Electrical Gremlins

[John]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Harold Prescott"
wrote:
>
> I just had the same thing happen. It turned out to be a blown breaker
> on one leg of the shore power. Reset the breaker at the shore power
> end, and I don't know why it blew in the first place.
>
> Harold Prescott
> "85 FC35
> Rackerby, Ca.
>
>


Bingo! This seems to be the problem, although I reset their breaker
and reattached my cable, so something a little more "permanent"
happened to the park's shore power receptical. I ran my 50 amp
extension line over to another shore power receptical at an unused spot
and everything came back to life.

As an aside, do most of you run your gas heat when camped out at a
park? We are in Florida, so right now is about as cold as it ever gets
(mid 30's or so). The gas heat hasn't been used in the 2 years that we
have had the 'bird and I am reluctant to start it without having
someone inspect and start it first. Most of the factory electric
heaters are caput so I've been using some small portable heaters to
keep the chill off at night.

Thoughts? Other than the obvious, which is that we are pretty cautious
to make sure that the small heaters don't overheat (they seem to be
quite safe even if they don't throw off a lot of heat).

[Juergen]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "John" wrote:
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Harold Prescott"
> wrote:
> >
> > I just had the same thing happen. It turned out to be a blown breaker
> > on one leg of the shore power. Reset the breaker at the shore power
> > end, and I don't know why it blew in the first place.
> >
> > Harold Prescott
> > "85 FC35
> > Rackerby, Ca.
> >
> >
>
>
> Bingo! This seems to be the problem, although I reset their breaker
> and reattached my cable, so something a little more "permanent"
> happened to the park's shore power receptical. I ran my 50 amp
> extension line over to another shore power receptical at an unused spot
> and everything came back to life.
>
> As an aside, do most of you run your gas heat when camped out at a
> park? We are in Florida, so right now is about as cold as it ever gets
> (mid 30's or so). The gas heat hasn't been used in the 2 years that we
> have had the 'bird and I am reluctant to start it without having
> someone inspect and start it first. Most of the factory electric
> heaters are caput so I've been using some small portable heaters to
> keep the chill off at night.
>
> Thoughts? Other than the obvious, which is that we are pretty cautious
> to make sure that the small heaters don't overheat (they seem to be
> quite safe even if they don't throw off a lot of heat).
>
John
When I am camping in a park with 50 Amp power, I try to use electric
heat also. You do have to watch the amps on each leg however. I found
out that all outlets which i used for my electric cube were on the
same circuit as the water heater, bathroom heater etc. I made me a
sketch and a list to show which electric unit is on which leg and then
rewired the main 120 volt box to split the loads more even. I actually
only moved one circuit from leg 2 to leg 1. Use of water heater, BB
electric built in heaters, plug in heat cubes, micro wave can sure
consume ample Amps quickly. So check and divvy it up.
Juergen in PA
1991 WLSP36

[Pete Masterson]

Just before Christmas, we concluded a 3-month trip. In general my
coach handled beautifully and without serious problems or any
mishaps. Truly, the Blue Bird is a wonderful vehicle to drive.

However, I've noticed a few gremlins of an electrical nature:

1. Cruise control doesn't work when the headlights are on. Not a
serious problem as I don't often drive at night, but annoying if I
'flash' the lights to signal a passing truck.

2. The Jake brake has become intermittent. First noticed about half-
way through the trip, the Jake brake simply wasn't working while
crossing Texas. After staying for a month in Lockhart, the Jake
worked again. (I'd checked all the fuses, circuit breakers, etc. and
none were blown or bad.) Then it started working some of the time and
not -- even cutting in and out for several seconds at a time while
going down a hill at a constant speed.

3. I also had troubles with the umbilical cable between the coach and
the toad. While the various lights are important, the greatest
concern is that the transmission lube pump for the toad receives its
power from the coach through the cable. I cleaned the contacts with
"tuner cleaner" and used some dielectric grease that improved (but
did not solve) the problem. It seemed to be particularly bad on cold
mornings with the lube-pump alarm cutting in and out frequently for
the first 5 to 10 miles. (Much cable jiggling and plugging/unplugging
would seem to help.) The wires to/from the connectors seem to be
tight and in good condition.

