Dramatic air pressure loss, overheating (was No idea what happened )

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Re: Dramatic air pressure loss, overheating (was No idea what happened )

Reply #25 – May 16, 2012, 10:14:46 am

Just want to second the comment by Bruce. As the belts loosen, they will start to slip when heavily loaded like in the morning when the batteries are down or each time the compressor cycles, etc. When they slip, they create heat from the friction. This in turn causes the rubber to change composition and get a hard, shiny, smooth surface which slips further, causing the belt to stretch even more. With strong glasses on, you may be able to see tiny cracks starting to develop. No, it's not time to drop your cable and get DirectTV

but to order up a new set of belts. Moisture from the rain on a already slippery belt may have caused your incident.

With a "V" belt, you should be able to just turn the belt 90 degrees with your fingers after tightening. I check a new belt again after a few days and then every long trip as an air loss in a vehicle this size can be dangerous.

Another thing for everyone to check is your air pressure before you head down steep grades. Does not take much imagination to picture an RV part way down a series of switchbacks, low air pressure, warm brakes and then the parking brake automatically comes on but since the brakes are warm and the grade is steep, they don't do much.

I just take a quick glance at the pressure gauge at the same time I push the Jake switch.

Pierce

Re: Dramatic air pressure loss, overheating (was No idea what happened )

Reply #26 – May 16, 2012, 12:07:27 pm

Thanks, I should have thought to look at Barry's site. Dick

Re: Dramatic air pressure loss, overheating (was No idea what happened )

Reply #27 – May 16, 2012, 12:47:46 pm

Carl:

I went through most of these posts rather fast, but don't remember seeing any mention about the audible alarm going off before most of the air pressure was lost. If yours is not functioning it should be repaired. Many folks don't bother to have them repaired and parts may be expensive or not available on some of the older models. Mine had been deactivated before purchase, because the TV up switch was causing it to alarm all the time. The volume was turned down and a piece of tape placed over the sounder to silence it as much as possible. It really shouldn't pass inspection if that feature does not work. It should alarm at about 80 psi and below, so that you have enough time to stop before all air pressure is lost. On my coach it also alarms for other things like low oil pressure, turn signals, TV antenna up, etc.

Re: Dramatic air pressure loss, overheating (was No idea what happened )

Reply #28 – May 16, 2012, 02:46:44 pm

Jerry, I sent an email to FT and asked them where mine would be located and have not heard back from them yet. no it did not go off and has not ever so that tells me it's most likely been deactivated as was yours. It would have been nice to have been prepared for the air loss event before it just went bye bye. Hope to hear something from someone on the forum or from FT sometime soon as it WILL be 100% replaced atcivated.
Thanks

Re: Dramatic air pressure loss, overheating (was No idea what happened )

Reply #29 – May 16, 2012, 05:22:02 pm

Don't wait for an email from FT. Just call James Triana. You will get a much more prompt response.

Re: Dramatic air pressure loss, overheating (was No idea what happened )

Reply #30 – May 16, 2012, 05:46:06 pm

James emailed me and said that the "alarm" is on my light bar on the dash. He referred me to a "diagram B-???" Don't have the actual number on me right now and I thought it was an attachment on the email. It was not, it was a reference to a diagram in the owners manual....as it turned out I only have the "A" list. How convenient

He did say that they have none of them available but it was the second light over from the right side of the light bar. I DO see a "light" that shows AIR something...pressure I think it said.
BUT...THAT'S IT!!! It was on while I started the coach and it does go out when pressure rises but there is not an actual audible sounding alarm. Does anyone think there used to be or could it have been only light? A sound would be a little annoying BUT very handy when your just driving along minding your own business and the air pressure drops.

Thoughts?

Re: Dramatic air pressure loss, overheating (was No idea what happened )

Reply #31 – May 16, 2012, 06:17:26 pm

Quote from: Carl Sandel – May 16, 2012, 05:46:06 pm

James emailed me and said that the "alarm" is on my light bar on the dash.

