Call for help

Topic: Call for help (Read 3245 times) previous topic - next topic

Call for help

September 28, 2018, 09:30:51 pm

Well here we go yet again. In my three years as owner. I have had ONE trip that didn't involve a major catastrophe. The DW and I arrived at Hoquian river RV park on Thursday afternoon. We are hooked up to 50 Amp and city water. Today after being out and about. The wife decided to relax out side with a book. She soon came in and told me: You don't want to hear this, But water is pouring from under the coach. The water is coming from in front of the rear passenger drive axle above the suspension and above the forward air bag. I have 1/4 tank of fresh water but am using the parks water. I do have a pressure regulator on the fresh water hose. I put my finger into this water stream and it didn't smell at all. So it's fresh water. The is no water in the area of the manablock (which was new a year ago and installed by a Foretravel tech) The house water pump was also replaced at the same time as the manablock. Next I cracked the fresh water tank drain valve and the leak immediately stopped. On the wet bay side there is just a little bit of water and the underside of the fresh tank is moist. The fresh tank has now been draining for 30 minutes and shows half full, City water is hooked up and no leak. Could there be a stuck tank fill valve? And how would one fix that. In the mean time. I will shut off the city water and wait for the tank to drain and turn it back on and see if the tank fills.

I eagerly await the wisdom of the group.

I find myself hoping for an electrical fridge fire so I can just write this thing off and return to a normal life. Even my DW is loosing hope ans patience.

Re: Call for help

Reply #1 – September 28, 2018, 09:35:06 pm

The fill valve for the water tank either has failed to shut off or else it is turned on. Simple fix/ only run on the water pump do not hook up to city water except to fill the tank. That is how we traveled for 5 years and no regrets about water.

Re: Call for help

Reply #2 – September 28, 2018, 09:38:23 pm

I had a leak in same area, when it raced it out the connector behind the fresh water hose real in wet bay was leaking. There was just enough slope in the coach so the water migrated to passenger side before leaking out.
Hope you find it
Chris
We. Now only use city water while showering then turn it off and use tank water

Re: Call for help

Reply #3 – September 28, 2018, 09:41:31 pm

Me thinks your fresh water fill is on or stuck open, sounds like the water is coming out of the fresh tank over flow. I know your gauge says 1/4 tank but. Posssbly the switch got bumped on.

Re: Call for help

Reply #4 – September 28, 2018, 09:52:21 pm

Quote from: bbeane – September 28, 2018, 09:41:31 pm

Me thinks your fresh water fill is on or stuck open, sounds like the water is coming out of the fresh tank over flow. I know your gauge says 1/4 tank but. Posssbly the switch got bumped on.

I'll give that a try. No light is on and I turned the switch on and off. Now where is that valve and can I get to it without major surgery?

Man do I hate my coach.

Re: Call for help

Reply #5 – September 28, 2018, 09:53:34 pm

Quote

sounds like the water is coming out of the fresh tank over flow.

I agree with Bruce. The overflow is really hard to see but from your description that's what's happening. Here's a photo showing its location. Don't despair. I think this won't be a hard one.
jor

Re: Call for help

Reply #6 – September 28, 2018, 10:14:30 pm

Advantages of running from the tank: 1: Your tank stays clean. 2: If you have a leak it will only leak the amount of water remaining in the tank. 3: If you have a leak you will be able to hear the pump recycle.

Advantages of NOT running from the tank. 1:

Re: Call for help

Reply #7 – September 28, 2018, 10:39:32 pm

Quote from: jor – September 28, 2018, 09:53:34 pm

I agree with Bruce. The overflow is really hard to see but from your description that's what's happening. Here's a photo from beamalarm showing its location. Don't despair. I think this won't be a hard one.
jor

That's where it's coming from jor. I turned on the city water again and hit the fill switch. I filled it to the 1/2 way point and turned of the fill switch. It was very slow to stop the flow and made a sort of Wheezing sound for about 30 seconds before going quite, Then I turned the city water off. So far a stuck fill valve seems to have been the issue.

jor, I really can't help feeling despair over my coach. It's just one thing on top of another to the point that even the little things are getting under my skin. Three years with one mostly trouble free trip and $30,000 in repairs on top of the $48,000 paid. Yes that might not be a kings ransom and is likely a pittance for the average Foretraveler. But it's a lot for a retired enlisted Air Force man who can't afford to build a big shop and stock it with all the tools of the RV repair trade. Every time I turn the key, I wonder. Will it start? What thing will break next. And so far this coach has broke with alarming frequency. Esp given that it hasn't been used a whole lot by us, is stored under a roof and is always plugged in. It has been in the shop for many more weeks than we have stayed in it (7 Weeks use Vs 12 weeks in the shop)

Re: Call for help

Reply #8 – September 28, 2018, 10:48:53 pm

The auto fill solenoid should be next to the 12 volt water pump, mounted on the floor in the fresh water line. We had the same issue one time on our 36. I pulled the solenoid, not hard to do, and when I took it apart there was a small pebble/sand particle in the valve, keeping it open. Took about 15 mins to take out/clean out. When the solenoid is pulled you can connect to 12 volts to verify that it works. It should click when power is applied.

