oneway

Last update for now. I don't think I'm gonna climb back up and change out another start capacitor just to watch it blow again. And I don't have the tools to check voltage, etc. current plan is to live with the 1 A/C and if it gets too hot I'll head for home. I can give up the RV to the shop for a month or 2 when I'm home in April without issue. The next scheduled outing is in August. That should give the shop time to diagnose and repair everything, and me time to lick my wounds from the bill. ill try to post the results so if anyone else gets in this spot they'll have an idea how to proceed. thanks

How would I test the compressor? I did not add a hard start capacitor. I simply replaced the capacitor with the new one.

Update: Sorry for the delay, but I pinched a nerve in my back and I've been a few days on Aleeve just to get up on the roof. I went up today because as I said I found the rear A/C not starting. So here we go: I took off the shroud and found the start capacitor with obvious trauma. The capacitor is a Mallory 88-108MFD 165VAC. It had a small plate about 1/2" square that was attached to one of the spades on the red wire and the other end to the capacitor. That plate was completely apart so I knew I was on to at least something. I went to the local RV parts store and bought the same part # but the new one had a resistor (I think) bridged between the 2 terminals. The parts guy thought it was to take the place of the plate I described. I put it in and plugged the coach back in. upon attempting to start the rear A/C on shore power the new capacitor promptly blew. So I'm on to something here. I just don't have enough knowledge to know what. All I'm certain of so far is that I don't want either of the first 2 technicians back here. I need to find out why I'm blowing start capacitors. Then I'll bet my gen set runs both A/C's. Input????

You may be on to something here. Latest update: I plugged in a line voltage monitor and was able to see what I could not hear. The line monitor shows a drop while trying to start the rear A/C, then comes back up (I'm assuming because it only does a momentary attempt?) So I suspect the rear A/C is not starting on shore power as well even though the fan runs. So... as you can tell I'm not a tech, but it seems like a start cap on the rear A/C is in order as a starting point. Now it's off to view a few videos to see how hard that is to pull off. Any input? Am I on the right track after 2 "tech" visits?

2nd update: No change in operation after 2nd tech visit. He thinks I have a carburetor issue. He doesn't think I have anything internally wrong with the gen set like the 1st tech did. The spark plugs weren't oily. He says a broken ring like the 1st tech thought would have shown up in oily spark plugs. He specifically recommended against the sea foam because in his words it would take any varnish in the carb bowl and deposit it in the passageways.He urged me not to use it. Now on to a new discovery: The rear A/C bogs down the gen set by itself. I didn't realize that before. The front A/C operates normally using genset and both from and rear A/C's operate normally on shore power. Which brings me back to wondering if it's possible that an A/C compressor would hang up on the genset thats verified at 118V output but have no problem on shore power. Could it be the rear A/C compressor by itself? Or maybe a "compound fracture" with a combo of the rear A/C compressor and gen set carb? ????

Mid day update: I have another certified Onan tech (for a 2nd opinion) here at the coach who has never seen this before. I am showing 118V at both breakers with the gen set running. The voltage drops when trying to start the 2nd A/C. With one A/C running no problem, even when adding in the microwave. Both A/C's run fine on shore power. hmmm. I told him to go ahead and change the fuel filters, air filter (oily), and replace spark plugs as a start since he's here. I am in Yuma so I could head to the FMCA rally in PHX for a day or 2 and try to talk to an Onan Guy in person if there was a chance they'd be onsite. I'll do the sea foam at some point as well. I'm thinking the easiest way is to just introduce into the fuel tank at appropriate mixture and let everything run. Could the 2nd A/C have a compressor issue that only showed up on the genset ? Just thinking out loud......

Yes, I stand corrected after re-reading the label. It says "safe to use" a 50/50 mix, but recommended is 1 oz per gal. Thanks

Wow, a quick Calc shows 20 bottles needed for a 50% mix in a 5 gal container. i think I'm gonna have to start in a 1 gal container!

