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Topic: Guitar Strum from Passengers Kick Compartment (Read 358 times) previous topic - next topic

Guitar Strum from Passengers Kick Compartment

Began to notice a sound from the panel that sounds like picking a guitar string. Will attempt to upload audio file.

Goes away when salesman switch is turned on off.

Some kind of relay?

Randy (N4TDT) and Karen Crete
Sarasota, Florida
SOLD:  2000 U270 34' WTFE Build 5756 "Ole Red"

Re: Guitar Strum from Passengers Kick Compartment

Reply #1 –
Randy,

That sounds more like one of the auto reset breakers rather than one of the relays.  Can you find something that is going off/on as the noise is happening?

Pamela  & Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Guitar Strum from Passengers Kick Compartment

Reply #2 –
finally got good sound file "ding" in first post.
Randy (N4TDT) and Karen Crete
Sarasota, Florida
SOLD:  2000 U270 34' WTFE Build 5756 "Ole Red"

Re: Guitar Strum from Passengers Kick Compartment

Reply #3 –
we had plugged a ceramic heater in the outlet by captains chair when it started.  now it occurs without heater connected.  will look at wiring diagrams.  must be circuits affected by salesman switch.
Randy (N4TDT) and Karen Crete
Sarasota, Florida
SOLD:  2000 U270 34' WTFE Build 5756 "Ole Red"

Re: Guitar Strum from Passengers Kick Compartment

Reply #4 –
Randy,

Remove the panel in front of the passenger's seat-- pull out at the bottom and then "down and out".  That is where the breakers are located.  Feel for one that is hot and/or listen for the "strum".
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Guitar Strum from Passengers Kick Compartment

Reply #5 –
It sounds like an overloaded breaker/relay popping... I would look to see what isn't working. I have had this sound when something on a circuit was shorted to ground, so the relay was doing its job. Should be possible, though not necessarily easy, to isolate which breaker is popping. Open the panel (pull the panel towards you from the bottom), the wires and ducting should be long enough to set it aside. I usually set it up on the dash leaning against the windshield. When you detect which relay is making the sound, you can refer to the label and look at the wiring diagram to get a better idea of where the problem is. Sometimes the breakers fail, and there might not be a wiring issue.
Don
The selected media item is not currently available.
Don & Tys
1999 U270 3602 WTFE #5402
Xtreme Stage 1 w/Headlight, Step Conversion, etc.
2009 Honda Fit Sport with Navi
Freedom is NOT "just another word for nothing left to lose"... with apologies to Kris Kristofferson

Re: Guitar Strum from Passengers Kick Compartment

Reply #6 –
Both overhead center and under cabinet lights flicker in tune with strum.

In the attached pic it's hard to tell but it seems to be one of those things in the upper right where wires are attached.  None are hot. Can I systematically try and remove a wire?  If so top or bottom?  Any cautions when doing so?

Most importantly is it ok to drive with salesman switch off?  Or with the strumming going on?  Had planned another 3 hours today.

Thanks

Randy (N4TDT) and Karen Crete
Sarasota, Florida
SOLD:  2000 U270 34' WTFE Build 5756 "Ole Red"

Re: Guitar Strum from Passengers Kick Compartment

Reply #7 –
Randy,

Is the sound frequent enough that you can move your hands over the breakers to "Feel" which one resets?

And, while it could a short or overload causing the problem, it could also be a weak breaker (or combination of both).

If the salesman switch controls the sound, rule out any "ignition hot" breakers as they are supplied from the chassis battery through the ignition solenoid.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Guitar Strum from Passengers Kick Compartment

Reply #8 –
Wait-- you said this happened after plugging a ceramic heater-- that is 120 VAC and totally unrelated to breakers on that panel.

Could have been a coincidence. If not, need to move from 12 VDC to 120 VAC to find the culprit.

Does the noise continue if you turn off the 120 VAC main breakers on main and inverter sub-panels (at foot of bed)/ unplug from shore power and turn off inverter?
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Guitar Strum from Passengers Kick Compartment

Reply #9 –
fixed.  combination of all of your suggestions!

prior to plugging in heater Karen had rotated the copilot chair rearward to see the plug.,  in looking at the panel and cross referencing with the wiring diagram i see "PASSENGER SEAT" breaker in the neighborhood of the strum .  sure enough looking under the seat I see a gnarly mess of wires some pinched in the seat mechanism.  straighten these out...zip tie things neater and no strum.  musta been a short there!

again I'm indebted to you all. Hopefully this wont be an everyday thing.

randy
Randy (N4TDT) and Karen Crete
Sarasota, Florida
SOLD:  2000 U270 34' WTFE Build 5756 "Ole Red"

Re: Guitar Strum from Passengers Kick Compartment

Reply #10 –
Excellent. Safe travels.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020