I do not know if that is your problem but it might be worth a try. It does not sound like a catastrophic event.

Do you use a filter between the water pedestal and your fresh water hose? We always use a 5 micron particulate filter when we put water in the tank or when we use the street water for everyday use.

We have hit our water fill button, and unknowingly filled the tank to where it overflowed. Some times it is hard to see that little light behind the button.

In the mean time you can fill the tank and use your water pump for your needs.

Chances that one of your pex tubes are cracked or broken are small. It is possible that one of the pex connectors may have failed. A shark bite can be used to replace the faulty fitting.

I can certainly understand your feelings and have been following your journey via your posts. You have received your share of issues. After 6 years of owning 2 different Foretravels, every time something raises it's ugly head, I always think the worst. BTW - In the first 4 years of ownership of our first FT we spent $40k on maint. and repairs - lots of doe.

Good luck. Please keep us in the loop.

If you would like to chat, PM me with your phone number and a convenient time to talk.

Re: Call for help

Reply #9 – September 28, 2018, 11:02:12 pm

Thirty year ago flashback: shopping for an American Clipper, (coolest class c ever!) I couldn't get it to take water into the tank. The owner pointed out the fact that "Once the tank's full, that's it!"

My guess is the problem has a few possibilities: Maybe the sensor for "fullness" is shot or not reporting correctly. So, it may have filled completely while showing false levels. Next, the latching valve (allows water to flow into tanks) may have been pushed inadvertently and that would allow more flow to tank. Our latch switch is next to the pump and two light switches, so a newbie can always bump it by accident. Our latch switch light is dimmer than Congress, so the flow to tank might not be obvious if someone taps it.

My new water regiment includes a portable softener each filling. I disconnect hoses when the tanks looks 3/4 full. We run the pump when we are "home" and try to turn the little devil off when we leave our rig..

Re: Call for help

Reply #10 – September 28, 2018, 11:07:00 pm

On our 2002 we had a Fill sensor that stopped the water fill function. On our 2001 we do not.

Re: Call for help

Reply #11 – September 28, 2018, 11:10:48 pm

Sorry for your troubles. We certainly have had ours. I sure this won't help, and I don't mean to kick sand in your face. Being in the RV industry 55+ years, there is a saying. "So you have a RV, then you have a problem, you just don't know what it is yet".

As other's have said, this is not a life changing event, it's just part of owning a RV. Try to enjoy your trip, don't worry about the next thing that might or might not happen. Even when something happens, we all have your back.

One of the best parts of this sight. I have received much help here.

Chris

Re: Call for help

Reply #12 – September 28, 2018, 11:13:38 pm

Quote from: Carol & Scott – September 28, 2018, 10:48:53 pm

The auto fill solenoid should be next to the 12 volt water pump, mounted on the floor in the fresh water line. We had the same issue one time on our 36. I pulled the solenoid, not hard to do, and when I took it apart there was a small pebble/sand particle in the valve, keeping it open. Took about 15 mins to take out/clean out. When the solenoid is pulled you can connect to 12 volts to verify that it works. It should click when power is applied.

I do not know if that is your problem but it might be worth a try. It does not sound like a catastrophic event.

Do you use a filter between the water pedestal and your fresh water hose? We always use a 5 micron particulate filter when we put water in the tank or when we use the street water for everyday use.

We have hit our water fill button, and unknowingly filled the tank to where it overflowed. Some times it is hard to see that little light behind the button.

In the mean time you can fill the tank and use your water pump for your needs.

Chances that one of your pex tubes are cracked or broken are small. It is possible that one of the pex connectors may have failed. A shark bite can be used to replace the faulty fitting.

I can certainly understand your feelings and have been following your journey via your posts. You have received your share of issues. After 6 years of owning 2 different Foretravels, every time something raises it's ugly head, I always think the worst. BTW - In the first 4 years of ownership of our first FT we spent $40k on maint. and repairs - lots of doe.

Good luck. Please keep us in the loop.

If you would like to chat, PM me with your phone number and a convenient time to talk.

The water leaking has stopped. So it seems it was the fill valve. I have always used one of those blue water filters. I suppose I need to get a sediment setup. At one time this coach had a RO system. But was disconnected when we bought it. I can likely pull those and turn those canisters into a dual filter setup.

Re: Call for help

Reply #13 – September 28, 2018, 11:28:16 pm

Quote from: gracerace – September 28, 2018, 11:10:48 pm

Sorry for your troubles. We certainly have had ours. I sure this won't help, and I don't mean to kick sand in your face. Being in the RV industry 55+ years, there is a saying. "So you have a RV, then you have a problem, you just don't know what it is yet".

