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Topic: Guage Problem (Read 775 times) previous topic - next topic

Guage Problem

when I turn on the Headlight Switch the Temperature Gauge goes up and the Oil Pressure gauge goes down.  Turn off headlight switch and  gauge readings go back to normal.

Mechanical Engion so Silver Leaf out of question.

Any suggestions where to start looking?

Thanks in advance

Larry
1998 U 270
Larry Bradley
SOB
former 1998 U270
Build 5251
Jeep Grand Cherokee

Re: Guage Problem

Reply #1 –
You might look for a bad dash ground connection.
Jim Frerichs
2002 U320 42'

Re: Guage Problem

Reply #2 –
I noticed the same thing on my 1993, U225. I changed the ignition solenoid, the one under the dash, and the problem went away. Apparently the ignition solenoid was reducing the throughput of the electricity. It was 12.8 volts on the input side of the solenoid and 11.8 volts on the output side, the side where all of the gauges get their power. I think you will find that this is the problem. There are a number of threads here on the Forum related to the ignition solenoid that will give you part numbers and sources of replacement parts. 
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback

Re: Guage Problem

Reply #3 –
Ground wire. Make a temp ground wire connection to see if it fixes the problem. Tighten existing ground connections.

Re: Guage Problem

Reply #4 –
Mine does that as well, suspect voltage or ground issue. I have kind of poked around with it but haven't really gotten into it yet. Take a look at your electrical drawing, you should be able to find the correct solenoid, mine appear to be cube type solenoids/relays(2) behind the center panel on the dash. The older coaches had a single 4 term relay on them , I think the 295/320's went to 2 cube type relays. Once you find the relays If you are comfortable with a volt meter just check your voltage coming in engine running, and going out with the headlites on and off, both voltages should be the same or real close. You might also look at the connections for loose or burnt wires. But as I said I have not really dug into mine yet.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: Guage Problem

Reply #5 –
Foretravel uses a solenoid usually located bottom center of big 12-volt circuit breaker panel in front of co-pilot chair, to power all circuits that are on only when ignition key is turned on. Solenoid is needed because the ignition switch cannot carry high power demands.

There are many ignition circuit breakers, located on separate copper bus bars on the panel.

Originally Foretravel used a single usually round conventional looking solenoid with a separate solenoid wire connected to each of the ignition bus bars. The single solenoid would usually fail due to the high current loads being switched on and off under load. Failures are identified by low voltage on some ignition circuits, sometimes intermittent.

Foretravel later upgraded the single solenoid to dual solenoids, often square in shape, to share the loads, so that each solenoid carried only part of the ignition loads. The ignition bus bars were then powered from one or the other solenoids.

Since the problem was caused by using an under-capacity solenoid, some have split the bus bars wires and use two new separate solenoids. Others have replaced the single solenoid with a single high-capacity solenoid, like Blue Sea (L-Series Solenoid Switches - PN - Blue Sea Systems ). Others have taken the original solenoid apart and cleaned up the burnt points and turned over the round washer-looking point. Probably the easiest and longest lasting solution is to use one of the high power solenoid solutions.