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Chassis Battery Leak Down

Yahoo Message Number: 3819
RVMike asked a similar question.

With House Battery off, my chassis batteries are fine for over three weeks of sitting.

With House Batteries on, the chassis batteries lose charge in a week.

Can someone explain why the House Battery disconect affects the chassis battery stored charge?

Thanks

Dean 95Magna 5280

Re: Chassis Battery Leak Down

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3838
Dean,

I had that problem for the first two years of ownership.
Turns out CC had installed the echo-charger backwards.
Sound like you could have the same problem (or some other issue with that charger).

The echo-charger is a 12V to 12V trickle charger.
It is supposed to charge the chassis batteries from the house ones.
When connected in the other direction, the chassis batteries slowly drain (and of course faster when you load up the house batteries somewhat).

It cost me a set of new chassis batteries, even though I always had the 120V charger on (and kept the unit plugged into shore power).
The reason for the echo-charger direction from house to chassis it to keep the chassis batteries charged when plugged into shore power, and not drain the chassis batteries if parked unhooked for some time.
When you drive the unit, both batteries are hard-wired connected (based on engine oil pressure I seem to recall).

I used to connect an extra trickle charger to the chassis batteries before I discovered the root of my problem.

The one good thing about such a problem is that you're forced to go over the diagrams (I had to as the dealer didn't figure out what was wrong).

I only have 12K miles on my unit, thus it will take me years to get the bugs out. Wishing for better warrantee like 36K or 3 years, so non-retirees have more time to figure out all the issues. As a matter of fact, I will not consider upgrading my unit until I either retire or can get a longer warrantee period. I definitely won't sacrifice my vacation time for extended visit(s) to JC (done that once and after 3 days I left with minor issues still unsolved -my vacation time is more valuable than the proper functioning of a TV antenna :-)

Henk Bots, Magna 2000

Quote from: Dean DeCourcy\[br\
"]

Re: Chassis Battery Leak Down

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3844
Henk, thank you for a great explanation of my problem. I will check my coach this weekend. This and a sticky transfer switch were the only functional problems I have inherited on our 8 yr old but almost new to us coach. Something to be said for buying used. The punch list was very short.
Dean

'95 Magna 5280

Quote from: Henk J\. Bots\[br\
"] > Dean,

I had that problem for the first two years of ownership.
Turns out CC had installed the echo-charger backwards.
Sound like you could have the same problem (or some other issue

with

Quote
that charger).

The echo-charger is a 12V to 12V trickle charger.
It is supposed to charge the chassis batteries from the house ones.
When connected in the other direction, the chassis batteries slowly > drain (and of course faster when you load up the house batteries > somewhat).

It cost me a set of new chassis batteries, even though I always had > the 120V charger on (and kept the unit plugged into shore power).

The reason for the echo-charger direction from house to chassis it

to

Quote
keep the chassis batteries charged when plugged into shore power,

and

Quote
not drain the chassis batteries if parked unhooked for some time.
When you drive the unit, both batteries are hard-wired connected > (based on engine oil pressure I seem to recall).
> I used to connect an extra trickle charger to the chassis batteries > before I discovered the root of my problem.
> The one good thing about such a problem is that you're forced to go > over the diagrams (I had to as the dealer didn't figure out what

was

Quote
wrong).
> I only have 12K miles on my unit, thus it will take me years to get > the bugs out. Wishing for better warrantee like 36K or 3 years, so > non-retirees have more time to figure out all the issues. As a

matter

Quote
of fact, I will not consider upgrading my unit until I either

retire

Quote
or can get a longer warrantee period. I definitely won't sacrifice

my

Quote
vacation time for extended visit(s) to JC (done that once and

after 3

Quote
days I left with minor issues still unsolved -my vacation time is

more

Quote
valuable than the proper functioning of a TV antenna :-) >

Henk Bots, Magna 2000

[quote author=Dean DeCourcy

> RVMike asked a similar question.
>

> With House Battery off, my chassis batteries are fine for over

three

Quote
weeks of sitting.
>

> With House Batteries on, the chassis batteries lose charge in a

week.

