Yahoo Message Number: 14712 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/14712)
We're at Cummins Northwest right now and just found out that we have a crack in the radiator weld that is a MAJOR problem...to the tune of $3800 to repair/replace. They've said they're seeing quite a number of these coming in from CC and Monaco...a design flaw they said has been fixed in more recent models. The weld cracks over time. To repair is about the same cost as to do over in the proper way. How many others are having this problem? Cost to do?
They have to order the part, so since it's not a big issue right now, we'll have it done in 3 months when we return for another part that wasn't in.
Just interested in finding out how common a problem this is becoming and seeing if CC has anything to say about it ...probably not.
Jan McNeill
2001 Intrigue 11320
Currently in JC for the next week
Yahoo Message Number: 14713 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/14713)
Jan, Don't you have an extended warranty to cover this? Candace Hollick 05 Affinity 6370
Yahoo Message Number: 14730 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/14730)
Jan,
Yes, I just got mine back from the shop and now have a new cooling system. That $3,800 is probably correct. These are custom made cooling systems designed and built to CC specs by a company in Calif. and you can not get them except thru CC at about $2,900. At a minimum it's a hard 8 hour job to change it out.
These are low pressure systems, less than 7 psi, thus you can have a small leak and possibly never know it. While almost solving the "desert storm" problem by installing a shroud under the radiator housing I noticed small dampness at the bottom to the cooling system. Since it had not rained I know there was a problem and hoped it was a loose hose, not that lucky. I could have waited but since we were not going anywhere over the holidays I decided to get it fixed.
Since Cummins Northwest indicated they are seeing "quite a number" of these I would suggest that owners have it checked or just crawl under there with a flashlight and look for dampness around the bottom of the cooling system. If there is a leak you will see it.
I do have a question and someone will probably correct me on this.
This is a cooling systems assembly that is bolted together; that is to say there are 3 radiators, maybe 4, in this assembly. Engine radiator, CAC radiator, and transmission radiator. Radiator and cooler in this example are the same thing since they circulate coolant.
In your subject line you indicated "Charge Air Crack" and in your message you indicated radiator crack. These are seperate coolers in the assembly. Could they tell you if it was the CAC or engine radiator? It really makes no difference because the entire assembly has to be changed out but it could identify if there is a design problem with one of the coolers. BTW, you can have just the bad cooler re-cored but I don't recommend this unless you have faith in who is doing it. A recore will not save much if it is the "Big" engine radiator that is bad. If it is one of the smaller radiators in the assembly then recore may be an option but the labor involved would be about the same.
Since mine is the same year as yours I did not contact CC to see if they would give any consideration on the cost. I would not expect them to but if they are having a problem in this area it would be great if they would. I just considered it as part of the cost of having fun.
These systems should not leak in this short of a period of time but I thought mine was the exception. Guess not.
Long response but hope it can help other.
BTW, DO NOT put any type or radiator sealer in these systems or you may be faced with more than just replacing the cooling systems. If there is a leak just have it fixed at some point.
Richard Aquino
2001 Intrigue
have
part
becoming
Yahoo Message Number: 14735 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/14735)
I think this is a common problem. My 2000 Intrigue required a new charge air cooler and a radiator repair after approximately two years of ownership. CC had the vendor ship a new CAC at Vendor expense it me paying the freight and labor. Think the Vendor recognized they had a problem and have now redesigned the new CACs, the old ones had weld seams, the new ones have bolts and seals holding the two sections together.
Travman
a
a
radiator
hoped
is
in
assembly
in
involved
if
but
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tune
they
proper
Yahoo Message Number: 14736 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/14736)
in
assembly
It's the "Charge Air Crack"...not the radiator. I assumed it was all the same...thanks for the great education! A bit clearer now... Yes, they told us it could be just "redone", but said the same as you...that it would cost almost the same, so we're going for the whole new shebang. They are ordering the part(s) and we'll return the beginning of May to have it done. We're hanging out in OR for Feb.-April anyway, so it's no big deal. Shall be in Roseburg for those months.
BTW, for Candace's benefit...no, too bad... we don't have any extended warranty...still will be ahead of having bought one even with this expense though...knock on wood, please! I hate to buy extended warranties on anything...usually you come out ahead without it. My opinion, at least.
In JC with only 2 other coaches here at CCC...this is the time to get work done!
Jan McNeill
2001 Intrigue 11320
Yahoo Message Number: 14739 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/14739)
Is that you next door to me in space 10, Jan? >
Carol
'04 Inspire 51046
Yahoo Message Number: 14742 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/14742)
Sorry but, is it coolant leaking or the air cooler. I am confused.
