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1983 FORETRAVEL 38' ORED Dashboard Switches

April 24, 2013, 09:28:27 pm

I have some questions about a few of the buttons on my dashboard.  What are the buttons ICC Courtesy, Charge Boost, Cold Start and Oil.  I have attached a picture with these buttons high lighted in red.

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Re: 1983 FORETRAVEL 38' ORED Dashboard Switches

Reply #1 – April 24, 2013, 09:52:18 pm

Scott, I can't answer all of your questions, but the ICC Courtesy switch should be a momentary contact one. When you have your lights on and you push the switch your clearance lights should go off. As soon as you release it they will come back on. When you pass a truck, and they flash their headlights to let you know it is safe to return to their lane, you can thank them by flashing your clearance lights with that switch. I believe the Charge Boost switch will let you parallel your house and engine batteries (boost) when extra oomph is needed to start the engine, and will perhaps let the alternator charge the house batteries while driving. The switch looks like a three position rocker switch with a center off. Cold start may be an ether injection system for the engine. The Oil thing looks like an add-on. Looks  like you push the check oil button and either the red or green LED comes on, depending on the oil level.

As I said, I'm not sure about three of the four. The ICC light switch is similar to the one on my coach, and that's what the manual says about it. The other three I'm just guessing.

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Re: 1983 FORETRAVEL 38' ORED Dashboard Switches

Reply #2 – April 24, 2013, 10:12:32 pm

Scott,

The ICC Courtesy controls your headlights to flash a trucker (especially) or car when they have safely passed you. Push button ~3-4 times. Charge Boost is used when you want to connect the coach batteries to the cranking (engine) battery. Do this just before starting the big diesel engine. Be sure to shut it off after starting engine. This reduces stress/wear on starter. When the boost is on for long periods off time, amps will flow toward the weaker battery; not a good idea for an extended period. Cold Start is used prior to cranking engine to warm up combustion chamber (I don't think your engine has glo plugs). I don't know what the Oil button might do.

Hope this helps.

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Re: 1983 FORETRAVEL 38' ORED Dashboard Switches

Reply #3 – April 24, 2013, 11:05:45 pm

Scott,

After looking at the pictures, I would hazard a guess that the oil button might be a "check oil" button: when pushed, if pressure (or level) is adequate, the green light would come on; if pressure/level is deficient, the red light would be lit.  I haven't seen one of those before, but the check mark below the word "oil" is intuitive.

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Re: 1983 FORETRAVEL 38' ORED Dashboard Switches

Reply #4 – April 25, 2013, 10:08:09 am

Hey Scott,
The cold start button is actually a ether injector. The canister is located in the engine compt. mounted to the  air cleaner
bracket. with the ignition on press the button and starter fluid is fed into the intake via a small tube. Be careful using this
as either can damage an engine. One or two presses of the button is usually enough.

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Re: 1983 FORETRAVEL 38' ORED Dashboard Switches

Reply #5 – April 25, 2013, 11:53:57 am

I'll throw in my guess for the oil button with the red and green LEDs:  It might have been used for a tow vehicle that needs a transmission lube pump.  I've seen a Ramco version with a switch and both a red and green light but it looked different.  I think the red light was to indicate if the pump was not creating enough pressure.

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