He did say that they have none of them available but it was the second light over from the right side of the light bar. I DO see a "light" that shows AIR something...pressure I think it said.
BUT...THAT'S IT!!! It was on while I started the coach and it does go out when pressure rises but there is not an actual audible sounding alarm. Does anyone think there used to be or could it have been only light? A sound would be a little annoying BUT very handy when your just driving along minding your own business and the air pressure drops.

Thoughts?

Carl,

Look for a sounder/speaker attached to that light bar. It's shared by all the important alarms so it won't just be on the air pressure light. Here's a thread that may help (although it's for a later year)

A few hundred more miles - a few more questions...

Michelle

Re: Dramatic air pressure loss, overheating (was No idea what happened )

Reply #32 – May 16, 2012, 06:23:29 pm

Thanks Michelle, I'll go back and finish tightening belts and check this out later. I really appreciate you, Steve and every single member of this furum. You all are a great and amazing group of people and I am blessed to be a small part

Re: Dramatic air pressure loss, overheating (was No idea what happened )

Reply #33 – May 16, 2012, 07:03:38 pm

Carl,

We have different vehicles and I can only tell you where my alarm is located. It is on the back side of the light bar on the right side looking forward. I know there are different versions of the light bar even though what the driver sees looks the same. The sounder is rather small about 1/2 to 3/4 inch in diameter and about that tall. Has a black plastic cap with some slits or holes. The volume control is next to the sounder, also very small but can be turned with fingers or a screwdriver. If it is just the sounder or volume control, that should be replaceable by someone who can work on printed circuit boards. If it is something else like an intergrated circuit then it's more difficult to repair. If the light works, it might be just the sounder or volume control. Will be a chore just to remove it from the instrument panel. Vehicles with air brakes have had low pressure alarms almost from the beginning of their use. Not always an audible alarm, but an arm that dropped down in the drivers line of view. There is probably a simple air pressure switch that will trigger an alarm on the market. You might need 2, one for each set of brakes, plumb them into the system and connect to a different alarm. And all wired through the ignition switch. That's just as a last resort in case the original can not be repaired.

Re: Dramatic air pressure loss, overheating (was No idea what happened )

Reply #34 – May 16, 2012, 10:11:11 pm

The main belts that are very troublesome on the 3208 are the 2 belts that are closest to the engine. They are very short, but transfer the power from the crankshaft to the pully that has the belts for the altenator and the air compressor. Give me a call and I can give you an easy way to tighten them as they must be tight or else you will get the squealing noise you described especially when the compressor is making air and the altenator is charging hard. My number is 813-215-3463 Will be glad to walk you through this as I have replaced many belts on 3208 cats in foretravels Ron

Re: Dramatic air pressure loss, overheating (was No idea what happened )

Reply #35 – May 17, 2012, 12:59:42 am

Ron, actually those two belts were already tight enough.....I think. They were tighter than any of the others and I didn't have to mess with them. My front A/C don't work and I was really tempted to cut and remove the A/C belt....but since its just like new I spared it for now.
As for the air alarm....I got to snooping under the dash panel and found a little deal that looks to be like a tiny speaker with some type of turning knob. I turned the knob in the only direction it would allow in hopes that it was all the way down. as luck would have it I had full air pressure at this time and so it wouldn't do anything right then.
More tomorrow.

Re: Dramatic air pressure loss, overheating (was No idea what happened )

Reply #36 – May 17, 2012, 01:13:08 am

Carl,

On my '92 U-280 the alarm is behind the dash panel immediately in front of the speedometer. It's only about an inch in diameter, a flat disc. On mine there is a slot in the center. Supposedly you can use a slotted screw driver to increase or decrease the volume. However on mine it's either full on or full off, hard to get the volume in moderation. As others have mentioned it is the alarm for oil, air pressure, engine temp, antenna up, etc. If you have no alarm for any of those parameters, that's not good. I suspect there is one; it's either broken or turned off.