I too have an 01' Intrigue and need to understand what is failing or something causing the problem like a rock hitting the fan?
Paul & Nancy Cummings
01' Intrigue # 11309
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a
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in
assembly
in
involved
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tune
they
proper
Yahoo Message Number: 14743 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/14743)
Richard,
What HP intrigue do you have?Because I believe that the 400HP cummings has a different radiator that the 370 HP engine GBettig 2002 INtrigue 11451.
Yahoo Message Number: 14752 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/14752)
Mine is the ISl 370 and I love it.
And yes, it is likely that the 400hp or even a 2002 has a different radiator/cooling system but I know of no way to tell the difference.
Richard Aquino
2001 Intrigue
Yahoo Message Number: 14755 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/14755)
Has anyone had a similar experience on a 2000 Allure with the ISC 330?
Jim HUghes
2000 Allure #30511
have
part
becoming
Yahoo Message Number: 14765 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/14765)
Paul,
My problem was the Big radiator and as I responded these cooling systems are an assembly made up of 3 or 4 radiators/coolers that are bolted together. Jan had asked if anyone else was having a problem due to Cummins Northwest telling him that they are seeing quite a number of these from CC and Monaco. I have been on this and other BB's for years and I think that Jan's, mine, and maybe one other CC has had a problem. Thus if this is a design problem for many I am not aware of it via the BB's and I doubt CC would provide any input to it. Rocks hitting the system is a different problem.
I hope the people on this BB with more knowledge can help me on this but let me try to explain. Remember that each model or engine may have a different configuration of cooling system.
Jan's problem, from what he was told, is in the CAC which I "think" is a seperate cooler in the assembly. My problem was the Big radiator that cools the engine coolant. There is also a transmission cooler and maybe a hydraulic fan cooler in this assembly. Again, someone correct me on this for I am going from memory on what I saw on the floor when they took it apart and the CAC and Big engine radiator may be the same unit.
To see if you may have a problem look thru the radiator grill from the street side into the bottom of the assembly. You may need a flashlight for this. There is a long narrow tray there and if there is a leak you will see fluid there. If the leak is big enough you will see fluid on the ground. Also go under the coach and look at the bottom of the assembly thru the fan blades shroud and see if you see fluid at the bottom there. Don't put your hand thru the fan blades for safety reasons.
Indications are that Jan's problem and mine are different and I think I remember that he and I have different engines. He was told his was a weld problem in the CAC, which leads me to think the CAC is a different cooler. My problem, the Big radiator, does not have any welds. This Big engine cooler/radiator is bolted together, not welded together like in car cooling systems. The top, bottom, and end caps are bolted together using a gasket and have no welding.
Don't confuse this bolting with the fact that all the coolers are bolted together as an assembly.
My problem was not a design or weld issue and probably could have been prevented. We are the second owners of this coach. The original owner keep the coach very well maintained with the same company always doing the work. These coolers are an assembly with very little clearance between them and I don't think the service company ever took a garden hose and flushed between the coolers by spraying water between the fins. Done properly this would flush out any buildup between the coolers. At least I think it should. You can do a search for more info but basically you can put a bright light behind the assembly and from the street side look and see if there is any build up between the coolers by looking thru the fins.
When mine was taken apart we saw where road grime had built up at the bottom between 2 of the coolers and over time caused the main radiator to rust near the bottom, actually it was rot on some of the fins, causing a very small leak and I saw it was anitfreeze. If it were one of the other coolers the fluid would be different. This road build up was at the bottom and only about 8" square and about 1/2" thick between 2 of the coolers. The light behind the radiator trick probably would have shown this build up.
Bottom line is inspect this cooling system and should you have a leak get ready to spend about $3,800 and replace the entire assembly. Jan posted he would have his replaced in about 3 months and I hope he will be there and respond back as to the actual cause of the leak.
Sorry for the long post but I could not think of a short way to describe the problem I had vs the problem Jan has and I probably just added to your confusion. I should have taken a picture when the assembly was taken apart and it would have shown all of this.
I would be reluctant to say CC has a design or weld problem unless it turns out that there are many with this problem. Again, I feel mine was from the road buildup and not any design issue. I left this message intact this time because anyone reading it needs to see the entire message to be totally confused.
Richard Aquino
2001 Intrigue ISL 370
North Myrtle Beach, SC.
confused.
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cooling
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Yahoo Message Number: 14791 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/14791)
From: "janmcneill" janreed1@...>
We recently had a leaking coolant radiator ... NOT charge air cooler (CAC).
The shop found the leak via a cooling system pressure check. They pulled the radiator (which is quite a job, 'cause of everything else that must be removed/replaced, including CAC and hydraulic fan) and had it completely rebuilt/repaired. They charged us $795 for the repair PLUS labor, which is not easy to isolate from the rest of the labor charges for other things we had done.