I checked all the ground straps and ensured that they were all tight
(no loose connections were found). Battery voltage was indicated at
12.85 to 12.9 -- normal for the AGM batteries in the coach.

Any thoughts/comments would be appreciated. I plan to start checking
the voltages on the various connections -- and to look for loose or
corroded connectors. I also plan to disconnect the various ground
straps, clean the contacts, and reassemble them.

Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
El Sobrante CA
aeonix1@...





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Rob Robinson]

Pete your gremlins with respect to the cruise and jake sound a little (not
completely identical) like the problems I was having with my cruise and
tranny retarder. It turned out to be a burned connection in one of the five
cannon plugs up front. They are accessed through the outside front panel. We
missed it at first, second and third inspection but after looking very
closely at these fine male/female connections within the cannon we finally
found one that was slightly discoloured. I recommend looking for problem
with a magnifying glass. We didn't try to replace the connection but rather
jumped wired around it.

On 27/12/2007, Pete Masterson wrote:
>
> Just before Christmas, we concluded a 3-month trip. In general my
> coach handled beautifully and without serious problems or any
> mishaps. Truly, the Blue Bird is a wonderful vehicle to drive.
>
> However, I've noticed a few gremlins of an electrical nature:
>
> 1. Cruise control doesn't work when the headlights are on. Not a
> serious problem as I don't often drive at night, but annoying if I
> 'flash' the lights to signal a passing truck.
>
> 2. The Jake brake has become intermittent. First noticed about half-
> way through the trip, the Jake brake simply wasn't working while
> crossing Texas. After staying for a month in Lockhart, the Jake
> worked again. (I'd checked all the fuses, circuit breakers, etc. and
> none were blown or bad.) Then it started working some of the time and
> not -- even cutting in and out for several seconds at a time while
> going down a hill at a constant speed.
>
> 3. I also had troubles with the umbilical cable between the coach and
> the toad. While the various lights are important, the greatest
> concern is that the transmission lube pump for the toad receives its
> power from the coach through the cable. I cleaned the contacts with
> "tuner cleaner" and used some dielectric grease that improved (but
> did not solve) the problem. It seemed to be particularly bad on cold
> mornings with the lube-pump alarm cutting in and out frequently for
> the first 5 to 10 miles. (Much cable jiggling and plugging/unplugging
> would seem to help.) The wires to/from the connectors seem to be
> tight and in good condition.
>
> I checked all the ground straps and ensured that they were all tight
> (no loose connections were found). Battery voltage was indicated at
> 12.85 to 12.9 -- normal for the AGM batteries in the coach.
>
> Any thoughts/comments would be appreciated. I plan to start checking
> the voltages on the various connections -- and to look for loose or
> corroded connectors. I also plan to disconnect the various ground
> straps, clean the contacts, and reassemble them.
>
> Pete Masterson
> '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
> El Sobrante CA
> aeonix1@...
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>



--
Rob, Sue & Merlin Robinson
94 WLWB


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Pete Masterson]

I've looked at one or another of those plugs a couple of times --- so
I'll give a really close look with a magnifying glass. This is just
the suggestion I was hoping for...

Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
El Sobrante CA
aeonix1@...



On Dec 27, 2007, at 11:49 AM, Rob Robinson wrote:

