ACE Generator Stops running - CODE 36

[Harry Joe]

Moonshine,
Pictures, thanks! I can't be sure, but I think my panel is installed differently than yours! Mine was installed by a local, nonThor tech after calling Thor to get directions. As a result, it's more likely that mine is installed incorrectly. Hmmmm

[Moonshine94]

I called the service writer this morning and he assured me that they had installed the fuel line wrap right where Thor told them to, which is nowhere near the genset. So, I crawled underneath and sure enough the fuel line wrap goes on about 6' of the genset fuel line, but centered over the engine exhaust pipe (not genset exhaust pipe).

In the first pic the engine exhaust pipe is at upper left. The genset fuel line(with wrap applied) is the upper insulated line.



The second pic is looking forward of the chassis crossmember seen at right in pic 1, with the genset fuel line still the upper of the two insulated lines.



Harry Joe, as for which install is correct, who knows. Did your tech install the fuel line wrap? If so, where is yours installed?

As Towertime mentioned, we'll have to test this fix before we know if it works. It'll be at least three weeks before we take our bus out again, but the temps look like they're staying high, so....

[Towertime]

Moonshine, glad to see you got both the heat shield and fuel line wrap installed.

Harry Joe, Can you post pics of how your shield is installed?

[Harry Joe]

Towertime,
Yours appears to have the panel much closer to the generator than I do (see X in pict). Mine seems to be tucked under a panel and screwed in place. If it was installed to prevent exhaust heat, etc from reaching the generator, yours would be more efficient.
Moonshine,
Fuel line insulation was installed on several feet of line immediately exiting (entering?) the genset aft toward the tank along the frame member past the catalytic converter.

[Towertime]

Harry Joe,

It looks like yours is basically flipped around 180 degrees from the one they installed in Moonshine's. His does look like it will do a better job sealing off the top of the Generator from the heat. Maybe you should call Thor again and let them verify which is correct. Seems like they would have sent printed instructions........

[Moonshine94]

Harry Joe,

Agree with Towertime that your heat shield looks like a 180 of mine. If you call Thor could you also ask them about the placement of the fuel line wrap?

[Towertime]

Harry Joe,

Did you Thor a call about the installation of your heat shield and fuel line wrap? It is still another week before I'm scheduled to take mine in.

[sscarp]

To all those following the generator saga.

Thor replaced the door and wrapped the fuel line. Not to my surprise the problem persists. They have yet to actually examine/diagnostic the generator itself.

I am on my summer trip in new mexico with a generator that cuts on and off, cannot rely on it . This is criminal.

I am hiring an attorney. I am contacting the state attorney general. I suggest that others do the same.

I will also contact the lender of my loan and explain to them the vehicle condition, and i will no longer make payments. They can reposes this pile of junk.

Sorry, i forgot to mention my furnace failed also. I have already had the refrigerator replaced, the chassis a/c replaced and numerous other issues.

[Harlee79]

Sorry Sscarp, havn't had near the issues you have yet. The generator is still an issue but i haven't had any of the stuff installed yet, however it sounds like its a waste of time... major bummer

[cb1000rider]

Originally Posted by sscarp

I am on my summer trip in new mexico with a generator that cuts on and off, cannot rely on it . This is criminal.

I was in the same boat on our last trip. Our solution was to buy a commercial genset from sears and mount it on the tow hitch, wiring it in...problem solved... Got me home to a place where I could work on the Onan and it's associated heat/fuel issues.

Originally Posted by sscarp

I am hiring an attorney. I am contacting the state attorney general. I suggest that others do the same.

If you've got a trump card, you might want to play that last after exhausting all other options... Some of these problems only happen under specific conditions.

Originally Posted by sscarp

I will also contact the lender of my loan and explain to them the vehicle condition, and i will no longer make payments. They can reposes this pile of junk.

