Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > THE OWNER'S CORNER FORUMS > Alpine Coach Owner's Forum
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 12-21-2006, 12:17 PM   #1
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Pensacola, Fl.
Posts: 67
Since finding this website, I sure have been needy. I hope I will be able to enjoy it and at least one day help others, but currently I need help again.
Today the coach lost power, it was drivable, but no get up and go. I got it to Cummins and they've just informed me that it's the charge air cooler. The problem is that they are saying it will be 6 to 8 weeks before they can get one! I've called the factory and left numerous messages, but can't get anyone on the phone to see if they will pull one off the production line to save me. What horrible timing, I'm in MS, my wife and kids are in FL and we're due to leave for NC on the 26th. Any ideas? Please call me on my cell if you can @ 850 723-1089. Mindy had to post this from home, I'm computerless. Heath
__________________
Heath & Mindy,Katie,Dylan Oestricher

2001 Alpine 38 FDDS
2racer is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 12-21-2006, 12:17 PM   #2
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Pensacola, Fl.
Posts: 67
Since finding this website, I sure have been needy. I hope I will be able to enjoy it and at least one day help others, but currently I need help again.
Today the coach lost power, it was drivable, but no get up and go. I got it to Cummins and they've just informed me that it's the charge air cooler. The problem is that they are saying it will be 6 to 8 weeks before they can get one! I've called the factory and left numerous messages, but can't get anyone on the phone to see if they will pull one off the production line to save me. What horrible timing, I'm in MS, my wife and kids are in FL and we're due to leave for NC on the 26th. Any ideas? Please call me on my cell if you can @ 850 723-1089. Mindy had to post this from home, I'm computerless. Heath
__________________
Heath & Mindy,Katie,Dylan Oestricher

2001 Alpine 38 FDDS
2racer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-22-2006, 03:45 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Old Scout's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,396
Unfortunately, there aren't too many good options for you. You didnt mention your coach year but assume the charge air is the same/ similar to our 2003 and was made by Radiator Specialists (RS)in Sacramento Ca. (Yup-same as the "new" aluminum radiator guys). Dont think WRV has any coaches in production right now. Also, there are atleast two different models of C/As--I know because they shipped me the wrong one the first time (make sure you get the exact measurements to RS). I also had trouble getting RS to release a C/A directly to me without WRV approval, claiming the part was propriotary to WRV. It took about two weeks to get a replacement C/A--not counting the first two week we waited for the wrong model to arrive. As I recall, the C/A was about $1800 and another $450 shipping to Tx...
__________________
Old Scout
2015 IH45 Foretravel
2003 Alpine 40' MDTS [Sold]
New Braunfels, Texas
Old Scout is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 12-22-2006, 05:44 PM   #4
Moderator Emeritus
 
Cruzer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Sheboygan, WI
Posts: 5,642
In a worse case scenario I'd see if they could bypass it. Take the hose that feeds it and connect it direct to the hose coming out via a piece of steel exhaust tubing. If your charge air cooler leaks you'll lose all your boost and your power drops drastically, as you already found out . It's purpose is to cool the incoming air so that it is denser. By bypassing it you won't get cold air but at least you won't have any leaks and you should be able to make it home. 80% power is a lot better than 15%. At least you can get home and bebetter equipped to service it at your convenience.
__________________
Mark & Leann Quasius
2016 Cornerstone 45A
2020 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon
2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
Cruzer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-22-2006, 07:45 PM   #5
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Pensacola, Fl.
Posts: 67
Thanks for the info, Mark at WRV was able to get a new CAC for me and shipped out to cummins in Jackson, Ms. Great thanks to Mark Harrah at WRV service center for handling this issue so quickly as my rig is a integral part of my business and 6-8 weeks down time would cost me greatly.I have left the rig in Jackson and returned home for Christmas, the CAC should be in Jackson on WEd. after Christmas when Cummins reopens. I'm not so sure I won't go back and make the swap myself even if I have to do it in a truck stop parking lot. I'm going to make a few calls to guys that I race with in the area and see just how close they are to the rig's location to maybe borrow a driveway or something. I've had the power steering cooler out for repair after a tire blowout(ripped the weld bung clean out of the side of the tank)and it doesn't appear to be much more work to get the CAC swapped out. Or is it ?!?
Thanks again for all info.
THanks Cruzer for viable option by by-passing. I have the world's largest "toad"(not kidding) so how would that have been on the engine without cooler?
Thanks for the call Dean, crossing my fingers for right size.
__________________
Heath & Mindy,Katie,Dylan Oestricher

2001 Alpine 38 FDDS
2racer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-23-2006, 06:46 AM   #6
Moderator Emeritus
 
Cruzer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Sheboygan, WI
Posts: 5,642
That's great news, certainly better than 6-8 weeks. Running warm air into the engine won't let it run at max power but it would have been better than no boost. If you did get to a severe long grade where it really got hot the engine would sense that and derate the power output so you wouldn't hurt anything.
__________________
Mark & Leann Quasius
2016 Cornerstone 45A
2020 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon
2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
Cruzer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-31-2006, 07:35 PM   #7
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Pensacola, Fl.
Posts: 67
Here's a little tip if you ever lose power in your RV,when the shop says you need a charge air cooler ask them to check other possibilities LIKE THE PAC-BRAKE NOT DISENGAGING/GETTING STUCK!!! Just spent alot of$$$$ for a part that was not my problem. Yes the CAC was leaking but it had been leaking apparently from a tire blowing out and striking the power steering cooler(which mounts to the bottom of the CAC) many many months ago. I sure hope I notice a power gain, I could have litterally chewed titanium nails when I trest drove the rig down the road and the same issue existed. This is just like racing -it is VERY EXPENSIVE TO LEARN RVlessons, hopefully I can save at least one person from getting caught in this same scenario. Now I not only have to fix the HACK JOB performed by the mechanic cutting out the aluminum panel around the CAC(new stlyle CAC required opening up the area a bit) I get to install the part I actually need.
__________________
Heath & Mindy,Katie,Dylan Oestricher

2001 Alpine 38 FDDS
2racer is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Charge air cooler JOC1212 Country Coach Owners Forum 8 10-01-2008 02:06 PM
Exhaust Manifold Leak and Charge Cooler Leak Test gandl2 Alpine Coach Owner's Forum 7 03-19-2008 08:05 PM
Charge Air Cooler skyguy62 Alpine Coach Owner's Forum 1 11-12-2007 09:07 AM
Charge Air Cooler cleaning quikduk Spartan Motorhome Chassis Forum 1 09-17-2007 09:44 AM
00 itasca suncruiser ac charge ports for bsmt air Kubo Winnebago Industries Owner's Forum 4 03-24-2006 05:56 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:46 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.