Room slide out stops and starts

[dbischops]

I have a 20018 Montana Mountaineer. When I took a trip recently the slide outs halt for a few seconds and then continue, this will happen a few times until all slides are in/out. It never starts/stops at the same place and it happens on all three slides.

I don't see lights Dim or anything else that make it seem as if there is. I also checked the ATF fluid and topped it off to be sure. But the problem still exists.

Anyone have any idea on what can cause this?

[dbischops]

Just FYI, the battery was new.

Replacing the breakers did resolve my problem and the slides operate smoothly again.

Thanks everyone for helping me resolve this and especially for the picture of the breakers as I would never have recognized that!.

[IB853347201]

IB853347201 wrote:
Sounds like a low voltage issue to me. Questions: Do you have your engine running when you operate your slides? How old are your coach batteries? In most coaches, having your engine running is a must when operating slides.

Sorry, i misread this post. Being a trailer i would have to say that your issue is low voltage. How old is your battery? Based on your test result would say that it has a least one bad cell, maybe more. replace the battery and you should be fine.

[Carl_n_Susan]

The breakers are paralleled not in series. The one you want to replace is the one where the output wire runs directly to the pump. I have no idea what all the gibberish means, all we ever do is get a 40 or 50 or 80 amp breaker and replace it.

[IB853347201]

Sounds like a low voltage issue to me. Questions: Do you have your engine running when you operate your slides? How old are your coach batteries? In most coaches, having your engine running is a must when operating slides.

[dbischops]

I pulled both breakers (they were inline) they seem to both be 12v 50A breakers. One of them is marked with (12V P43 50A) and the other one with (Shortstop 12V M48 50A).

Do I need to worry about the "P43", "M48" and "Shortstop" designations?

[dbischops]

I would never have recognized that as a breaker, I will take another look as I believe I know where it will be (think I might have 2) and try that before bringing it in for service.

[Carl_n_Susan]

This is a very common problem. The Montana Owners Club forum (free to join by the way) has lots of discussions on this topic. A Search on "self resetting breaker" will uncover a great deal of technical information. Basically the original CB gets "tired" over time and displays the symptoms you are seeing. Go to your local NAPA auto parts store and buy a new one for around $5 and change it yourself. It looks like this and is under one of the two red covers on the wall behind the batteries. Find the wire that goes to the pump and trace it back the CB. The CB looks like this very tired one.

[dbischops]

I wasn't able to locate the breaker or any hot spots.

I am going to bring it in to the shop for this issue, but was able to fix a bunch of other little things since the last trip, but going to give up on this one.

Thanks for everyone that tried to help!

[j-d]

dbischops wrote:
To clarify, I bought this trailer in 2008 and only this summer the problem started.

It is possible the breaker is undersized, but would expect that we would have had a problem before.

Thanks for clarifying, thought Year we 2018 at first.

Breakers can get "tired" and trip at lower than their original rating.

Really sounds like a connection/terminal/wiring/switch/breaker problem. Can you feel around to check for a hot connection once the breaker trips?

[dbischops]

To clarify, I bought this trailer in 2008 and only this summer the problem started.

It is possible the breaker is undersized, but would expect that we would have had a problem before.

[RJsfishin]

Look on the negative side,.....it may run thru safety switches before going to the pump.
But maybe not on a trailer.

[dbischops]

Don't see anything that looks like a breaker/fuse between the battery and the pump.

The positive cable runs to some studs before going to the battery, but this is where other wires are split off from as well (landing gear etc). The wires are just bolted together. The negative wire goes up into the trailer.

Within the trailer there is an automotive 20A fuse (not self resetting) listed as Slide, although this is likely for the outlets/lights but this fuse is fine.

[Old-Biscuit]

Locate the DC Circuit Breaker on POS wire coming from battery that goes to slides

It will be close to battery.
It is an auto reset....trips/resets
Bad connections (2 studs.power in/power out)
Undersized.

[dbischops]

I did check the voltage, it is about 13.5v without running and runs just over 12v when the pump runs.

When the slides stop the voltage drops to 0v and then comes right back up and the slides start moving again.

Any recommendations on what I can try next to isolate this problem?