Popular New Guides Product Guides Tools Checklists My Rig

Results for "intake screen"

783+ Q&A Updated Weekly Free
5 Star Tuner X4 for Ford V10 RV: Complete Performance & Upgrade Guide
Engine Easy 15 minutes 105 👍

5 Star Tuner X4 for Ford V10 RV: Complete Performance & Upgrade Guide

Planning to tune my 2018 Ford 6.8L V10 RV but got quoted $800 for professional tuning and wondering if the 5 Star X4 is DIY-friendly. Specifically want to know about real-world performance improvements - does it actually improve throttle response and shift points? What about fuel economy gains?

Which of the 3 programs works best for RV towing? Is the investment worth it for better drivability or just hype? …more
1993 American Eagle Onan Generator Low Voltage Fix: Rectifier Bridge Corrective Steps
Engine Medium 2-3 hours 105 👍

1993 American Eagle Onan Generator Low Voltage Fix: Rectifier Bridge Corrective Steps

Tried everything to fix my 1993 American Eagle's Onan generator low voltage issue — about to buy a $150 rectifier bridge but is it actually the solution? Everything seems to run fine - it starts up without issues and sounds normal - but I'm only getting 12-15 volts output instead of the proper voltage I should be seeing.

I've been doing some research and think it might be related to the rectifier bridge or suppressor components, but I'm not entirely sure. The service manual mentions parts CR21 and RV21, but I'm honestly a bit overwhelmed trying to figure out exactly which replacement parts I need.

Could someone help me understand what's likely causing this low voltage issue and point me toward the correct replacement parts? I'd really appreciate any guidance from those more experienced with Onan generator repairs. …more
AquaHot 450D Frequent Cycling: Troubleshooting Guide & Solutions
Propane Medium 1-2 hours for diagnosis 92 👍

AquaHot 450D Frequent Cycling: Troubleshooting Guide & Solutions

Since my 8-year-old AquaHot 450D started firing up every 15 minutes with zero hot water or heating demand, should I repair or replace it? It's more frequent at night when temps drop. No fault codes showing.

Is this normal cycling behavior? I'm thinking something might be causing heat loss or keeping the system active when it should be idle. …more
Best OBD2 Scanner for Ford E450 V10 Motorhome: Top 3 Diagnostic Tools
Engine Easy 5 minutes setup 90 👍

Best OBD2 Scanner for Ford E450 V10 Motorhome: Top 3 Diagnostic Tools

Three different OBD2 scanners are showing 6 active codes on my 2015 Ford E450 V10 motorhome but every manual says this engine should only throw 2-3 max. I've been dealing with intermittent check engine lights and some transmission quirks, but my basic code reader just gives me generic codes that don't tell me much.

I keep hearing about tools like BlueDriver and some Ford-specific software, but I'm not sure what actually works well with these motorhome chassis. I need something that can give me real Ford-specific diagnostics, not just the basic OBD2 stuff. Has anyone found a scanner or diagnostic tool that actually works properly with the E450 V10 setup? I'm willing to learn something new if it means getting better diagnostic capability. …more
Suburban SF-30 Furnace Replacement: Complete Unit vs Core Guide for RV Owners
Propane Medium 4 hours 84 👍

Suburban SF-30 Furnace Replacement: Complete Unit vs Core Guide for RV Owners

Somewhere between our freezing mountain trip last month and now, my 2002 Born Free's SF-30 furnace died completely and I'm torn between replacing the core versus the whole unit. I believe it's a Suburban SF-30 model. I've been doing some research and see there are two options - I can buy a complete furnace replacement or just get a replacement core that supposedly slides into the existing SF-30 housing for about half the price.

I'm honestly not sure which route to go. The cost savings on the core is tempting, but I don't want to make the wrong choice and end up with more problems. As someone who's still learning about RV maintenance, would you recommend getting the complete unit or would the core replacement work just as well? Any guidance would be really appreciated! …more
Is It Safe to Sleep with Your RV Generator Running? Safety Guide 2024
Engine Easy N/A 79 👍

Is It Safe to Sleep with Your RV Generator Running? Safety Guide 2024

This is 11 PM and my wife is sweating bullets in our RV — need to know if running our generator overnight is safe before we both melt. We have a 2023 Class C RV and my wife really needs the A/C running at night to sleep comfortably. I know our RV has a carbon monoxide detector installed, but I'm honestly not sure if that's enough protection.

I've heard mixed things about running generators while sleeping - some people seem to do it regularly while others say it's dangerous. What safety precautions should I be taking if we do this? Should I be worried about which windows are open or wind direction? I want to make sure we're being as safe as possible but also want my wife to be comfortable. Any guidance from more experienced RVers would be really appreciated! …more

Still stuck on this repair?

Get a personalized answer from a verified RV mechanic. Describe your issue and get step-by-step help.

Chat with an RV Mechanic
27708 RV owners helped · Avg response under 5 min
Suburban SW6D Water Heater Won't Stay Lit: Quick DIY Troubleshooting Guide
Propane Medium 45 minutes 79 👍

Suburban SW6D Water Heater Won't Stay Lit: Quick DIY Troubleshooting Guide

This Suburban SW6D water heater pilot light keeps going out every single time I try to fire it up. The flame keeps going out after lighting, but only when the access door is closed. When I leave the door open, it stays lit just fine.

