Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Got smoke from some valve behind my air gauge. (Read 1514 times) previous topic - next topic

Got smoke from some valve behind my air gauge.

Greetings folks. Smoke started coming from this valve behind our air gauge just in front of our steering wheel.

Does anybody know what this valve / solenoid is for?

Where might I look for a new one?

Is it critical? Was supposed to drive into Mexico today!

Guy

Re: Got smoke from some valve behind my air gauge.

Reply #1 –
Hadley is the maker of your air horn and solenoid.  Looks like it shorted out and overheated  BADLY.

Disconnect it so you don't have a fire.

Re: Got smoke from some valve behind my air gauge.

Reply #2 –
I dont recall that on my 2001. I do know that the electrical portion can be swapped out. Most are generic if they have the correct voltage. Sorry im not much help

Re: Got smoke from some valve behind my air gauge.

Reply #3 –
Quote from: wolfe10 –
Hadley is the maker of your air horn and solenoid.  Looks like it shorted out and overheated  BADLY.

Disconnect it so you don't have a fire.
Wouldn't it be a intermittent power? Horn would go off if you powered it down otherwise

Re: Got smoke from some valve behind my air gauge.

Reply #4 –
Quote from: dsd –
Wouldn't it be a intermittent power? Horn would go off if you powered it down otherwise

Yes, it SHOULD only be powered with you "blow the horn".  But, sure looks like it stuck ON and melted.

Re: Got smoke from some valve behind my air gauge.

Reply #5 –
Quote from: wolfe10 –
Yes, it SHOULD only be powered with you "blow the horn".  But, sure looks like it stuck ON and melted.
Yep I will agree to that. Horn is also part of the Smart wheel too.

Re: Got smoke from some valve behind my air gauge.

Reply #6 –
Concur it's the air horn solenoid.  Looked for weeks to find it stocked at auto/truck parts stores and truck stops.  Easy to replace.  Foretravel parts has 'em as does NAPA next day. 

BTW, circuit is hot in my '01 U320, even with the key off.  I know 'cause my dog likes to look out the front window, and he got up on the steering wheel and held down the horn button (no air in system) until the solenoid smoked just like that.  Eventually I'll wire the horn relay into the ignition circuit, but for now I now wedge a rolled up business card below the horn button so he can't repeat the procedure.    >:(

Re: Got smoke from some valve behind my air gauge.

Reply #7 –
Same story here but had air in the tank and when we got out of the car the horn started blowing from the dog standing on the wheel to see us.

Re: Got smoke from some valve behind my air gauge.

Reply #8 –
I had the same failure and results that I posted about earlier. The solenoid is available on Ebay. Everyone needs to be very careful to not let anything hit the horn button on the wheel, especially when there is not enough air in the system to make the horn activate. That solenoid will burn before a circuit protector opens, and gets VERY hot. Enough to toast near by wires.

Re: Got smoke from some valve behind my air gauge.

Reply #9 –
Quote from: wolfe10 –
Yes, it SHOULD only be powered with you "blow the horn".  But, sure looks like it stuck ON and melted.

Yes we were about to move and placed something on the steering wheel. Don't remember hearing the horn but it was obviously engaged for who knows how long.

Live and learn!

Re: Got smoke from some valve behind my air gauge.

Reply #10 –
Sound like putting in a lower amperage circuit breaker might be a good idea. 

Re: Got smoke from some valve behind my air gauge.

Reply #12 –
Quote from: oldguy –
Sound like putting in a lower amperage circuit breaker might be a good idea. 
The problem with that is the circuit breaker is sized for the carrying capacity of the wires.  A more permanent solution is to swap out that solenoid valve for one that can be permanently on.  Intermittent versus continuous.  As always you'll need the "industrial" catalog.

Re: Got smoke from some valve behind my air gauge.

Reply #13 –
Quote from: GuynChrista –
Agreed, enough amperage to smoke up the place is most likely too much!
The problem is the solenoid was not rated for continuous use. A smaller breaker would have not stop the solenoid from burning up if it was supplied the amperage it needed to work correctly.

Re: Got smoke from some valve behind my air gauge.

Reply #14 –
Quote from: turbojack –
The problem is the solenoid was not rated for continuous use. A smaller breaker would have not stop the solenoid from burning up if it was supplied the amperage it needed to work correctly.
Right, I mean engaging the horn is definitely an intermittent activity. (unless you live in NYC)  :D

Re: Got smoke from some valve behind my air gauge.

Reply #15 –
Here is a clever mod: Put an air pressure switch in series with air horn solenoid coil wire.

Never burn out existing horn solenoid anymore.

Use a pressure switch that closes at the PSI needed to for the air horns to make a sound. Is that 10 - 20 PSI ?

Re: Got smoke from some valve behind my air gauge.

Reply #16 –
Quote from: Barry & Cindy –
Here is a clever mod: Put an air pressure switch in series with air horn solenoid coil wire.

Never burn out existing horn solenoid anymore.

Use a pressure switch that closes at the PSI needed to for the air horns to make a sound. Is that 10 - 20 PSI ?
Amazon.com: WEICHUANG 3PCS DC 3-24V 90dB Active Piezo Electronic Buzzer Beep...
Or a buzzer to alert you to it being  activated. No airlines and under 6$
As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.

Re: Got smoke from some valve behind my air gauge.

Reply #18 –
Follow up on my hot horn complaint and fix.

On the breaker panel behind the cover by the entry door, I removed wire #15 from breaker #26 (BAT buss) and moved it to breaker #13 (IGN buss) to get horn only with ignition switch on.  There was just enough wire to make the run without a splice.  Breaker #13 is self resetting 6 amp and only powered the ether relay wire #12, (which I removed from the breaker and will connect if I ever need ether....never been used as far as I know....sure is rusty), horn tested good. 

If I lay on the horn too long while underway some day, the auto resetting breaker could possibly trip, which to me is safer than having the solenoid let the smoke out again!!  JWID.  DWMYH.  Happy New Year, Woody.