Newbie with a couple of questions

[Boh]

Hi all,

My wife and I recently purchased a 1997 Dutch Star Diesel Pusher. This is our first Motorhome. We have owned travel trailers in the past and have talked for years about buying a Motorhome and this deal came along that we could not pass up. So here we are with a couple of questions:

1. I have tried out the leveling jacks and had no problem extending them and getting the coach level. However, when it came time to retract them for storage I was surprised that they collapsed abruplty. I though they would retract the same way that they extended, kind of slow. Am I doing something wrong?

2. When we purchased the coach all of the gauges were checked to insure that they were working and registering pressures and temperatures. Suddenly yesterday when I started the coach the oil pressure gauge started to climb normally and then suddenly pegged out to the high side of the guage. I turned the engine off and started it again with the same results. The engine is an 8.3L Cummins. I think it may be the sending unit but was wondering if it might be something else.

I would appreciate any assistance that you all could provide. We are hoping to take a little trip this weekend to the U.P. of Michigan for a color tour.

Boh

[DutchStar38]

Mine do the same thing. The weight of the coach forces out the pressure at a much greater rate than the pump that extends them. Once the coach has settled onto the frame then the springs gradually,(hopefully) retract them the rest of the way. Not to worry, now you know how it will store the levelers.

[Renden]

Boh
Welcome to the Forum - am also a newbie and appreciate the help received since I joined and some fine discussions - I am sure you will be hearing more on your gauge problems.

I suspect your Unit was checked by good competent people before delivery and that all fluids were maintained properly - Good luck - You have a fine MH

[Doc Mark]

BoH - welcome to the Newmar family. We're glad your here and look forward to hearing about your travels.

All Newmars that I know of, and most (if not all) coaches drop RAPIDLY when the jacks are stowed. DutchStar38 is right on the money as to the whys.

The oil pressure gauge issue is bothersome, as major damage can be done to an engine with no oil pressure or too much oil pressure. I would call the chassis manufacturer (Spartan or Freightliner) and tell them about the problem. They should be able to walk you through this issue. Spartan is 800-543-4277, sorry I don't have Freightlinbers handy.

Chris Freyer at Spartan is top notch with service issues.

Let us know how things turn out & welcome!

Mark

["007"]

Welcome Boh to the Newmar forum & irv2.
Congrats on your first Newmar many safe miles for you both.
As some one said the weight of you coach could cause sudden drop but I would check the fluid level in the fluid holding tank. The bell vent on top of tank will have some cut lines on shaft and fluid should be between them. Check fluid with all jacks retracted.
Once your oil heats up will gage show a normal reading?
If you go on the Quick Tips link you may find some of your answers also.
I'm sure you will have many more questions do post them on forum we always have allot of guest's that are interested also.

[Norm4015]

I had a 2000 DSDP that was one of the first ones built in 1999. After I bought it (new) I noticed when I started the engine the oil pressure gauge would peg at high pressure and then drop to zero. After the engine ran 2-3 minutes the gauge would show the correct oil pressure. Spartan told me to drive it and not worry about the gauge and a year later they replaced a module between the oil pressure sending unit and the gauge. The module was called something like Dumux and was located under the dash. All the dash gauges ran through that module.

If you can locate that module on your motorhome unplug the cable that runs to the oil pressure gauge and plug it back in. Could be a loose or dirty connection.

As asked above, does the oil pressure read correctly when the engine warms up? Also, the Cummins engines of that era had a problem with sending units on the engine. Cummins ended up replacing them with sending units that always showed 55 psi. I would check all connections from the engine sensor to the qauge.

[allynne]

Boh,

What chassis and engine do you have? That can be very important in determining the oil pressure problem.

Al Sawyer
'05 MADP

[Lug_Nut]

Quote "Chris Freyer at Spartan is top notch with service issues."

Mark, Actually, if going to Spartan that would be Chris McCord. Chris Freyer, though a Spartan man too, is normally at Newmar In Napanee.

Peter

[Doc Mark]

Hi Peter - they moved Chris Fryer back to Charlotte for most of the days about a year ago. He's who I have gotten the last few times I've called.

FYI

Mark

[Lug_Nut]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc Mark Hi Peter - they moved Chris Fryer back to Charlotte for most of the days about a year ago. He's who I have gotten the last few times I've called. FYI Mark

I was not aware of that. I have not been in Spartan since last October. I last saw Chris F. at Napanee a few visits ago.
Thanks for the heads ups Mark.

Peter

[Lane]

BoH

This may sound unconventional, it did to me, but a tech at Newmar used this procedure to prevent the "crash" when pulling up the jacks. With the jacks extended he started the engine and aired up the system. He then pulled the jacks. No crash. The down side is the alarm may drive you crazy. I'm sure the tech was deaf. I used this procedure primarily when we were really out of level. It does work. Loud, but it does work.

[Boh]

Hi All,

Thank you for your replies. I just returned from a 2 day conference so this is the first chance I have had to respond. My chassis is a Spartan and the engine is a Cummins 8.3L 300HP Diesel. The guage does not give an accurate reading, even when the engine warms up. It fluctuates all over the place from pegged all the way over high down to 20 then back up again to pegged out. That pretty well convinces me that it is the sending unit but I am having it checked out and should know something tomorrow. We are still hoping to take a color tour this weekend. Will keep you posted

Looks like we will be sending the coach down to the Newmar factory this winter for some updates/repairs also.

Boh

[Boh]

HI Lane,

I had thought about trying that but was unsure what would happen if I did. I'm still going slow trying to learn all of the systems in this thing.

Boh

[wa8yxm]

There are two types of jacks. Hydraulic and electric

Electric are slow down and usually slightly faster up

Hydraulics are slow down because the motor has to work hard to lift as much as 20,000 pounds of Motor home... But very fast up because.. Well,, they just open the valve and let her rip.