As other's have said, this is not a life changing event, it's just part of owning a RV. Try to enjoy your trip, don't worry about the next thing that might or might not happen. Even when something happens, we all have your back.

One of the best parts of this sight. I have received much help here.

Chris

Even though I have managed to get myself into the Fore Forum penalty box a few times. The call for help with my issues has always been answered swiftly. So far the ONLY good part of my Foretravel experience has been the forum. I just don't like the fact that I have had to use it so much.

Re: Call for help

Reply #14 – September 28, 2018, 11:41:58 pm

Read 116 times in two hours, that is why I love this forum and my FT. I hope the rest of your travels are "event" free, know you have a "team" with you.

Re: Call for help

Reply #15 – September 28, 2018, 11:44:57 pm

Jerry, my coach is a "little bit" older than yours, like 10 years so everything in my coach is manual.
That being said, I had almost the same problem with water pouring out the overflow. Our coach is/was equipped with a rubber washered faucet and so I changed the rubber washer. Couple days later, while grilling outside, water started pouring out the overflow--AGAIN!!
So I went and installed an inline ball valve. No more overflow now.

Re: Call for help

Reply #16 – September 29, 2018, 07:30:48 am

Jerry,
Here is a link to a post that will help you out with your fill valve (with pics) as it can get trash or calcium inside and cause a problem. Your valve should be mounted just beside the water pump somewhat hid beside the heater core for that side of the bay. Water Fill Valve Issues

Mike

Re: Call for help

Reply #17 – September 29, 2018, 08:31:04 am

My fill valve jammed open from being turned on by accident with no water flowing through it, over heated, plus the relay would not disconnect. Cut wire at valve. Cooled off. Replaced relay. Rewired switch. Worked fine ever since.

Re: Call for help

Reply #18 – September 29, 2018, 08:45:33 am

First, dry the wet bay area very well. If not, it will degrade your rear bulkhead.

Two ways water can fill the fresh water tank unintendedly:

1. Fill valve malfunction.
2. Check valve in water pump defective.

As others have said, many many of us only connect to city water to fill the tank. We always did that so that tank water is always fresh.

Re: Call for help

Reply #19 – September 29, 2018, 09:52:51 am

Jerry, I am sorry you are having a problem. Sure sounds like the fill valve to me. You coach is about 20 yrs old. Stuff happens to your coach and to everyone else's coach too. Stay calm, ask for some help as you did, figure it out, fix it or devise a work around. Resume having fun.

Once you get it fixed here is a simple way to shut off the water filling the tank if you have an electric fill valve.
Water Fill Valve Auto Shut-off

Here is a way to automatically shut off the water pump when it is not in use.
Water Pump Timer Automatically Switches Pump Off

Like many we are dedicated tank and pump users. We may fill the fresh tank and then use the city water hookup for a shower but then it is disconnected.

Keeping everything but water (and maybe some sanitizer) out of your fresh water system is hard to do sometimes. You never know what kinds of sediment, rust bits, and other junk might be in the incoming water. This filter traps most everything you can see and is a convenient place to add disinfectant. We also use another pair of filters for organic stuff and a much finer particulate filter like Scott mentioned.
Fresh Water Fill Valve

Re: Call for help

Reply #20 – September 29, 2018, 10:58:09 am

Quote from: Pamela & Mike – September 29, 2018, 07:30:48 am

Jerry,
Here is a link to a post that will help you out with your fill valve (with pics) as it can get trash or calcium inside and cause a problem. Your valve should be mounted just beside the water pump somewhat hid beside the heater core for that side of the bay. Water Fill Valve Issues

Mike

Thanks Mike. That will help when we return to Walla Walla.

Re: Call for help

Reply #21 – September 29, 2018, 12:12:03 pm

The plumbing in an RV would never pass code for a house and after being in motion for thousands of miles, it's even more likely to fail. So, like Roger, we use our tank and pump exclusively. You can pour a bit of sanitizer into your supply hose when you fill the tank (tip from another member). We would never even think about leaving the coach with a city water line connected. We do filter the water as it enters the tank.

Pierce

Re: Call for help

Reply #22 – September 29, 2018, 12:12:16 pm

I had a problem with the fill valve one time. I tried, under city water pressure, turning the fill valve on and off severals times, and problem went away. I suspected dirt or something in valve. May not be your problem, but it worked for me.
I always use a sediment and a charcoal filter, to keep rust and sand etc out of my system.

Re: Call for help

Reply #23 – September 29, 2018, 01:57:01 pm

We do the same as Pierce mentioned. We also never leave the sewer hose connected....only when dumping.

Re: Call for help

Reply #24 – September 29, 2018, 02:59:22 pm

Say that you are connected to city water and while you are away or during the night, the coach deveiops a leak. Water will quickly find it'sway to the basement and then through holes into the area between the basement floor and the bottom plastic layer. This puts the bulkheads at risk plus all the unprotected subframe steel tubing. Once there, how do you get the water out?

Pierce

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