> Pete your gremlins with respect to the cruise and jake sound a
> little (not
> completely identical) like the problems I was having with my cruise
> and
> tranny retarder. It turned out to be a burned connection in one of
> the five
> cannon plugs up front. They are accessed through the outside front
> panel. We
> missed it at first, second and third inspection but after looking very
> closely at these fine male/female connections within the cannon we
> finally
> found one that was slightly discoloured. I recommend looking for
> problem
> with a magnifying glass. We didn't try to replace the connection
> but rather
> jumped wired around it.
>
> On 27/12/2007, Pete Masterson wrote:
>>
>> Just before Christmas, we concluded a 3-month trip. In general my
>> coach handled beautifully and without serious problems or any
>> mishaps. Truly, the Blue Bird is a wonderful vehicle to drive.
>>
>> However, I've noticed a few gremlins of an electrical nature:
>>
>> 1. Cruise control doesn't work when the headlights are on. Not a
>> serious problem as I don't often drive at night, but annoying if I
>> 'flash' the lights to signal a passing truck.
>>
>> 2. The Jake brake has become intermittent. First noticed about half-
>> way through the trip, the Jake brake simply wasn't working while
>> crossing Texas. After staying for a month in Lockhart, the Jake
>> worked again. (I'd checked all the fuses, circuit breakers, etc. and
>> none were blown or bad.) Then it started working some of the time and
>> not -- even cutting in and out for several seconds at a time while
>> going down a hill at a constant speed.
>>
>> 3. I also had troubles with the umbilical cable between the coach and
>> the toad. While the various lights are important, the greatest
>> concern is that the transmission lube pump for the toad receives its
>> power from the coach through the cable. I cleaned the contacts with
>> "tuner cleaner" and used some dielectric grease that improved (but
>> did not solve) the problem. It seemed to be particularly bad on cold
>> mornings with the lube-pump alarm cutting in and out frequently for
>> the first 5 to 10 miles. (Much cable jiggling and plugging/unplugging
>> would seem to help.) The wires to/from the connectors seem to be
>> tight and in good condition.
>>
>> I checked all the ground straps and ensured that they were all tight
>> (no loose connections were found). Battery voltage was indicated at
>> 12.85 to 12.9 -- normal for the AGM batteries in the coach.
>>
>> Any thoughts/comments would be appreciated. I plan to start checking
>> the voltages on the various connections -- and to look for loose or
>> corroded connectors. I also plan to disconnect the various ground
>> straps, clean the contacts, and reassemble them.
>>
>> Pete Masterson
>> '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
>> El Sobrante CA
>> aeonix1@...
>>
>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Rob, Sue & Merlin Robinson
> 94 WLWB
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Rob Robinson]

Pete I hope it solves your problem. I forgot to mention that it was Bennie
Collier that steered Randy and I onto this fix and also that I filled the
cannon plugs up with dielectric before screwing them back together. My
fingers are crossed but nothing has gone wrong in the last 18 months since
we did this job.

On 27/12/2007, Pete Masterson wrote:
>
> I've looked at one or another of those plugs a couple of times --- so
> I'll give a really close look with a magnifying glass. This is just
> the suggestion I was hoping for...
>
> Pete Masterson
> '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
> El Sobrante CA
> aeonix1@...
>
> On Dec 27, 2007, at 11:49 AM, Rob Robinson wrote:
>
> > Pete your gremlins with respect to the cruise and jake sound a
> > little (not
> > completely identical) like the problems I was having with my cruise
> > and
> > tranny retarder. It turned out to be a burned connection in one of
> > the five
> > cannon plugs up front. They are accessed through the outside front
> > panel. We
> > missed it at first, second and third inspection but after looking very
> > closely at these fine male/female connections within the cannon we
> > finally
> > found one that was slightly discoloured. I recommend looking for
> > problem
> > with a magnifying glass. We didn't try to replace the connection
> > but rather
> > jumped wired around it.
> >
> > On 27/12/2007, Pete Masterson >
> wrote:
> >>
> >> Just before Christmas, we concluded a 3-month trip. In general my
> >> coach handled beautifully and without serious problems or any
> >> mishaps. Truly, the Blue Bird is a wonderful vehicle to drive.
> >>
> >> However, I've noticed a few gremlins of an electrical nature:
> >>
> >> 1. Cruise control doesn't work when the headlights are on. Not a
> >> serious problem as I don't often drive at night, but annoying if I
> >> 'flash' the lights to signal a passing truck.
> >>
> >> 2. The Jake brake has become intermittent. First noticed about half-
> >> way through the trip, the Jake brake simply wasn't working while
> >> crossing Texas. After staying for a month in Lockhart, the Jake
> >> worked again. (I'd checked all the fuses, circuit breakers, etc. and
> >> none were blown or bad.) Then it started working some of the time and
> >> not -- even cutting in and out for several seconds at a time while
> >> going down a hill at a constant speed.
> >>
> >> 3. I also had troubles with the umbilical cable between the coach and
> >> the toad. While the various lights are important, the greatest
> >> concern is that the transmission lube pump for the toad receives its
> >> power from the coach through the cable. I cleaned the contacts with
> >> "tuner cleaner" and used some dielectric grease that improved (but
> >> did not solve) the problem. It seemed to be particularly bad on cold
> >> mornings with the lube-pump alarm cutting in and out frequently for
> >> the first 5 to 10 miles. (Much cable jiggling and plugging/unplugging
> >> would seem to help.) The wires to/from the connectors seem to be
> >> tight and in good condition.
> >>
> >> I checked all the ground straps and ensured that they were all tight
> >> (no loose connections were found). Battery voltage was indicated at
> >> 12.85 to 12.9 -- normal for the AGM batteries in the coach.
> >>
> >> Any thoughts/comments would be appreciated. I plan to start checking
> >> the voltages on the various connections -- and to look for loose or
> >> corroded connectors. I also plan to disconnect the various ground
> >> straps, clean the contacts, and reassemble them.
> >>
> >> Pete Masterson
> >> '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
> >> El Sobrante CA
> >> aeonix1@...
> >>
> >> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Rob, Sue & Merlin Robinson
> > 94 WLWB
> >
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>



