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Wandering_Storm's avatar
Wandering_Storm
Explorer
Jan 10, 2017

Fleetwood storm coolant leak

Posting this to help prevent the frustration I experienced with my Ford V 10 engine in the Fleetwood Storm. The unit is a 2015 30 L and I had been experiencing loss of a gallon of coolant every thousand miles. I had pressure checks done, Ford diagnostics done to no avail. No wet spots were left on the ground etc. Finally a Ford dealer in Palm Bay Florida diagnosed the problem and the run around started. Ford stated that it was a Fleetwood problem and Fleetwood claimed it was a Ford problem. After refusing to pay their $80 dollar diagnostic fee, I decided to repair the leak myself. The leak was a small crossover hose on top of the engine that had an over tightened clamp failure and the leak was hitting the side of the block and evaporating on contact. I don't know why his crossover is there but it created a year of frustration. I now realize that Ford is reluctant to honor their waranty and Fleetwood was no help as well. If you don't want to have these problems choose wisely. I personally will look elsewhere next time I purchase.
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  • RLS7201's avatar
    RLS7201
    Explorer II
    Jan 11, 2017
    ksg5000 wrote:
    It was always my impression that Fleetwood and other RV mfg. essentially buy products from other vendors (chassis with engines/ refrigerators/ovens etc) assemble them and use the mfg warranties. If so, engine related issues are suppose to be resolved by chassis/engine mfg which would be Ford. Over tightening hose connections has the same cause/effect in every engine whether it's an RV or car ... no surprise to me that Fleetwood pointed a finger at Ford.


    If only is was that simple.
    While ford did indeed install the engine, radiator and associated hoses. It was Fleetwood that installed the dash heater and associated hoses. So the question still remains, which hose clamp was installed by who?

    Richard
  • ksg5000's avatar
    ksg5000
    Explorer
    Jan 10, 2017
    It was always my impression that Fleetwood and other RV mfg. essentially buy products from other vendors (chassis with engines/ refrigerators/ovens etc) assemble them and use the mfg warranties. If so, engine related issues are suppose to be resolved by chassis/engine mfg which would be Ford. Over tightening hose connections has the same cause/effect in every engine whether it's an RV or car ... no surprise to me that Fleetwood pointed a finger at Ford.
  • Wandering_Storm's avatar
    Wandering_Storm
    Explorer
    Jan 10, 2017
    Dave, Not for 5 minutes after a 4 hour wait and the warranty states diagnostic inquiries are covered. The service manager agreed and was the final no pay decision. So this guy has no regrets.
  • wildmanbaker's avatar
    wildmanbaker
    Explorer
    Jan 10, 2017
    Dave, thanks for the hard to find leak report. I realize the chassis has a 3 year, 36,000 mile warranty, but it was a Fleetwood problem, and they should have taken case of it. After all, $80 is fairly cheap piece of mind, isn't?
  • Chum_lee's avatar
    Chum_lee
    Explorer
    Jan 10, 2017
    Wandering Storm wrote:
    Posting this to help prevent the frustration I experienced with my Ford V 10 engine in the Fleetwood Storm. The unit is a 2015 30 L and I had been experiencing loss of a gallon of coolant every thousand miles. I had pressure checks done, Ford diagnostics done to no avail. No wet spots were left on the ground etc. Finally a Ford dealer in Palm Bay Florida diagnosed the problem and the run around started. Ford stated that it was a Fleetwood problem and Fleetwood claimed it was a Ford problem. After refusing to pay their $80 dollar diagnostic fee, I decided to repair the leak myself. The leak was a small crossover hose on top of the engine that had an over tightened clamp failure and the leak was hitting the side of the block and evaporating on contact. I don't know why his crossover is there but it created a year of frustration. I now realize that Ford is reluctant to honor their waranty and Fleetwood was no help as well. If you don't want to have these problems choose wisely. I personally will look elsewhere next time I purchase.


    Good God. Grow up and take a chill pill. I can't wait to see what you'll write when you have a REAL problem. IMO, both Ford and Fleetwood are glad to lose customers like you!

    Chum lee
  • Mike_Hohnstein's avatar
    Mike_Hohnstein
    Explorer
    Jan 10, 2017
    Hold on, the dealer found this long enduring problem and you refused to pay for the time it took to find the problem?
  • crasster's avatar
    crasster
    Explorer II
    Jan 10, 2017
    Thank you for posting this for somebody out there to see...

    One comment I have is that RV MFG's should NEVER blame it on the "truck" company. In this case Fleetwood should have never ever said "it is a Ford problem".

    No, it is a Fleetwood problem. Fleetwood chose to build their coach on a Ford chassis, engine, and design.

    You bought an RV from FLEETWOOD, not a truck from Ford.

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