older that 1993 that I have seen has a replacement speedometer. You can tell by the odometer. If the odometer portion is digital the speedometer has been replaced. If the odometer has the old flip over analog numbers it is the original. The cost of the speedometer is not too bad but installation may actually cost more than the equipment.

I have not heard of any problems with the tachometer. As John suggested, check all of the electrical connections under the dash.

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Re: Tachometer, speedometer is it solenoid?

Reply #6 – July 02, 2013, 12:52:26 am

Tomorrow we will install the new marine quality 200A ignition solenoid.
Tonight coming back from window tint place speedometer started working again. If it acts up again i have the GPS speedometer on my android phone   so that should help until i can replace or fix it.
John, thanks for your picture. Mine looks a bit different than yours.
Kent, My speedometer has I belie digital odometer.
Don, It show 65K mil ... BUT! first digit "6" can be 3 or 8 I am not sure
On a positive note front end is finished and it drives nice. New window tint (3M cristilline) is great. For backup camera I purchased a $26 color camera & $33 color 7" monitor from Amazon, very clear with distance markings. We took out the old camera insides and installed the new camera in the Javeline camera box ( will post a picture.) 
I also removed the old TV and its cabinet from the bedroom, I will put a flat LED there.
Got a new dash radio with Bluetooth (will install Wednesday)
My wife filed the kitchen and bedroom with all the stuff she brought home from "RV" set up shopping trip.
So it's all coming together.
Over the weekend we had her parked right in-front of the house (it was funny) with neighbors checking it out with their coffee in hand and kicking the tires and asking all kinds of questions. ( It would not make up to driveway too steep for the muffler pipe, I was so disappointed)
Well this should all go to what did you do for your FT today, I should post it there

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Re: Tachometer, speedometer is it solenoid?

Reply #7 – July 02, 2013, 01:04:06 pm

Al, a dumb question but I gotta ask, did you try backing it into the driveway?

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Re: Tachometer, speedometer is it solenoid?

Reply #8 – July 02, 2013, 05:45:25 pm

Yes. We wanted to back it up to began with and after few attempts, I also tried head in. I will make some kind of platform, it just needs to get through about 2" or so from the point where pipe almost touches the ground. Bring it to that point then place 4X10's under the back tires. Then going back out will have to probably do the same.
We have a place to keep it at the farm but i wanted to keep it up here for a while so I can be done with all the things we need to do to it. I have a friend about 10mil away he has enough space that's where it is staying most of the time.

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