Owning a diesel pusher is SO much fun. No it isn't. Yes it is. No it isn't. Yes it is .
Dick (& Geri) Campagna (in Key West) '98 36' Intrigue #10571
Mfd: 11/97
Yahoo Message Number: 14792 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/14792)
From: "Richard Aquino" rlaquino2728@...>
So I guess the $795 (plus labor for removal/install) we paid to have our Intrigue's coolant radiator cleaned/repaired/rebuilt wasn't too bad after all.
Dick (& Geri) Campagna (in Key West) '98 36' Intrigue #10571
Mfd: 11/97
Yahoo Message Number: 14795 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/14795)
Dick, you know how to make a person's day. HA. You may want to put your service provider in the Repairs Database if you were satisfied with their work.
cooling
have our
bad after
Yahoo Message Number: 14800 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/14800)
Hummm...
I was charged $5077.57 by Cummings Southeastern Power of Ocala FL.
(A Coach Care shop.. ya.. right they care.., not! .)
They charged me $3255.00 for the radiator, $1135.66 labor and the balance was 'shop fees' and taxes (plus a little antifreeze and trans fluid)..
I was lucky in that it was covered under the 'road hazard' portion of our Motor Home insurance (Progressive).
JimC
02 Intrigue #11446
Yahoo Message Number: 17120 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/17120)
Part # 3510 has been replaced by RS- 4647 but not to "fix a problem but as an ongoing effort to upgrade" I just talked to Mr. Tobin at JB Radiator (916-381-4790) and he gleefully told me that they were not seeing this problem and since my 2000 Intregue is now out of warrantee that He could and would "do nothing for me".
I talked with Mike at CC and got the same, pleased to be "not responsible voice" answer. I have a call in to Doug Beaudrey at CC, "Mikes Boss", whom I have worked with in the past and found to be both helpfull and fair. I found out about my unit from Cummins in Coburg also.
I have contacted Mediocre Sams and and as the chicken feathers filled the air I once again heard the "ain't my problem" we have an inclusional contract and along with the all the nuts and bolts this component that should be considered part of the engine system . . .
You guessed it. We are now faced with having to pay the inept manufacturer another 2900 plus dollars and Cummins anothe thousand to get what?
I hope that any others that got one of these Intregues will contact CC and thank them for standing behind us in dealing with this faulty manufacturer. "opinion"
Yahoo Message Number: 17123 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/17123)
I've had three CAC's in my 2000 Intrigue..the original one which lasted about two years, that was replaced at Desert West in Phoenix, Az. They charged me around 15 hours if I remember correctly. CC had vendor ship me the part..I paid the freight and labor with the vendor providing the CAC. I also had to have the radiator repaired at the same time. Desert West does a pretty good job of pulling and replacing these parts, they sent the radiator out to a local radiator shop for repair. I paid around $450 for that repair...it was probably marked up by Desert West so not sure you would pay for that if you went directly to a truck radiator shop.
The second time the CAC was replaced was about a year and a half ago when Cummins SE replaced it and that was within one year of the original replacement so that was completely covered by CC, not sure if it was because of only having the first replacement lasting less than a year...but I wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth!
As far as I know the current CAC is still hanging in there and it was checked most recently this spring and showed no signs of leaking.
I was also able to get the dust storm problem fixed by getting a new fan controller and a new air duct sensor installed. Fan seems to be working properly now. That gave me a bump up in fuel mileage from around 6.5 up close to 8mpg, so it is definitely worth getting the fan controller to work properly rather than using baffles just to deflect the air created by a full time full speed fan situation. My understanding is that the fan pulls around 30hp when running at full speed, that is a significant loss of power resulting in lower fuel mileage.
If you are in the Phoenix area, you might check Desert West to see if they can help you with your problem.
Ray
2000 Intrigue
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not.
Yahoo Message Number: 17125 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/17125)
How do you know you have a crack in your CAC? Does the engine run rough? And seem to be low on power? Is it a constant thing or intermittent?
Mike and Marg Keogh
98 Intrigue 36 #10538
00 CRV
Yahoo Message Number: 17129 (http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Country-Coach-Owners/conversations/messages/17129)
The CAC is the Charge Air Cooler, part of the radiator/cooling system.
You can go back and reread that thread for all the details but basically you can crawl under the coach where the radiator is and look for evidence of a leak by using a flashlight. If you see any wetness and it has not been raining then you probably have some type of problem. If it gets bad enough you will start to see antifreeze under the coach.
Richard Aquino
2001 Intrigue