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Topic: Anyone in Temeculah CA who knows about a power tech genny today? (Read 869 times) previous topic - next topic

Anyone in Temeculah CA who knows about a power tech genny today?

Hey friends!  Our coach is in Temecula CA today with a friend and they are having troubles with the Genny shutting down after 10 min.  I'm in Hawaii right now and can't diagnose it.  All the filters and oil has been changed and it's been going great for a while.  I'm a little at a loss as to what should be done besides bringing it to Temeculah Valley RV which I saw is a service center for Foretravel but I don't believe they are available on the weekends and if they are, they're probably closing in a few.  Any thoughts or even any one who knows a thing or two that might be able to stop by the walmart in Temeculah and help out would be greatly appreciated.  Or if you've been through this and know what I haven't checked I'd love the dialogue to figure out what we need to do.

Thanks!
-Trent and Siobhan Walker + 5 boys
Proud owners of a 1995 U300 SE that we bought from Jor.  We are so blessed and loving life on the road!

Re: Anyone in Temeculah CA who knows about a power tech genny today?

Reply #1 –
Total guess but the timing suggests overheating.  Check to see if the electric fan is working if you have that setup.  It could have thrown a water pump belt.  Ours has done that to the previous owner.

Re: Anyone in Temeculah CA who knows about a power tech genny today?

Reply #2 –
Assuming it makes power while it is running, I would suspect the fuel delivery. Fuel lines can be a cause if they are letting air in the system. One can eliminate that as a potential issue with a can of diesel and a length of fuel line. By feeding the fuel pump from a can, you will know it is something else if it keeps running. The electric fuel pump can also be an issue, if so equipped. This assumes of course that the filter isn't clogged... A lot depends on your friends mechanical ability as to how you can advise them remotely. I am by no means a generator expert, but I did experience similar symptoms before I replaced the fuel lines. Also, I assume there are some idiot lights on the generator control panel. Any of them lighting up when it stops?
Don
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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: Anyone in Temeculah CA who knows about a power tech genny today?

Reply #3 –
Great suggestions guys.  Thank you.  Mark, I thought it was overheating too. But I don't know what to do to diagnose that or even how to check if the thermostat is the problem.

Don, apparently there is someone there who knows some stuff with him.  I too thought to look into the fuel lines but that also is not like a quick fix by any means.  The fuel pump I just replaced about nine months ago and the fuse on that has been replaced just a few weeks ago.  Admitingly my friends are using the genny a whole lot more than I did or had anticipated them doing.
-Trent and Siobhan Walker + 5 boys
Proud owners of a 1995 U300 SE that we bought from Jor.  We are so blessed and loving life on the road!

Re: Anyone in Temeculah CA who knows about a power tech genny today?

Reply #4 –
Check the toggle on the gen. control panel attached to the generator, could be the circuit breaker for the fan is tripped.
1995 U320C SE 40'
Jeep 4x4 Commander - Limited - Hemi
"The Pack"  Yogi and Diesel our Airedales -  Charlie our Boxer/Akita mix. Gone but NEVER forgotten Jake our yellow Lab.
NRA Law Enforcement Firearms instructor - Handgun/shotgun
Regional Firearms instructor for national Armored Transp. Co.

Re: Anyone in Temeculah CA who knows about a power tech genny today?

Reply #5 –
Start the generator and then watch your blower from the side.  See if the blower is engaging and spinning.  If it's spinning you can eliminate that.  If it's not spinning, then your engine will shut down from overheating.  If it's not spinning you should be able to give the blower a spin by hand and if it engages, you have a bad start capacitor.  You may have to remove the blower guard to access the blower. That is if you have an electric blower motor on your generator.  I'm  also assuming you have a Power Tech generator.
John M.
John & Carm Morales

"We travel not to go anywhere, but to just go.  We travel for travel's sake.  Our great desire is to move."

Re: Anyone in Temeculah CA who knows about a power tech genny today?

