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gaylemarlowe

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Posts posted by gaylemarlowe

  1. Posted · Report reply

    Thanks for all the advice. I think I should be safe in letting it set till we go south. With our low humidity here (today at 22 deg and 11%) it should be okay with what you guys have given for info. Looking forward to the warmer temps we will find next month, although the humidity will be quite a bit higher I am sure.

  2. Posted · Report reply

    Brett,

    Generator is diesel 10kw. Winterizing on the fuel has been just to add antifreeze stabilizer prior to storage. Since I don't have even one space heater and the batteries are kept fully charged when plugged in at the garage outlet, I will take your advice and not run it. We do plan to go mid-January to Buckhorn resort and that will give me the opportunity to give it a good run.

    Thanks

  3. Posted · Report reply

    I know it is always advised to run the generator once a month under 50% load. My question is: Coach is in the RV garage so I would back it out to run the generator. It is now about 18 degrees outside and I don't know how to put a 50% load on the generator when the coach is all winterized. Can't run the water heater or the fridge. About the only thing I can run is the block heater and that only pulls about 10-12 amps. Is this enough of a load to exercise the generator?

    Thanks

  6. Posted · Report reply

    Well, my gremlin is still there and not fixed. I took the sender out, put a gauge in and oil pressure is just fine. Cleaned the terminals, even tho they looked okay. Started it up and same result. Called Spartan and they told me it was most probably the ECU as there is only one sender and if it works okay without using the fast idle, but not when using the fast idle, then it is a Cat issue. They recommended I contact Cat. Called Cat and they told me it was definitely NOT the ECU if I was showing okay oil pressure during normal conditions. They said it has to be a fault in the chassis wiring.

    Where do you guys think I should try next? Would going to a Cat dealer and having it plugged in to diagnostics show anything? I am leaning towards a Spartan issue as they built the entire chassis.

  7. Posted · Report reply

    Thanks for the recommendation. It looks nice, and also affordable. Haven't seen that part of the country yet, so would be new to both of us.

    Are you far from this park? Would like to meet you one of these days and thank you for all the helpful information I have gotten from you. :):rolleyes:

  8. Posted · Report reply

    Have been going to my brothers place in Saratoga, Florida last couple of years, but being from the mountains in Colorado, it is just too humid and too busy for us. Been thinking of maybe Texas as it is a bunch closer and probably a whole lot drier if we stay west and not near the coast.

    Would like to have some hills to see and hopefully a nice clean quiet park for the big rig. Don't need a resort with all the goodies.

    Any suggestions?

    Thanks

  9. Posted · Report reply

    Duh!!

    Had not connected the issue to the wash job. And part of my wash practice is to clean the engine compartment. If that turns out to be the case, will be a little more careful in the engine area. Will let you know what I find.

    Thanks

  12. Posted · Report reply

    REALLY strange!!!!

    After cleaning and washing everything on or in the coach after our trip, I started the Cat to put it away in the garage. While setting there waiting for the air to build up, I happened to remember the responses to my spring post that I could not find the control to get a high idle speed for warmup. Some had suggested the sift pad, which I had already tried, and someone had suggested the cruise controls on the smart wheel. May have been Brett, but can't remember.

    Anyway, while setting there I tried the controls on the smart wheel and got the idle speed to go up. Great!!

    About 15 seconds after initiating the higher idle speed the oil pressure warning light and buzzer starts squawking and the oil pressure gauge goes to zero!! I immediately shut it down, went to the back to pull the dipstick and found it was just as I had checked it two days ago, 1 1/2 quarts low. Sat there thinking about what could have happened setting in the driveway. Broken oil pump shaft, plugged screen, broken sending wire????

    Got back in, started it up, pressure is great, about 90 lbs cold. Waited for several minutes and everything is fine. Tried the fast idle again, and same thing occurs, lost oil pressure and alarms going off. Shut it down, checked the oil, everything okay. Started it again, tried it again, same result. Shut it off and waited, trying to think of what the connection is between oil pressure and fast idle control on the cruise system. No ideas sprang to mind.

    Started it again, oil pressure good, warmed it up using the pedal, drove it to and into the garage, everything good.

    Sooooo, what happened??? Anybody (Brett) or any other knowledgeable diesel guy have any ideas?

    2005 Newmar Dutch Star 4320 Spartan Cat 400

  13. Posted · Report reply

    As mentioned in my other post, we just got back from our trip to Michigan. On the way back coming across Kansas, we were caught in that massive heat wave. Most of one day was 30-40 mph winds broadside and the temps slowly climbed from the 90's to 103 outside air temp. We fought it for as long as we could and then pulled off to find a overnight park. When coasting down and stopping at the freeway ramp I noticed the oil pressure was showing approximately 20lbs, but the temp was right on 200 as it always is. I watched it from there into the park and the oil pressure stayed at approx. 20 lbs at idle and went up to 45 as soon as throttle was engaged.

