Actia Instrument Cluster Failure

[byers]

My coach is an 2004 30' Airstream Land Yacht MH with +/- 39,000 mi. I have the same problem as posted by wdfreshour on 2/22 in that my LCD odometer has become illegible. Workhorse has referred me to their service centers who have quoted a much higher replacement unit cost than that quoted to myself and others by Actia, plus up to 2 hrs. labor. It would obviously be to my advantage to remove and ship the unit myself. The problem: It seems like the instrument cluster cannot be removed without first dismounting the dashboard which has MANY screws. Is there anyone with experience with this model who would be willing to share the secret? And, I am out of warranty and do not have an extended warranty.
Secondly, as to cause of failure: I there anyone with this problem who has found a faulty ground wire in their ignition or tow-car as suggested? My toad connections operate flawlessly, even after this occurred, so I assume that would not be a factor, but I could be wrong.

[woodyk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by byers My coach is an 2004 30' Airstream Land Yacht MH with +/- 39,000 mi. I have the same problem as posted by wdfreshour on 2/22 in that my LCD odometer has become illegible. Workhorse has referred me to their service centers who have quoted a much higher replacement unit cost than that quoted to myself and others by Actia, plus up to 2 hrs. labor. It would obviously be to my advantage to remove and ship the unit myself. The problem: It seems like the instrument cluster cannot be removed without first dismounting the dashboard which has MANY screws. Is there anyone with experience with this model who would be willing to share the secret? And, I am out of warranty and do not have an extended warranty. Secondly, as to cause of failure: I there anyone with this problem who has found a faulty ground wire in their ignition or tow-car as suggested? My toad connections operate flawlessly, even after this occurred, so I assume that would not be a factor, but I could be wrong.

I had the same problem as you and it was a loose ground connection with the toad wiring at the mh end. Also I to replaced my Actia cluster. Get you a small elec screw driver and remove all the phillips #2 screws on your instrument panel that holds the cluster. Tilt you wheel all the way aft and you will now have access to the two electrical connectors. First of all contact Actia, phone # 1-574-266-2672, I talked with Paul Windbigler, and he was very helpful. You need to get your mileage and in my case they sent me a new cluster with FED-X return so I removed my old cluster when I got the new one and sent the old one to them. When you replace the screws be careful not to overtighten for you can easily strip them out. So barely snug them down -- do not you the elec srew driver when replacing for this will strip them out.

Woodyk
2004 Allergro Bay
W22 chasis

[Bob (WA0MQE)]

Woodyk... you said "Actia sent you a new cluster." Was it actually a new cluster or a reconditioned cluster? Also can you give the cost for the new cluster?

[George Z]

Quote:

Originally Posted by woodyk When you replace the screws be careful not to overtighten for you can easily strip them out. So barely snug them down -- do not you the elec srew driver when replacing for this will strip them out.

Good advise. Definitely be careful. I would know.LOL

George

[woodyk]

It was a new cluster--mine was still under warranty so I couldn't tell you the price--

Woodyk

[byers]

To Woodyk - Thanks for the input. The configuration of my dash is different than you describe as the cluster is secured to the rear of the dash by 5 screws requiring an Alan (hex) wrench. That I can deal with. There is no room behind the dash to remove those, lower the unit to unplug the electrics and slide it out. Or so it seems. There are at least 9 #2-1 1/4" phillips head screws to remove plus others that I beleive are attaching other hardware (i.e., 12v access, leveler controls, fan and A/C controls, etc.) to the dash and my plan was to remove those screws and pull the dash forward enough to remove the cluster connections from the rear and slide it up and out. I was hoping someone familiar with this coach would see this and confirm the plan.
To you and others reading this: Yes, the price quoted me by Actia was $354 + S&H for a reconditioned unit. The Workhorse shops I called said their estimate was for a recon unit as well although we did not discuss my call to Actia.
Also, thanks for the groundwire tip. I will check this out. My connector has given me periodic trouble and been repaired a couple of times but never with this result. It is one reason my Wife and I go through a light check each time we hook up to be sure the system is operative before we hit the road.
Byers

["007"]

byers welcome to irv2.
There is a ground post with white ground wires on the lower frame where your bumper will be drivers front side. You have to look under front bumper and you will see it, maybe on cross member of frame. On this threaded post which should be welded there will be around six white wires. They provide grounds to your HWH solenoids and grounds to dash panels & fuse panel.
If nut is loose remove all wires clean than replace wiped with di-electric grease and use a star washer under nut so nut will stay tight.

[byers]

Appreciate the response 007 and I'll be sure to check this out!!!

[Magumba]

We had the panel replaced in December under our extended warranty due it being very hard to read. The shop replaced the whole dash display not just the digital display. The cost with installation was $500+- but we only paid the deductable.
Actia sent the dash display to the shop programed with the same milage we had on the camper at that time.
The new display works great and has a slightly orange color.

2003 Suncruiser 38G

[Arch Hoagland]

I'm on my third cluster. All work was covered by warranty. This cluster, with orange color display, is easy to see. However on every trip it goes bonkers at least once...all gauges go to zero, the alarm sounds, all lights flash. It used to scare me and I'd stop and check everything out. Now I just ignore it and in about 15 seconds everything starts to work good again.
I think I'll just leave it alone and live with it as I'm out of warranty. Refurbished electronics never fail at the factory if they have an intermittent problem. I noticed you had an option of buying a new one or a refurb. Go for a new one.

Actia is on the bottom of my most favored companies list.

My old cluster was sent to the factory when this last one was installed. The dealer said they had to do that to transfer the mileage reading.

For those of you who did the work yourself how did you transfer the mileage number?

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arch Hoagland For those of you who did the work yourself how did you transfer the mileage number?

Arch, A servicer can not change the mileage on the odometer. Only Actia has the authority and technology to spin up the mileage. This is why replacing an IP is not something that is taken lightly. Some government folks would get upset if you could spin up the odometer without any safeguards.

The reasons why the IP resets has nothing to do with Actia. It has everything to do with communications over the vehicle's data bus. The only thing that the IP does is display the results.

["007"]

If your having repeated problems with your display check out this post may help solve your problem.
Have not had a problem with my 7 year old chassis display.

[Arch Hoagland]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DriVer Arch, A servicer can not change the mileage on the odometer. Only Actia has the authority and technology to spin up the mileage. This is why replacing an IP is not something that is taken lightly. Some government folks would get upset if you could spin up the odometer without any safeguards. The reasons why the IP resets has nothing to do with Actia. It has everything to do with communications over the vehicle's data bus. The only thing that the IP does is display the results.

You are correct and that is why I asked how did the people who changed their own cluster do it without sending it back to Actia.

[byers]

Perhaps my previous posts were misunderstood; I was never offered the option to purchase a new instrument cluster, either by Actia or a Workhorse service center. The option I was given was either to furnish them a signed statement of mileage on the failed cluster and they would insert that into a replacement unit to be shipped for me to install then return the failed cluster to them; or, if the mileage was illegible, to ship the failed cluster to them, they would read the mileage on their proprietary equipment, insert it into a refurbished unit and ship it to me for installation. We keep trip logs so we thought we could give a fairly accurate guess but since the LCD was illegible I chose the latter and was able to remove the dashboard (11 screws) and pull it forward enough to pull the two electrical plugs and remove 5 hex bolts to release the cluster and remove it. The turnaround time to recieve the new unit is +/- 3 weeks and I am now in waiting mode and checking groundwires as advised.
My thanks to all who have offered their help. Perhaps my experience will help others. The task is not as daunting as it seems - although I don't have it back together yet. Fingers crossed.