2004 u320 that froze

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2004 u320 that froze

March 07, 2024, 05:38:56 pm

I'm looking at a 2004 u320 that the owner passed away and I'm pretty sure things froze. I hooked up the water hose and water started pouring out both sides. I wasn't getting any water to any of the faucets. Anyone have a guess as to how much is damaged? Also, any idea how the aqua hot would of faired?

Re: 2004 u320 that froze

Reply #1 – March 07, 2024, 06:01:12 pm

In my opinion until you pull the vanity covers and start snooping around there isn't a real good way to guess on the damage. Could be little or could be big depending on how cold this coach was subject to and how long. Could be a money pit or a nice project coach.

Where is the coach located? Northern Michigan is a hole different winter than NE Texas.

Mike

Re: 2004 u320 that froze

Reply #2 – March 07, 2024, 06:01:53 pm

On the water part open the compartment doors and try and see where the water is coming from,if somehow the tanks got ruptured and internal water pipies your looking at major trouble,someone with aqua hot know how will chime in.

Re: 2004 u320 that froze

Reply #3 – March 07, 2024, 06:06:24 pm

An AquaHot that wasn't winterized and had the coil freeze and rupture needs a rebuild with a new coil, definitely over $10K there unless you can DIY the coil.

Washer/Dryer that froze if it had any water in it likely needs to be replaced.

Fridge may need new water line and/or icemaker (or perfect time to remodel to a residential).

Re: 2004 u320 that froze

Reply #4 – March 07, 2024, 07:26:29 pm

I hadn't even thought about the fridge and washer. It's in Georgia, a little south of Atlanta. We had a really cold week back in December where it was 20 at night. The house batteries are at 0 voltage too, the inverter won't even go into charge mode.

Re: 2004 u320 that froze

Reply #5 – March 07, 2024, 07:45:18 pm

The inverter will not charge dead batteries if it is a Prosine. I don't know which aqua hot is in this coach, but if it has the internal water loop it would need to be replaced.

Re: 2004 u320 that froze

Reply #6 – March 14, 2024, 05:41:52 pm

Ended up buying it. Turns out the starter was bad, Coach batteries are toast. House batteries are Lifeline 8d and are reading 0 voltage. I swapped in a good 8d and made sure it was charged, I got the inverter reset and the charge light is on, but the voltage just keeps dropping. I think the charge side of the inverter is toast, which may have contributed to the freezing. I think it was plugged in all winter, but without a 12v supply, the intelex system and aqua hot won't energize and function.

Only freeze damage was to the fittings right at the check valve just after the hose spool. and the line to the ice maker in the fridge. Seems I got lucky on that one.

I replaced the starter and chassis batteries (that was a pain) and she fired right up, but then the alternator wasn't charging. I checked and I have voltage at both the excite and sense connections on the alternator. So I'm thinking its just bad too.

Looks like she sat for about 3 years. The PO had it at FOT multiple times for service and repairs with the last one being about 3 years ago. We also found an invoice for replacing 100' of fence at FOT. I'm thinking he may have backed over some of the fence. That would explain the damage to the ladder. I think he hung up the keys after that.

Current plan is to replace the alternator. Replace the inverter with a Victron Multiplex wired to the whole system, add some solar on the roof and basically set this thing up for whatever situation can be thrown at it.

If anyone has any ideas on how to restore those lifeline batteries, I'm open to suggestions. I hate to see them just go to waste. Date code is 21 on them.

Re: 2004 u320 that froze

Reply #7 – March 14, 2024, 06:44:01 pm

Before replacing alternator:
where did you check to see if it was charging?
Did you check the isolator?
check the resistance in the sense line breaker?
Don't fall into the trap of all alternators are the same as you will need a DUVAC alternator to make the system work OEM.

Sounds like a decent project coach. Welcome to the tinker nation.

Mike

Re: 2004 u320 that froze

Reply #8 – March 14, 2024, 07:03:23 pm

I checked voltage at the isolator and the alternator as well as the breaker up front for the excite wire. Ordered the same part number as what is on there, so should be a direct replacement.

Re: 2004 u320 that froze

Reply #9 – March 14, 2024, 07:43:22 pm

Is the aquahot ok?

Re: 2004 u320 that froze

Reply #10 – March 14, 2024, 07:45:19 pm

With those checks you most likely have a bad alternator. Now I say that as it could be a bad voltage regulator or bad brushes due to overheating which either is a pretty simple fix. If this alt. was run for a period of time trying to charge a dead battery system then the stator could be melted down which for most people means just replace.

Mike

Re: 2004 u320 that froze

Reply #11 – March 14, 2024, 08:02:54 pm

The aqua hot seems ok. Getting a bunch of grit out of the hot water lines, but it does heat on electric. I can't get the diesel heater to fire, I need to dig into that. She runs great and is smooth and quiet. Totally different experience than the 91 with the Detroit

I'd like to get the alternator rebuilt to have as a spare if anyone has a shop near Atlanta, GA they would recommend.

Re: 2004 u320 that froze

Reply #12 – March 14, 2024, 08:28:09 pm

Because of sitting not used, the burner will need servicing as a minimum.