Re: Chassis Battery Leak Down

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3849
Hank,

Try going to some of the factory rallies which are held around the country.
We always get issues resolved, free work done and some big stuff done as well. The seminars are also good and you get to talk with other owners. I meet many people that say they are not rally people. But the CCI rallies are worth while and important to you and your coach. This year we got 4 things done on our coach for free and we paid to have our cat engine valves and fuel injectors adjusted on site. Our neighbor got his alternator replaced and he only paid for the part, his coach was 5 years old.
Lazy Days also has a factory rep, Tim Reed present all the time and he can answer you questions or if he can't CCI has 8 tecks there Jan, Feb, March and they only do CCI work, mainly warranty. Don't know where you live but hope this helps. Tim just took off and fixed a leak in one of my bay doors for free and we are over 2 years old.

Bill G. 2001 Magna #5998

Re: Chassis Battery Leak Down/Rallies

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3851
Bill, thanks for letting me know about that aspect of rallies. I am not a "rally" person, and my wife probably even less. But I like the idea of having someone address issues. I don't even mind paying for them (of course free is always appreciated:-).

Following this group, I know that I have always had some of the problems that others have mentioned.

Like the dust blowing, I assumed it to be a standard feature of the rig, now I know it can be fixed.

There are other things that I have (even after almost 3 years) not bothered to figure out. Things like how one remote control can control the devices in that cabinet above the passenger seat. I admit, I am a technologist but when on vacation I don't enjoy dealing with it.
Another issue that the factory didn't correct (even though they tried) is the door step. It seems like a disobedient child that sticks its tongue out at inopportune moments.
I live in Nevada (Lake Tahoe). How do I find out about such rallies in the area (500-800 mile radius)?

Henk Bots, 2000 Magna [with the engine not even broken in]

Re: Rallies

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3852
The best Rally for you to attend is the annual factory Rally in Eugene OR. I believe it is in Sept this year. Go to the CC web site and then go to CC International (CC Club) for more information.
This rally will have a lot of vendors, (Engine, Transmission, Tires, Battery, Electrical, Ref and Air conditioning, Toad Towing/brake systems and many more). The seminars are worth attending to learn more about your coach and the various systems. Also a chance to learn about problems and solutions from fellow CC owners. Well worth attending at least once.

Re: Chassis Battery Leak Down/Rallies

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3855
The"Family Reunion" rally is the biggest rally CC has - In Eugene. I think it is sometime in Sept.
But coming up right in your area they will be having a rally in Las Vegas in March. Check the CC website, CCI.
Hardly a person can go away from these functions not learning something - Or the best part - meeting some new friends with the same common interest. You and your wife might both enjoy going to at least one of them. I find they are a lot of fun and look forward to them. Give the Las Vegas rally a try...Hopefully you will come away with a bit of knowledge and a lot of new friends....just like the ones who contribute what they know to this forum.

Kathy Marsh

Re: Chassis Battery Leak Down/Rallies

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3859
Hi Henk. Besides going to the CC website you can also request that you be placed on the mailing list for the free quarterly magazine that CC produces. You do not have to belong to the Club to get the magazine.
Call customer service at 800-654-0223 and ask for the magazine. It does have some good articles and rallies are listed. It comes by snail mail but since you live in NV you should get it much sooner than I do here in MA. I have not attended any rallies yet since I am caring for my folks but I sure look forward to being part of them in the future.
Mike Lewis 2000 Allure#30493.

On Sat, 25 Jan 2003 17:19:09 -0000 "Henk J. Bots hbots@...>" hbots@...> writes:

Re: Rallies

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3861
Wife and I went to our first rally ever. It was the Snowbird Rally in Ft Myers that was just a couple of weeks ago. We were kind of skeptical of what to expect for the $295 we paid. We were pleasantly surprised. Not only did we meet allot of nice folks with other Country Coaches, but I was in my glory being a techno nut. I had my list of things I wanted the factory take a look at as well as a long list of questions to get answers to during seminars.
While I had nothing major to get repaired on our coach, I was able to get one on one demonstrations and explainations of how the various systems were designed and worked as well as how to properly maintain them. I was able to get the one on one discussions with the Country Coach, Cummins, Dometic and Exide battery reps at my coach. This alone was worth every penny I spent.

Country Coach provided a repair team of 12-15 of their factory technicians that began work each morning at 8:00 and worked until 5:00 in the afternoon. The factory sent from Oregon two large trucks of equipment, parts and accessories. There were other manufacturers reps and technicians there as well. Dometic, Silverleaf, Les Schawb, Exide, Blue Ox, Cummins, Cat and others were there. You could purchase different accessories that were available on the trucks or they would have parts and accessories shipped in overnight. Many arranged parts and accessories to be put on the trucks before they left the factory and just picked them up in Ft. Myers.

