Results for "steering column"

Engine Medium 2-3 hours 106 👍 0

Ford F53 Chassis Firewall Wiring: Finding Brake LED Through-Holes

Opened up my 2022 Holiday Rambler 36DB for spring prep and once again I'm staring at my 2021 Ford F53 chassis firewall wondering where those brake LED through-holes are hiding. I need to run the brake indicator LED wire from my toad to the dashboard inside the motorhome, but I'm having trouble locating the best firewall penetration point.

Rather than drilling a new hole through the firewall (which I'd prefer to avoid for obvious reasons), I'm hoping to find an existing through-hole or grommet that I can utilize. I've heard that Ford F53 chassis typically have several factory access points, but I'm not sure exactly where to look or which ones would be most suitable for this type of low-voltage wiring installation.

Can anyone provide specific guidance on where to find existing firewall through-holes on the F53 chassis that would work well for routing brake indicator wiring? I want to make sure I'm using an appropriate location that won't interfere with existing systems and will provide a clean, professional installation. …more

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Engine Easy 15 minutes 105 👍 0

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

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Electrical Medium 1-2 hours 104 👍 0

Ford F53 RV Chassis: All Headlights Out - Complete Diagnosis & Repair

Pulled out my multimeter on this dead F53 headlight situation and I'm getting 12.4V at the relay when every Ford manual says it should read 12.6V. My 1999 Mountain High Pinnacle Class A with 76,000 miles on a Ford F-53 chassis has me stumped - ALL four headlights (both high and low beams) just went completely dead, but here's the weird part: every single other light works perfectly. Taillights, brake lights, turn signals, markers - they're all fine.

When the headlight switch is on, there are no headlights at all, and the blue high beam indicator remains constantly lit. I noticed a strange clicking sound from under the hood about every 20-25 seconds, which continued even after disconnecting the coach and chassis batteries.

I've already replaced the headlight switch thinking that was the culprit, but the same problem persists. No headlights whatsoever when I flip the switch, whether I'm on high or low beam. I'm starting to think it might be the combination switch or maybe a relay with a potential dead short, but I don't want to start throwing parts at this thing without some guidance.

Has anyone dealt with this exact scenario on a late 90s Ford chassis? What should I be checking first? I really need to get this sorted out before my next trip. …more

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Electrical Medium 2-4 hours 101 👍 0

RV Dash AC Blower Motor Not Working? Check These Hidden Fuses First

Last week I'm trying to decide between shelling out hundreds for an RV tech or tackling this myself after my F53 chassis motorhome's dash A/C blower motor completely died. I've checked all the obvious fuses in the main fuse panels, but nothing seems blown.

I discovered something crucial that might help others: Fleetwood added a hidden 25 amp fuse wire-tied above the emergency brake, not shown in standard Ford chassis diagrams. In my case, this was the culprit. As a temporary fix, I even ran a wire directly from my lighter plug with a switch to get some air movement.

I'm wondering if other RV owners might have similar hidden electrical components that aren't in standard chassis wiring documentation? Before taking it to a shop, I recommend carefully checking behind panels and tracing wires, especially looking near the dashboard area above the emergency brake for manufacturer-specific fuses. …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 Medium 2-3 hours 90 👍 0

How to Install a Tachometer on Ford E-450 RV Chassis - Complete DIY Guide

Woke up to my 2003 Itasca Spirit with Ford E-450 V10 chassis doing something bizarre — engine purrs like a kitten but zero RPM showing on dashboard. The dash doesn't have a factory tachometer, but I'd really like to monitor RPMs when towing and climbing hills.

What are the best aftermarket tachometer options for this setup? Looking for specific mounting solutions and wiring connections that work with the E-450's electrical system. …more

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Engine Medium 1-2 hours 88 👍 0

Ford F-53 Steering Wheel Clunk Fix: Complete Diagnosis & Repair Guide for RV Chassis

Halfway through summer, my '95 F-53 motorhome chassis steering wheel only starts making this weird clunking noise when it's above 85 degrees outside — runs silent the rest of the time. When I hit certain bumps, I get this annoying clunk that I can actually feel through the steering wheel. Had the front end checked and everything seems tight up there, but here's the kicker - when I grab the steering wheel and mess with it, I can push it straight back into the column like I'm trying to compress a spring or something.

Is this normal for these old F-53s or am I looking at some worn out parts? The clunk is definitely coming from somewhere in the steering column area, and that push-in play has me scratching my head. What should I be checking first? …more

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Electrical Medium 2-4 hours 79 👍 0

How to Fix Dashboard Gauges & Lights Not Working - 1999 Monaco La Palma F53 RV Troubleshooting

Our 1999 Monaco La Palma F53's dashboard gauges and lights are completely dead — can't afford a $300+ shop diagnosis, is there a DIY fix for under $50? No power getting to fuses #6 and #12 in the driver-side fuse box under the dash.

