First trip out problems

cabin man · 05-14-2010, 06:02 PM

First trip out this season and nothing but problems. After going about 10 miles the alternator light and alarm came on , shows only charging around 11 volts, we only were going a hour away from home and had reservations so continued on. Made it to campground with no more problems. DW was watching me open the door to the electric compartment and noticed the door was separating on the top from the body, looks like screws have pulled out. Have no idea as to how to repair this, can't get to it from the compartment. The motorhome is a 2008 HR vacationer with the 340 diesel pusher. Any ideas on how to fix the door? It's only has 4300 miles on it and no warranty, what a shame.

Elkhartjim · 05-14-2010, 06:24 PM

What a lucky man. First trip out and you only had two problems. You need to get on your knees and give thanks. We use our mh on average every three weeks and I have at least two problems each trip.

There has to be access to those hinges someplace.

chattacuda · 05-15-2010, 06:02 AM

Sorry to hear about your problems, but I agree not unusual to have them. Why else would everyone carry such big tool boxes? Would be a shame to haul them around and never use them!! Seriously though, we had a similar charging problem on a previous motorhome. We were coming back from florida and the charge light came on; I started the generator which also charges the chassis batteries, and came on home. After wrestling out the huge alternator and taking it to a friend who rebuilds alternators, he told me the alternator was fine. I wound up running a new voltage sensing wire and then it worked great. I would check all your connections first and clean them and put a dielectric grease on them.

TXiceman · 05-15-2010, 07:32 AM

cabin man, sorry to hear about the problems. If you have a volt meter, check the battery voltage at the batteries with the engine off also with it running. With the engine running you should be getting 13.5 to 13.8 volts to charge the batteries. Any less you have a problem.

Ken

cabin man · 05-16-2010, 05:32 AM

Thanks for the advice, of course left volt meter at home, but we are only out for the weekend so will check out when we get home. Looking at the dash meter I tend to agree it's either a bad connection or regulator. Hope it's not the alternator, would that be covered under Cumming's warranty if it is?

-Gramps- · 05-16-2010, 06:30 AM

It should if it isn't something in the house wiring drawing down the voltage. The door problem, it may be the same kind of problem my friend who owns a Vacationer like mine had with his door over the rear electrical connections. The screws behind the door molding at the top had missed the body, so when you open the door it comes loose. He had it repaired with pop rivets and then just touch up painted the rivets.

cabin man · 05-16-2010, 05:54 PM

Thanks Gramps mine was the same exact problem, I took a utility knife and scored the bead of silicone along the cover and then was able use a small block of wood to drive the cover off, that was a job probably 10 feet long. I had at least 6 screws that were broken, some I would say were that way from the factory. Drilled new holes next to the broken ones and used sheet metal screw to re-attach the bracket. Then was able to snap the cover back on with a rubber hammer. Looks like new and door works great.

Now next is to find out what's going on with the alternator, on the way home it would work fine for about 10 miles act up and then work fine for anothe 10, I'll check for loose wires in the morning.