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Old 05-23-2012, 08:38 PM   #1
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J72 AutoPark Trouble

This past Sunday it happened!


Around 1:20 PM the J72 Auto Park/Brake engaged as we were driving west on I-10 west of Tallahassee, FL. I always wondered what that would be like....


Out of the blue, a chime started and the BRAKE symbol lit up. 10 seconds later a faster chime started and the words AUTO PARK illuminated. My foot was off the gas as my mind processed this information and I could sense I was loosing speed. Got on the foot brake and within a few hundred feet was parked on the shoulder!!


I knew we weren't going anywhere under Workhorse power so, after placing the reflective triangles back down the highway, called CoachNet to get things going.
Opened the hood and found the pump assembly reservoir was empty. What the devil happened to the oil??? Didn't see any on the toad but there was a wet spot on the ground under the steering wheel area and everything around there on the chassis was wet. A hydraulic line blow-out???

CoachNet arranged a tow and called a campground to check availability in the Tallahassee area. It took two and one-half hours (it was Sunday) but Parkway Wrecker Service from Tallahasse showed up with one of the biggest rigs you'll see on the road. The tech knew just what was needed to tow a MH.
Stayed overnight at Tallahassee West KOA and Parkway Wrecker had us at Champion Chevrolet, a WH svc. center, around noon on Monday.
Workload kept them from getting to it Monday but 7:30 am Tuesday a tech started on the job. He refilled the reservoir and had me disengage the brake as he was underneath. A few seconds later he yelled, "I see it!"

The bottom line - the metal brake line had a pinhole in it where a larger metal power steering line was rubbing it for the last 88K miles. He replaced the bad section, tested the brake - it worked OK - and we were on our way again.


FJF
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Old 05-24-2012, 05:23 AM   #2
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Sorry that old Auto Park devil reared it's ugly head. Sounds like the way you quickly got to the shoulder minimized the damage. Plus a competent tow company and a repair facility that new what they were doing. This reminded me that my Coachnet needs to be renewed soon. Safe travels.
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Old 05-24-2012, 07:46 AM   #3
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Quote:
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The bottom line - the metal brake line had a pinhole in it where a larger metal power steering line was rubbing it for the last 88K miles. He replaced the bad section, tested the brake - it worked OK - and we were on our way again.
Excellent outcome! Would have liked to seen pictures of the exact point of failure so other owners could know where to look.
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Old 05-24-2012, 02:54 PM   #4
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Would have liked to seen pictures of the exact point of failure so other owners could know where to look.
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Mike, I knew you were going to be wondering about that. In about 10 days we'll be parked for a while and I'll try to get under there and see for myself.
The tech worked on it outside, next to the garage and everything was oily! No way was I going under there.
Oh, BTW, he did use a degreaser and water hose to clean up the chassis. That pin hole squirted oil all over.

FJF
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Old 05-24-2012, 03:23 PM   #5
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Thanks for the post and description on how it failed/your indications - glad it all worked out. You just reminded me and motivated me to get busy installing the Genie on my J71.
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Old 05-24-2012, 04:52 PM   #6
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Tomwalt: Pardon my ingorance, please translate "installing the Genie on my J71"?
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Old 05-24-2012, 06:36 PM   #7
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Oh, BTW, he did use a degreaser and water hose to clean up the chassis. That pin hole squirted oil all over.
Frank, It certainly does make a mess going 60! Sounds like your toad didn't get the worst of it like some folks have.
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Old 05-24-2012, 09:30 PM   #8
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I think what saved me was the fact that it was not a catastrophic failure like a cut/loose line where all the fluid bled out at once. As soon as the pressure starts dropping the initial alarm comes on. As the pressure continued to drop, the brake gradually engaged the drive shaft which is what I felt. Most of the fluid drained out after I was parked on the side of the road.

FJF
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Old 05-31-2012, 09:59 AM   #9
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OK, here is where my hydraulic line to the J72 Auto/Park Brake failed.

It is the pieced-out section behind the vertical line. I can speculate the line was originally bent outward, away from the large bolt for clearance, but then was impinged upon by the vertical power steering line. The tech bent it upward to clear the bolt.

This is inside the left frame member, just at the bottom left of the radiator.

FJF
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Old 05-31-2012, 10:37 AM   #10
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This is inside the left frame member, just at the bottom left of the radiator.
Frank, Thanks for the shot! I'm sure this cause a scattering of W24 owners to go and inspect their own plumbing to make sure that there's clearance between the lines.
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Old 06-05-2012, 08:54 AM   #11
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Frank;

Thanks for posting this.

I'll be taking a look at mine this weekend.

88,000 miles! I'm cruising along at 23,000, almost all to and from PA to FL.

Hope all is well with you.

-Tom
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