You made an independent agreement with the bank to pay for that pile of junk. The bank is not at fault for quality. I'd suggest that you continue paying the loan and if you're pursuing legal action that might address the value of the RV and get you out of that loan, this might be the more forward thinking course of action. Non-payment of a loan is non-payment... It's going to impact your credit, the cost of your next loan, and even employment opportunities. You're hurting yourself if you stop paying.

Originally Posted by sscarp

Sorry, i forgot to mention my furnace failed also. I have already had the refrigerator replaced, the chassis a/c replaced and numerous other issues.

Sorry you're having troubles... Note, my Holiday Rambler is having the same issue - overheat/fuel starvation (maybe vapor lock). Can't reproduce with the RV sitting... Lots of posts about over-heated gensets in the last 30 days.

[Towertime]

Originally Posted by sscarp

Thor replaced the door and wrapped the fuel line. Not to my surprise the problem persists. They have yet to actually examine/diagnostic the generator itself.

Wow! Sorry to hear you are still having problems, I thought the door and heat shield would have at least helped the issue. If you think it may be a generator problem itself, you may want to take it to a Cummins dealer when you get back from Mexico. From what I have been told, most of the RV dealerships are not authorized to do warranty work on the Onan.(The warranty is 2 years) If your genset has a problem code stored (either 36 or something else), I would definitely take it to them. Since the thing has probably overheated at some time, I would probably also check/replace the spark plug. You might try that to get you through the trip if you can find one.

Good Luck!

[DegoRed]

Sorry, I have been AFK recently. I have not done anything on mine as of yet, got busy with other stuff, and just have not had time.

My genset is due for an oil change, so I went out and did that today. Book says to change the oil every 50 hours after the initial 25 hours. The oil that came out after 50 hours looked very good, was really questioning why I was changing it, the oil really looked clean, not quite original out of jug, but not black either. Call it a golden brown if you will, clear enough to see light through as it drained out.

I will have some time in the next few weeks, will get the heat shield done and report back to y'all.

I also really want to try to figure out how to put an oil cooler on this generator. Not exactly sure how one would go about this, but seems like we could hook into the drain plug to suck out, and get an adapter to the oil inlet/dipstick and dump the oil back in. I know there are 12V pumps available to do this exact thing to circulate the oil through a small oil radiator. Just a thought.

[cb1000rider]

Dego,
I can't find anyone who has put an oil cooler on an Onan (RV type). You could do what you are suggesting, drain it and pump it back in the fill hole, but that sounds somewhat band-aid to me.

There are "remote" oil kits for Onans, these seem to be for the CG-model and other big-power (think disaster type) gensets. With a remote oil kit, adding an oil cooler becomes a snap.

The other way I can think to do it is find a remote oil kit for the appropriate vehicle. IE - not everyone is running an Onan oil filter on their genset. Cross reference to that vehicle application and then find the remote oil kit for that vehicle...

I think if I address the issue, I'm just going to add a 12" automotive radiator type fan to the bay of the genset.

[DegoRed]

Think I have the oil cooler deal figured out. There is a Allen bolt plug, just below the oil fill/dipstick hole. This plug appears to be in-line with the full oil line.

Basically, going to suck oil out the drain plug, and pump back in via this Allen bolt plug, this way can keep oil fill plug/dipstick in place to check oil level. Will add a T in-line between the existing drain plug and oil cooler with a valve so I can just turn the valve to drain the oil. Thought about also adding a filter, but not sure a filter will do much other than extend the life of the oil, but its one of those deals where we should probably change our oil once a year, regardless of usage.

Found several remote oil coolers with electric fans mounted on them that will work. Most all the fans are under $150, one pictured is $111.


Now just need to find a decent price on a 12V pump and I think I am set.

Also, if anyone wants to do the heat shield correctly, the sheet metal required is a 31" W x 19" H with a 2" turn back. This will completely cover the back side of the generator. Will field drill the holes so that I can put the cross brace back in place once the heat shield is installed. If you wanted to skip the 2" turn back part, I think one could as the turn back just allows you to screw the top to the underside of flooring. Dont think its necessary though, as this size piece will sit tight up against the bottom of the flooring anyhow.