What's the most common cause of this issue and what should I check first? Looking for the right troubleshooting sequence to track down whether it's a relay problem or power supply issue. …more

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Engine Medium 2-3 hours 79 👍 0

How to Fix Intermittent Cruise Control on Damon Daybreak F53 Chassis -

Standing here staring at my 2009 Damon Daybreak F53 that's 15 years old and starting to have intermittent cruise control failures — should I repair or replace the system? The dash light doesn't come on when I press set, and cruise won't engage. Previous owner spliced the red wire from an aftermarket trailer brake controller into a wire in the steering column. When I fiddle with the brake controller or jiggle that connection, cruise sometimes starts working again.

Can I safely disconnect the brake controller's red wire from the steering column to fix this? Will the brake controller still work if I remove that connection? …more

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Engine Easy 30 minutes 79 👍 0

How to Center Your RV Steering Wheel After Wheel Alignment

Replaced the wheel alignment on my 2018 Class A motorhome and now the steering wheel is sitting crooked — should I fix it myself or go back? I have an RV with an F53 chassis, and after getting an alignment, my steering wheel sits crooked when I'm driving straight - it's off by what looks like 30-45 degrees to the right. The RV tracks straight down the road just fine, but having to hold the wheel at an angle is driving me absolutely crazy on long trips.

I know this chassis uses an older steering system similar to what was used in the 1920s, and from what I understand, the drag link isn't adjustable. I've already installed a big steering stabilizer, but I'm concerned about how this offset might affect the steering box's performance. The steering shop seems busy, and I'm worried they'll just brush me off or charge me again. Is there a good way to center the steering wheel without major mechanical intervention? I really need to get this sorted out before our next big trip - any advice would be hugely appreciated! …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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Ac Refrigeration Hard 8 hours 74 👍 0

Ford Triton V10 RV AC Repair Cost: Is $1400 Fair for Evaporator Replacement?

Already standing in the RV service bay staring at a $1400 evaporator replacement quote for my 2002 Pace Arrow with Triton V10 with no clue if that's highway robbery or fair. Tech says evaporator, dryer, and expansion valve all need replacing. Quoted $1400 for parts and labor, says it's an 8-hour job because of dash removal.

Is this price reasonable for this type of repair? What should I expect to pay for parts vs labor on a dash-intensive AC job like this? …more

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Electrical Medium 1-2 hours 73 👍 0

Holiday Rambler Windshield Wipers Not Working: Fuse & Relay Troubleshooting Guide

Wondering why my 2019 Holiday Rambler Vacationer 36F windshield wipers went completely dead yesterday and now won't budge at all? System shows no power to wipers - no movement, no motor sound, no response from switch positions.

Initial diagnosis indicates potential fuse or relay failure. Located under-dash fuse panel and identified wiper-related fuses and relays, but suspect there may be additional fuse locations in the electrical system that require inspection.

Require confirmation of all fuse box locations for wiper circuit on Ford chassis Holiday Rambler, specifically engine compartment power distribution box accessibility and proper relay testing methodology for systematic troubleshooting approach. …more

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Engine Medium 2-3 hours 69 👍 0

RV Ignition Key Hard to Turn: Complete DIY Replacement Guide (2024)

After replacing my 2007 Fleetwood's ignition cylinder yesterday something still doesn't seem right — the key is still extremely hard to turn. I'm pretty sure it's the ignition cylinder that's worn out.

Is this something I can tackle as a DIY project? I have moderate mechanical skills but haven't worked on steering column components before. What's involved in replacing the ignition switch cylinder on this model? …more

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Engine Easy 15-30 minutes 68 👍 0

Ford F53 460 Inertia Switch Location: 1995 Thor Mirage RV Troubleshooting Guide

About to crawl under my 1995 Thor Mirage RV's dashboard staring at endless wires and components with no clue which one is the Ford F53 460 inertia switch. I have a 1995 Thor Mirage Class A with the F53 chassis and 460 engine. After hitting a pretty good bump on the road, my fuel pump stopped working completely.

I've been reading online and it sounds like the inertia switch probably got triggered, but I'm having trouble figuring out exactly where it's located on my rig. I've seen some posts mentioning the steering column, but I've looked there and can't find anything. Could someone help me understand where I should be looking for this switch and what it actually looks like? I'd really appreciate any guidance from someone who's dealt with this before. …more

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