This seems like it could be dangerous - I don't want to cause a gas leak or explosion by trying random fixes. Is this likely a combustion air problem or some kind of safety switch issue? I'm hesitant to start taking things apart without knowing what I'm dealing with, but I also don't want to keep running it with the door open if that's unsafe too. …more
Onan Generator Won't Stay Running: Complete Repair vs Replace Guide 20
Engine Medium Decision process 77 👍

Onan Generator Won't Stay Running: Complete Repair vs Replace Guide 20

Three distinct sputtering sounds keep coming from my Onan generator that fires up perfectly but dies out after running for a while. Multiple service calls and repairs have been attempted, but the problems persist intermittently, making diagnosis challenging.

The repair costs are accumulating significantly, and I'm reaching a decision point regarding whether to continue troubleshooting or consider replacement options. What criteria should I use to determine when total repair investment justifies switching to a replacement unit? Are refurbished Onan generators a viable alternative, and what factors should guide this repair-versus-replace analysis for intermittent generator failures?

(Note: This is specifically about my RV's Onan generator, which I'm referring to as my 'Jenny'.) …more
How to Fix Suburban SF-42 Furnace Rumble and Backfire Issues
Propane Medium 2-3 hours 76 👍

How to Fix Suburban SF-42 Furnace Rumble and Backfire Issues

I looked everywhere online for answers but as a first-time RV owner, I'm completely lost why my 2003 Alpine coach's Suburban SF-42 furnace keeps rumbling and backfiring nonstop! This thing fires up fine initially, but then it starts making these awful rumbling sounds and actually backfires through the intake - scared the hell out of me the first time it happened. The worst part is it's not heating worth a damn even though it runs constantly.

I've already cleaned what I could reach and checked for obvious blockages, but I'm wondering if this could be an air-fuel mixture issue? The unit is over 20 years old now, so I'm prepared for the possibility that major components might need replacing. Could this be related to gas pressure problems, or maybe the igniter is going bad and causing delayed ignition? I really need to understand what's actually causing these rumbling and backfire symptoms so I know what to focus on next. …more
How to Stop Animals From Nesting in Your RV Generator Air Intake
Engine Easy 30-60 minutes 75 👍

How to Stop Animals From Nesting in Your RV Generator Air Intake

During my pre-trip RV inspection this morning, I'm staring at my generator and there's a massive bird's nest completely blocking the air intake. I keep finding cat poop on my Onan Q70 generator intake! At first I thought maybe it was a one-time thing from the previous owner, but nope - I've had to clean it off THREE times now, and we're talking about some serious deposits here.

The really puzzling part? I haven't even been running the generator or traveling anywhere, so it's not like cats are seeking out warmth. We're also 500+ miles from where I originally bought the RV, so unless the same cat has been following me cross-country (which would be impressive dedication), this seems to be a recurring problem with different animals.

Is my generator intake just irresistibly attractive to cats somehow? Has anyone else dealt with this lovely surprise, and more importantly, how do I convince the local feline population that my generator is NOT their personal bathroom? I'm starting to feel like I'm running a very expensive outdoor cat toilet! …more
RV Furnace Won't Ignite But Blower Runs: Complete Troubleshooting Guide
Propane Medium 1-2 hours 75 👍

RV Furnace Won't Ignite But Blower Runs: Complete Troubleshooting Guide

Staring at my 2022 Thor Quantum SE28 furnace after following three YouTube tutorials that somehow made it worse — now it won't ignite despite the blower running perfectly. The unit is getting power and the blower motor kicks on when I call for heat, but I'm not getting any ignition at all - no flame, no heat output. I can hear the blower running strong, so it's definitely getting electrical power, but something in the ignition sequence isn't working.

I've got plenty of propane (3/4 tank) and my stove works fine, so I know gas is flowing to the RV. This is actually the first time I've tried to fire up the furnace this season after it sat unused all summer. The outside vents look clean and I don't see any obvious obstructions, but I'm wondering if there are specific components in the ignition system I should be checking.

What are the most common failure points when you have blower operation but no ignition? I'd like to work through the troubleshooting systematically rather than just throwing parts at it. Are there particular components like switches or igniters that typically cause this symptom? …more
1989 Ford Tioga 460 EFI Won't Start After Dead Battery Jump
General Hard 4-6 hours tank drop, or professional diagnosis 67 👍

1989 Ford Tioga 460 EFI Won't Start After Dead Battery Jump

Looked everywhere online but still trying to decide between a fuel pump issue or ECM problem for my 1989 Ford Tioga 460 EFI that won't start after jumping the dead battery. The RV ran smoothly for weeks until I had to jump-start it after leaving lights on overnight. After the jump, the engine fired but immediately died - completely different behavior than its previous reliable starts.

The engine will only stay running when fuel is manually added to the intake, suggesting a fuel delivery problem. Prior to this incident, the fuel system worked flawlessly. The timing correlation between the dead battery jump-start and the fuel system failure seems significant.

What are the most likely causes when a 460 EFI system loses fuel delivery immediately after a battery jump? Could the jump-start procedure have damaged fuel system components, and what should I check first in the fuel pressure circuit? …more
Robert, RV Mechanic
Ask an RV Mechanic Avg reply < 5 min

My Rig Settings

Hi, I'm Hank!
Need help setting up? I can walk you through it
Rig Info
Give it a name you'll recognize
Power & Electrical
Climate Control
Water System
Refrigerator Type
Leveling System
Convenience & Features
Sync across devices