Re: Dramatic air pressure loss, overheating (was No idea what happened )

Reply #37 – May 17, 2012, 09:02:19 am

Quote from: Don Hay – May 17, 2012, 01:13:08 am

... Supposedly you can use a slotted screw driver to increase or decrease the volume. However on mine it's either full on or full off, hard to get the volume in moderation. ...

I haven't found the volume control for our alarm. A piece of blue painters' tape over the face of the noisemaker works well to adjust the volume. Move the tape to adjust the volume. I leave it loud enough to hear over the noise of wind, engines, fans, etc., in noisy conditions.

Sometimes the alarm is annoying, but most of the time it is appropriately "alarming" and serves a useful purpose. We refer to it as the "geezer alarm." It sounds with turn signals, hazard lights, HWH in level mode while ignition switch is on, low air pressure, and other "odd" modes.

Re: Dramatic air pressure loss, overheating (was No idea what happened )

Reply #38 – May 17, 2012, 09:56:26 am

Odd enough....I have an annoying BEEPER that sounds when the blinkers are going. One thing is for sure...you remember to shut them off after making a turn. Other than that one and only audible alarm, I have never heard another for any of the above mentioned systems.

Heading out now boys and girls.

Re: Dramatic air pressure loss, overheating (was No idea what happened )

Reply #39 – May 17, 2012, 11:52:35 am

Carl,

Ditto Don Hay. On my U300 I recently purchased the beeper was turned off and did not sound. Under the great advice of other forum members, I raised the dash and behind the speedometer there it was ! It is small and round and you will see the adjustment screw.
With the antenna up, I used a small screwdriver and started turning the adjustment screw slowly until a heard a chirp and then it started beeping loudly. Be sure to have your ignition on to activate it. I'm glad mine works now because I don't want to leave with the antenna up and especially the other warnings (oil, air pressure, etc)! It also reminds me to turn the turn the leveling system off and make sure the green traveling mode light is on.

Re: Dramatic air pressure loss, overheating (was No idea what happened )

Reply #40 – May 17, 2012, 12:13:39 pm

All I can say is I must have an experiment coach, lol!! I turned the key today and started the coach. I turned on the blinker because I knew that there was a beeper that would sound. Since yesterday when I was messing with "my special" device that is very different than all the others, I must have turned it down. So, with my thumb and index finger I turned the knob and up can the blinker beeping sound. My air pressure was at about 40-50 and there was no beeping once I turned off the blinker, ...still no alarm and now I do know where that controller is, unless there is another? I will look again for something that is described as all of you mention. I'll get a pic of mine and post it later.

Re: Dramatic air pressure loss, overheating (was No idea what happened )

Reply #41 – May 17, 2012, 04:55:26 pm

BREAKING NEWS! or should I say BRAKING NEWS.
This is amazing. I MAY have found the reason for sudden air loss coming home from Chicago the other day although it makes no sense what so ever...at least to me.
Ya'll knew our drive was 6+ hours and everything was great. Leaving after boondocking for 2 days and 15 minutes down the highway returning home, temps rose, air dropped and I freaked. After pulling over, checking things out, finding nothing and driving 6 hours back home, I have had no real answers that were obvious.....until now, I think.
The engine has started many many times today and after cleaning things up from under and around the coach I was ready to take her for a drive. I was going to leave the bed lifted and supported so I could really hear if there was any strange noises or squeaky belts. Since we've owned the coach the passanger side rear air brake has been a little sticky when I release the parking brake. I got in, started it , let the air raise and released the brake. Stuck. Pumped the peddle brake which usually us sticks it. Nothing. Pump, pull, push parking. Nothing. I did this for a while until I noticed that the air was really taking a while to build pressure. I got out and at the rear was a loud hiss. I shut off the engine and it was gone. FRUSTRATED!! I got back in, raised the coach, got back out my pipes and put them in place so I could lower the coach for inspection. I tried to release the parking brake again and noticed that the air for brakes really dropped. So, I left the button in ( brakes off ) and shut off the engine. When I got to the rear the hissing was crazy. I went back and set the parking brake and the hiss went away. Now I was beyond frustrated and it showed, lol. I released the brake again and crawled under.
There is about a 3' section of air hose that comes off what I will refer to as a regulator box or junction box. A line goes to it and then 2 lines come off and one goes to each rear brake. I found the leak....then thought I found another leak right next to it. Then it appeared to be leaking at the connection to that box. I got out my trusty spray bottle, started the engine again to build pressure and went back under. Guess what? It was almost not leaking at all...no kidding!! I got back in and set and released the brake again...this time it was really leaking so I climbed under and started spraying the hose. ABOUT 6 INCHES OF HOSE WAS FOAMING LIKE MAD!!! It was just like a soaker hose in the garden. I wiped it off and got a flashlight. It looks to be dry rotted as it has several tiny dry cracks in that section.
I can only think that it was a God thing that brought us home. I don't understand how it can leak and not leak, hold pressure and then not hold pressure. I have been knowing that my neighbor is going to help me do a thorough brake job and now we will be adding LOTS OF HOSE to that project. This has blown my mind ( and it was a pretty small explosion )

