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Alga Forrest · 10-04-2010, 11:50 PM

Anyone who has a 2009 model might want to check this if you have no dash A/C. First, I called DeMartini's my dealer, who delivered it "not working". They claimed that they didn't service A/C, that I would have to take it to Sacramento, to a truck facility for repair.
Being Type II certified, I had gauges and hooked them up to check the system. The factory had actually vacuumed the system, but failed to charge it with R134a, prior to delivery to the dealer....so it was a simple matter of vacuuming and retesting for any leakdown and recharging it.

deaton · 10-09-2010, 07:56 AM

Alga -

Good catch!

FWIW, I had a dash air failure on my 08 Camelot. Unit had 7k miles at the time. Turned out to be a failure of the lousy Chinese drier canister that allowed pellets to plug the expansion valve. Relatively easy fix, but would not have happened with a quality part in the first place. You probably have the exact same cannister in your Knight.

Earlier I had a failure of a Chinese seal in my Lippert hydraulic pump that required that unit to be rebuilt and the motor replaced. Although caling that failed part a "seal" was a gross exageration.

Alga Forrest · 10-09-2010, 09:19 PM

Dan,
My kitchen slide was creeping out while parked over a period of a couple of weeks. The bottom creeps out about 1/2". This will be one of the next things I'll check out....I'm leary of the Lippert hydraulic pump. We'll see.
By the way, what kind of temps does your dash AC put out relative to outside temp. I'm looking at a 20-25 degree differential, which I'm guessing is normal for this, sitting in the driveway.

bullydogs1 · 10-10-2010, 10:19 AM

That Lippert pump on your coach...is not a question of if it will fail...it is WHEN it FAILS...and if your slides are out, jacks down...you are in trouble...watch it carefully for the first signs of a leak..also, there are two screws on the front of the motor with a bell housing..Take off housing and see if oil leaks out...that's the smoking gun..call Lippert at once and they will stand behind it..At least they did with a bunch of people here..mine failed in my driveway..RV Ron's failed with everything down and he almost had a fire...the new motors are of a different design...

Alga Forrest · 10-10-2010, 09:24 PM

I checked all the lines around the pump today. No external leaks. I've got a feeling, I've got a problem. I'll pull the motor cover tomorrow and check it out.

deaton · 10-12-2010, 01:07 PM

Alga -

Here are some links regarding the Lippert -

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f115/lci-...nce-69232.html

As for the dash air, I'm seeing about 20 degree difference also now that it's repaired.

The problem with dash air is that you have a unit designed to cool a standard sized pickup truck installed behind 50-60 square feet of greenhouse glass with about twenty times the interior volume of a pickup to be cooled.

It's ok if the outside temp is 85 degrees or so, but much above that level, I have to switch on the generator and roof air.

WOODYDEL · 10-12-2010, 01:34 PM

So running an AC compressor without lubrication is OK? It must have been cycling on or staying on continuously. No damage?

You could have a hidden problem which will pop up later. This description I pasted has something missing. Not putting in the refrigerant!?

LUBRICATION FAILURE

Just as this is a common cause of engine problems, so too is lubrication failure that most common cause of compressor problems. Remember, the compressor needs to be lubricated by a special refrigerant compatible oil. The oil is "carried" through the a/c system by the refrigerant. The oil will not circulate without refrigerant. Therefore, compressor failure due to a lubrication problem is caused by:

Loss of refrigerant which means no carrier of the oil and no lubrication for the compressor.
A blockage in the system. This will keep oil from returning to the compressor and will normally show up as too low a reading on the low pressure gauge. "Too Low" a reading means 0-10 PSI or a vacuum. The blockage may be in the form of:
1. A clogged filter drier/expansion valve/orifice tube.
2. Moisture in the system. (If the driver says the air conditioner works okay for a short time then starts blowing hot air and that if he turns it off for a while and then turns it on it works again for a short time, the odds are that there is moisture in the system. (A defective thermostat or clutch cycling switch will cause the same symptoms, however a watery smell will also be present.) Follow steps 1 thru 8 of the "SERVICE PROCEDURES" and make sure the drier/accumulator is replaced, and evacuate for 45 minutes.
3. A mechanically closed expansion valve. Some types may be removed and blown through (with mouth) to check.

Who knows what's next? Save a few bucks and not bother putting oil in the engine?

plootsa · 10-12-2010, 02:30 PM

My 08 Berkshire went thru 2 compressors in a month,locked up and melted the serpintine belt towed to freightliner, tech told me there wasnt any oil in the compressor which was replaced 2 weeks before at a different freightliner dealer which tried to charge me $2400 $ 900 was for towing.Called Forestriver and they paid the whole bill still under warrenty.Works fine now

Alga Forrest · 10-12-2010, 10:23 PM

My compressor wasn't running, due to low pressure cutoff switch. Only the dash fan runs when you have a low or no charge. That was the first thing I checked, so no damage. Again, as you know, that's the purpose of the trinary switch. I bought this RV new. It was delivered to the dealer and then to me under vacuum. It doesn't leak, they just failed to charge it. I'll keep an eye on it, though. Any future problems will be covered under the service contract.

Alga Forrest · 10-12-2010, 10:32 PM

deaton,
I called Lippert today. The 1st thing they wanted to do was check the rams for leakage....no leaks......HOWEVER, guess what I did find. The jam nut and lock nut on both rams, on the kitchen slide, had never been tightened. They were about 2" from the side of the slide where they are supposed to be locked. I checked the other side, expecting the same problem...they were fine. Can you believe it? ......and I'll be calling Lippert again in the morning for the next step

WOODYDEL · 10-13-2010, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alga forrest

my compressor wasn't running, due to low pressure cutoff switch. Only the dash fan runs when you have a low or no charge. That was the first thing i checked, so no damage. Again, as you know, that's the purpose of the trinary switch. I bought this rv new. It was delivered to the dealer and then to me under vacuum. It doesn't leak, they just failed to charge it. I'll keep an eye on it, though. Any future problems will be covered under the service contract.

Did not know. All systems come this way? Why are compressors running when low? I tried looking up AC trinary switchs as parts for various vehicles and found none. When you had your AC on wouldn't the compressor not turning be a very big clue for someone else?

I found it. Even my hot rod books have them listed. Still wondering why compressors are still running when refrigerant is low.

In another post I placed this link since it seemed very well informed and a good source of info but upon going back, no mention of a trinary switch.

http://www.autoacsystems.com/_faqs/d...ompressor.html

Alga Forrest · 10-13-2010, 10:32 PM

Woodydel,
Thanks for forwarding all the info. Good webswite. You can never be too careful. The dealer either knew and didn't tell me or maybe he didn't even know. My dealer was DeMartini's. I purchased this in November 2009. You would have thought they would have checked it out. Who knows.

plootsa · 10-14-2010, 07:39 AM

My 08 Berkshire came with the trinary switch which was supplied by acme air which is out of bussiness,i ordered one 2 years ago because mine went bad also dont know if Evans Tempcon has them.