Community Forums

BigDogSolo · 07-29-2016, 06:59 PM

Jeez, went up to the factory to take my 3 mos old coach for warranty and axle swap out (at Freightliner) and to tour around up and back. Finally got home after a month on the road. Had my Axle changed out to the heavier axle a week ago. Not that I think its related, but the dash air started the next day to go off for about a second or two, then back on. Did this about 5 6 times in an hour. Now a week later, got within 20 miles of home and KAPUT...its out completely. Checked a couple of fuses on the DS fuse box but nothing suspicious. Anyone have any ideas!!

Called Newmar tech support, they put it on FL. Called FL and they indicated they only put the compressor on and Newmar does the rest......
I mean, I just did the drive up there....not going back anytime soon and my local (closest dealer a mile a way is a Joke)

Electra 225 · 07-29-2016, 07:58 PM

Sorry to hear this Sal. Hope you can get it remedied soon. It seems the dash air on all of these FL coaches are questionable anyway. Mine works, but I think it could be much colder (heard this elsewhere too). In this recent heat, I have to run it wide open on max A/C to have adequate comfort, (it should be blowing ice at that setting INHO). Also with that the noise level is way up so I drown it out with the radio.

Good luck for an easy quick fix. Keep us posted!

Regards,
W.D.

Dutch Star Don · 07-29-2016, 11:22 PM

"Sal".....Mine recently quit blowing cold. I took it into the shop while having some warranty work done and it was down 1.3 pounds of Freon. The system only holds 3.0 pounds. They filled the system and still no cold. They couldn't finish the work that day and I took the coach home. They ordered a new evaporator and dryer.

While cleaning under the front hood, I saw two wires going to the pressure switch, on the high pressure side, (upper left corner) seemed like they were not pushed on all the way (two spade clips). I pushed them on and didn't think anymore about it.

About two weeks later I returned the coach to the shop to have the fan drive gear box replaced and the A/C work completed. On the way there, the A/C started blowing cold (37 degrees).

I later had a chance to speak with WagonmasterII. Apparently, he also had A/C issues and found his system down by more than a pound of Freon.

On both coaches, no leaks were found. I mentioned to the Freightliner service manager, where my coach was being repaired, that Freightliner must be getting sloppy about filling the systems. He said the coaches are delivered with the systems empty and Newmar fills them after assembly. I don't know if this is true, but it seems like someone is missing the mark on filling these systems up.

When a system is low on Freon, it can shut down and sometimes start back up. The fan will run, but they will quit blowing cold.

Skeetobite · 07-30-2016, 04:58 AM

Sorry to hear you're having trouble. When our coach was new, the dash air would come on and go off frequently. Fans, compressor and all.

We traced the problem to a loose ground wire at the front of the chassis. Tightened that up and all our problems were solved.

I hope it is that simple for you.

BigDogSolo · 07-30-2016, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skeetobite

Sorry to hear you're having trouble. When our coach was new, the dash air would come on and go off frequently. Fans, compressor and all.

We traced the problem to a loose ground wire at the front of the chassis. Tightened that up and all our problems were solved.

I hope it is that simple for you.

Can you provide a little more detail on where I would see the ground wire.
We have a 16 Dutch Star....? Thanks

BigDogSolo · 07-30-2016, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don

"Sal".....Mine recently quit blowing cold. I took it into the shop while having some warranty work done and it was down 1.3 pounds of Freon. The system only holds 3.0 pounds. They filled the system and still no cold. They couldn't finish the work that day and I took the coach home. They ordered a new evaporator and dryer.

While cleaning under the front hood, I saw two wires going to the pressure switch, on the high pressure side, (upper left corner) seemed like they were not pushed on all the way (two spade clips). I pushed them on and didn't think anymore about it.

About two weeks later I returned the coach to the shop to have the fan drive gear box replaced and the A/C work completed. On the way there, the A/C started blowing cold (37 degrees).

I later had a chance to speak with WagonmasterII. Apparently, he also had A/C issues and found his system down by more than a pound of Freon.

