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Below are E-mail questions and answers that are related to twenty year
and older RVs. You can send your question(s) using the form at the bottom
of all our Q&A pages. We answer ALL email that comes in to us,
even what other RV web sites forward to us.
This page last updated January 8, 2009, containing letters emailed to Pete from September 6th - December 7th.
I own a 1983 Tiffin Allegro 27' motor home with the 454 engine. I am missing the heating/cooling ductwork section that includes the blower motor. It was completely missing when I purchased this recently!
Are there any places that deal in parting these motor homes out? Where I can find this stuff?
Also, a factory diagram of same system along with plumbing and electrical systems. Previous owner really jury-rigged many systems and I need to go over everything to return to original.
Dear Tom,
Check some of the on-line salvage yards for parts. You might even try Tiffin's customer service.
A basic RV maintenance and repair guide book should give you a lot of assistance.
I have googled the web and can't seem to find the answer to my issue. I recently acquired a 1988 Winnebago Super Chief. Everything works well with the following exception. It will ONLY start if I hit the aux batty boost switch.
I tested the bumper battery with a load tester and it is fine. The engine dies if I turn on the lights or hit the brake or some other electrical current draw. I can hit the running lights and then quickly flip the aux battery boost switch on and off a few times and something "catches" and it will operate as normal.
I am not familiar with the wiring and would appreciate any links or info to the wiring logic. It seems as though there is a solenoid lag or some kind of logic loop that requires power, to power a coil. I am not sure what is the cause of the cut out but I am certain you will send me in the right direction!
Dear Stu,
Sounds like you probably have a bad battery disconnect solenoid on the chassis side.
Sorry, as stated on our frequently asked questions page I don't have a magic want to wave for wiring diagrams or schematics.
I need to know the location of the fuse block(s) on my 1978 Winnebago Brave 24' and how I can get the windshield wipers to work.
I opened the dash to fix the gas gauge and since then the wipers won't work.
Dear Jeremiah,
The fuse panel may be in the center of the dash above the engine compartment behind a dash panel cover.
Retrace your steps, when you opened the dash to fix the gas gauge, and see what you knocked loose on the wipers.
I have a 1984 Southwind that doesn't appear to want to charge the batteries. (It has 3-12 volts under the hood). After driving 2 hours with the dash gauge reading 18 volts, it would not start upon arrival even thought one of the batteries was just replaced. (We jumped it to get started), after charging with outside charger for 10 hours, the battery meter read good, but I noticed that on the main panel board after disconnecting from the AC pole and turning all breakers off, the red battery charging light was still on.
I'm assuming something is pulling amps and draining the batteries, though all switches appear off. Maybe there is a wire hooked up wrong on the batteries; there are a bunch of them and I think maybe one of the black grounds was not connected.
Dear Jeff,
You need to have a technician check it for an open circuit. Charging at 18 volts is going to do a lot of damage.
I have a 1977 Winnebago Itasca that I recently acquired.
When I hooked up the battery and started the generator the dash board switch just fell apart. It was a rocker switch that rocked one way to start then would come back to the middle position to run. I guess when you pushed it the other way it would cut of the generator (but I never got that far). Now I need to find a replacement switch and the directions of which wire goes where.
Do you know where I would find such a switch with schematics and what is such a switch called?
Dear Dan,
Your local Cummins/Onan dealer should be able to help you with the part and schematic. It's a remote start switch.
You will need model and serial number off of your gen set.
I just acquired a 1988 Holiday Rambler Imperial. I know nothing about it. It was given to me by a close family friend. It has 33,000 original miles, and I know it has a Ford gas engine, I think its a 460.
My question is, it ran fine last year when he last started it. Now it just starts with starting fluid, runs a little bit then stalls once the starting fluid is used up. So its definitely a fuel problem. I don't know where to find the pump or filters that may be clogged or jammed.
Can you tell me what you think it may be? It's definitely not getting fuel to the carb. I don't have manuals on the motor, but have for everything else.
Dear Dan,
Sounds like a fuel pump in tank.
Fuel filter should be along the frame rail, driver's side. Test the wire going into the fuel pump.
John Deere used a fuel pump relay which was known to fail.
I have a 1986 Pinnacle motor home. Built on a 1985 P-30 chassis with a 454. Ran perfect. Drove a 200 mile trip. When I parked in my driveway after the trip, it was idling very rough. It idled perfect before the trip, 4 hours prior.
Changed air filter, plugs, plug wires, distributor cap, rotor, and fuel filter. Did not help at all. Drives around fine, but when I put it in park, it idles super rough and even stalled out a couple times. Any ideas why?
Dear Darren,
Sounds like maybe the carburetor loading up or a broken vacuum line.
Did you change the fuel filter in the carb at the fuel line inlet?
I have a 1985 Southwind. It leaks around the windshield rubber molding is there a way to repair it, or does it need new rubber? Where can the rubber be purchased?
Dear Darwin,
Find a glass shop and see if the windshields can be reset or if you need a new gasket. The glass shop should have parts resources.
The VIN tag on the door is missing for a 1977 Dodge Coachmen Leprechaun where else can I locate the VIN? There is not nor has there ever been one on the dash. I acquired it for free and want to fix up for vacationing with family.
