Community Forums

lpasekof · 08-25-2014, 12:23 PM

I have 2003 Journey DL. I believe my rig has the feature where the hot water heater is heated by coolant from the engine while driving. I've discovered a leak that I originally thought was a hydraulic leak. Now I'm looking at the leak as possibly being on one of the coolant lines going to the hot water heater. I have a note into Winnebago Owner Support looking for diagrams that show this system. So far I have not found any online. Anyone have any experience with this?

whem2fish · 08-25-2014, 12:52 PM

I believe it is called motor aid I you can see the back of the water heater you will see the heater hose

Cousin Ed · 08-25-2014, 03:41 PM

You can access those diagrams online from the Winnebago site

zman-az · 08-25-2014, 04:27 PM

I bet it is your fresh waterline for the heater and not the coolant. Winnie has been known to use plastic fittings on the water heater for the fresh water inlet/outlet, helped my dad fix his 2003 Suncruiser. Not sure on your model, fixing it is the easy part, pulling the water heater if you can't get to the fittings may be the tough part.

bsamole · 08-26-2014, 02:14 AM

I just replaced the check valve on my 2000 Horizon water heater and noticed two black rubber type hoses going to the water heater from the engine. The lines enter the compartment where the water heater is located from the rear side where the inspection plate is located. The inspection plate has two notches for the engine coolant lines to pass through. I would open the radiator cap and compare the fluid in the radiator with the fluid on the ground to verify the leak is coolant.

lpasekof · 08-26-2014, 08:12 AM

It's not a freshwater line...it's coolant. Very red and gooey. I'll have to look to see if I can see the back of the water heater, but I think it's enclosed but it's a good thought. I could not find this diagram on the Winne site. I've looked and downloaded all of them hence my note into Winne.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I think to repair, I'm going to have to drop the muffler. I think this is the ultimate culprit for the problem. My muffler separated from a flange while driving and I think the hot gasses burned a very small hole in the hose. All this stuff is very tightly tucked up above this coupling. :-(