Air pressure is gone, stuck in a Monaco Dynasty

[mexicanpiloto13]

We have a 1998 Monaco Dynasty with a Cummins 6C 8.3 engine and we have lost all air pressure but fortunately made it to a parking lot in Springfield, MA. where we are currently stuck. I have the tire blocked by rocks, can't even engage the parking brake!! I'm hoping somebody may have some ideas. Going down the Massachusetts Parkway, my warning light came on "low air, check engine" however the air pressure was over 110 psi. I suspect at this point, the air compressor was beginning to go. The indicators came on and off intermittently, but maintained full air pressure...for a while, then it starting dropping to 80, 70, 60 psi. It was all we could do to get to the bottom of the hill and get off the freeway in Westfield. we were trying to make it to a WalMart when the air pressure was just too low and we pulled into a parking lot, just for safety. PSI is now about 10 lbs. Diesel mechanics are out for the weekend and Cummins is closed until Monday. I checked all fuses, looked under the rig for any broken wires and saw none. Tried draining the air compressor tanks (2 of them) of water and there was no water. Anybody had this experience before? We would appreciate any info.
Thanks

[Pogoil]

hanko wrote:
Ok close this thread, as usual its turned into a pissing match. get a life people

No reason to close the thread.

Some people may actually learn how important it is to check their brake components and may just save someones life.
Runaway truck ramp = high stress levels.

Pogoil.

[jtessnm]

MEXICANPILOTO13. I am sorry that I did not make myself clear in my previous post. The park brake/service brake chamber is mounted on the rear axle. The design of the park brake/service brake system is such that they work in concert with each other. This means that (IF YOU HAVE A WEAK OR INEFECTIVE PARK BRAKES YOU ALSO HAVE WEAK OR INEFECTIVE SERVICE BRAKES (REGULAR BRAKES) ON THAT AXLE. Please check the park brake system before you travel. JT

[Pogoil]

Lack of knowledge will get people killed. Just like a gun owner should know how to use it safely. A 30-50 thousand coach should be used by someone who understands the brake system. Common sense.

Pogoil.

[Deano56]

mexicanpiloto13 wrote:
Regarding driving the rig with the dryer bypassed, the mobile mechanic had me start up the rig and he said I will no longer hear the gush of air coming out of the release valve and will have to depend on the governor shutting off the compressor at the proper psi (120 psi) for our coach. I can hear it cycle on and off between about 95 psi and to 120psi, but I realize I have lost that pressure protection afforded by the dryer release valve. Our coach is a 1998 and I need to call Monaco today to see if a parts kit is still available for our air dryer, but the mechanic said we may want to just replace it anyway because of the age. Any thoughts? The air dryer is a Midland Grau and uses a dessicant filter model DQ6026. Monaco had a service kit # 15371 but I need to confirm if it's still available. The filters, last time I changed it, was $111.134 and were available from Fleetpride.
Arizona requires no extra RV license, although it's a good idea. I am boning up on online information about the operation of the air brake system. I'm an instrumented rated pilot and have done top overhauls of my airplane engine, overseen by a legal mechanic, so I have a fair aptitude of picking up information and good mechanical ability. I should have the brake system checked out as well. The mobile mechanic was perplexed that we were still able to move the coach into the parking lot with such low air pressure before the brakes finally locked up.
By the way, the Wal Mart in Westfield, Mass does allow overnight parking and was a super place to stay, once we got fixed and moving again.

I was surprised by the comment about Walmart not letting rv's staying overnight , they stay overnight all the time at the Walmart down the road from us, I saw one last weekend as well as a few semi-trucks

[mexicanpiloto13]

This may be useful information regarding the air dryer situation which led to us being stuck in Westfield, Massachusetts several days ago. Our purge valve had become stuck and we lost our air pressure.
The tech at Monaco was a good one. He use to repair air dryers at Monaco and said by the time the purge valve gets stuck, there are so many contaminants inside, it makes a good case for replacement. Our coach is a 1998 and even though I gave him the coach number, he said when Monaco went out of biz, they didn't pass all the coach info on to the new owners, and especially for coaches made before 2000, they have litle info on what's in the coach as far as parts and accessories, so this was disappointing. I told him the air dryer was a Midland Grau and he suggested trying to reach the company. I found that Midland Grau, became Midland Haldex, and is now just Haldex and then called their tech people. They were great. Once he knew I had a 12 volt system, he knew I had to have one of two products, which are both being made. I need to find out if my Monaco Cummins has a holset application, which requires a different part number dryer but he didn't think I had that application. Reman air dryers are available for both. If your Cummins had a holset application, the correct air dryer part number he gave me is DA33200X and without holset application, the part number is DA33100X. He suggested ordering it through the desk of Fleetpride or NapaTruckPro, and save a little money on the deal. Hope this helps with other Monaco owners. Monaco techs suggested I get a brake inspection when returning for the two rear tires, as those are the ones the parking brake controls. Thanks again for all the help and suggestions from some very smart people on this forum.

[howdy35]

jorbill2or, and all others, I apologize for posting asking for a solution. As I had earlier stated, I got in on this one late and searched only the last page for the solution. I did not read through the other pages since I assumed the solution would be posted at the end. Yes I know what assumed means and I fit the bill. Also thanks for posting answer in a civil manner and not being a jerk as some on this forum have been. The solution helps all of us and after reading all of the posts, I'm even more impressed with the knowledge of the people on this forum. Happy Travels

[jorbill2or]

howdy , He responded on the last page ...