--
Rob, Sue & Merlin Robinson
94 WLWB


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[g_man1146]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Pete Masterson
wrote:
<<<<<<<SNIP>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> 2. The Jake brake has become intermittent. First noticed about half-
> way through the trip, the Jake brake simply wasn't working while
> crossing Texas. After staying for a month in Lockhart, the Jake
> worked again. (I'd checked all the fuses, circuit breakers, etc.
>and none were blown or bad.) Then it started working some of the time
>and not -- even cutting in and out for several seconds at a time
>while going down a hill at a constant speed.

Pete,

My Jake would intermittently stop working and I found that if I
pulled the 4 associated relays out of the outside panel, cleaned the
contacts and reinserted them, it would start working again------------
for a while. Finally I cleaned them and put some dielectric grease on
the relay connections and it has not cut out again since.

Rich D. '99LXi43' CT

[somervillebus]

Pete,

If cleaning the relays as Rich described doesn't work, consider the
throttle position sensor on the pedal itself. Check and make sure its
plugged in and is not loose or damaged. I actually had to replace my
sensor. They can be found at Williams Controls for about 115.00. If
it is an internal issue with the Jake it would normally send an check
engine lite. Hope this helps

Good Luck



Slim Somerville
99LXi
Tennessee





--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "g_man1146"
wrote:
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Pete Masterson
> wrote:
> <<<<<<<SNIP>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> > 2. The Jake brake has become intermittent. First noticed about
half-
> > way through the trip, the Jake brake simply wasn't working while
> > crossing Texas. After staying for a month in Lockhart, the Jake
> > worked again. (I'd checked all the fuses, circuit breakers, etc.
> >and none were blown or bad.) Then it started working some of the
time
> >and not -- even cutting in and out for several seconds at a time
> >while going down a hill at a constant speed.
>
> Pete,
>
> My Jake would intermittently stop working and I found that if I
> pulled the 4 associated relays out of the outside panel, cleaned
the
> contacts and reinserted them, it would start working again----------
--
> for a while. Finally I cleaned them and put some dielectric grease
on
> the relay connections and it has not cut out again since.
>
> Rich D. '99LXi43' CT
>

[Pete Masterson]

We have some rain coming our way ... so once we dry out, I'll look at
those plugs very carefully -- and I'll try the dielectric grease, too...

In any event, it gives me _something_ to start with.

Thanks.
Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
El Sobrante CA
aeonix1@...



On Dec 27, 2007, at 1:58 PM, Rob Robinson wrote:

> Pete I hope it solves your problem. I forgot to mention that it was
> Bennie
> Collier that steered Randy and I onto this fix and also that I
> filled the
> cannon plugs up with dielectric before screwing them back together. My
> fingers are crossed but nothing has gone wrong in the last 18
> months since
> we did this job.
>
> On 27/12/2007, Pete Masterson wrote:
>>
>> I've looked at one or another of those plugs a couple of times
>> --- so
>> I'll give a really close look with a magnifying glass. This is just
>> the suggestion I was hoping for...
>>
>> Pete Masterson
>> '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
>> El Sobrante CA
>> aeonix1@...
>>
>> On Dec 27, 2007, at 11:49 AM, Rob Robinson wrote:
>>
>>> Pete your gremlins with respect to the cruise and jake sound a
>>> little (not
>>> completely identical) like the problems I was having with my cruise
>>> and
>>> tranny retarder. It turned out to be a burned connection in one of
>>> the five
>>> cannon plugs up front. They are accessed through the outside front
>>> panel. We
>>> missed it at first, second and third inspection but after looking
>>> very
>>> closely at these fine male/female connections within the cannon we
>>> finally
>>> found one that was slightly discoloured. I recommend looking for
>>> problem
>>> with a magnifying glass. We didn't try to replace the connection
>>> but rather
>>> jumped wired around it.
>>>
>>> On 27/12/2007, Pete Masterson >
>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Just before Christmas, we concluded a 3-month trip. In general my
>>>> coach handled beautifully and without serious problems or any
>>>> mishaps. Truly, the Blue Bird is a wonderful vehicle to drive.
>>>>
>>>> However, I've noticed a few gremlins of an electrical nature:
>>>>
>>>> 1. Cruise control doesn't work when the headlights are on. Not a
>>>> serious problem as I don't often drive at night, but annoying if I
>>>> 'flash' the lights to signal a passing truck.
>>>>
>>>> 2. The Jake brake has become intermittent. First noticed about
>>>> half-
>>>> way through the trip, the Jake brake simply wasn't working while
>>>> crossing Texas. After staying for a month in Lockhart, the Jake
>>>> worked again. (I'd checked all the fuses, circuit breakers, etc.
>>>> and
>>>> none were blown or bad.) Then it started working some of the
>>>> time and
>>>> not -- even cutting in and out for several seconds at a time while
>>>> going down a hill at a constant speed.
>>>>
>>>> 3. I also had troubles with the umbilical cable between the
>>>> coach and
>>>> the toad. While the various lights are important, the greatest
>>>> concern is that the transmission lube pump for the toad receives
>>>> its
>>>> power from the coach through the cable. I cleaned the contacts with
>>>> "tuner cleaner" and used some dielectric grease that improved (but
>>>> did not solve) the problem. It seemed to be particularly bad on
>>>> cold
>>>> mornings with the lube-pump alarm cutting in and out frequently for
>>>> the first 5 to 10 miles. (Much cable jiggling and plugging/
>>>> unplugging
>>>> would seem to help.) The wires to/from the connectors seem to be
>>>> tight and in good condition.
>>>>
>>>> I checked all the ground straps and ensured that they were all
>>>> tight
>>>> (no loose connections were found). Battery voltage was indicated at
>>>> 12.85 to 12.9 -- normal for the AGM batteries in the coach.
>>>>
>>>> Any thoughts/comments would be appreciated. I plan to start
>>>> checking
>>>> the voltages on the various connections -- and to look for loose or
>>>> corroded connectors. I also plan to disconnect the various ground
>>>> straps, clean the contacts, and reassemble them.
>>>>
>>>> Pete Masterson
>>>> '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
>>>> El Sobrante CA
>>>> aeonix1@...
>>>>
>>>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Rob, Sue & Merlin Robinson
>>> 94 WLWB
>>>
>>
>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Rob, Sue & Merlin Robinson
> 94 WLWB
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Pete Masterson]

I was suspecting the relays. A previous owner has fiddled with them
sometime in the past. The jake brake originally had 3 levels (high,
med, low) but was rewired to only activate high or low (no medium). I
have some brand new relays (I got on eBay) that I can substitute in
if that seems like the problem.

Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
El Sobrante CA
aeonix1@...



On Dec 27, 2007, at 3:41 PM, g_man1146 wrote:

> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Pete Masterson
> wrote:
> <<<<<<<SNIP>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>> 2. The Jake brake has become intermittent. First noticed about half-
>> way through the trip, the Jake brake simply wasn't working while
>> crossing Texas. After staying for a month in Lockhart, the Jake
>> worked again. (I'd checked all the fuses, circuit breakers, etc.
>> and none were blown or bad.) Then it started working some of the time
>> and not -- even cutting in and out for several seconds at a time
>> while going down a hill at a constant speed.
>
> Pete,
>
> My Jake would intermittently stop working and I found that if I
> pulled the 4 associated relays out of the outside panel, cleaned the
> contacts and reinserted them, it would start working again------------
> for a while. Finally I cleaned them and put some dielectric grease on
> the relay connections and it has not cut out again since.
>
> Rich D. '99LXi43' CT
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]