Dear Jose,
There should be one under the hood on the fire wall.
I have a 1981 Itasca Sunflyer, and the windshield wiper blade shaft is broken, so I will have to pull the driver's side wiper motor assembly. I have tried to go through the instrument cluster on the dash, but there is not a lot of room for access. Going from the bottom of the dash isn't much easier, and any other means of access, like dropping the dash, is not evident.
It would seem that there should be an easier means of accessing components behind the dash, but I'm just not seeing it, and any suggestions would be appreciated. I've even considered cutting an access door through the outside sheet metal of the front clip (neatly and carefully), but that seems a little extreme.
Dear Mark,
Sorry to say I can't give you any advice on easy access, but I do have a new replacement motor if it turns out to be a one piece set up. You can call my shop at: 888-471-9291
Do you have any idea where I can find motor mounts for a 1978 26' Dodge Swinger with Dodge 440?
Dear DBJ,
Take it off and go to your local auto parts store and match it up. You will probably have to find a "real parts store" with qualified personnel. Your nation wide chain parts stores with computer counters are probably going to be helpless.
I have an 1986 Komfort class A motor home with 454 Chevy engine. Radiator has been done. The clutch fan seems to think the engine should run on the cold mark. It starts up midway between the cold and running temperature and runs until nearly cold mark. I believe the gauge is correct as engine feels cool.
Where do I find the fan thermostat sensor and should I change it out? Do they come in different temperature values?
Dear Rae,
The thermostat is part of the fan. You might try to get the GM clutch. Most of the after market clutches run too frequently.
I have 1984 Pace Arrow motor home that needs a cruise control replacement,454, Advance2 electronic cruise control. Do you know where I could find one?
Dear Kenneth,
Check some of your local parts stores for an after market cruise control. Trying to find parts specifically for your unit might be next to impossible.
I have a 1983 Allegro GMC chassis motor home, 454 GM. When I switch to the auxiliary gasoline tank, I'm not getting gas to the carb. I need to find the solenoid that switches the gas line to the auxiliary tank. Where is it?
I looked underneath but just saw lots of insulation. Can I access the solenoid from either under the chassis or inside the engine compartment somewhere?
Dear Gary,
If they are using an electric transfer switch it should be mounted along the frame rail with the fuel lines running into it.
I have an electrical problem with my 1988 Winnebago Chieftain motor home. When flipping the signal switch, the 12 volt lights on the entire thing, blink dim with the left turn signal, dash lights, radio lights and clearance lights too, even the license plate light.
When flipping the signal switch to the right, only the right blink but really fast and erratic, fast slow, fast etc.
All the running lamps work when the lamp switch is pulled out on parking lights, but I have a left turn arrow on the dash that stays lit when the park lights are on. Then, no blinker signal lights while running lamps are on.
The backup lights work fine, the brake lights work fine. Just my signals and the running lights are funky. The headlights work great.
Is it the park/head lamp switch bad?
Is there a box that controls this issue on the motor home?
I have replaced the signal column switch with new and correct switch. All the lights look as though they are factory wired. Purple and green wires on the tail lamps. It's almost like there is a wire or bulb acting as a feed back though the entire system. I am at a loss.
Dear DB,
You have a problem with the turn signal light on left side front or rear shorting between the contacts for the bulb. Look for moisture or debris in the light.
I recently purchased a 1986 24 foot class A Coachmen, 454 motor.
I need to know how to operate the speed control. It is located on the turn signal lever. It has a button in the end and a rotating ring on the lever that looks like an intermittent wiper control. It is unlike any other I have seen.
When I push the button on the end it accelerates the speed continuously and I have to shut it off to get it to stop.
Dear John,
Sounds like maybe a problem with the switch. The button should be for setting the speed and accelerating when held in.
You might try spraying it with some electrical cleaner.
I just bought an '85 Southwind with only 29K on it. It works wonderfully in all ways except one. Every now and then when I turn the key, it won't turn the starter.
I have replaced the starter and solenoid. I thought it might be the neutral safety switch in the column, but when I fiddle with that it doesn't seem to matter. The motor home hasn't stranded us yet, because if I keep trying the key it eventually engages the starter and works fine.
I'm now thinking it's the ignition switch; it feels a little sloppy anyway. The ignition is on the dash, not the steering column.
Other ideas besides the ignition switch or is that likely it? Where would I get an ignition switch?
Dear Pete,
Replace the hot start relay on the alternator bracket.
I have a 1983 Southwind by Fleetwood and I need parts. In particular a front indicator to go in the bumper.
Also, the hand brake won't lock on, any ideas? Headlights also don't work - only side lights.
Dear Matt,
Look at All Right Products for the indicator or a RV salvage yard; it should be an automotive indicator.
Check the cable for the parking brake; may be too loose.
Sounds like a bulb or socket on the head lamp.
My 1988 Jayco Designer series shocks me when I touch any metal surface.
What can it be, and how can I fix it?
Some people say it's not grounded. Where are the grounds at?
Dear Christian,
You have a shorted wire somewhere. Turn off all the breakers and test it. Be careful, you're playing with AC voltage! But, you might be able to isolate the problem using one breaker at a time.
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