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Oktoaz · 11-17-2022, 04:31 AM

Good morning I’m new here and hoping someone can help. We have a 2004 fleetwood discovery. 3 weeks ago we went to purge the propane and turn on the heaters and nothing!!! We have had 2 mechanics out that didn’t finish the job, new solinoid, lol detector, new batteries ugh it’s been exhausting and expensive. But this is what we DO know. There is not power getting to the switch, the propane solinoid or low detector AND at the same time no power getting to monitor panel. BUT when we drive it down the road all of it will come on briefly and then back off. Also, (I don’t know if this is related or not) on the same side as the switch, solinoid and monitor panel our gfi in the bathroom keeps tripping. After weeks of trying to trace wires, find grounds and about $2500 spent I’m desperate to get this going. Does ANYONE know the wiring schematic that might show where there is a loose ground?

MrMark52 · 11-17-2022, 08:19 AM

So sorry of your experience - but intermittent wiring issues are difficult to trace.

You might try either calling Fleetwood or going to their website and beg/gravel to see if they will forward a copy of the wiring diagrams for your coach.

But even with copies of the wiring diagrams - it is going to take some diligent searching to find/locate every possible electrical connection to inspect for a fault. And that takes time.
At least you have 1 clue - that when driving down the road the connection “makes”, which likely means connections that makes/breaks due to vibration.

Don’t let any one else throw parts at your coach without visually showing you of how that component has failed.
Granted there may have been some justification for replacing your LP monitors - but their position in the electrical circuit and what they control can be tested without replacing the monitor. As can the solenoid on the LP line.

Sadly, even once you have the wiring diagram, I don’t think it or anyone is going to be able to give you that “magic bullet” solution of the origination of the problem. There are many on here who will offer as much support and advice as you may need to track down the issue.

Good Luck!

mike toon · 11-18-2022, 08:57 AM

I believe the furnace will run on 12 volt from the batterys.
With your GFI tripping ,thats 120 volt, so you have 2 issues.Some where they may cross paths and there lies your issue.

MrMark52 · 11-18-2022, 09:05 AM

mike_toon is right - I failed to address that point about the separation of the two power supplies.

Unless there is evidence that PO’s have done some retiring, the GFI tripping is unrelated to your LP issue.

Bigd9 · 11-18-2022, 09:09 AM

I have wiring schematics for my 2006 Discovery that should be the same as your coach.
In general, the power for the alarms are fuse protected. The fuse is inside the BCC that is the big black box located in the inverter Bay. When I get home I can send picture if you want.

Bigd9 · 11-18-2022, 09:35 AM

Why did you purge the propane? How exactly did you try to purge the propane.

Couple of things to check. There is a switch back where the propane filling fitting is. Make sure it is switched on.

Check to make sure the wires are connected to the switch and not corroded off.

Do you get any flame at all on the stove?

From my memory the propane detector in your coach does not shut off the propane supply. Older Discovery did.

Bigd9 · 11-18-2022, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oktoaz

Good morning I’m new here and hoping someone can help. We have a 2004 fleetwood discovery. 3 weeks ago we went to purge the propane and turn on the heaters and nothing!!! We have had 2 mechanics out that didn’t finish the job, new solinoid, lol detector, new batteries ugh it’s been exhausting and expensive. But this is what we DO know. There is not power getting to the switch, the propane solinoid or low detector AND at the same time no power getting to monitor panel. BUT when we drive it down the road all of it will come on briefly and then back off. Also, (I don’t know if this is related or not) on the same side as the switch, solinoid and monitor panel our gfi in the bathroom keeps tripping. After weeks of trying to trace wires, find grounds and about $2500 spent I’m desperate to get this going. Does ANYONE know the wiring schematic that might show where there is a loose ground?

Ok now that I'm back home and a I have a few minutes, let me ask a few questions.

Quote:

3 weeks ago we went to purge the propane and turn on the heaters and nothing!!!

