Results for "ford-chassis"

Engine Medium Varies 235 👍 0

RV Transmission Problems: Troubleshooting Guide & Quick Fixes

Planning to fix my Class A motorhome's transmission myself, but my neighbor says it needs fluid, the dealer insists it's the torque converter, and YouTube swears it's the solenoid pack. On my 4R100 transmission specifically, the transmission has been shifting a little rough lately, especially when accelerating from a stop or when climbing hills. Sometimes it seems to hesitate before shifting into the next gear, and I've noticed the engine RPMs climbing higher than usual before it finally engages.

I've owned this RV for about three years now, and I'll admit I haven't been as diligent about transmission maintenance as I probably should have been. The fluid looked a bit dark the last time I checked it, but I'm not entirely sure what I should be looking for or what the proper procedure is for checking transmission health. I've heard horror stories about transmission rebuilds costing thousands of dollars, so I want to make sure I'm approaching this systematically rather than just hoping the problem goes away.

What's the proper first step when you suspect transmission problems? Should I be taking it straight to a shop, or are there some basic diagnostic steps I can handle myself before spending money on professional diagnosis? I want to make sure I'm not missing something simple that could save me a lot of headache and expense down the road. …more

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Engine Hard 4-6 hours 231 👍 0

ISL 8.9 Valve & Jake Brake Adjustment: Specs & Tools

The 2004 Cummins ISL 8.9 in my rig is 20 years old and starting to run rough — time for valve adjustments or a full rebuild? What are the intake and exhaust valve specs? I want to confirm the clearance measurements and also need the tool number to adjust the jake brake. Can anyone help me verify the correct specifications before I start this job? …more

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Engine Easy 30 minutes 229 👍 0

Best Oil Filter for Ford V10 RV Engine - Complete Guide

After walking out to my RV this morning, I spotted my Ford V10's oil filter looking suspiciously ready for replacement, but I'm completely lost on which one won't break the bank. I keep hearing conflicting advice about which oil filter to run.

Everyone seems to swear by different brands - some say Wix 51348 is the sweet spot, others mention NAPA Gold 1348 (are these the same thing?), and then there's the Mobil 1 M1-210A crowd. At Rock Auto, I noticed Fram filters like TG2 ($6.43), XG2 ($9.50), and HP16 ($12.82), plus a Mobil 1 M1210A at $8.14.

What's the real deal here? Is there actually a 'best' filter for the V10, or am I overthinking this whole thing? I'm also considering adding a bypass oil filter. I just want something reliable that won't break the bank every oil change, especially since this rig sees a lot of highway miles. Is a $23 Amsoil filter really worth three times the price of a Wix? Any recommendations from fellow V10 survivors? …more

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Solar Batteries Medium 2-3 hours 221 👍 0

DC-DC Charger for Lithium RV Battery: Protect Your Alternator

Despite everyone saying I need a DC-DC charger for my lithium RV batteries, I'm skeptical about dropping $400 — will it actually protect my alternator? Just got a shiny new 2026 F250 (after my poor F150 basically begged for mercy when I hooked up my 2600RB) and had a 230ah lithium battery installed in the trailer. Now I'm reading horror stories about truck alternators and lithium batteries having some kind of electrical death match that could fry my alternator or damage the battery.

I keep seeing mentions of DC-DC chargers but honestly have no idea if I actually need one or if this is just RV paranoia at its finest. The trailer has solar and I've only got a 12V fridge drawing power when towing, so it's not like I'm running a mobile data center back there. Can I just use my truck's existing charge line to the trailer, or am I about to become another cautionary tale about expensive electrical mistakes? …more

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Solar Batteries Hard 1 hour 214 👍 0

How to Connect Your RV Solar System to Power Your House: Complete Wiring Guide

Between midnight and 6 AM, my 2001 Ford E450's Victron 3000W solar system keeps flipping itself from RV to house power mode completely on its own. The bus is parked in my driveway and currently running a mini split efficiently with minimal power draw from the battery bank.

My house has a secondary electrical panel with a 30-amp inlet that I normally use for my Honda generator, connected through a transfer switch. The panel feeds 2x 20-amp and 4x 15-amp circuits. Since the solar system is producing excess power while parked, I want to utilize this capacity to power my house circuits.

What's the proper method to connect the Victron inverter output to my existing 30-amp house inlet? I need to understand the safe connection procedure, power limitations of the 3000W system, and any critical monitoring requirements for the battery bank when supplying house loads instead of just the RV systems. …more

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Engine Medium 2 hours 209 👍 0

Ford V-10 Misfire Codes P0305 & P0307: Complete RV Engine Repair Guide for Motorhomes

Turned my compression tester on cylinders 5 and 7 and got 150 PSI readings, but I'm still pulling P0305 and P0307 misfire codes on my 2001 Ford E350 V-10. The engine runs smoothly overall, but the diagnostic codes are persistent.

I have replacement spark plugs and ignition coils available but want to ensure I'm following the proper troubleshooting sequence before investing time and effort. What is the recommended diagnostic approach for simultaneous misfires on cylinders 5 and 7?

Given that multiple cylinders are affected, should I prioritize certain components over others, or is there a systematic order that typically yields the most efficient resolution for this engine configuration? …more

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Engine Medium 2-4 hours 207 👍 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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Engine Medium 2-3 hours 206 👍 0

Onan 7000 Generator Low Voltage to Fuel Pump: Complete Repair Guide

Our Onan 7000 Marquis generator is hitting us with low voltage to the fuel pump for the third time this season and I'm done with guessing games. When I check the voltage at the fuel pump, I'm only getting 9V instead of 12V, and surprise surprise - it won't start. But here's the kicker - if I jump 12V directly to the pump, the thing fires right up and runs like a champ.

