Help needed in Miami

Topic: Help needed in Miami (Read 1995 times) previous topic - next topic

Help needed in Miami

November 16, 2021, 07:41:57 am

This was posted on the Bus Conversions Board a few hours ago:

My wife's good friend needs help in Miami. She owns a Foretravel U320. I know it is not a "real" bus, but it has a 450 Cummins that won't start. RV guys replaced both A/C units and the neighbor had to turn on the inverter etc to get it powered back up electrically, but it won't turn over at. It has 70K miles on it and she has it sold.....if it will start. It ran great before the RV guys worked on it. Battery and starter (which is a year old) supposedly check out fine. She has only been able to get one mobile repair guy willing to come "LOOK" at it for $1600 dollars. (what a nice guy...).
Any south Fla bus nuts know who she can call? Probably an ignition switch or something way too simple to have her pay a 1600 dollar ransom. Perhaps a breaker the AC guys shut off and forgot. Dashboard lights up and there is a "click" but won't turn over. It is plugged into 50 amp. She has money and will pay to get it going if anyone can think of a guy that doesn't need 1600 to wander by...

I already suggested she get on this board and ask for help but that takes time she may not have. If anyone can suggest a reliable mechanic in that area I will be glad to cross post it.

TOM

Re: Help needed in Miami

Reply #1 – November 16, 2021, 07:52:06 am

If dashboard lights up (along with Allison shift pad and dash HVAC fan) then the ignition switch and ignition solenoid are probably good.

Assume chassis battery voltage has been checked when key turned to start position.

Any difference when BOOST SWITCH is turned on to add house batteries to chassis batteries?

Re: Help needed in Miami

Reply #2 – November 16, 2021, 07:53:53 am

Any Contact information for her ? I am on the west coast of Florida, however being retired I could make a road trip to assist her.
I am about 2 hours away, but I do have a grand daughter that lives in Miami that I could go visit while I am there...

Re: Help needed in Miami

Reply #3 – November 16, 2021, 08:12:19 am

This is what makes this board (and a few others) so great! I got a response in 11 minutes!!!!! You can't even get through the phone tree to a lot of shops in that time!!!

Brett, I can't answer that. I'm guessing trying to trouble shoot this through 2 boards and 4 people will be difficult. I'm going to try to get some contact info.

Gerry, thanks for the offer! I will try to get so contact info and get back to you.

TOM

Re: Help needed in Miami

Reply #4 – November 16, 2021, 08:46:03 am

OldManSax wrote for someone else:

"RV guys replaced both A/C units and the neighbor had to turn on the inverter etc to get it powered back up electrically, but it won't turn over at."

"It is plugged into 50 amp. She has money and will pay to get it going if anyone can think of a guy that doesn't need 1600 to wander by..."

Gerry Vicha wrote "I am about 2 hours away, but I do have a grand daughter that lives in Miami that I could go visit while I am there..."

Sounds like a good plan for a road trip.

It's the batteries. It's always the batteries. And the interlocks. And a lack of knowledge.

I say fire up the generator as soon as you arrive, Gerry.

Re: Help needed in Miami

Reply #5 – November 16, 2021, 08:47:59 am

OldManSax wrote "This is what makes this board (and a few others) so great! I got a response in 11 minutes!!!!!"

Retirees home from the early bird breakfast buffet?

Re: Help needed in Miami

Reply #6 – November 16, 2021, 12:10:02 pm

Had a similar problem with our old 1989 so who knows.
I tried to start our coach and the gear selector was NOT in neutral. Wouldn't turn over or start.
Maybe?

UPDATE

Reply #7 – November 16, 2021, 01:19:35 pm

I sent Gerry the contact info. Now we wait............

TOM

Re: Help needed in Miami

Reply #8 – November 16, 2021, 01:22:38 pm

Quote from: nitehawk – November 16, 2021, 12:10:02 pm

Had a similar problem with our old 1989 so who knows.
I tried to start our coach and the gear selector was NOT in neutral. Wouldn't turn over or start.
Maybe?

If only it were this simple. This is a U320 with a push button transmission. Unlike a '50s-60s Chrylser product this push button shift has computers. Hence my battery comment. Low battery voltage gives all kinds of grief to solid state electronics.

Re: Help needed in Miami

Reply #9 – November 16, 2021, 03:09:15 pm

Quote from: OldManSax – November 16, 2021, 01:19:35 pm

I sent Gerry the contact info. Now we wait............

TOM

Phone number did not work.......... Gerry

Re: Help needed in Miami

Reply #10 – November 16, 2021, 04:08:51 pm

We are in miami, FL
786. 457 9893
Frank

Re: Help needed in Miami

Reply #11 – November 16, 2021, 04:54:07 pm

Quote from: Gerry Vicha – November 16, 2021, 03:09:15 pm

Phone number did not work.......... Gerry

I sent Gerry's number to the contact (Ted). Ted's number shows up wrong in my phone. I have no idea why. And neither does he. And it still shows up wrong in my phone. It's been a strange day!