When you say "nothing" do you mean the stove won't light either. or just the furnaces? Do the furnace fans come on at all? Usually they will come on first before the safety switch allows propane to flow. This is important.

Quote:

new solenoid, lol detector, new batteries

What solenoid did they replace? What is a "lol detector"? What batteries did they replace, the 4 coach or the 2 starting batteries?

Quote:

There is not power getting to the switch

Which switch? The one back by the fill port?

The GIF tripping probably does not have any connection to the propane problem.

Oktoaz · 11-19-2022, 05:29 AM

I would love to get the wiring diagram. So sorry for the delay in response. Between getting ready to leave and trying to figure this out it’s been crazy! Plus I’m new on this site so it took me a while to find my post.

Oktoaz · 11-19-2022, 05:31 AM

The propane had run out we hadn’t used it in over a year so I had it refilled. When I went to light the furnaces there was no propane getting to them. So I decided to purge it to stove first and after 30 minutes realized nothing was getting propane.

Oktoaz · 11-19-2022, 05:37 AM

Bigd9. We checked the switch with a colt meter n only get .6 volts but we ran a dummy wire straight from the positive post to it n got 13 volts last night. One mechanic told me that our yr n model is wired from battery to switch to solinoid to lap detector n back to battery. Now the trick is finding the bad ground or wire because when we drive it the monitor panel comes on n off. We have figured out when the monitor panel is on the propane switch gets 12-13 volts

Bigd9 · 11-19-2022, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oktoaz

Bigd9. We checked the switch with a colt meter n only get .6 volts but we ran a dummy wire straight from the positive post to it n got 13 volts last night. One mechanic told me that our yr n model is wired from battery to switch to solinoid to lap detector n back to battery. Now the trick is finding the bad ground or wire because when we drive it the monitor panel comes on n off. We have figured out when the monitor panel is on the propane switch gets 12-13 volts

Our previous 1997 Discovery did have the circuit where the propane tank solenoid was controlled by the propane detector. My current 2006 Discovery does NOT have that circuit. It is easy to determine. How many and what color wires does your detector have? Mine only has 2 wires. A red one and a black one. Red goes to the battery voltage and the black is ground.

How old is the detector? They do have a life. The manufacturer of the propane detector in my coach, MTI Industries indicates the detector needs to be replaced after 5 years of use.

I believe but I can't find it on any schematics i have, the switch back at the propane fill port, grounds the tank solenoid. Another guess is the solenoid has a low voltage keep open circuit. Meaning, as long as voltage is applied the solenoid stays open. Remove the voltage and the solenoid closes.

Another thought is I believe the propane tank has an "excess flow valve". Meaning, if there is a hose leak, the valve senses and excess flow of gas and closes. This can also happen if you turn on the tank and there is a sudden rush of gas going to the furnaces, water heater or stove. Its always best to turn on the appliances slow and one at a time. To reset the valve, simply turn off the switch at the fill port, and turn on the stove, Then turn the stove off, as well as everything else that uses propane, and then turn on the switch back at the fill port, and turn on just one thing like the stove. Using a propane lighter hold the flame close to the burner. You should be able to tell if gas is flowing by watching the lighter flame.

There is also a hand or manual valve at the tank. Make sure it is turned open.

I checked the drawings I have and I do not see where any of the 20+ PDF files shows the propane circuit. I can see just about everything else, just not propane wiring. That could of been on a PDF they did not sent to me.

Last thought, the panel that you mentioned keeps going off and on, try and unscrew it and tilt it down exposing the rear of it. You should see several plugs. Try to unplug and replug them several times, and/or spray contact cleaner on the exposed plug after you unplug it. It could simply be a bad connection at one of the plugs. The picture is showing the back of mine after I tilted it down.
I also included 2 PDF files for the wiring. Remember these are for my 2006 35H Discovery. THere may be some differences between yours and mine, but the basics are all there.