Results for "thermostat"

Engine Easy 1-2 hours inspection 146 👍 0

Ford E450 V10 Reliability: Expected Mileage and Longevity Guide for RV Owners

Nobody prepared me for staring at this 2018 Jayco Greyhawk 29MVP with Ford E450 chassis showing 54,000 miles and wondering if I'm looking at a money pit. The unit appears well-maintained with quality features including auto-leveling, fiberglass roof and nose, plus J-ride suspension. However, the odometer shows 54,000 miles, which exceeds my initial target range.

I need to assess whether this mileage represents significant wear on the E450/V10 drivetrain combination. What is the typical service life expectation for these engines when properly maintained? At what point should mileage become a primary concern versus overall mechanical condition? …more

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Ac Refrigeration Easy 30 minutes 130 👍 0

RV AC Freezing Up? Fix Ice on Coils in 5 Steps

Turned on my RV's AC as a total newbie and watched it run perfectly for an hour before becoming a frozen disaster that won't cool. I can literally see ice building up on the coils, and then it's game over until everything thaws out.

This has happened a few times now and I'm getting tired of sitting in a hot RV waiting for the thing to defrost. What actually causes AC units to freeze up like this? And more importantly, how do I stop it from happening again? I'm guessing it's something simple I'm missing, but I'd rather fix it right than keep dealing with this cycle. …more

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Appliances Medium 3-4 hours 125 👍 0

Best RV Thermostatic Shower Mixing Valves 2024 - Installation Guide

According to my screaming every morning, there's this scalding burn followed by an icy shock sensation hitting my back in my RV shower. There's no middle ground - it's like my water heater has anger management issues.

I'm shopping for a thermostatic mixing valve to save myself from daily temperature shock therapy. I keep seeing mechanical models like the Symmons Temptrol and Phoenix PF213200, but honestly have no idea if they're any good. And don't get me started on those fancy digital ones like the Kohler DTV+ - they look amazing but I'm guessing they're about as RV-friendly as a pet elephant.

Anyone know which thermostatic valves actually work well in RVs without requiring me to rewire half my rig or sacrifice my firstborn to the plumbing gods? …more

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4.6 (31,500 reviews)

Ac Refrigeration Medium 2-3 hours for diagnosis, professional repair likely needed 122 👍 0

Coleman Mach AC Fuse Blows With Battery On - Rockwood Fix

Found out the hard way that the previous owner of my 2019 Rockwood Minilite 2509s left me with a Coleman Mach AC that blows fuses instantly when I flip on the battery. The AC fuse blows instantly when I turn on the battery disconnect, before the AC is even activated. The fuse literally blows before it's completely seated in the panel.

This began two weeks ago without warning - the system had been functioning normally prior to this. Initial fuse replacement provided temporary operation, but the problem returned on the next trip with the fuse already blown upon arrival.

Given the immediate fuse failure with just battery power connected, what type of electrical fault would cause this symptom pattern in a Coleman Mach unit, and what's the most likely location of the problem in the AC circuit? …more

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Appliances Medium 2-4 hours 112 👍 0

RV Water Heater Not Hot Enough: Fix Lukewarm Water Issues

Looked forward to our two-week cross-country trip starting tomorrow until I discovered my RV water heater that used to produce scalding hot water now barely gets lukewarm. Both the electric and gas functions appear to be working - I can hear the gas igniting and see the electric indicator light - but the water temperature just won't get hot enough for a decent shower.

I've been dealing with this for weeks now and it's driving me crazy. The water gets warm, but nowhere near the hot temperatures I used to get. Is this a common problem with RV water heaters? What are the most likely culprits when you're getting lukewarm water instead of hot? I really need to figure out what's causing this and how to fix it before my next camping trip. …more

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Engine Easy N/A - finding shop 109 👍 0

Ford F53 V10 RV Chassis Repair Shops Near Raleigh NC - Engine Service

My Ford F53 V10 is showing misfire codes P0301 and P0303, but my compression test reads 180 PSI when everything says it should be around 150 PSI. I'm located near Raleigh, North Carolina, and I need to get some mechanical work done - specifically repairs to the exhaust manifold bolts and air conditioning system work.

The problem I'm running into is that when I call Ford dealerships in the area, they keep telling me they don't work on motorhomes, even though it's a Ford chassis. This seems crazy to me since the engine and drivetrain components should be the same as other Ford vehicles. The exhaust manifold issue and AC problems are fairly standard automotive repairs, so I don't understand why the Ford connection isn't helping me here.

What type of repair facilities should I be looking for instead? Are there specific shops or service centers near Raleigh that specialize in F53 chassis work, or should I be approaching this differently? I just need somewhere that can competently handle these mechanical repairs on my motorhome without the runaround. …more

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Ac Refrigeration Hard 2-4 hours 101 👍 0

How to Add Coleman Mach Heat Strips to RV AC Unit - Heat-Ready Control Box Installation Guide

Tried running my RV's electric heating this winter but it's eating through power way faster than it should, so I'm looking at adding Coleman Mach heat strips. I have a SportTrek Touring 272VRK with two AC units (Coleman-Mach 13.5k BTU and 15k BTU, models 48203-069 and 48204-069) with Cool-Only Control Boxes (model 8330-752) and I'm considering adding Coleman Mach electric heat strips, but I'm worried about a few things.

First, I'm concerned about whether my current AC units are compatible with heat strips - specifically the Coleman Mach 37203-4551 Electric Heat Kit/Strip. I want to confirm this will work with my existing 8330-752 control boxes. Second, I'm worried about the electrical load - I keep reading about heat strips drawing a lot of power and I'm scared of overloading my system or tripping breakers.

