Results for "blown engine"

Engine Hard 2-3 hours for diagnosis 172 👍 0

1999 F53 V10 Oil in Coolant: Complete Head Gasket Diagnosis & Repair Guide

Called three dealerships about warranty coverage for oil contamination in my 1999 Ford F53 V10's coolant system — before I tackle this head gasket nightmare myself. The unit overheated after the oil level dropped significantly, though it still starts and runs without throwing any codes.

Based on the symptoms, I suspect a blown head gasket, but I want to perform proper diagnostic testing before committing to a major repair. What specific diagnostic procedures should I run to confirm whether this is actually a head gasket failure versus other potential causes like a cracked head or block issue?

Looking for a systematic approach to pinpoint the exact problem before I start tearing into this engine. …more

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General Easy 15 min research 154 👍 1

Best Mobile RV Repair Apps and Services: Complete Guide 2024

Since my RV broke down I'm standing in the app store staring at dozens of mobile repair services with no clue which one actually works. This made me realize how valuable a comprehensive resource for mobile RV repair services would be.

Are there apps, websites, or forums that maintain an up-to-date list of mobile RV repair, tire repair, and towing services across the country? I'm interested in hearing about recommendations from experienced RV owners who have used these services and can vouch for their reliability and responsiveness.

What strategies do other RV travelers use to find quick, trustworthy mobile repair services when they're stuck in an unfamiliar area? …more

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Electrical Medium 45 minutes 154 👍 0

RV Backup Camera Not Working? Complete Troubleshooting Guide

Spent all winter enjoying a perfectly working RV backup camera, but the second temperatures hit 85 degrees outside, my screen goes completely black. My wireless backup camera decided to give me the silent treatment right when I need it most. The monitor is just sitting there mocking me with a "no signal" message, and honestly, my spatial awareness isn't what it used to be.

The camera worked fine on our last camping trip (when I only needed to back up twice), but now that I'm trying to navigate tight campground spots, it's gone completely dark. I'm dealing with a wireless system, so I know there are more things that can go wrong than with a wired setup.

Before I resort to using my spouse as a very expensive parking sensor, what's the best way to troubleshoot this? I'm hoping it's something simple like a loose connection rather than having to explain to my insurance company why there's a picnic table embedded in my bumper. …more

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Best RV Awnings & Accessories

4.5 (7,600 reviews)

Engine Easy N/A 133 👍 0

Ford E-350 vs E-450 Chassis: RV Fuel Economy, Power & Weight Capacity

Last weekend I felt this awful engine strain and heard sluggish acceleration sounds while test-driving a 2017 Phoenix Cruiser #2351 with its E-350 chassis and V10 engine. I'll be doing extensive western touring through mountain and plains regions, which means substantial mountain grades and wind challenges. I'm comfortable driving slowly and want to understand two key things: 1) Will this E-350 chassis handle mountain grades without major issues, and 2) What's the real-world fuel consumption like? I plan to do an initial inspection this weekend, followed by a third-party mechanical review. I'm not overly concerned about fuel economy but want to understand the actual performance limitations. I'd appreciate insights from owners who have experience with similar touring conditions on an E-350 chassis. …more

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Electrical Medium 30-60 minutes 98 👍 0

RV Emergency Start Switch Not Working: Complete Troubleshooting & Repair Guide

Every time the temperature hits 85°F or higher, my RV's emergency start switch completely fails — works perfectly in cooler weather, but now my chassis battery is dead while house batteries stay charged. When I press the emergency start button, absolutely nothing happens - no sounds, no response at all.

I'm worried there might be something wrong with the system or that I'm not using it correctly. Should I be hearing some kind of click or sound when I press the button? Could there be blown fuses I need to check? I'm hesitant to keep trying without knowing if I might cause damage to the electrical system. What's the proper troubleshooting process to safely figure out why this emergency start feature isn't connecting my house batteries to help start the engine? …more

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Engine Medium 2-4 hours 96 👍 0

Ford F53 No Spark: Complete Ignition Troubleshooting Guide

Halfway through a cross-country trip, my Ford F53 Class A motorhome with the 7.5L V8 cranks but won't fire, has zero spark, AND left me completely stranded. The issue began intermittently with starting problems, then progressed to a complete no-start condition with zero spark at both the coil and distributor.

I've systematically replaced the distributor, ignition control module (ICM), and coil, but the no-spark condition persists. This is an EFI system without a crank position sensor - my research indicates it relies on the pickup coil within the distributor for ignition timing.

What are the most likely causes for this complete ignition failure, and what diagnostic steps should I follow to isolate the root cause? I need a methodical troubleshooting approach since parts replacement hasn't resolved the issue. …more

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Electrical Medium 1-2 hours 93 👍 0

How to Fix RV Rear Brake Lights and Hazards Not Working - Common Grounds & Connections

Spent months planning our cross-country trip leaving next week and my RV's rear brake lights and hazards just completely stopped working. My 1998 National Tropical (on a '97 Ford F53 chassis with the trusty 460 V8) has decided to get creative with its lighting situation. The rear brake lights and 4-way hazards have completely given up the ghost - nothing, nada, zero response from the back end. But plot twist: the turn signals work just fine back there, and everything up front (brake lights, hazards, turns) is working perfectly.