    Previously I had always run at 50 lbs at rpm and about 30 at idle. But, we had never experienced that hot of a drive ever before. We had the dash air going full blast and both roof airs running and it was just barely keeping it at 85 degrees. Absolutely brutal!!!

    Next morning, after everything had cooled down overnight, we started the remainder of the trip back to Colorado. Oil pressure was just a bit better, but not what I usually see. Coolant temp was always good. Oh, additional note, running 15-40 Rotella T.

    Question is: Anything to worry about?

    I am sure Brett will have a good response to this.

    Thanks

  14. Posted · Report reply

    Just got back from our trip to Michigan and found that my "Tow Protector" (nylon mesh gizmo that fits onto tow bar) has melted directly above the exhaust pipe. Our coach is 2005 Dutch Star with 400 cat and the exhaust is a chrome turn down pointed 45 deg down and to the passenger side. Evidently, at speeds, the exhaust heat is being blown up somehow to overheat the mesh. I am thinking of doing two things: putting an extension on and also contacting the manufacturer to see if they have one rated for reentry temps. :)

    We also have our Jeep tires get much hotter on the passenger side than the drivers side due to the diesel exhaust. But, I can still lay my hand on them, so I think it is okay.

  15. Posted · Report reply

    Just found out something that has bothered me since we got our Dutch Star 4320. Under the small "hood" where generator is in the front, is an air fitting. (quick connect air chuck, female) When we got it years ago, I tried to get air out of the fitting to air the tires, but no luck. Figured it was either not hooked up or was shut off somewhere I could not see. So, bought a portable small compressor that would go to 125 psi and have carried that with me on our trips.

    Yesterday, was checking everything over getting ready for our long trip next week and tried it again since I was in there checking the generator. No air. The wife is bending over me watching and says "have you tried it with the engine running"? I said the engine did not need to be running as I still had about 100 lbs on the dash gauge for chassis air. She said " well, it won't hurt to try". So, being the good husband and not wanting to depress her small amount of interest in what I was doing, I said sure, I'll try it.

    So, fired up the diesel, went to the air fitting that previously had no air, and VIOLA!!! 125lbs of air.
    Sheepishly, I looked at her, gave her my sincerest smile, and said thank you very much.

    Evidently, the line is hooked directly to the compressor and does not take air from any tank or the chassis air system. Sure glad I figured out how to fix the problem! :)

    So, the next time the wifey gives you a suggestion for your mechanical problem, give it a bit of thought before dismissing it cause she does not understand engines and stuff mechanical! :)

    I know I will be listening just a bit closer to her when she gives me those unasked for suggestions!

    Signed: Humbled

  16. Posted · Report reply

    We are taking the grandson to the Arsenal in Illinois at the end of this month and need a park to stay at for 1-2 nights. Something nice, hopefully with a pool for him, short driving distance to the Arsenal Museum, easy in and out. Any suggestions?

    Thanks

  21. Posted · Report reply

    Different issue for this thread, but still on Newmar Dutch Star, Cat 400, Allison 4000.

    My previous coach (Monaco) with the Allison had a fast idle built into the shift pad.

    Thought I had it on the Newmar, but looking over the Allison 4000 manual, it does not show the ability to increase idle speed. Am I missing some simple thing?

  23. Posted · Report reply

    I have a 2005 Cat 400 in my 44 ft Newmar and get 8.5 mpg. I did have the valves adjusted at 30,000 miles and they were badly in need of adjustment according to the service shop. This could drastically affect your mpg. Also, my stock paper air filter gets close to max vacuum on the little minder after just 6000-8000 miles. I guess it is just doing its job, but wish it was larger so I wouldn't have to replace it so often. I would suggest getting yours in for a thorough service.

  24. Posted · Report reply

    JD Wright,

    We have had a similar problem with a campground in Michigan. It is very close to our grandson's home whom we pick up every summer to take to Colorado to spend the summer with us. The campground is quite well tended, spacious, and affordable, but they are very lazy in getting back to us about our reservation requests. We also don't like to be forced to reserve way in advance as it is just a little too inconvenient to try to plan our trips that concretely.

    But, with the benefits this park gives us, we have so far put up with the loooong response. Wish it was different. Hope you find a better one or they wake up like they should.

  25. Posted · Report reply

    Thanks for the response. I was glad to see someone respond who had actually used it and what their experience had been. I was concerned that it was some kind of plastic product that may peel off after some time, but from what you say it goes on and wears like wax.

    My brother suggested it to me and we both may try it on our coach's.

    Regards

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