Re: 2004 u320 that froze

Reply #13 – March 14, 2024, 09:31:42 pm

Tappy tap on the alternator while running. Maybe the brushes are stuck , crusty . New is nice tho .

Re: 2004 u320 that froze

Reply #14 – March 14, 2024, 09:34:29 pm

I'm-a-thinking you need to relocate to east Texas for a bit and take advantage of Mike's and Rudy's knowledge.

Re: 2004 u320 that froze

Reply #15 – March 14, 2024, 09:39:04 pm

Pictures of the new coach or it didn't happen!

Re: 2004 u320 that froze

Reply #16 – March 14, 2024, 10:18:59 pm

Quote from: kgrover – March 14, 2024, 05:41:52 pm

Looks like she sat for about 3 years. The PO had it at FOT multiple times for service and repairs with the last one being about 3 years ago. We also found an invoice for replacing 100' of fence at FOT. I'm thinking he may have backed over some of the fence. That would explain the damage to the ladder. I think he hung up the keys after that.

When we were at FOT a while back the fence was knocked over. I asked about it and was told someone was backing their coach up with the wife behind directing. She told him to stop and he hit the go petal, instead of the brake. Coach went up and over curb and pinned wife between coach and fence. Not real sure what happened to her.

Re: 2004 u320 that froze

Reply #17 – March 14, 2024, 10:41:22 pm

Quote from: Rudy – March 14, 2024, 08:28:09 pm

Because of sitting not used, the burner will need servicing as a minimum.

Is there a rebuild kit I should order? or is it just pull it a part first to see what it needs?

Re: 2004 u320 that froze

Reply #18 – March 15, 2024, 12:39:38 am

Quote from: kgrover – March 14, 2024, 05:41:52 pm

Ended up buying it. Turns out the starter was bad, Coach batteries are toast. House batteries are Lifeline 8d and are reading 0 voltage. I swapped in a good 8d and made sure it was charged, I got the inverter reset and the charge light is on, but the voltage just keeps dropping. I think the charge side of the inverter is toast, which may have contributed to the freezing. I think it was plugged in all winter, but without a 12v supply, the intelex system and aqua hot won't energize and function.

Only freeze damage was to the fittings right at the check valve just after the hose spool. and the line to the ice maker in the fridge. Seems I got lucky on that one.

I replaced the starter and chassis batteries (that was a pain) and she fired right up, but then the alternator wasn't charging. I checked and I have voltage at both the excite and sense connections on the alternator. So I'm thinking its just bad too.

Looks like she sat for about 3 years. The PO had it at FOT multiple times for service and repairs with the last one being about 3 years ago. We also found an invoice for replacing 100' of fence at FOT. I'm thinking he may have backed over some of the fence. That would explain the damage to the ladder. I think he hung up the keys after that.

Current plan is to replace the alternator. Replace the inverter with a Victron Multiplex wired to the whole system, add some solar on the roof and basically set this thing up for whatever situation can be thrown at it.

If anyone has any ideas on how to restore those lifeline batteries, I'm open to suggestions. I hate to see them just go to waste. Date code is 21 on them.

Years back, I bought a DP out of someone's yard and fixed it up. It was not a FT, so I repaired it for resale.

Your journey sounds like so much fun! I love the detective work, the research, and the conquering of the problems!

Re: 2004 u320 that froze

Reply #19 – March 15, 2024, 04:06:40 am

Pictures as requested. She is very dirty outside, but the inside is clean.

Re: 2004 u320 that froze

Reply #20 – March 15, 2024, 07:46:04 am

Slides- do they move?

Re: 2004 u320 that froze

Reply #21 – March 15, 2024, 08:36:17 am

Quote from: erniee – March 15, 2024, 07:46:04 am

Slides- do they move?

With the house batteries dead my guess is that there would be a good chance burning up pump motor with the low voltage if tried.

Re: 2004 u320 that froze

Reply #22 – March 15, 2024, 08:57:19 am

As for a "Rebuild Kit" for the Aqua Hot, you need to order 2 or 3 nozzles for the burner. You can add one or two fuel filters for the Aqua Hot. The filter will be either a Racor R12T or a Garber filter.

The filter is the least necessary item for burner service and the nozzle is the most necessary. You can change the filter when you change the engine and generator filters if you want to.

Pull the burner out, R&R the nozzle, clean the swirler, clean the flame sensor, wipe the ignitor points and check their gap. Gap gauge is on the burner case at 10 O'clock to the left of the coil. Remount the burner and turn it on. Exhaust should be clean and clear, no visible vapor. If smokey as it heats up, let it run to cook off unfired fuel in the exhaust system. You are done.

Re: 2004 u320 that froze

Reply #23 – March 15, 2024, 11:04:13 am

Quote from: erniee – March 15, 2024, 07:46:04 am

Slides- do they move?

Yup. once we got the system aired up so the bladders would deflate, the slides worked perfect. I didn't try then with the dead house batteries, I was trying to air the system up with the 12v compressor and it was taking too long. I brought a large compressor the next day and hooked that in to air it up. Slides work, leveling works, tag goes up and down.

Re: 2004 u320 that froze

Reply #24 – March 15, 2024, 11:41:31 am

That's a beauty. Keep up the good work!

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