On both coaches, no leaks were found. I mentioned to the Freightliner service manager, where my coach was being repaired, that Freightliner must be getting sloppy about filling the systems. He said the coaches are delivered with the systems empty and Newmar fills them after assembly. I don't know if this is true, but it seems like someone is missing the mark on filling these systems up.

When a system is low on Freon, it can shut down and sometimes start back up. The fan will run, but they will quit blowing cold.

Don, I can confirm that Newmar gets them empty according to Freightliner yesterday. In my case the nothing comes on at all, no fan, no blower, no cold. I am inclined to think for now there is a wire issue. I will be checking around as you suggested. If that doesn't work, will have to see if Newmar will let me take it to someone other than the local dealer who is a far from competent.

Thanks as always for your input Don.

Skeetobite · 07-31-2016, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigDogSolo

Can you provide a little more detail on where I would see the ground wire.
We have a 16 Dutch Star....? Thanks

We have a Fleetwood Expedition.

I ordered the wiring schematics from Fleetwood, which they sent over in PDF format. We started at the front of the coach checking all of the ground wires. Fortunately we found the loose ground in the first few wires we checked.

"007" · 08-01-2016, 09:44 AM

For some you may have this problem, for others the Evans ac/heater section, wiring, parts and trouble shooting you will find in QT's # 3.

BigDogSolo · 08-03-2016, 06:39 AM

After checking fuses and trying to find loose wires, gave up. Called Newmar with Fl on the line. Going to take it to an FL Oasis dealer not that far from us who suspects based on symptoms described -its a faulty ground which they have seen several times. This week we will bring it in. Will report final discovery.

osok · 08-07-2016, 05:42 AM

My 16 DS dash A/C quit working just as yours, totally dead. Since on a Maritimes caravan I could not get it looked at. After about a week with two moves, I got ready to leave one morning and the ignition was dead. Found the ignition switch fuse 30A blown. Replaced and again attempted to start engine and everything was dead. Checked 30A and it again was blown. FL dispatched tech to campground in Nova Scotia and after 7 hrs. he had not found problem.

Next morning a member of the caravan drove back to where I was and pulled every fuse in two black boxes and replaced one at a time until we again blew the 30A. End result was the A/C clutch relay switch. Left the switch out and continued with caravan. Have appt. at Newmar for repairs after caravan.

I bought the caravan member who got me going the biggest bottle of Crown Royal I could find.

BigDogSolo · 08-10-2016, 08:29 PM

Freightliner called yesterday, my coach is ready and fixed.
Said it was a simple thing...... The AC Compressor Capacitor which is located inside the Driver Side Fuse Bay was not properly seated (pushed in) He seated it and has tried several times to get it to misbehave with no results. Said they also tested the capacitor to see if it was operational. It was.
Will pick it up Friday and see if this did the trick.
Thanks to all for your input.

Electra 225 · 08-10-2016, 10:22 PM

Glad to hear it Sal! You know, things like this give me mixed feelings. I'm filled with joy and relief when it was just a simple little thing (as in your case).....but then I feel almost equally ticked off that it was just a simple little thing that caused so much suffering!

Take care,
W.D.

BigDogSolo · 08-11-2016, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electra 225

Glad to hear it Sal! You know, things like this give me mixed feelings. I'm filled with joy and relief when it was just a simple little thing (as in your case).....but then I feel almost equally ticked off that it was just a simple little thing that caused so much suffering!

Take care,
W.D.

Yes, W.D. it can get frustrating because with AC it can be so many things.
Glad it was minor. I will say that when working it blows cold and we rarely have it above the 2nd fan speed, even in the Texas heat of summer.
Hopefully I have checked enough boxes for things to be normal for awhile, but in all it hasn't been too bad. I have learned after 3 coaches to try and take an easier attitude about stuff that goes wrong, and "go with the flo" so to speak. So far I still love her, though! Thanks for your Comments W.D.

Sal