I've got my sea foam in hand. How would you advocate I apply it? Separate fuel tank and hose to the gen set? 50/50 mixture with fuel? They didn't have the spray so I have the 16oz additive can.

No I haven't yet. It's been raining today and the park discourages working on your unit. They allow technicians in the park. I have sea foam on my "to buy " list for today, and I have another tech certified in Onan generators coming by the first part of the week. My conversation with the 2nd tech was encouraging when he said.... "listen to me, why do you want to pull out your generator?" That sounds right to me

Yes the genset normally runs both the A/C just fine. I have owned the coach for 12 years. As stated in the long initial write up, the intellitec system sheds the startup load with the other A/C and handles both once started with no problems. It's a 30 amp coach. This was fairly common on Fleetwood products. Mines a 2001 35R.

Alright. Thanks to all I have a few things to try. I'm not familiar with sea foam. I'll do an internet search for that product. I did see something on the net about slip ring cleaning and I'm not familiar with that procedure either. I can say the coach has had probably 4 full tanks of gas run through it since the sitting episode for the roof replacement. and the genset has always started and run.

I went in the Onan website and this place is a certified Onan repair station. And the intellitec control panel doesn't show an electronic readout of amp loads either. I think I'll start with new air and fuel filters. The coach did sit for about 4 months while they replaced the roof without any attention to exercising the gen. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't a bad start capacitor show up on shore power as well? My initial thought was a bad start cap but then I have no problems on shore power.

Hi folks, bear with me for a minute while I explain the situation and hopefully someone will have some input to help: My Onan 5500 starts and runs. It will run 1 A/C but when I put on the 2nd A/C it bogs down and kicks it off line. When I am plugged into shore power there is no problem running both A/C's. I have a 30 amp coach with the Intellitec system that sheds the loads between A/C for start up. We are in Yuma until April and I called out a tech who looked at it and said the gen is blowing some oil out the vent tube and declared the genset had to come out and be rebuilt. My problem with the diagnostic is that he never checked the electrical output or compression or any other technical diagnosis other than starting it and observing. He thinks it's a piston ring or a valve. Wouldn't a ring problem show up in blue smoke and oil usage? It did blow some carbon on my hand on startup until warm, then quit as I held my hand near the exhaust. The tech wanted us to drive the RV to the shop for removal so we went by the shop with the toad and it was nothing more than a small parts store, so I asked about the "service area" and I was told that they would remove the genset in the alley and rebuild it on a bench behind the store. They "do it all the time". Also, no price estimate. I'm really not comfortable with the situation. We are on shore power and fine for now so I have time for some good input to make a decision. I ran the Gen and 1 A/C yesterday for about 3 hours with no problem. We certainly can wait to get a better handle on the diagnosis and costs. Thanks

I'm really more concerned with the quality of repair than the price. I don't want a repair at any cost of course, and I don't need the cheapest. I want a quality dependable repair and a fair enough deal. Everyone's got to eat. That being said it is an insurance claim job. Here's the latest: I successfully obtained 4 rear replacement tires today in Yuma thru the Michelin Advantage program. My wife and I actually believe we are getting a better ride with the switch from the Goodyear G670's we had in the rear. Interesting fact is that the RV next to mine was getting new Michelins after his tire blew (Michelin) while sitting in the campground. I never heard that before. We drove to the Antelope Valley thru some hellacious wind where we are spending the night and will be home tomorrow when the wind dies down. We have a plan to deliver the RV to a repair facility that can handle the roof and the blow out damage in about 2 weeks. That's the soonest we can do it. they will have the RV for a considerable time. I'll report on the rest once it's finalized, and again after the repair.

Latest update: We weathered that big storm, then ran SW out of Chocota OK towards DFW. Continued to join I-10 w bound to I-8 into Yuma. We blew a tire outside of Casa Grande on Saturday, got the spare on and limped into Yuma area. We are waiting to try and get 4 tires tomorrow before the final leg home. Now we have some body panel damages as well as the exhaust to repair on top of the roof damage. Call me "lucky".

