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Topic: Road Gremlins got me (Read 759 times) previous topic - next topic

Road Gremlins got me

We got on the road yesterday and before we left FOT my VMS was not working. No screen at all. Also noticed that on my Tach gauge the small box above VDO was displaying eratic Numbers as I was going down the road.
A while longer the Rand McNally display also went off due to lack off power. Discovered that the 12 V accessory plug was dead. Plugged into the other one and it has power.
Right before getting to Little Rock I powered close the step slide from the drivers seat, but it wouldn't close. Then tried the other switch from passenger seat and it wouldn't work either.
Could all of this be related to one fuse are they separate problems? Where would I find the fuses. All the panels on the side of the bed have been checked and appear ok. Any ideas?
By the way this is my first rodeo.
2002 u320
John
John & Kathy and Reggie the Westie (RIP)
2002 40' U320
Build# 5996
2011 Jeep Wrangler

Re: Road Gremlins got me

Reply #1 –
Nothing like jumping into the fire with your first outing.  Get out your volt meter and check around the circuit breaker panel in front of passenger seat.  Since you were able to drive, you must have ignition power, but some power source is not up to par.
If you have two ignition relays at the bottom center of the breaker panel, one may be malfunctioning.

Re: Road Gremlins got me

Reply #2 –
Quote from: Hatchet –
Where would I find the fuses. All the panels on the side of the bed have been checked and appear ok. Any ideas?
By the way this is my first rodeo.
2002 u320
John

John, you will find a bank of circuit breakers in your "electronic bay" on the drives side. You will see the buss bar and a cover over it.  They are very hard to detect that one has tripped.  I run my index finger down the left side of the bank and you can usually find the tripped one.  Hope that helps, David
David & Lou Ann Bouchard
Summer: Mount Vernon, Ohio
Winter: RiverBend Motorcoach Resort  LaBelle, Florida
2003 U320 38' Build #6174 "Willie"
2013 Cadillac SRX Toad
MC #17151 FMCA #F431393

Re: Road Gremlins got me

Reply #3 –
John,  call Mike Rogers at MOT 800 651 1112 x 302 before you get too frustrated.

Baptism by fire.  Keep calm.  Roger
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Road Gremlins got me

Reply #4 –
Yeah I fell right into the fire. I have a call into Mike at MOT. I don't really have any tools with me and need to practice my voltmeter skills.
At least for now the Motor Home is running and I can move on down the road until another Gremlin leaps onto my coach. I will update my progress at the first opportunity.
Thanks
John
John & Kathy and Reggie the Westie (RIP)
2002 40' U320
Build# 5996
2011 Jeep Wrangler

Re: Road Gremlins got me

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Hatchet –
Could all of this be related to one fuse are they separate problems?

Check one simple thing if none of the house-connected 12V works.  Did someone accidentally switch off the 12V by the entry door (aka the Salesman's Switch)?  That one's bitten many (nearly all?) of us at one time or another.

ETA although I don't know if that would be relevant given the comment (I'm not sure what box this is)

Quote
Also noticed that on my Tach gauge the small box above VDO was displaying eratic Numbers as I was going down the road.
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: Road Gremlins got me

Reply #6 –
I checked the salesman switch it is on. The other 12 v accessory outlet works. I will try calling Mike again in a few hrs. I wish I knew how to post a pic, will try that later also.
John
John & Kathy and Reggie the Westie (RIP)
2002 40' U320
Build# 5996
2011 Jeep Wrangler

Re: Road Gremlins got me

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Hatchet –
Also noticed that on my Tach gauge the small box above VDO was displaying eratic Numbers as I was going down the road.
Sounds like your referring to the hour meter display screen?  This could be be caused by a bad tach, they definitely go bad, but more likely it could be a bad ignition solenoid, or just a loose wire somewhere behind the dash.
If the tach still works, I wouldn't worry to much about that one yet.  It may fix itself by the time you get home.

Quote from: Hatchet –
Right before getting to Little Rock I powered close the step slide from the drivers seat, but it wouldn't close. Then tried the other switch from passenger seat and it wouldn't work either.
Did the step cover ever work for you?  It's a fairly common source of air leaks, perhaps it's been disconnected? 
When you flip the switch do you hear anything at all?
Quote from: Hatchet –
Could all of this be related to one fuse are they separate problems? Where would I find the fuses. All the panels on the side of the bed have been checked and appear ok. Any ideas?
By the way this is my first rodeo.
2002 u320
John
The electrial issues may all be related.  But I think the step cover is a separate issue.  Of course, I've been wrong plenty of times before.

No one said this wouldn't be exciting  :))
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Douglas and Amanda
1997 40' U320 "Brawley"
2007 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer
Motorcade #17266 Escapee #113692

Re: Road Gremlins got me

Reply #8 –
Hello Doug
I believe you are right about the hour meter display. I was watching it as it went out but didn't remember what it was.
The slide over the steps did work, we extended the slide several times but I think only once using the drivers side switch. At least it failed in the open position.
The puzzling thing is the 12v acc plug, I believe that they both worked before but I am not certain.
I don't want to push my luck with the wiring under the dash till I reach my temp home tomorrow. Then I will really start digging.
Thanks again
John
John & Kathy and Reggie the Westie (RIP)
2002 40' U320
Build# 5996
2011 Jeep Wrangler

Re: Road Gremlins got me

Reply #9 –
David
I couldn't find the panel that you were talking about or the buss bar. I will take a better look tomorrow. Will let you know what I find.
 John
John & Kathy and Reggie the Westie (RIP)
2002 40' U320
Build# 5996
2011 Jeep Wrangler

Re: Road Gremlins got me

Reply #10 –
In our 2002 U320 there is a vinyl panel by the door (held in place by velcro), just at the steps across from the passenger seat. If you didn't know it was there, you might not find it.  Behind that panel is a bunch of wiring and circuit breakers.  I don't fool with it, but you could take a look.
Carol & Jeff Savournin
Usta have a '93 U225 36', Usta have a '95 U320 40', Usta have a '02 U320 40'
Usta have a 2006 Born Free, Usta have a 2011 Phoenix Cruiser
Usta have a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4dr
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."  Steve Jobs

Re: Road Gremlins got me

Reply #11 –
Quote from: Hatchet –
David
I couldn't find the panel that you were talking about or the buss bar. I will take a better look tomorrow. Will let you know what I find.
 John

Look in one of the driver's side bays, towards the back wall of the bay.  Likely the same bay as the inverter.
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: Road Gremlins got me

Reply #12 –
Ok, I have most of my issues resolved.
The black box gets plugged in about where your right foot is while driving. That came unplugged. I will blame that one on Reggie the dog.
The step slide is fixed. There was a electrical connection that was not making a good connection on the air solenoid.
The hour meter under the tach is a non issue with the silver leaf back working.
I will trace down the 12 v acc later.
Mike at MOT he's the man.

John
John & Kathy and Reggie the Westie (RIP)
2002 40' U320
Build# 5996
2011 Jeep Wrangler