Bounder: So many issues

[BadBarb]

Hi all. We have a 1997 bounder on a F53 chassis.
I think they can be defined as electrical with several subsets, water intrusion, hydraulics and the fridge.
I am not sure if they all share a root cause of crash damage.
I tried to attach a couple pictures of the outside of the slide. The top in the front has an inch gap less than the rear has. Almost like the top of the coach has been shoved back.
I was getting water in around the end window but some clear caulk fixed that. Is there any other way a slide can get crooked in the hole? It goes in and out fine, it leaks right where it joins the coach. The roof is 2 years old.

Then there are some electrical issues. The front TV was removed by a previous owner. Behind that is a birds nest of wires. The rear back up camera doesn't come on. I haven't even begun trying to diagnose this because of all the wires that live up there, I don't want to screw something up digging around.
Then I have no Speedo. Related? I have searched for something obviously unplugged or cut. Nothing looks funky.
Tail lights and running lights don't work. I have chased the cause of that to a wire going to the B2 terminal on the switch not getting power. All of my fuses are good according to my test light. The one wire runs into a loom the size of my wrist. I sure don't want to open that can of worms. Is there anything else I can check before I run out and get a tracertone?
Yes, I have checked all the fuses and grounds. There's just no juice getting through it. The fresh water fill and overflow live right above the right rear tail light. If someone were to drench the tail light while the lights were on, what would that fry?

My hydraulics leak everywhere. The front jacks I can't even use. Can I take them to any hydraulic repair shop and expect a good outcome? Or do I have to get an RV specialist?

Last, My fridge expired. Double door dometic. I think I can replace the guts and have a working fridge but am unsure of the cost. Has anyone done this?

If I could find a set of blueprints for this thing, I would be set.

[77Travco]

Sounds like owning a 26 year old motorhome may not be for you.
Check the speed sensor on the tranny to test properly.
Don't get too hung up on finding the fuse for your running lights. Trace the wire and if you can't then run a new fused source.
Water on a 12V taillight isn't going to hurt anything... just like rain won't.
Do not take hydraulic cylinders to an RV shop. Better yet, don't take anything to an RV shop if you can help it. A tractor or farm implement type place may be a better solution for your hydraulic needs and fixes.
Did you just obtain this motorhome? Check the date codes on the tires before you get it out onto the road.

[Concord]

Get this. Buy some extra cord and splice it in so that you can reach things. When connected to your battery It will show green when the probe detects ground , red when it detects 12 volts positive. It's a real help. - and cheap.
Then, take one thing at a time. Good luck!

[AlanTerry]

For hydraulic work if you have a garbage truck company near you they do great work on hydraulic systems possibly cheaper too.

[leveille]

i have 2008 bounder every spring when i take it out always something wrong this year hydraulic levelling system not working wait and on/off switch flashing trouble shooting shows safety neutral switch at transmission check all fuses and relays all good where to go from now

[Craig1960]

The joys of owning an older unit, I seem to be always tinkering(or should say fixing) with something on mine as well. Like said hyd. shops are the best choice for the jack repairs or if it's hoses you might have to take the old ones in to get new ones built or find someone who is willing to work on an rv most hyd. shops around here won't touch a rv but will fix it if you take it off and bring it in.

The slide could be a few things from what I have read on here so I would start searching posts here with the same issues. As for chasing 12V problems I have this
https://www.amazon.ca/ANCEL-Automoti...xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
Best 12V tester I have ever owned and enough cable I can do my M/H from front to back.

When my speedo quit on my old F53 chassis first thing I tried was replacing the sensor at the diff. When that didn't work I just bought a cheap heads up display which worked great. Now I think about I'm going to get another for this rv just because I liked it so much.

If I were you I would make a different post for each issue and give all the info on the system you have, model number manufacturer and so on.

[Frankmerrill]

Welcome aboard, BadBarb!

I was chasing down a dead speedometer on my 2000 Bounder just yesterday, where I found a wire from the speed sensor on the differential had rubbed against something else long enough to expose copper and create a short circuit. A few inches of electrical tape later and I'm good to go again!

Best Regards,
Frank

[jim58]

"I am not sure if they all share a root cause of crash damage."


Was this a crashed bus you bought? Newly purchased?


Jim58

[CaptronNZ]

Originally Posted by Craig1960

The joys of owning an older unit, ...

When my speedo quit on my old F53 chassis first thing I tried was replacing the sensor at the diff. When that didn't work I just bought a cheap heads up display

Craig, We tried this but in their infinite Ford wisdom I was unable to find an OB connector in a '97 unit like this for a heads up display. I then used the GPS until I could fix the issue (a stupid fuse that looked good).

Some of the things OP mentioned are co-joined electrically. IN other words on issue many problems. The E gear mentioned is almost all F53 Ford Chassis trackable. Good luck!

[jim58]

Normally I don't get involved in these kinds of threads. But, the rig is pushing 30 years old. Why do people focus on nitnoid crap that doesn't matter. MAKE THIS RIG RELIABLE!


Heads up displays? Are you kidding me?


To the OP....Can this this thing get up and down the road under its own power?


If it does....fix the water leaks first. Then deal with the next critical issue....and so on and so forth.



It's pushing 30 years old....not everything is gonna work. And alot you don't need to get by with right his minute.



Forget about fixing the geewizz crap and focus and the priorities to make it livable. It isn't a heads up display or a dead speedometer or a back up camera. You got bigger things to fix thats for sure.


Fix the leaks....then the leveling sytem....deal with the fridge....and then the next issue and the next issue etc.



Get the important things worked out first.


There are alot of smart people here to help you fix things but focus on the critical things one at a time.


Heads up display? When you have other more critical things to be concerned with? Are you kidding me?



Make a list and tackle them, by priority, one at a time.




Jim58

[Craig1960]

What's there to kid about? His speedo along with other stuff doesn't work. I don't know about you but I rely on my speedo to keep me from getting tickets among other things.
The heads up display was through Amazon and I think it was actually cheaper then the sensor on the diff. It works off GPS and was a 2 minute install. So no I'm not kidding.

Sure he needs to fix the rest as well but the speedo is still one of the issues and is an easy fix to buy the heads up display.

Originally Posted by jim58

Normally I don't get involved in these kinds of threads. But, the rig is pushing 30 years old. Why do people focus on nitnoid crap that doesn't matter. MAKE THIS RIG RELIABLE!


Heads up displays? Are you kidding me?


To the OP....Can this this thing get up and down the road under its own power?


If it does....fix the water leaks first. Then deal with the next critical issue....and so on and so forth.



It's pushing 30 years old....not everything is gonna work. And alot you don't need to get by with right his minute.



Forget about fixing the geewizz crap and focus and the priorities to make it livable. It isn't a heads up display or a dead speedometer or a back up camera. You got bigger things to fix thats for sure.


Fix the leaks....then the leveling sytem....deal with the fridge....and then the next issue and the next issue etc.



Get the important things worked out first.


There are alot of smart people here to help you fix things but focus on the critical things one at a time.


Heads up display? When you have other more critical things to be concerned with? Are you kidding me?



Make a list and tackle them, by priority, one at a time.




Jim58