Reply #6 –
Your 95 should have a belt driven fan on the engine. make sure the belt isn't loose or missing. Also make sure the opening below the coach for the fan exhaust is open and the flap hasn't been bent or damaged restricting the flow. Of course check the coolant level in the radiator, the 10 minute run time sounds like an over heat condition.
Will it run longer with the bay access door open? Any coolant pushed out of the overflow when it shuts down.
Really need more info............
Justin & Cathy Byrd
1995 U280 "Old Faithful"
36' Build #4673
C8.3 Cummins
Allison MD3060R 6 speed - retarder
Powertech 10KW  4cyl Kubota

Re: Anyone in Temeculah CA who knows about a power tech genny today?

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Walkerfam7 –
Great suggestions guys.  Thank you.  Mark, I thought it was overheating too. But I don't know what to do to diagnose that or even how to check if the thermostat is the problem.

Don, apparently there is someone there who knows some stuff with him.  I too thought to look into the fuel lines but that also is not like a quick fix by any means.  The fuel pump I just replaced about nine months ago and the fuse on that has been replaced just a few weeks ago.  Admitingly my friends are using the genny a whole lot more than I did or had anticipated them doing.


Any update on their generator situation?

Justin & Cathy Byrd
1995 U280 "Old Faithful"
36' Build #4673
C8.3 Cummins
Allison MD3060R 6 speed - retarder
Powertech 10KW  4cyl Kubota

Re: Anyone in Temeculah CA who knows about a power tech genny today?

Reply #8 –
Trent, have you reached out to Jor about your generator issue? He is very meticulous with his coach maintenance projects, so he would certainly know whether or not the fuel lines have been replaced, and when the filters and belts etc. have been changed. I looked at the video tour of your coach and it is apparent that the radiator is part of the unit and therefore doesn't have an electric fan, so any overheating issue should be pretty easy to diagnose.
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: Anyone in Temeculah CA who knows about a power tech genny today?

Reply #9 –
Trent- this is a long shot but a year ago I was having similar problems with my generator.  Would start but not keep running.  I had been in CA and had some B-20 fuel in it ( maybe an issue or not), but I changed both fuel filters on the generator 4 times before I cleared up the issue.  Could have been fuel or something in it, not sure, but the filters are small so they can clog up easily.  Not a fun job but it is the most simple and least costly to do, try changing fuel filters again.  Cut the old ones open to see what is inside.

Hope this works out for your friend...................... ^.^d
Ted & Karen
2001 U270 36' - sold after 12 years full timing

Re: Anyone in Temeculah CA who knows about a power tech genny today?

Reply #10 –
Remove Radiator Cap and physically check coolant. My coach had a poor solder job, where the bend in the filler neck is. The leaked coolant would evaporate as quickly as it appeared . Just luck I spotted a tiny drop of coolant.. It will start and run with low coolant, and will shut down very quickly... Since the run time is short I would suspect it is a coolant issue, heat issue...

Dave
Safe Travels
2001 U320 40ft
Build #5867
2003 Tracker
VE7DOD

Re: Anyone in Temeculah CA who knows about a power tech genny today?

Reply #11 –
Dave brings up another good point- low coolant.  This can cause an air bubble in your system that needs to be burped out.  Not a hard process but takes some time. 

Best of luck                          ^.^d
Ted & Karen
2001 U270 36' - sold after 12 years full timing

Re: Anyone in Temeculah CA who knows about a power tech genny today?

Reply #12 –
I think they must have moved the coach already, I just drove through the Walmart parking lot... No GV present. Perhaps moved to Temecula RV for diagnosis.
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: Anyone in Temeculah CA who knows about a power tech genny today?

Reply #13 –
Could also be a bad radiator cap.  Check if it is tight, if not replace it.
Forest & Cindy Olivier
1987 log cabin
2011 Roadtrek C210P
no longer 1999 36' U320 build #5522
2013 Rzr 570 & 2018 Ranger XP1000
2006 Lexus GX470
2011 Tahoe LT 4x4
Previous 1998 45' 2 slide Newell, 1993 39' Newell

Re: Anyone in Temeculah CA who knows about a power tech genny today?

Reply #14 –
Evidently we are wasting our time on this thread at this point..........
Justin & Cathy Byrd
1995 U280 "Old Faithful"
36' Build #4673
C8.3 Cummins
Allison MD3060R 6 speed - retarder
Powertech 10KW  4cyl Kubota