Thoughts?

Re: Dramatic air pressure loss, overheating (was No idea what happened )

Reply #42 – May 17, 2012, 05:30:26 pm

I had a brake hose blow last year - as soon as you hit the brakes pressure would drop like a rock. Let off the brakes and it would come back. I thought a pancake had gone bad.
Worst, it happened coming INTO Atlanta, during rush hour (and I have a jake). I had to drive it through. Exciting, at times...

Re: Dramatic air pressure loss, overheating (was No idea what happened )

Reply #43 – May 17, 2012, 05:51:20 pm

Well, that is great news. You found the issue. I would look at all the other lines as well. If one is that bad I am sure others will have an issue soon.

Re: Dramatic air pressure loss, overheating (was No idea what happened )

Reply #44 – May 17, 2012, 06:03:22 pm

Also - the hoses are standard, and cheap... Measure what lengths you need and pick them up...

Re: Dramatic air pressure loss, overheating (was No idea what happened )

Reply #45 – May 17, 2012, 06:29:36 pm

Sounds like a good procedure would be to have someone apply the foot/service brake while another uses the soap/water sprayer on the brake lines. Good going Carl as this could be easily missed. A lot of our coaches are getting along in years so this was an experience we all can profit from. Probably would not want Dave's experience heading downgrade.

Think I will forgo the small sprayer and get my 2 1/2 gallon weed sprayer ready.

Thanks again Carl!

Pierce

Re: Dramatic air pressure loss, overheating (was No idea what happened )

Reply #46 – May 18, 2012, 05:53:36 am

I carry a small assortment of plugs and caps for these occasions. As our coach's age just like us they need a band aid now and then to get em home. If you look at the air schematics in the owners manual you can pretty much tell what sizes you need about 5 caps and 5 plugs and a roll of trusty duct tape. You may of found your air leak, but what about engine temp going up?

Re: Dramatic air pressure loss, overheating (was No idea what happened )

Reply #47 – May 18, 2012, 10:27:59 am

I really don't know that to think, I keep a close eye on all my gauges and since it went up only 20 degree's from the normal 180 to 200....is that a lot or not an issue to worry about? It would have gone a lot further. I do know that the 2 belts that secure the fan and crank are and were tight. I don't know for sure.

Re: Dramatic air pressure loss, overheating (was No idea what happened )

Reply #48 – May 18, 2012, 12:21:40 pm

Suspect that if your air pressure dropped enough to allow the parking brake to come on with the loss of power you described, the temp increase may have been from the extra work (HP) required of the engine. Also, any extra work the transmission has to do when not in lockup results in higher internal temps that find their way to the engine via the transmission cooler interface with engine coolant.

Pierce

Re: Dramatic air pressure loss, overheating (was No idea what happened )

Reply #49 – May 18, 2012, 12:32:39 pm

Carl,
I am curious about your brake lines; what kind of material are they? I think all our air lines are some sort of hard plastic type stuff without any covering. I don't know what the material is, but am curious is it is different.
Dick

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