Propane Level
From the time I purchased our new 2003 Fleetwood Discovery, the propane gauge at the front of the motorhome always has read full, regardless of the amount of fuel in the tank. The dealer worked on this problem several times and was supposedly in contact with Fleetwood to find a resolution. I also have had Fleetwood technicians at two different rallies attempt to fix the problem, with no results. During one inspection, the Fleetwood technician even replaced the front panel and something underneath at the tank. Still no fix. Never knowing how much propane I actually have is a big nuisance, causing unnecessary stops for propane and sometimes running lower than I would prefer. Can you offer any suggestions for a fix? There is a gauge at the tank underneath the motorhome, but it is difficult to see even when crawling under the coach. I was hoping there might be a better solution.
Ted Misenheimer, F303089
Stockbridge, Georgia
To repair the remote gauge, you need to replace the supply wire(s). Either the plus (+) side or the minus (-) side is compromised. I’m not sure how your motorhome is wired, but it sounds as though a staple may have been driven through the insulation of the wire between the tank and monitor panel and the wire is either shorted or grounded out. An RV technician with a wiring diagram of your motorhome should be able to replace one or both of the wires feeding the propane information to the monitor panel.
Generator Shutdown
We have a 2000 40-foot Country Coach Intrigue with a PowerTech generator that’s powered by a three-cylinder Kubota diesel engine. While traveling last summer, we wanted to use the gen set to run the roof air conditioners while the motorhome was moving. This was the first time we tried using the gen set for over-the-road air-conditioning. We were a bit shocked when the gen set would run for only about 30 minutes before shutting down. I believe the reason it stopped was because it overheated. It never shut down when in use while the motorhome was parked.
The gen set is located directly behind the driver’s-side front wheel, with access to it through a side bay door. My thought is that when the motorhome is moving, the air is being pulled away from the bottom air intake so the fan is not capable of providing enough air across the generator’s radiator. Do you believe that installing a scoop on the bottom of the coach where the air intake is would solve our problem? We have been full-timers for 12 years, but this was our first summer driving. Normally we move during the spring and fall.
Bill & Shirley Winchester, F246734
Kerrville, Texas
Here are several suggestions to help you identify what may be causing the generator to shut down. First, check your gen set’s owners manual for information relative to the operation of the unit. Next, contact PowerTech (800-760-0027 or 352-365-2777) and a technician there may have a solution. You likely will need the model number and possibly the serial number of your generator when you call. You might also get in touch with Country Coach (541-234-2167) to find out whether any technical service bulletins have been released relative to this condition. In addition, ascertain whether the gen set draws its fuel from the motorhome’s fuel tank or if it has a separate tank.
Next, inspect the gen set’s fuel line for any possible restriction to the fuel flow. Check whatever manuals you have to determine whether there’s a minimum amount of fuel you must have in your motorhome’s fuel tank (if also used for the gen set) to feed the generator. The gen set’s fuel pickup line usually operates only at or above a quarter tank.
Some of the PowerTech diesels have an automatic shutdown feature that monitors the coolant level, the oil pressure, and the temperature. Since the gen set runs fine when the vehicle is stationary, it probably is not the oil pressure. If the air handler is not providing enough volume while traveling, overheating would be evidenced by loss of coolant, thus causing the gen set to shut down. There is also the possibility of a malfunction of the coolant level indicator. The coolant level device can be fooled by electrical bypass. The coolant level indicator is a float device, and the motion of the highway may have some effect.
Gen Set Vapor Lock
My question concerns a possible vapor lock in my motorhome’s 5.5-kilowatt Generac generator. I’ve had it since 2003 and noticed that while traveling during the summer, if I don’t start the generator while the motorhome is being driven, it won’t start when the motorhome is stopped. If I forget and try to start it while parked, the generator will crank over and over, and eventually there is a rough start. Thinking that it could be vapor lock, I wrapped the fuel line with ½-inch foam insulation from the generator to the fuel tank inlet. That didn’t seem to help much. Has Generac issued a service bulletin regarding this problem?
Ron Moya, F301359
La Verne, California
The first thing you should do, if you haven’t already, is to check the troubleshooting guide in the generator’s owners manual. There may be some clues there. Also, you might want to contact Generac at (888) 436-3722 or visit the company’s Web site at www.generac.com for more information.
Based on your description, the problem likely is being caused by a dirty fuel filter on the line going to the generator. Clean the fuel line’s filter(s) and try it again. Another possibility is a clogged fuel system on the gen set from lack of use. If you don’t run the generator enough to keep the gas from turning bad “” or use fuel stabilizer regularly “” this could be your problem.
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