Newmar Parts - Lack Of.

[Oemtech]

I have 04 Mountain Aire gasser and the push button on the Black Tank display, for a better choice of words, took a dump.



No problem just call Newmar and get a replacement. Newmar CS say we need the parts # off the back of the display.



OK, I get the number and the CS says I have to replace the whole display to the tune of $146. Wait 2 weeks and get a call form CS... Part not available as the OEM is out of business. But, we may have something that "might" work and to call back if I want to pursue. I suspect I would have to do a bit of redneck enginerring to make work.

Now if this was a car.... they would be required by law to provide parts for x number of years and last date of manufacture.

What happens if a part, say slide controller module, goes south and Newmar does not have a replacement and they don't have an alternative solution.

OBTW - Another gotcha. The headlights/front side markers are for a 98 to 02 Mercury Marquis and the taillights are off a 97 Ford Ranger. How do I know this.... Needed a replacement as the light build reflector broke. Newmar $90 plus S/H. After market, same part #, $45 shipped free. Plus the dealer and Newmar could not tell me how to replace it as the mounting screws and adjustment screws were a mystery. Needless to say I had to reverse engineer the mounting.

[Mr_D]

Newmar, unlike a car manufacturer, is not compelled by law to maintain a parts level or availability. Newmar buys most of its parts from other manufacturers, if they go out of business that's the end of the parts supply.
We have the same panel in our 2002, I hope it doesn't quit!
What "gotcha" are you talking about? Very common in MH's to use headlight and taillight assemblies from other vehicles.

[Perry White]

Get a price for a grey tank sensor for the E-plex Over $1,200 . JUST FOR THE SENSOR.

[tyka]

I have the same control and it looks a bit like yours, button slightly busted but it still works. I don't bother using the sensor, I just look in the toilet with a flashlight to determine when to drain the black tank. ;-0
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04 MACA 3778 / 08 CR-V

[sirpurrcival]

This is a problem that many of us have faced at one point or another. Try owning a coach when the whole manufacturer is out of business. Then you get to try and track down parts and manufacturers on your own! The good thing is that you learn a whole lot more about your coach, the bad is that you many have problems finding some things. You might want to try finding the piece you need used.

Here is one site. Maybe they have what you are looking for. Good luck.

RVs Campers Motorhomes Sales And Rentals Visone RV, RV Salvage Parts, Motorhome Repairable Wrecks, Used RV Parts Monaco, Prevost, Allegro, Holiday Rambler, Alfa, RV Junk Yard - Dismantler | visonerv.com

[Oemtech]

Originally Posted by Mr_D

snip
What "gotcha" are you talking about? Very common in MH's to use headlight and taillight assemblies from other vehicles.

Obsolete OEM parts on a new coach.

Originally Posted by tyka

I just look in the toilet with a flashlight to determine when to drain the black tank. ;-0 .

Not really what I want to do on any regular basis. What if it was the gray tank?

Originally Posted by sirpurrcival

This is a problem that many of us have faced at one point or another. Try owning a coach when the whole manufacturer is out of business. Then you get to try and track down parts and manufacturers on your own! The good thing is that you learn a whole lot more about your coach, the bad is that you many have problems finding some things. You might want to try finding the piece you need used.

Here is one site. Maybe they have what you are looking for. Good luck.

RVs Campers Motorhomes Sales And Rentals Visone RV, RV Salvage Parts, Motorhome Repairable Wrecks, Used RV Parts Monaco, Prevost, Allegro, Holiday Rambler, Alfa, RV Junk Yard - Dismantler | visonerv.com

I know way more than I want about RV's as I have fixed most to the issues with mine as the closest Newmar dealer is a 3 hour drive and shall we say leaves a lot to be desired. Plus you don't find many if any Newmars is the junk yards.

[sirpurrcival]

Well, be that as it may, it doesn't get you any closer to solving your problem. I doubt Newmar has the prescience to know who is going to be in or out of business 8 years after a build. It is just the plain reality of the RV Coach builders. They outsource most of their components which in one regard is a pain in the rear. However, had many Coach builders been the sole suppliers of the many components in their units, just where would 1000's of coach owners be today after the many failures and bankruptcies? I'm sorry for your frustrations but to a degree we are all in the same boat. I would be the first in line if RV manufacturers put some greater consideration into the quality of their builds and the sources of their components. The cheapest tender isn't always a good thing! There are untold threads on this site with people who have issues with just this sort of thing. I hope you find a solution that isn't too painful or costly.

["007"]

Haven't run into that problem yet Dale have you had back cover off or taken a look at face of control for button?
Not sure what could be done other than some of our engineering again I thought for sure it would last longer than I would lets see new Amish cooling unit, leaking jack sensor, tape the roof seams,new bolts for manifold, seal the sidewall seams, now this possibility will it ever end?
Well I guess I will have to get busy times a wasting.