Most importantly, I absolutely do NOT want to lose the ability to use my existing Suburban SF-30FQ 30,000 BTU propane furnace - it's my primary heat source and I need that independence. I currently have 9420a381 digital thermostats controlling these systems, and I want to ensure I can maintain my current setup.

Is there a way to safely add Coleman Mach heat strips using some kind of Heat-Ready Control Box without compromising my furnace operation? I just want some reassurance that this can be done properly without creating problems. …more

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Plumbing Medium 1-2 hours 101 👍 0

RV Heater Lines Reversed: How to Diagnose and Fix Hot Dashboard Air

Dashboard vents are blowing hot air even with the heater off and the AC running. Drove three hours in 95-degree heat with hot air hitting my face the whole time. Mechanic says the heater hose lines might be reversed from a previous repair job. …more

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Appliances Medium 3-4 hours 100 👍 0

Dometic R31 Stove Review + Gas Pressure Test Guide

Walked into my RV this morning to find my Dometic R31 stove flames randomly dying again - probably a dumb question, but is this normal? I've been looking at the Dometic R31 as a potential replacement, but I want to make sure I'm making the right choice before spending the money.

What's really concerning me is this gas pressure test mentioned in the installation manual. It talks about connecting some kind of gauge to a test port on the regulator, but doesn't specify what type of gauge or what pressure readings I should expect. I'm pretty handy with basic repairs, but gas systems make me nervous and I want to do this safely. Has anyone actually done this test, and is the R31 reliable enough to justify the upgrade from my problematic Wedgewood? …more

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Propane Medium 30-60 minutes 94 👍 1

Atwood AFMD35 Furnace Playing Peek-a-Boo - How to Clean Flame Sensor & Fix Short Cycling

Staring at my Atwood AFMD35 manual that claims it should stay running once lit, but mine keeps shutting off every few minutes like it's playing peek-a-boo. It fires up beautifully for about 5-10 seconds, gets my hopes up that I won't freeze tonight, then promptly shuts off like it's having second thoughts about this whole "heating the RV" thing.

I've ruled out the sail switch and high temp limit since it actually lights (small victories in RV life, right?). I'm pretty sure the flame sensor is the culprit here, but I've never cleaned one before. How do I clean this mysterious little part, and what's the best way to access it on this model? Because apparently my furnace thinks playing hard-to-get is charming! …more

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Ac Refrigeration Medium 2-3 hours 93 👍 0

Everchill 12V Fridge Not Cooling But Freezer Works - Fix

The freezer in my 2024 Jayco Eagle's Everchill 12V fridge works perfectly, but I'm tackling the non-cooling fridge section this Saturday — what should I check first? The Everchill 12V four-door refrigerator/freezer unit has developed what seems to be a common problem - the freezer compartment is working perfectly and maintaining proper temperatures, but the refrigerator section has completely stopped cooling.

I've verified that the internal fan is running normally, so it's not a power issue. The unit gets power, the controls light up, and I can hear it cycling on and off as expected. However, despite the fan running and the freezer working fine, the fridge compartment just won't get cold anymore. This seems like it happened suddenly rather than gradually losing cooling capacity.

I've read online that this is a known issue with these Everchill units, but I'm not sure what specifically causes the freezer to work while the fridge fails. What are the most likely culprits when you have this exact symptom pattern, and what should I check first to diagnose whether it's something I can fix myself or if I need to call for warranty service? …more

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Engine Medium 2-4 hours 92 👍 0

Onan 4000 Generator Won't Start Without Choke: Code 14 Troubleshooting Guide

Halfway through another camping trip and trying to decide between babying my Onan 4000 with manual choke every startup or finally fixing this Code 14 nightmare. Let me try again:

Just found out that my 2013 Thor Class C's Onan 4000 generator won't cooperate after sitting since March, and I'm dealing with a nightmare. Been getting Code 14 errors and spent half the morning just trying to get it fired up.

The only way I can get it started is by manually messing with what I think is the choke linkage - otherwise it just won't go. Once I shut it off, same story - won't restart unless I physically manipulate that linkage again. Only has 240 hours on it and was serviced about 2 years ago.

I'm pretty sure the carburetor is gummed up from sitting, but what exactly does Code 14 mean? And more importantly, what do I need to clean to get that choke working automatically again? I really need to get this thing running properly before our next trip! …more

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Appliances Easy 30 minutes 91 👍 0

How to Calibrate Camplux RV Oven Temperature: Step-by-Step Adjustment Guide

Around day three of owning this new Camplux oven, I'm wondering — before I start tearing into the temperature calibration would this work be covered under warranty? I'm having trouble with the temperature being way off - I have to set it 50 degrees higher than what I actually want to get the right cooking temperature.

I think I remember seeing somewhere that there might be some kind of adjustment screw behind the temperature knob? I'm not totally sure how this works or if it's even possible to fix myself. Has anyone dealt with this before? I'd really appreciate some guidance on whether this is something I can adjust or if I need to call a repair person. …more

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Propane Medium 1-2 hours for diagnosis 90 👍 0

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

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Ac Refrigeration Medium 2-3 hours 87 👍 0

Norcold N7LX.3F Running Too Often: Complete Troubleshooting & Repair Guide

Standing in the RV supply store staring at replacement thermostats and control boards with no clue which one will actually stop my Norcold N7LX.3F from running constantly. It's been running way more frequently than it ever has before, and I can't figure out what's wrong. The cooling seems off too - items aren't staying as cold as they should be.

I've already checked the obvious stuff like making sure the vents aren't blocked and the unit is level, but something is definitely not right. The fridge just keeps cycling on and off constantly, which has me worried about both the power consumption and whether there's a bigger problem developing.

What should I be looking at to diagnose cooling efficiency issues? I really need to get this sorted before our next camping trip! …more

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