I'm scratching my head because if it was a fuse issue, wouldn't ALL the lights be affected? The fact that some work and others don't has me thinking it's something more specific. Any ideas where I should start poking around to solve this electrical mystery? …more

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Engine Easy 15-20 minutes to inspect/change 86 👍 0

E450 V10 Air Filter: How Often to Change on Dusty Roads

Every Saturday I'm planning to tackle my Ford E450 V10's air filter after months of dusty backroad camping — what maintenance schedule should I actually follow? The owner's manual suggests changing the air filter every 30,000 miles, but that seems like a really long interval to me.

I do a fair amount of camping on dusty dirt roads - probably covering about 8-16 miles per month on these conditions to reach remote campsites. I'm worried that all that dust might mean I need to change the filter more frequently than what Ford recommends.

Should I be following a different maintenance schedule given these dusty conditions? And is there anything I should be doing between filter changes to keep things running smoothly? I want to make sure I'm taking proper care of this engine but don't want to over-maintain either. …more

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Appliances Easy 10 minutes 84 👍 0

Complete Guide to RV Control Panel Lights and Display Meanings

Dashboard has about 15 different indicator lights and half of them just came on after hooking up at a new campground. Some I recognize from the manual but a few aren't even documented. Need to understand what each light and display reading actually means before I start troubleshooting. …more

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Electrical Medium 2-3 hours 82 👍 0

RV Leveling Jacks No Power: Complete Troubleshooting Guide

Leveling jacks have zero power — hit the button and nothing happens. No motor noise, no movement, no indicator lights on the panel. Coach is sitting crooked at the campsite and I can't level it manually because the electric jacks are in the way of using blocks. …more

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Engine Hard 1-2 hours per plug 81 👍 0

Ford V10 Blown Spark Plug Repair: Complete Time-Sert & Heli-Coil Fix Guide

Walked out to my Ford V10 this morning with my toolbox in hand, ready to fix this blown spark plug myself — just need to know whether Time-Sert or Heli-Coil is the way to go. My 2000 Ford Flair 31A with the 6.8L V10 just blew a spark plug going uphill - sounded like the exhaust fell off until I realized what happened. The shop is telling me this is apparently a "common issue" with these 2-valve V10 engines, which is just fantastic news after being stranded on vacation.

They're giving me options for thread repair - either a Heli-Coil insert or something called a Time-Sert. I've heard horror stories about blown plugs on these engines, but I've also heard that proper repairs can actually fix this permanently. Before I spend my hard-earned money, I need to understand: are these thread repair methods actually reliable for V10 blown plugs? And please tell me there's a way to prevent this nightmare from happening again - proper torque specs, anti-seize compound, whatever it takes. I just want my RV running reliably again. …more

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Best RV Generators

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Plumbing Easy 30 minutes assessment 78 👍 0

RV Water Pump Failure - Emergency Roadside Repair Guide

The Trek motorhome's water pump just died at 11 PM in the middle of nowhere — need to figure this out before morning. While returning from Assateague, just north of Smyrna, Delaware, my water pump failed with a cloud of steam, leaving me stranded on the side of the road. Thankfully, Coach-Net, our road service provider, found us a tow to Lube Station and Repair in Smyrna. The Delaware State Police and Smyrna Fire Department were incredibly helpful, checking on us during this stressful situation. We ended up staying the night in the shop's lot and made it home only a day late. Has anyone else experienced something similar and have advice for handling roadside RV emergencies? …more

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Electrical Medium 2-3 hours 77 👍 0

No Power to Ignition Switch on 1998 Fleetwood Bounder: Ford Chassis Electrical Troubleshooting Guide

My 1998 Fleetwood Bounder's dashboard is sitting here completely dead with zero power reaching the ignition switch at all. The ignition switch isn't getting any power from the battery, even though I've already checked all the fuses and relays and they seem fine.

I'm still pretty new to RV electrical systems and not sure where to look next. Should I be checking somewhere between the battery and the ignition switch? I don't want to start poking around randomly and make things worse. What are the most likely culprits when you have this kind of power issue? …more

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Engine Medium 2-4 hours 76 👍 0

1997 Ford Rexhall Overheating: Complete Repair Guide & Troubleshooting Steps

Nobody told me my 1997 Ford Rexhall Class A would keep overheating like this, and now I'm terrified of engine damage. I've already flushed the radiator multiple times and added fresh coolant, but the overheating problem persists.

I'm hesitant to start taking things apart without knowing what I'm looking for, and I'm concerned about making the problem worse. What are the most likely culprits I should check next? I've heard it could be the thermostat or water pump, but I want to make sure I'm checking everything systematically before spending money on parts that might not fix the issue. …more

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Engine Medium 1-2 hours 75 👍 0

Ford F53 Motorhome Won't Start: Complete Troubleshooting Guide

Opened up my Allegro Bay 46 ft motorhome on a Ford F53 chassis after winter storage and now it won't turn over, dashboard lights are going crazy, AND the engine makes weird clicking sounds. When I turn the key, the warning lights cycle normally (except the check engine light, which does not turn on), and the engine turns over fine when I hit the starter. However, beyond that cranking action, absolutely nothing happens - no fuel delivery, no spark.

What I really need is a systematic approach to troubleshooting this F53 no-start condition. I want to make sure I check the most likely culprits first rather than randomly replacing parts. What are the common failure points on these F53 engines that cause this exact symptom pattern where it cranks perfectly but won't fire up at all? …more

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