Breakdown Information
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This is a great idea, BTW!
Ours are pretty mundane but thought you might want them anyway. They both happened on our old unit (we have just moved to a newer DP).
RV particulars: 1985 Pace Arrow 32' gas
Driveline (Engine, Transmission): GM 454 V-8
Miles: 80,000
Year: 1985
1st Break Down (Jan '03) Description: Engine failed to start
Symptoms: Stopped for supper, would start afterward. Rapped the starter & off we went. Stopped for fuel, and dash went dark when I tried to start.
Effect: May hours, fuses & jumper wires later, figured out the starter was drawing mega-AMPs whenever I hit the key & the relay connected.
Cause: Starter was dead-shorted. Replaced with lifetime rebuild from the Advance Auto across town & installed it myself.
Outcome: Other than the wind & 18 degree weather, it only cost me $45 & 11 hours; all's well that ends well!
2nd Break Down ( May '03) Description: Sudden over-heating of the engine & wandering steering. Engine died & lights dimmed.
Symptoms: Sudden over-heating of the engine & wandering steering. When I stopped (as quickly as safely possible on an Interstate) the radiator was emptying itself for me.
Effect: No power, no cooling, no power steering or brakes.
Cause: It took me about 15 minutes to figure out it wasn't a blown hose or rad, so I pulled the 'dog-house' & instantly found the problem; a frayed belt. Simple enough, I had made sure I had spares for the two listed in the manual when we bought the rig. On closer inspection, I found that not one but both were broken & one was totally gone! One ran the power systems (A/C & power steering/power brake pump) & the other the fan pulley & the alternator.
Outcome: An hour later, after fitting the inner one, I came to the realization that 'something' had been modified since manufacturing and only one of the belts was going to fit. It would fit either path but I only had one belt. I chose the path that gave us cooling & voltage. By the time I was done, the engine had cooled; it had only lost about a gallon & I had more with us, of course. The steering was awful & braking was next to nothing; I had to downshift & use both arms on the wheel & both feet on the brake to stop! The only good thing was that it was well after midnight by now & no one was on the highway. We traveled the remaining 150 miles home in about 4 hours, barely stopped in our backyard, & parked it for about two weeks before I even wanted to LOOK at it again! Bought another belt & it was fine again.
Hope to never add to this post with the DP !!! :-)
--Scott
Ours are pretty mundane but thought you might want them anyway. They both happened on our old unit (we have just moved to a newer DP).
RV particulars: 1985 Pace Arrow 32' gas
Driveline (Engine, Transmission): GM 454 V-8
Miles: 80,000
Year: 1985
1st Break Down (Jan '03) Description: Engine failed to start
Symptoms: Stopped for supper, would start afterward. Rapped the starter & off we went. Stopped for fuel, and dash went dark when I tried to start.
Effect: May hours, fuses & jumper wires later, figured out the starter was drawing mega-AMPs whenever I hit the key & the relay connected.
Cause: Starter was dead-shorted. Replaced with lifetime rebuild from the Advance Auto across town & installed it myself.
Outcome: Other than the wind & 18 degree weather, it only cost me $45 & 11 hours; all's well that ends well!
2nd Break Down ( May '03) Description: Sudden over-heating of the engine & wandering steering. Engine died & lights dimmed.
Symptoms: Sudden over-heating of the engine & wandering steering. When I stopped (as quickly as safely possible on an Interstate) the radiator was emptying itself for me.
Effect: No power, no cooling, no power steering or brakes.
Cause: It took me about 15 minutes to figure out it wasn't a blown hose or rad, so I pulled the 'dog-house' & instantly found the problem; a frayed belt. Simple enough, I had made sure I had spares for the two listed in the manual when we bought the rig. On closer inspection, I found that not one but both were broken & one was totally gone! One ran the power systems (A/C & power steering/power brake pump) & the other the fan pulley & the alternator.
Outcome: An hour later, after fitting the inner one, I came to the realization that 'something' had been modified since manufacturing and only one of the belts was going to fit. It would fit either path but I only had one belt. I chose the path that gave us cooling & voltage. By the time I was done, the engine had cooled; it had only lost about a gallon & I had more with us, of course. The steering was awful & braking was next to nothing; I had to downshift & use both arms on the wheel & both feet on the brake to stop! The only good thing was that it was well after midnight by now & no one was on the highway. We traveled the remaining 150 miles home in about 4 hours, barely stopped in our backyard, & parked it for about two weeks before I even wanted to LOOK at it again! Bought another belt & it was fine again.
Hope to never add to this post with the DP !!! :-)
--Scott
