Community Forums

texasmimi · 10-17-2015, 05:51 PM

Hello, I am new to the forum. My husband and I have recently re-purchased a 98 American Eagle which we owned from 04 to 2012. Due to illness, we sold it in 2012. A short time later my husband had a lung transplant and began doing much better. We loved our coach and missed it very much. So, we called the person that purchased and asked if he would like to sell it. He said yes and we were elated. The first owner took excellent of the unit as did we. The lady we sold it to, took great care with the interior. However, the maintenance on the mechanical is debatable. Granted the unit is older now, but something really intense is wrong with the electrical system. We took the coach in and had a seal put in the rear end and the bearings packed, etc. After that the jacks would not go down. Had a man out and he said that we needed a control module. Quite expensive. Then the front a/c would not come on. Had a service man check it and we did not have enough amps. Put in a new board and had less amperage. Any thoughts.

Gary RVRoamer · 10-17-2015, 06:58 PM

I'm a bit perplexed what they meant by "not have enough amps". Sounds like techno-babble to me. An a/c draws as many amps as it needs, and a properly performing roof a/c should be needed about 12 amps, or very close to that. Might he have said not enough volts (it likes 115-120v)? But changing the control board doesn't affect volts. I think maybe you need a different repair guy.

MSHappyCampers · 10-18-2015, 10:57 AM

Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined us!

Congrats on the new rig! Keep her between the ditches!

Sorry I can't help with your problems!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

texasmimi · 10-18-2015, 01:18 PM

I did mean volts. I think that we have an electric ground problem. There are too many things that have all of a sudden stopped working. We have decided that we need to have to take to a motorhome specialist and ha e the entire electrical checked and see what has happened to our ground. Do not want to go to Indiana in the winter. Our dealer here takes an eternity to get anything done. Thanks for the input.

cbilodeau · 10-18-2015, 05:31 PM

I have a Pace Arrow 1999. For my motorhome the Battery control Center (BCC) is in the front of the truck.

If yours is also in the front of the motorhome under the hood, then you could have corrosion on a connector going to the BCC.

See my thread here.

I did not had problems with the Hydraulic jack or the A/C but still it depends on which wire has corrosion.

Mentor · 10-19-2015, 08:09 AM

Use this to coat your electrical and the printed circuit boards

Ship-2-Shore Fluid Thin Film Coatings Liquid Corrosion and Rust Control Systems

vsheetz · 10-19-2015, 08:15 AM

Ensure the batteries are in good condition and their charging system is working properly. The batteries may not have been maintained while it was away from you.

texasmimi · 10-20-2015, 07:33 PM

We definitely have a ground problem. However, we found a solenoid to be bad on the jacks and they are working now. One of the ground wires is being replaced. We have not gotten to the front a/c yet. Things are looking better, just not great as yet. Thanks to all who offered help and advice. Be safe. Happy traveling.

texnet · 10-20-2015, 07:41 PM

Look under the dash behind the brake pedal. You should have two large DC cables that are attached to feed-thru bolts. One is negative, one is positive. Make sure both are tight on the interior side and on the outside of the firewall. If they are loose all kinds of things will start failing!

KIX · 10-20-2015, 07:54 PM

Have you checked ALL the lugs in the electric distribution box for tightness. Also check connections inside transfer switch box and shore cord ends. Make that a part of annual maintenance.

wa8yxm · 10-21-2015, 12:16 PM

As for the jacks.. I have the same issue with mine, the control panel which is over 200 needs a replacement (Along with some other issues) being as I have a bit of .. .Well.. Training.. I found a less than 100 dollar way to put the jacks down and up with a far greater mean time between failure rating (Meaning it will last longer)

As for not enough amps for the A/C..... Me thinks the technician was blowing smoke.. but it is a fact that there are, for most A/Cs two parts called "Start Capacitors" one is called a "Hard Start" the other is not.

The Hard Start is used if the A/C is hard to start, it SOFTENS the load so a generator is less likely to max out .. It lowers peak amps or peak amp duration.

Your RV should be either 30 or 50 amps.. Look at the shore cord.. A 30 amp cord has 3 (As in 3-Zero) pins. A 50 amp has 4. IN both cases one is round or roundish. The others are flat.

NOTE: If you "Adapt" it down to a standard house (15 or 15/20 amp) Outlet) you may not have enough amps to start some Air Conditioners.

Note 2: IF you have a special outlet installed for the RV.. Go with a 50.. Several reasons but the big ones are as follows:

You can use an adapter to feed a 30 amp RV

If you "Upgrade" the RV... You will spend $0.00 upgrading the outlet since it's already upgraded.

And most important is: Electricians often screw up on 30 amp and damage your RV but 50 amp screw ups are few and very far between.

cbilodeau · 10-21-2015, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa8yxm

....

I found a less than 100 dollar way to put the jacks down and up with a far greater mean time between failure rating (Meaning it will last longer)

....

If you have the time to explain this cheap 100$ solution I would more than please to read about it. Mine is still working but it is 16 years old and I never know when it will fail. If it does, then I will take your solution.

You can also open a new thread to explain the solution.

Thanks in advance

texnet · 10-22-2015, 06:17 PM

OP sent me a PM on the 20th at 11:19am...

"Thanks so much for the heads up on the cable connections under the brake. We found one to be corroded and partially eaten through. Do not know yet how much it will help or if it will fix any of our problems, but definitely a problem that needed immediate attention. Again, thanks so much for your knowedge and input. Gratefully, Olroy and Patsy"

I know from personal experience on a 99 American Dream that my cousin purchased that the coach would not start, jacks would not work and 90% of the electrical was dead. He couldn't figure it out so we drove to New Mexico and about an hour after we arrived I found the problem to be a loose 12VDC battery cable under the dash. Once that cable was tight everything worked!

BernerDad · 10-22-2015, 09:01 PM

You might want to join the American Coach yahoo group. Lots of knowledgeable and very helpful folks specifically for American Coach motor homes, especially older ones.

2015 American Revolution 42G
John & Dorene with Lexie, Bailey, Brie (Bernese Mountain Dogs), Chloe (American Eskimo, RIP), and Ember (German Shepard Dog)