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Topic: Solenoid (Read 871 times) previous topic - next topic

Solenoid

Our u280 will not start after stopping for lunch. 
Could it be solenoid.  We have a spare part S55 Solenoid.  Anyone no how to change?
Donnie, Elaine & Harley
1995 U280 Unihome 36'
Coach Build 4680
2006 Saturn Vue
Previous coach 1998 U270 34'

Re: Solenoid

Reply #1
Check battery connections? Try boost switch?
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: Solenoid

Reply #2
Quite possibly what is known as heat soak. The solenoid gets hot from the engine transferring heat. Not knowing enough about your mechanical abilities or your coach, advice is hard to give. If you haven't tried the boost do so. If that doesn't work and you can safely get to the starter, jump the battery terminal to the small start wire making sure you are in neutral and the brakes are set and the ignition is on.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Solenoid

Reply #3
Our u280 will not start after stopping for lunch.
I believe Craneman is referring to your starter solenoid, which is a possible culprit.  This condition could also be caused by the ignition solenoid.

When you turn the ignition key to "ON" position, does everything look normal on your dash?  Will dash heater/defrost fan run?  If answer to either of these is "NO", then the problem is your ignition solenoid, located under the front dashboard cover.
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Solenoid

Reply #4
Nothing works when we turn key.  Changing solenoid as we message.
Donnie, Elaine & Harley
1995 U280 Unihome 36'
Coach Build 4680
2006 Saturn Vue
Previous coach 1998 U270 34'

Re: Solenoid

Reply #5
Make sure you have voltage on one side of it or you are wasting your time changing it.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Solenoid

Reply #6
Should be a straight swap.  Just be careful of the hot wires on the solenoid BAT terminal.  Don't let them touch a ground point.  Big sparks!
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Solenoid

Reply #7
Replacing ignition solenoid
Donnie, Elaine & Harley
1995 U280 Unihome 36'
Coach Build 4680
2006 Saturn Vue
Previous coach 1998 U270 34'


Re: Solenoid

Reply #9
Lucky we had the part and we are on the road again.  Thanks everyone.


Donnie, Elaine & Harley
1995 U280 Unihome 36'
Coach Build 4680
2006 Saturn Vue
Previous coach 1998 U270 34'

Re: Solenoid

Reply #10
A warning to all to carry a spare ignition solenoid.  If it goes, everything shuts down.  Thanks to Mel at MOT for suggesting it to us when we bought our first Foretravel in 2012.
Donnie, Elaine & Harley
1995 U280 Unihome 36'
Coach Build 4680
2006 Saturn Vue
Previous coach 1998 U270 34'

Re: Solenoid

Reply #11

Not saying anything against your Borg Warner S55, but when you go to replace your "spare" solenoid, I would recommend the one below:

Amazon.com: Cole Hersee 24213 12V 200A Continuous Solenoid: Automotive

It is rated for higher amps, and would also be suitable in case someday you had to replace your BOOST solenoid on the road.

As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Solenoid

Reply #12
I bought the Blue Sea to carry as a spare, after reading all the issues but do not see this type of ignition solenoid on the panel or under the dash.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Solenoid

Reply #13

Chuck,

Your model coach does not use the same type device for the "ignition solenoid" function.  I believe you have 2 black Bosch solenoids, mounted down low near the floor, behind the panel in front of your passenger seat.  There's a photo of your setup around here somewhere...

See Don's description - Reply #4 in the thread linked below:

2000 ignition solenoid location

I think what you have will resemble this one, but perhaps not the exact same number.  You will probably have two of them:

Amazon.com: Bosch 332002156 Auto Part: Automotive

As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Solenoid

Reply #14
Chuck & Lynda:  look bottom center of large 12v breaker panel behind front dash trim in front of co-pilot.  That is where is lives, but the existing relay/solenoid could 'look' different.
Carrying spares is nice, but it may be better to replace 'before' problem, and then carry another spare if you want.

Re: Solenoid

Reply #15
 Followed Barry and Cindy and replaced with Blue Sea solenoid and also carry a spare Blue Sea just in case. 
 
Tom and Linda
1995 U280SE #4636

Re: Solenoid

Reply #16
Thanks for the replies. Had to run out and do a job.

I have the 2 Bosch relays on the coach. will save the Blue Sea for a boost solenoid failure.
I have many of these Bosch relays I will find a couple of matching ones and carry on the coach.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Solenoid

Reply #17
Should the ignition solenoid fail, can you swap it with the boost solenoid? Thanks to the forum on my 1500 mile trip home I lost my guage power I knew where to look. Just a loose connection, so I was back on the road in 5 minutes. So it was a non event, that could have been an event had I not been previously reading almost every thread on this wonderful resource.
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake

Re: Solenoid

Reply #18
Should the ignition solenoid fail, can you swap it with the boost solenoid?
Yes, you could make this swap to get back on the road, IF the boost solenoid is continuous duty rated.  This is one good reason to use the same high quality solenoid in both positions.

However, in the event of ignition solenoid failure, it is much quicker and less hassle to simply pull out your SPARE solenoid from your parts bin and use it to get back on the road...just like Donnie and Elaine did.  ^.^d

OR, if you want to virtually guarantee that you will never ever suffer a ignition solenoid failure, you could install a Blue Sea 9012.

L Solenoid - 12/24V DC 250A - Blue Sea Systems
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Solenoid

Reply #19
Blue sea is top notch for sure and if i was mid ocean in a storm, just more than I need for my simple coach that I bought cause it was realitivly simple. I could install a continuous duty jumper wire to limp to wherever. Mechanical engine and mechanical transmission suits my primary journeys into the barren west on two lane roads as well I hope. Alaska is on my bucket list.
Old Phart Phred, EIEIO
89 GV ored 36' #3405 300 hp cat 3208 ATAAC side radiator, mountain tamer exhaust brake