Beside all the seminars and technical assistance provided, we were fed well. I was really surprised at the quality and quantity of the food provided. Breakfast and dinner everyday. Some of the best prime rib and BBQ beef and chicken I have ever eaten. Open bar and a playoff game day big screen tv with burgers, hot dogs and hot wings galore.

Besides a showing of all the new 2003 coaches, there were many games, bingo and for the first time an RV rodeo. Lazy Days provided a used Country Coach and set up a driving course using cones. There were many drivers who entered and drove the course that took about 10 minutes to complete.

Hopefully, we will be able to attend the next one.

Jim Hughes

Jacksonville, FL
2000 Allure #30511

Re: Rallies

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3863
Sounds great! CC should have some rallies here in the northeast! Can you give some examples of the technical stuff you got answered one on one?

On Sun, 26 Jan 2003 14:54:23 -0000 "Jim Hughes kc4fws@...>" kc4fws@...> writes:

Re: Door Switch

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3864
Henk

I had an occasional phantom step as well. Found the door push switch in the door jam loose and out of adjustment. Check your switch and ensure it is tight in the door jam. Next temporary tape a coin or other metal or plastic about the thickness of a dime to the door where it strikes the switch button. If that corrects it then try to adjust switch button out or build up striker area by gluing coin or strip to door.

Jim Hughes

Jacksonville, FL
2000 Allure #30511

Quote from: Henk J\. Bots\[br\
"] > Another issue that the factory didn't correct (even though they

tried)

Quote
is the door step. It seems like a disobedient child that sticks its > tongue out at inopportune moments.
> I live in Nevada (Lake Tahoe). How do I find out about such rallies

in

Re: Chassis Battery Leak Down/Rallies

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3866
Quote from: Henk J\. Bots\[br\
"] > Bill, thanks for letting me know about that aspect of rallies. I am > not a "rally" person, and my wife probably even less. But I like

the

Quote
idea of having someone address issues. I don't even mind paying for > them (of course free is always appreciated:-).
engine not even broken in]

Henk

We attended the CCI Class Reunion last summer as part of our vacation. It was in Eugene about 900 miles from Sacramento.
Even though we were dry camping on pavement, it was fun and rewarding. The event exceeded our expectations several times over.
Met some great people also. Lots of CC Vendor seminars and a CC repair team in addition to meals and entertainment.

95 Magna 5280

Re: Chassis Battery Leak Down/Rallies

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3868
Okay, past participants - any specific, up-front advice for first timers? We just registered for the March Las Vegas rally.

I assume jobs like a 25K mile transmission service are out-of-scope for the CC techs. What sort of service/repairs can/can't be handled at these rallys?

We're planning to have the transmission service done at the Williams Detroit Diesel-Allison Southwest, Inc. Distributor Branch in N. Las Vegas. Anyone have any experience with this service facility? --

Tom & Maxine Harsch
2002 Allure #30791

Re: Chassis Battery Leak Down/Rallies

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3869
CC does not perform any type of routine maintanence at rallys. They will, however, handle any type of repair needed on any age coach and charg only for parts needed.

Re: Door Switch

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3873
Other problems, both experienced and heard about, are low voltage to the motor and poor grounding of the motor.

Dick May

2002 Intrigue, #11438
Dick May
2002 Intrigue, #11438, towing a
2014 Jeep Gr Cherokee ecoDiesel

Re: Chassis Battery Leak Down/Rallies

Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3874
Hank

I believe rally dates are posted on the CCI web site and you can also get them from Susan at the CCI offices. Just call CCI and ask for the club extension. You may have to join CC international but that is cheap and they send you a nice magazine 4 times a year. The club is worth while just to learn how to operate this complicated machine. I know the Snow bird rally should be in your area next year. There is also a factory class reunion rally in JC in Sept 2003. That's a great time to get something's handled. good luck

Bill G. 2001 Magna #5998
 

Re: Rallies

Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3875
Mike

There is a CCI factory rally in York, Pa in July 2003. It is a pre rally to FMCA in Buffalo, NY. In many cases if you can't get something fixed at the pre rally, they will handle it at FMCA. CCI takes some of the tecks to that rally also.

Bill G. 2001 Magna #5998