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llamsm's avatar
llamsm
Explorer
Jun 11, 2017

coach running bad

1994 pace arrow motor home. Hello all. been dry camping since Thursday, had the generator running the whole time without any issues. went to get ready to leave started the RV let it run a bit raised the jacks. went to put the rv in drive and it acted like it had no power and kinda sputtered and wanted to die put back in park hesitated a little but rev up and idled fine tried it again same think sputtered and would not hardle move and wanted to die like shut off. back to drive seemed to idle fine till I tried to put it back in drive. almost like no fuel. any one have any ideas on what could be the issue before I have it towed. thanks for your time on this matter. Mike
Class A

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  • llamsm's avatar
    llamsm
    Explorer
    Jun 11, 2017
    Thanks for the Input folks. I will check and change the fuel filter first as that seems the easiest to do. on the fuel level not sure as my fuel gauge does not work but my tank was full at 75 gallons I filled it up before going and the camp site was only about 5 miles away when I started dry camping my generator ran for about 70 hours straight without any issues. Not sure how much my onan 7000 generator uses per hour any one know that info. Maybe I do have a low fuel problem.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Jun 11, 2017
    Friend was having that same issue on a beautiful 25 year old Blue Bird RV.

    I was chatting with the mobile RV tech.. Pointed to the big fuel filter.. and said something designed to not insult the tech. (Note I am not a diesel man but know a few things) Sure enough, it was a very clogged (algae) fuel filter..

    I also talked the Tech into selling my friend a bottle of Algaecide and putting the first dose in the tank.
  • mike_brez's avatar
    mike_brez
    Explorer
    Jun 11, 2017
    tropical36 wrote:
    llamsm wrote:
    1994 pace arrow motor home. Hello all. been dry camping since Thursday, had the generator running the whole time without any issues. went to get ready to leave started the RV let it run a bit raised the jacks. went to put the rv in drive and it acted like it had no power and kinda sputtered and wanted to die put back in park hesitated a little but rev up and idled fine tried it again same think sputtered and would not hardle move and wanted to die like shut off. back to drive seemed to idle fine till I tried to put it back in drive. almost like no fuel. any one have any ideas on what could be the issue before I have it towed. thanks for your time on this matter. Mike

    If you have a fuel filter on the inside frame rail, passenger side about half way back, remove the outlet side and then crank the engine to see what comes out. Good place to install a pressure gauge as well.
    If your fuel pump in in the tank and needs replaced, try going thru the floor above, instead of dropping the tank and then finish it off with a marine type access plate.


    That won't work. The fresh water tank is between the bed and fuel tank.
    Been there done that. But it is very easy to drop the tank. A motorcycle Jack under it two straps and four bolts.
  • tropical36's avatar
    tropical36
    Explorer
    Jun 11, 2017
    llamsm wrote:
    1994 pace arrow motor home. Hello all. been dry camping since Thursday, had the generator running the whole time without any issues. went to get ready to leave started the RV let it run a bit raised the jacks. went to put the rv in drive and it acted like it had no power and kinda sputtered and wanted to die put back in park hesitated a little but rev up and idled fine tried it again same think sputtered and would not hardle move and wanted to die like shut off. back to drive seemed to idle fine till I tried to put it back in drive. almost like no fuel. any one have any ideas on what could be the issue before I have it towed. thanks for your time on this matter. Mike

    If you have a fuel filter on the inside frame rail, passenger side about half way back, remove the outlet side and then crank the engine to see what comes out. Good place to install a pressure gauge as well.
    If your fuel pump in in the tank and needs replaced, try going thru the floor above, instead of dropping the tank and then finish it off with a marine type access plate.
  • MrWizard's avatar
    MrWizard
    Moderator
    Jun 11, 2017
    how much fuel is in the tank ?

    i've seen RV's where one of the fuel pickups broke (usually for the generator)
    and the genset fuel line was spliced to the rv fuel line

    NO problem as long as the owner remembered to not burn all the fuel using the genset

    if the gas gauge shows low, i would get a ride to get station and get 5 or 10 gallons to pour in the tank

    got emg road service, they deliver gas (5 gal), just pay for the gas, it won't come from a discount station, but probably your least expensive option at the moment
    IF it is a low fuel problem

    and don't forget the ignition system
    weak spark can cause problems
  • wildmanbaker's avatar
    wildmanbaker
    Explorer
    Jun 11, 2017
    Like Donkey said, start with a new fuel filter. If it does not cure the problem, and you have a fuel pressure kit, check pressure. It could very well be the in-tank fuel pump failed, and must be replaced. You may be able to install an external fuel pump near the bottom of the fuel tank, and draw fuel through the original pump. If you do this, install fuel filters before and aft of the new pump. Good luck and let us know whats up.
  • donkeydew's avatar
    donkeydew
    Explorer
    Jun 11, 2017
    it sounds fuel related; fuel pump,fuel filter or stuck choke are the first things i would check also on that old of rig check the gas cap( i believe it should be vented )

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