Community Forums

patrickemb · 07-08-2019, 05:52 PM

Purchased a clock spring from Spartan last summer. Finally installed it today. Was getting tired of my cruise, wipers and horn working part time. Now for the bad news. Just finished the install. Worked for less than a minute. Can always tell by whether the horn works or not. Guess it wasn't the clock spring. 300 bucks I think for nothing. Anyone got any ideas what the problem might be. Can call spartan but not sure I'll get any help there. Called today to ask how to remove the top cover on the steering wheel and they advised to take it to a spartan repair shop. I shouldn't do it. It wasn't that hard of a job. Sure could use some help, leaving on Monday for 2 months. Thanks

tom chelbana · 07-08-2019, 06:37 PM

On our 04 Essex we lost the wipers and cruise control and first time it was the connection to the black box in the outside cabinet under drivers seat. I would suggest pulling it out and then reinstall and see if that fixed it. Then 2 or 3 years later the black box it self had burn marks on the outside and lost all steering wheel control and had to replace box for around 500$.
Newmar Man

Renipladlo · 07-08-2019, 10:33 PM

If yours is like my last one, find out where the control box is. Using smart wheel diagnostics document, (you will need a little dielectric grease for this fix), following the directions, do the wire removal in the order they suggest, after taking it off, put a little of the grease on the spade terminal, then put it back on, and go to the next one, eventually, you will have removed them all, coated them all and put back together. I would bet good cup of coffee, that one or more of those connectors has built up a little surface corrosion, taking them lose, coating them and putting them back breaks that corrosion, and it won't happen again cause you coated each one. That was what was wrong with mine (SOB Brand) but the controller has not changed much. See if this does not fix it.

patrickemb · 07-09-2019, 05:16 AM

Yes I did that before buying the clock spring. Spartan had me try that 1st. I used to think it was a short somewhere due to vibration but after last evening doing the install the coach wasn't running I just turned the key to the on position to test it. That's when it worked for a minute or less.

patrickemb · 07-09-2019, 05:20 AM

Renipladlo I will try that. I'll call them this morning. I can't remember the sequence either. I learned that the hard way causing the horn to go off and it was early in the morning at a rv park when I did it. Lol

KiteSquid · 07-17-2019, 07:09 PM

Does anybody have a copy of the smartwheel diagnostic document that they can send me?

Nevermind Me · 07-18-2019, 07:40 AM

Hello. I own an 08 MA and had an issue last year with my cruise and wiper controls. Cruise wouldn't hold and would come on by itself. I took it to a Spartan shop to have it fixed. They consulted with Spartan and replaced the clock spring. However, that didn't fix the problem. Ultimately they replaced the control module (buttons on the steering wheel) for $1500 and all controls have worked since. Good luck with your repair!

Tizbad · 07-18-2019, 10:02 AM

I had this happen several times this past March. Just for fun, I disconnected the chassis batteries for a min. and reconnected them. This reboot solved my problem several times. I also disconnected the control box once, while leaving the batteries connected and that also worked. Then, I scheduled an appointment at Newmar to have this added to my little list with them that was already started, and it "self healed". I suspect mine is temperature related but can't be sure until about November.
You might try a reboot to see if it comes back for you.

patrickemb · 07-18-2019, 11:02 AM

I am on the road since Monday. Made it to Colorado with cruise and everything else working for 2 days in a row while on the road. Parked now for a month. The only thing I did after the clock spring install was to go outside to the control box. The 4 wire connector looked loose. I unplugged it causing the horn to go off which I knew would happen. Previous experience. Connection looked good and clean. Replugged connertor. Still didn't feel like a solid connect even though it was. Decided to take a zip tie and tie it to the larger plug above it to help support it and reduce vibration. So far so good.