Herman, No offense taken. None at all. I thought I had replied to this before, but I don't see my post. Let me tell you that yesterday we went to the Tiffin factory hoping for a tour and maybe some guidance on our roof. They only give tours at 9:30 am and it was 2:15 so we missed out but they guided us to Bunkhouse RV as a possible solution across the way. I talked to the folks at Bunkhouse and they suggested putting a fiberglass roof over the existing rubber roof. I didn't like the idea for a couple of reasons. And they couldn't get me in right away anyway with the rains coming, so we moved on. We did ask if we could rent a spot under cover for the night somehow but they were unsympathetic to our plight. We stopped at a 2nd shop who couldn't help us either and suggested that if Bunkhouse couldn't help us we might as well move on from the Red Bay Area. We drove west and at Little Rock where the I-30 splits from I-40 we took a look again at the weather and decided to stay west on I-40. We are currently in Russelville AR weathering a thunderstorm out. It's time to put faith in my tape job. After this line passes I'm hoping we can head west in the am in the clear. The fact is we have tax appointments, and jury duty that can't be changed along with not being able to get in to a repair facility, or for that matter even get to a repair facility. In CA I have a friend with an aircraft hangar that may be able to accommodate me until an appointment somewhere emerges. Other than that, it's duck and cover.

Update: We left Roanoke Monday noon and went thru Gatlinburg to the distillery, now slightly off I-40 towards Chatanooga. We will try to go to the Tiffin factory in Red Bay AL and then possibly rejoin I-40 in Littlerock. We couldn't give up the RV to Texas custom coach for the period of time they would need for the repair. We need something closer to home it seems.

At this point the logistics of getting it fixed in TX are tough. I need to be in Death Valley 3/30. I did like the Texas custom coach guy as well as Action RV. The problem is we would have to drive back from TX to CA in the toad....a Jeep TJ with a 4" lift, and we have a golden retriever with us along with some valuables we don't really want to leave behind. Then I would have to fly back to TX for the return trip. I leave for Alaska 6/1 but not in the RV, so I can give it up for a longer period when I get back. We may still slip south after Little Rock depending on the weather so we'll just see what plays out. I know there is a Lazy Days in Tucson that does repairs and that's only 550 miles from home vs the 1500 from near San Antonio. A little more tolerable so I may consider that option as well.

Looking at the weather, road reports, and maps it looks like SW bound to Knoxville area, then I-40 at least as far as Littlerock. Then I'll re evaluate from there.

Ha!! Well my friend in CA is LE so it needs to be the sugarlands stuff for him. However....ahem... I did find a large mason jar of what looks to be authentic peach moonshine from the hills of Franklin county Virginia that has turned up in the motor home. Guess I better just take it with me.?

Bill and Carl, Thanks for the recent info on conditions. Glad I missed the great flood for sure! The guesstimate at this time is to leave here Monday headed to Gatlinburg area and join I-40 there. Then I'll play it by ear according to road conditions, weather, etc. I have a friend back in CA who is partial to "sugarlands shine" and I'll need to pick up a few jars for him in the Knoxville area. I know the distillery is in Gatlinburg so I may just toad it in there for the mission. I'm waiting for it to stop raining before I untarp and reload the RV, so departure is flexible.

I'll usually check the weather a few times a day including the Doppler radar weather. I couldn't do eternabond so I tapped the areas individually with a plastic. I made a perimeter around each of the 6 areas. If an area is say 1/2 inch by 6 inches, it has about a 1 foot square of plastic protecting it, followed by a bit 18 in square second protection. I used plastic sheet and gorilla tape.

Update: We should be back in VA this afternoon where the RV is located. We plan to leave Monday am for the west coast. I will have to weigh options along with the weather to come up with a departure plan and route along with seeing about the repair. And I will need to de-winterized the RV and assess the roof for travel. It has been tarped while we were gone. The initial route would seem to be I-40 or south. Any last minute advice is appreciated.

Logistically it can't happen. I am in NYC and the coach is in VA. I won't be back in VA until 3/19, then I'll have to de winterize and get ready to roll before I can head out west.