[MikeandClaudia]

"I suspect I would have to do a bit of redneck enginerring to make work."

"Needless to say I had to reverse engineer the mounting."


But Dale: Doesn't it make you feel good when you are smart enough to figure it all out yourself?

And as much as a gear guy as you appear to be, you could probably show those corn-heads how to do it in the first place!

[edgray]

Originally Posted by MikeandClaudia

.........
But Dale: Doesn't it make you feel good when you are smart enough to figure it all out yourself?

Rest assured, DALE is plenty smart enough to come up with a "work-around" to fix almost any problem he has encountered........He just likes to grouse about why he needs to put on his thinking cap

Score = Dale 100, problems 0 . Seriously.

[Oemtech]

Originally Posted by sirpurrcival

Well, be that as it may, it doesn't get you any closer to solving your problem. I doubt Newmar has the prescience to know who is going to be in or out of business 8 years after a build. It is just the plain reality of the RV Coach builders. They outsource most of their components which in one regard is a pain in the rear. However, had many Coach builders been the sole suppliers of the many components in their units, just where would 1000's of coach owners be today after the many failures and bankruptcies? I'm sorry for your frustrations but to a degree we are all in the same boat. I would be the first in line if RV manufacturers put some greater consideration into the quality of their builds and the sources of their components. The cheapest tender isn't always a good thing! There are untold threads on this site with people who have issues with just this sort of thing. I hope you find a solution that isn't too painful or costly.

But, my point is that we shouldn't have to "take what is offered" and be satisfied.

Originally Posted by MikeandClaudia

"I suspect I would have to do a bit of redneck enginerring to make work."

"Needless to say I had to reverse engineer the mounting."


But Dale: Doesn't it make you feel good when you are smart enough to figure it all out yourself?

And as much as a gear guy as you appear to be, you could probably show those corn-heads how to do it in the first place!

Yes... But, I would prefer not to. I did some of that when I worked at IBM and their answer was, you don't have degree or your not an engineer.

Originally Posted by edgray

Rest assured, DALE is plenty smart enough to come up with a "work-around" to fix almost any problem he has encountered........He just likes to grouse about why he needs to put on his thinking cap

Score = Dale 100, problems 0 . Seriously.

Thanks Ed... YOu give me more credit that I probably deserve.

[Jon Mopar]

Car manufactures up until recently were only required to keep parts for any particular vehicle for only 7yrs. This rule didn't seem to cover minor cosmetic items though (such as trim pieces). Now I think it's 10yrs. So 7-10yrs is a safe bet.

I understand that many of the parts on a coach are not proprietary. They basically use whatever parts they can get at a discount, and that work with the styling. On a 2010, you may have the power window switch off of a 1993 Jeep, the grab handle off of an early 90s Lincoln, and the headlights from like a 99 Ford Explorer. . 2 examples that come to mind: 2010 Newmar Venana has lights from a 2001-ish Honda Civic. Brand new 2012 Bounders have headlights from a 2000 style Jeep Grand Cherokee, and brake/reverse lights from 80s GM full sized vans (Vandura etc), if I'm not mistaken. Some companies (not many) actually have either their own unique parts, or parts that are modeled after others, but made to their specs.

My 01 Intruder has the interior door grab handle straight out of a late 70s Lincoln Continental (no joke), the power window switch that appears to be out of an early 90s Jeep....headlights from a mid-90s town car (complete w/Lincoln emblem on the chrome bezel), and taillights from an 80s Ranger I believe (although the might be 80s-early 90s Dakota lights, I'll have to look at them again).....I think you guys get the picture. :P

[Dennis M]

"Now if this was a car.... they would be required by law to provide parts for x number of years and last date of manufacture."

Sorry, not true - urban legend. There is no such law, with the exception of some emissions related components.

Most manufacturers will do their level best to provide parts support for as long as it is profitable to do so. Generally at some point they will look at usage (sales) on a part and manufacture or purchase what they hope will be a "lifetime supply", once that supply is gone you are out of luck.

Spent 40 years in the OEM parts business. Can't begin to tell you how many times I heard variations of that statement from disappointed customers.

[Jon Mopar]

^ I can't speak about anywhere else, but in Canada, the rule applies.. at least to safety restraint system components, body panels, and powertrain components anyway. In the 1990s (and again in the early 2000s), litigation was brought upon a number of car manufacturers for having some models which parts were no longer available for...even though it was within their warranty time-frame. Car manufacturers offered powertrain warranties for up to 7-10 years (Chrysler was one of them with, with 7/70 & 10/100k mile). For this reason, they made it a rule that they needed to have a "reasonable" amount of surplus parts available. I don't know how well it is enforced mind you.