Frank, you are the backup if Gerry can't go or needs help. You guys can coordinate. Too many cooks spoil the soup. LOL!

Thanks to all for the help!

TOM

Re: Help needed in Miami

Reply #12 – November 16, 2021, 05:07:22 pm

Tom,

So, who has put their digital voltmeter on the start batteries while cranking?

Same for when boost switch is activated?

Hate to see one of our members drive 400 miles round trip for something REALLY SIMPLE.

Re: Help needed in Miami

Reply #13 – November 16, 2021, 06:05:44 pm

FYI
I will be meeting up at the coach tomorrow at 0800 Miami time.
I will be posting on the forum as to what the symptoms are and hopefully I can get help from the more experienced to get the coach started.

Re: Help needed in Miami

Reply #14 – November 16, 2021, 06:20:53 pm

Frank,

Make sure you post the year model as what a '97 may need could be different than a '03.

Mike

Re: Help needed in Miami

Reply #15 – November 16, 2021, 06:24:46 pm

I'm being told it's an 02 U320
40'

Re: Help needed in Miami

Reply #16 – November 16, 2021, 07:25:49 pm

It's a small world.
Looked on google maps.
I went to see this coach with a friend who was looking for a coach about 2 years ago.
Daisy and I had our coach already.

Re: Help needed in Miami

Reply #17 – November 16, 2021, 07:31:41 pm

Quote from: Lt403 – November 16, 2021, 06:05:44 pm

FYI
I will be meeting up at the coach tomorrow at 0800 Miami time.
I will be posting on the forum as to what the symptoms are and hopefully I can get help from the more experienced to get the coach started.

That's great! I don't have anything at stake on this but I am curious like everyone else.

Brett, I really don't know anything about the situation except what was in the original post. I just happened to see it on the bus board and thought the coach owner may not even know about the Foretravel board. I posted it over here hoping that someone could help, and it appears that is what happened. It's nice when something works out. I just tried to do a good deed. I hope my wife is never in that position but, if she is, maybe someone would help her.

TOM

Re: Help needed in Miami

Reply #18 – November 17, 2021, 08:04:16 am

Good morning
Here at the coach
Batts at 12.84
No start
Disconnected batteries all batteries individually are reading 12.9 v

Re: Help needed in Miami

Reply #19 – November 17, 2021, 08:11:37 am

Quote from: Lt403 – November 17, 2021, 08:04:16 am

Disconnected batteries all batteries individually are reading 12.9 v

So far, so good. The batteries are not the problem.

FWIW, here is my "Starting Sequence" checklist. If I was in a no crank situation, this is what I would look at. Some items may be different on a '02 U320.

Starting trouble. Solenoid? Isolator? Something else?

Re: Help needed in Miami

Reply #20 – November 17, 2021, 08:26:40 am

The second photo shows a burned/overheated cable end. Looks like the positive cable going to starter.

Loose connections? Dirty connections? Too much resistance at the starter end? Bad ground cable at starter? Locked up starter motor?

Re: Help needed in Miami

Reply #21 – November 17, 2021, 08:57:16 am

Didn't like The way that cable looked either the positive one but I do have 12 V at the positive post that it attaches to on the frame

I have attached these two other photos because I am trying to locate the 90 amp circuit breaker.

If you see them in the picture let me know

Re: Help needed in Miami

Reply #22 – November 17, 2021, 09:09:00 am

When you say not starting, are you saying when key is turned nothing happens at all. No click no nothing? What happens when trying with boost switch?

Have you tried turning the key on and pressing the start button in the back by the engine?

Re: Help needed in Miami

Reply #23 – November 17, 2021, 09:17:05 am

Quote from: Lt403 – November 17, 2021, 08:57:16 am

1. I do have 12 V at the positive post that it attaches to on the frame
2. I have attached these two other photos because I am trying to locate the 90 amp circuit breaker.

1. take the cables loose at that post and check the connection at the cable ends. I have seen that junction post fail and cause a non start.
2. In the 1st pic if you look at the breaker tags you see one for the A/H. I can't see the one above that but the 90 amp breaker is just to the right of that. It appears to be set not tripped. It has the RED button on the side.

Mike

Re: Help needed in Miami

Reply #24 – November 17, 2021, 10:22:47 am

Frank,

Just some random thoughts for things to look at.

On this coach it should have 2 solid state ignition solenoids in the dash (like your coach will have) rather than the old single set up. Look for 2 black square boxes hid behind the kick panel. Those rarely fail but you might try swapping one out for the other. The starter could be stuck due to setting for a long time and the moisture in the air. If the starter is stuck that could be what overheated that cable.

Mike

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