[howdy35]

Lots of great ideas. I just got in on this discussion and would like to know what the solution is. If the original poster hopefully has gotten help and is on the road safely, could you post the solution to the unusual problem so we all can benefit from your unfortunate experience. Sorry for your problem, but we all have had some kind of difficulty if we have been RVing long enough. I too have found the members on this forum to be extremely helpful. Thanks.

[jtessnm]

Not to beat this to death, but you still have the problem that the spring brake did not apply. The rear brakes may be out of adjustment. A simple spring brake test is to check if the mh will move with the spring brake applied.
With normal air pressure; On a level surface apply the service brake (brake pedal) then apply the spring brake (pull out the park brake handle), place the transmission in gear, release the brake pedal, apply a small amount of power. THE MH MUST NOT MOVE if it does the brake adjusters need adjusting. Adjusting of the brake slack adjusters is easily done and should be a part of you routine brake check as is the park brake check. Drive safe and keep the blue side up. JT

[Gib3633]

Wolfe 10: You're correct and I thought quite polite. I have been monitoring these air brake comments for last 4 yrs. and this is my latest thought. It's a given that most Motorholmes only travel 6 to 8 K / yr. My own observation is most are owned by older retired people who could not or would not crawl under in the mud even if they knew how to properly do the air brake practical tests.
Here is my latest thought . Most new class A's with air brakes probably start at $325,000.00 and up. For an extra $5,000.00 the manufacturers could add one extra computer controlled system which could check the following
Low pressure cut in and cut out
Air pressure build up time [compressor]
Air pressure cut out and cut in [governor]
Air loss test [leaks]
Brake stroke or travel [brake adjustment]
All of this could be accomplished in 15 minutes and if failed could shut down the engine until the repairs were properly completed not allowing an unsafe vehicle to be moved.
There were so many comments about how to release the spring brakes or parking brakes which really showed the lack of knowledge of the people offering advice about something they themselves know nothing about.[scary]
When you have no air spring brakes are released by the use of caging bolts which come attached on every new brake chamber. You better have wheel chocks in place and a bit of understanding.
In conclusion DOT , MTO [Canada] should be getting together with the RV industry to develop an automatic check each time these vehicles are started.

[wolfe10]

Busskipper wrote:

wolfe10 wrote:
IMO, the "Judgmental Comments" were not out of line. The reason is safety. A learning curve on the mechanical aspects/coach maintenance is reasonable. A learning curve (i.e. one does not know how their brakes work) is NOT reasonable.

Without a working knowledge of how the coach brakes work, safety could become an issue.

And in most states, to legally drive a larger coach requires a different driver's license that requires passing a "how do air brakes work" test.

Guys most drivers have no Idea How ANYTHING in the car or the Coach works - think about it.

If we gave a test it would be pretty lonely on the forum.

But on the other hand I would not need to travel in the OFF SEASON.

Just Saying,

The real question/answer will be in 5 years when we have all the driver less cars!

JMHO,

When I say they need to know how it works, I am not talking about the mechanical end of it. I am talking about "how do I use it".

Knowing things like not driving unless air pressure on both gauges is up, not to pump air brakes, what happens as air pressure falls/when parking brake comes on are very important to safe operation and IMO should be "required learning" for those operating all heavy vehicles including RV's.

[wolfe10]

Absolutely, replace with a Midland factory reman dryer. It will come with not only filters, but also new heater and valves.

I would not use a "it will replace".... dryer that may be of poor quality.

Basically, what I do is replace with a factory reman every OTHER filter service, and just replace the filters the other time.

[JetAonly]

Replacing is not such a bad idea because of age and serviceability. The dissicant cartridges on newer dryers are in the $40 range. If you replace I would suggest a move to a location that is more accessible. Mine is inside the left rear tire at the top of the chassis, it takes a pit to do it safely.

Monaco will charge a premium as you found. A change will likely require some different plumbing but the access improvement is worth it. While you are thinking of this replace ar least the wet tank drain point with a lanyard style instead of the kind you have to crawl under the frame to use.

[mexicanpiloto13]

Regarding driving the rig with the dryer bypassed, the mobile mechanic had me start up the rig and he said I will no longer hear the gush of air coming out of the release valve and will have to depend on the governor shutting off the compressor at the proper psi (120 psi) for our coach. I can hear it cycle on and off between about 95 psi and to 120psi, but I realize I have lost that pressure protection afforded by the dryer release valve. Our coach is a 1998 and I need to call Monaco today to see if a parts kit is still available for our air dryer, but the mechanic said we may want to just replace it anyway because of the age. Any thoughts? The air dryer is a Midland Grau and uses a dessicant filter model DQ6026. Monaco had a service kit # 15371 but I need to confirm if it's still available. The filters, last time I changed it, was $111.134 and were available from Fleetpride.
Arizona requires no extra RV license, although it's a good idea. I am boning up on online information about the operation of the air brake system. I'm an instrumented rated pilot and have done top overhauls of my airplane engine, overseen by a legal mechanic, so I have a fair aptitude of picking up information and good mechanical ability. I should have the brake system checked out as well. The mobile mechanic was perplexed that we were still able to move the coach into the parking lot with such low air pressure before the brakes finally locked up.
By the way, the Wal Mart in Westfield, Mass does allow overnight parking and was a super place to stay, once we got fixed and moving again.