Community Forums

Garystarkey · 06-25-2021, 12:39 PM

Help.
I’m looking at this 2002 Knight 38’pbt and have a couple concerns and need your quick input.
22,000,
Generator smokes some
Dash ac only blows at defrost and not cold

TXiceman · 06-25-2021, 03:19 PM

You need to get it checked out by an RV tech and a mechanic. These older motorhomes can be a real money pit. The generator should not smoke and the dash air could be expensive to repair.

Ken

8.3Oilbuner · 06-25-2021, 04:10 PM

Good afternoon Garystarkey; Taking on an older motorhome is kind of like taking on a would be problem child. With some observation and detective work, like Ken mentioned, you might have a gem in the rough or a, run away quickly. This is my opinion, if you are good at repairing things yourself or have the ability to pay as you go, considering an older coach may not be a bad thing! The 2 questions you have are just what you have observed while looking at the coach and you do need to go deeper, AKA, get it inspected!

The generator, is it propane or diesel? It either, could be a plugged air cleaner that a mouse has a new home in either propane or diesel. Bad piston rings in the propane unit to bad or dirty diesel fuel along with dirty injectors in the diesel generator. Simple to could be complicated. There is just not enough info to provide you with an accurate answer.

The dash A/C only being on defrost sounds like the vacuum supply hose or the vacuum generator is not supplying the needed vacuum to operate the different positions for the dash positions, floor, vent, defrost is the default position.

No cold air could be just low Freon and may need a recharge to an inoperative compressor or ban condenser or evaporator.

Hope this gives you a little perspective of what could be right, little fix, or wrong, bad motorhome, bad motorhome! Hope all this makes sense to you. It is hot here today and the mind is overheated. Have a great weekend!

Garystarkey · 06-25-2021, 05:05 PM

Your comments are in line with my thoughts as well. The gen is diesel and the fuel is a good 6 months old. My plan was to add seafoam to the tank with fresh fuel and run the Cummins and gen for a couple hours. It is a good hour from seller to buyers address. Then go through all fluids and filters. This coach is a 1 owner and always kept inside. It looks like a new coach with minor wear.
One of the overhead ac units doest seam cold and I’m guessing just a service.
The one other red flag is what appears to be a drop of oil I see hanging off the drain plug of the diff. Hopefully not a bad leak and maybe reseal itself from inactivity?
It has sat 6 months buy has only been out a handful of times over the past 8 years.
I’m talking myself into buying it. Sleeping on it tonight as I have jet lagg. Flew from Cali to Michigan for the purchase.
Any additional input from Cummins and Allison guys would be appreciated.
I did take it for a run for about 10 miles or so and I didn’t notice any performance red flags.

Coarsegold · 06-25-2021, 06:15 PM

Try to go slow and not impulse buy. Take for another drive and try everything out. How many hours on Gen? I assume a low hour. Run it for a long period, engines don't like to sit, especially diesel.

My daughter has a Ford class C and has same AC issue, cold air only out defrost. I looked it over and could not find issue, but think it is vacuum issue as I forced the vacuum pot open and air came out dash for a time. Maybe even the dash control switch. Not resolved yet.

pduggs · 06-26-2021, 05:10 AM

Sounds like you’ve found a great coach. Low miles and garaged kept is awesome, but not without issues…but then every coach has issues even new.

I’m betting generator issue is resolved with new filters and fluid. It likely hasn’t been run much.

You might get the Allison tranny fluid analyzed. I’ve used JG Lube several times and they are good. The owner regularly posts in the Allison forum.
https://jglubricantservices.com/

I would check your slide bottoms for rot. Common problem with Monaco and lots of threads on this issue.

Make sure all caulk joints are good. Likely is good on a coach garaged kept it’s whole life. Caulk where the roof meets the sidewall is often missed allowing water intrusion. Caulk at the bottom of the slide wall should be good too.

You need more than a 10 mile drive. I’d take for 30-50 miles, assuming tires are good. Tires age out at 7-10 years. Check the DOT codes on side wall.

Batteries likely need replacing.

Garystarkey · 06-27-2021, 06:27 AM

Thanks to everyone who pitched in their two cents. This is a beautiful coach but it just hasn’t been exercised enough. I had my concerns when I got on the plane to look at it. The widow selling it was pitching it as perfect but sadly not. I’m walking away from this one. Too much ignored Maintence.