Obviously there's a voltage drop happening somewhere between the control board and the fuel pump, but I'm not sure where to start looking. Could be corroded connections, maybe the control board itself is going bad, or some wiring issue in the fuel pump circuit? Anyone dealt with this before and know the most common culprits? …more

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Engine Medium 2-4 hours 205 👍 0

Ford E450 V10 Spark Plug & Coil Replacement Guide - RV Engine Maintenance Tips

After handling coil swaps on my old Chevy like they were nothing, this Ford E450 V10 setup has me completely intimidated and second-guessing everything. I've heard cylinder #3 is particularly difficult to access and I'm scared I might break something or use the wrong tools.

I tried using a 7mm wrench like some sources suggested, but it doesn't seem to fit properly and I'm afraid of stripping the bolt heads. I'm also concerned about how to safely reach the coils without damaging other components.

Can someone please walk me through the safest approach and tell me exactly what size wrench I should be using? I'd rather ask for help than risk making an expensive mistake. …more

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Engine Medium 1-2 hours 197 👍 0

4R100 Transmission Temperature Gauge Sender Location Guide for RV Owners & Mechanics

Despite my RV mechanic insisting I need a completely new 4R100 transmission for overheating, shouldn't I install a temperature gauge first to verify what's really going on? I can't seem to find any factory temperature sender on this transmission - am I missing something obvious?

I'm nervous about drilling into the pan or tapping into lines since I don't want to create leaks or cause more problems than I'm trying to solve. Is there a safe, proven way to monitor transmission temperature on a 4R100 without risking damage? I've heard about electronic options too but not sure if they're reliable. …more

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Electrical Medium 1-2 hours 195 👍 0

How to Locate Your Intellitec BD-0 Disconnect Switch Latching Relay in Your RV

Last month what seemed like a simple electrical hiccup in my 2005 Ford E450 Isata 250SL has spiraled into a complete system meltdown. My Intellitec BD-0 disconnect switch isn't working properly and I suspect the latching relay might be the culprit, but I'm honestly afraid I'm going to damage something if I start poking around blindly.

I've been searching everywhere but I just cannot locate this latching relay! I don't want to accidentally disconnect the wrong thing or cause any electrical damage to my coach batteries. Where exactly should I be looking for this relay? I'm being very cautious because I know RV electrical systems can be dangerous if you mess with the wrong components. …more

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Engine Easy 15 minutes 195 👍 0

Ford 7.3 Godzilla Oil Pressure: Normal PSI Readings

My Ford 7.3 Godzilla is throwing weird oil pressure PSI readings and the shop wants $800 to fix it – can I troubleshoot this myself first? I finally installed a Glowshift electronic oil pressure gauge because I kept hearing horror stories about these engines running dangerously low oil pressure.

Here's what I'm seeing: Cold starts jump over 60 PSI, then drop to 28-30 PSI at 1200 RPM. Once fully warmed up, I'm getting 18-20 PSI at 600 RPM idle, and the pressure stays around 28-30 PSI in my typical 2200 RPM cruising range. It doesn't climb above 30 PSI until I hit 3000 RPM, where it jumps to about 40 PSI.

I know Ford has had issues with some of these engines showing scary low numbers like 8 PSI at idle, so I'm grateful mine isn't that bad. But are these readings actually normal for the 7.3 Godzilla under normal operating conditions? I haven't done any loaded driving tests yet, but I'm trying to figure out if I should be concerned or if this is just how these engines run. …more

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Engine Hard 1-2 hours per plug 190 👍 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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Engine Medium 45 minutes 187 👍 0

RV Fuel Filter Replacement: How Often & Maintenance Guide

Every time we plan a big RV trip, something goes wrong - and now my 2005 Tradition 40W motorhome is running rough with fuel delivery issues just days before our two-week cross-country adventure. We're fairly light users - only putting about 1,200 miles on it annually since we mostly use it for shorter trips and occasional longer vacations. The coach has two fuel filters that I can see: a Luber Finer LFF1003 and an LF5488. I'm not entirely sure when they were last changed, possibly not for quite some time.

I've been researching maintenance schedules and seeing conflicting information about fuel filter replacement intervals. Some sources suggest every 10,000 miles, others recommend annual replacement regardless of mileage. Given our low annual mileage, changing them every year seems excessive and potentially wasteful. Our local RV service shop does annual maintenance including oil changes and general inspections, but they haven't specifically flagged the fuel filters as needing replacement.

What would be the appropriate replacement interval for fuel filters on a low-mileage RV like ours? Should I be concerned about contamination or other issues even with light use? I want to maintain the engine properly without over-maintaining components that don't need frequent attention. …more

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Engine Easy 30-45 minutes 183 👍 0

Ford V10 Oil Capacity: How Much Oil Does Your Newmar Bay Star Really Need?

Since I'm about to buy oil for my 2011 Newmar Bay Star with the Ford V10 engine but keep seeing conflicting capacity numbers — worth getting extra or just wasting money? Classic RV owner move, right?

I keep finding conflicting information online - some sources say 6 quarts, others say 7 quarts for the Ford V10. After my oil change, I'm sitting here staring at my dipstick like it's written in hieroglyphics, wondering if I've turned my engine into a swimming pool or left it high and dry. The manual isn't exactly crystal clear on this either.

Can someone please tell me the ACTUAL oil capacity for this engine? I'd rather not blow up my motor because I can't figure out basic maintenance on my rolling money pit! …more

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