RV jerks forward when put in drive

[Mitchone]

We've been RVing for a year so we're definitely newbies. We started with a 29 foot class B+ and found real fast that room us definitely an issue, so this past December we traded for a 2005 Newmar DutchStar 4010. I've been through a lot of the posts on this site concerning fridge replacement, which I have bought a residential fridge to replace the RV fridge, having it in storage makes it difficult to switch it out.

So far we've been very pleased with the extra room, quality and comfort of the DutchStar. It's totally amazing.

We've taken it to Florida a few times and over to Ohio during Winter (not the smartest time to go), and a few other places. I had everything looked over before we bought it, had a new roof installed as a result.

So quite a few minor things crop up. Keeping a battery charged in storage has been difficult, but I'm working that issue.

To get to the current big concern. On a recent trip, I was getting ready to leave the campground, the rig had been running for about ten minutes, when I put the rig in gear it lurched forward. This is something it's never done before. Yesterday when I went to take it out for a warmup/recharge drive, of course all the batteries were dead so I had to jump the coach to get it going. I let it warm up a while to get the batteries going for a bit. Once again, when I put it in gear it lurched forward a bit. It only does this once during the trip.

Is this just a cold weather thing or is it something I should get looked at.

Thanks

Mitch Johnson

2005 Newmar Dutch Star 4010
And Loving it

[HicksRA]

Have you looked at the tachometer to see how fast it's idling when it does that?

[Zoafan]

Make sure high idle is disengaged when you put it into gear

[Mitchone]

Originally Posted by HicksRA

Have you looked at the tachometer to see how fast it's idling when it does that?

I haven't looked at the tach. I'll check when I go to storage on Wednesday. I didn't notice high revs when I put it in gear, I would normally notice that.

[Zoafan]

My coach has two points of high idle. One is around 900rpm and the other around 1200rpm. If I was in the low high idle range it's barely a difference in noise between regular idle.

[Mitchone]

Not sure how to disengage high idle.

[Zoafan]

How do you engage it? Mine is done through the cruise control so I can either turn that off or press the brake.

Is your foot holding the brake down when you put it in gear? Emergency brake off or on?

[Mitchone]

I switch the emergency brake off, push lightly on the brake then put it in gear. The coach doesn't go anywhere it just lurches forward. I'm extremely ignorant of any kind of high idle settings. This appears to only happen when the coach hasn't been started in a few days.

Thank you.

[Zoafan]

I'm assuming this is a diesel, am I wrong?

[Mitchone]

Yes. It is diesel.

Is this something I should worry about or just a high idle during cold months?

[Zoafan]

You should never let the coach just idle. As soon as you have oil pressure you should put it in high idle. It's bad to let a diesel idle.

[RudyD]

Run at high idle when warming up so all Tranny and engine fluids get to normal operating temp. When ready to roll, put foot on break to bring engine down to regular idle for a couple seconds. Put in Drive and then take Parking brake off - then if it lurches at least you have the Parking brake to hold it. It shouldnt lurch though unless like others you put in drive without taking off high idle.

But you might want to have transmission fluid checked or serviced if continues.

[Mitchone]

Thanks for everyone's input, huge learning curve here but it's sinking in.

I still don't know where this high idle is, when the coach is started, does it go into high idle initially or is there a way I can control the high idle, I do understand, now, that applying the brake changes it to low idle, what if I want to get it back up to high idle again?

As always, thanks so much.

How do I automagically add my signature line to each message?

Mitch

2005 Newmar DutchStar 4010. Still learning what the esle goes on this line. Oh yeh, Allison and Spartan.

[Zoafan]

Not sure on your coach. Try engaging the cruise control.