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Wiring schematic for 1997 Magna with Gillig chassis

Yahoo Message Number: 55001
Hi All:

We recently purchased an older 1997 36' Magna Tribute on a Gillig chassis with a Detroit Series 40 engine. The coach has many small problems but it's in very nice, original condition overall. Unfortunately though, the coach did not come with any factory manuals.
After a visit to the local repair shop, we noticed once home that several 12v power accessories no longer functioned. These include both power seats, the radio, and most items above the driver's area including the HWH control pad, monitor panel, water pump switch, and speech systems check. In addition, outside we found that in the storage bay directly under the driver's area, the generator slide power latch and toggle switch no longer functioned. The only things I know of that the repair shop did in this area was to brace the entry steps for firmer footing (one weld was broken) and to disconnect the front coolant pump (it was very noisy and they recommended replacement). We checked the 12v fuses in the outside compartment under the drivers area and all looked okay. We'll take the coach back Monday morning for further inspection but confidence in the shop is not too high at the moment.
It would be great to have a schematic for reference in tracking this problem (and future problems) down. Does anyone have a wiring schematic (or any other Country Coach documentation) applicable to this coach that they'd be willing to share? We are kind of out in left field at the moment and would be more than willing to pay any out of pocket costs, etc.

Thanks in advance,

Todd Overton, Thousand Oaks, CA

1997 Country Coach Magna 36' Tribute #5388

Wiring schematic for 1997 Magna with Gillig chassis

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 55005
Todd, I have '99 Magna #5653... It has a Dynomax chassis, but the wiring for the front panel, seats, etc may be similar...
Going strictly from memory, I think there is a 105amp breaker in the main 12 volt circuit that powers the 12 volt items in the front of the coach... It is on the front run board in the compartment under the drivers window...There is also a breaker on the front wall of my "service bay" that is in the same circuit... Possibly the guys tripped one of them
At the present time, I am away for Christmas and didn't bring the coach, so am not where I can look at my manuals...
Will look as soon as I return to the coach and see if I have a schematic that might help you... In the meantime, possibly you will hear from someone that has a Gillig chassis...

buck

k7wn, '99 Magna#5653

Re: Wiring schematic for 1997 Magna with Gillig chassis

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 55006
We have a very similar coach, 97 Magna 40' with slide, Gillig, with Detroit Series 40 engine. You need two manuals, one for the chassis and one for the coach. Both manuals are absolutely vital. Our unit had lots of issue after setting for several years. Spent almost all summer finding and fixing. The 12 volt up front is feed by a solenoid in the front electrical bay, located in first compartment. One has to slide in an remove the cover. Had same problem, there is a fuse that feeds the solenoid and if it is blown then no 12 volt up front. Check the green lights for one out and replace that fuse. Very slim chance it could be the solenoid itself.

As for the manuals, have you backtracked to the previous owner to see if they are available from them? There are a lot of pages, some are folded over and large. No ideal how many in the two books. If you cannot find the manuals, then maybe we can figure out how to have the pages copied and let you supply the binders and dividers. Those manuals are worth there weight in gold when it comes to fixing problems.

How many miles on your coach? To bad you are not closer, the could share war stories on what we have find and fixed.

Leonard, Eugene, Or
97' Magna 5418

Re: Wiring schematic for 1997 Magna with Gillig chassis

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 55007
Buck:

Thanks so much - I'm printing out your reply and will go out to the coach to do some more poking around, now armed with your input. I did look over the board under the driver's window last night for fuses, etc. but I'll certainly take a much more careful look this morning at the board and the immediate area.
Enjoy your holiday and thanks again very much for your input. It's greatly appreciated.
Cheers,
Todd

Re: Wiring schematic for 1997 Magna with Gillig chassis

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 55009
Leonard:

Thanks very much for your input and info. Our coach has 58k miles and was sitting for a period of time as well. It's extremely clean and looks to have been garaged/covered, but just not used much. I've figured out many things on it having had other motorhomes, but some items just require research and/or documentation.
I purchased it from a dealer but did find the prior owner's name on some paperwork and am writing them to see if any manuals may still be around. I also looked at the member's list on this forum to see if they were perhaps members, but to now avail.
The solenoid is interesting. I'll look into that as well. I did pull the cover off the fuse panel and checked for green lights, which all appeared okay. But I'm obviously missing something in this area so I'll focus more attention there and look for the solenoid you mention.
The manuals are large I'm sure. Don't want to inconvenience anyone as I thought someone may have the information on some form of media files. I do appreciate the contact though and let's see how things pan out. Perhaps if we are in the area we could work something out.
Just curious - in the compartment with the fuse panel and generator slide toggle switch - do you have an extra battery located there? If so, do you know what it's for? My only guess is perhaps a back-up battery for the generator? Although the generator starts with or without it connected. Hmmm . . . .

Cheers,
Todd

Re: Wiring schematic for 1997 Magna with Gillig chassis

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 55010
I assumed that was the generator battery, have not tested to see what happens if it is disconnected. Now you got me wondering. It makes sense to have a dedicated battery for it is a long ways to the back batteries, not only for starting but for the alternator as well. Will try to look at the manuel later today and see what it says.

With 58K, your engine is almost broken in. Ours had less then 40K, has a ways to go to be broken in. How does the power feel to you. Ours was mistimed. Instead of 13 degrees as stated on the valve cover. someone had timed it to 20 degrees. Do not understand that at all as a diesel is not like a gas engine where advance timing can produce for more, in a diesel it takes power away to mess with the factory timing set.

One thing you will want to check is the the dry pto drive on the hyd. pump on side of the transmission. There has been lots of discussion on this, might want to do a search for background. Had to install a wet kit and replace the hyd. pump as the shaft splines where very badly worn.

Leonard

97' Magna 5418

Re: Wiring schematic for 1997 Magna with Gillig chassis

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 55043
Leonard:

The pulling power up grades, etc. is actually about the same as our previous coach which was several thousand pounds lighter and had a 300hp 8.3 Cummins. The difference is that the Detroit engine is much more responsive which has been a pleasant surprise. It was not my first choice in engines, but I'm very happy with it. No leaks, smoke, etc. and it starts all but instantly.
That's interesting about the hyd pump on the side of the transmission. I'll do a search as you suggest. Was there any noise associated with this prior to your replacing the pump? Our coach has a droning sound of sorts that follows the engine rpm and can be heard throughout the coach, especially in the hallway around the bathroom/bedroom area. The rest of the drivetrain is quiet, so it is quite noticeable.

Cheers,
Todd

Re: Wiring schematic for 1997 Magna with Gillig chassis

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 55047
Todd,

We do notice an interesting sound but have not figured it out. Do not hear it outside, assume/guess it is a vibration/harmonic type sound. Working on the pto/pump made no difference in it. Our pump was a little loose as the bolts used to mount it seemed to long and the nuts bottomed out. This caused more wear then normal of the pump shaft and the aluminum mounting broke when taking the old pump off. Was a very good thing to have fixed. Finding a direct replacement pump was not easy, but the local heavy equipment parts house found us one, at a price of course.

As for the engine, I'm looking forward to getting over 50,000 miles on it. It takes that many miles, at least, to break in a diesel. I also like the power. We had a fuel pump go. Could hardly pull anything with the bad pump. Have not gone on a trip since replacement.

Leonard

Re: Wiring schematic for 1997 Magna with Gillig chassis

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 55050
Hi Leonard,

You might want to take a close look at your universal joints. Give them and you slip joint drive shaft a good greasing. The "U" joints probably have two grease fittings on each. Shoot enough grease in them to see the grease come out of the cups on each finger. If rust and water comes out before the grease, they are bad.

Chuck & Mary B

Red Bluff, Ca.

Shelby Dog, Miss Kitty, Mr Lucky Cat

Re: Wiring schematic for 1997 Magna with Gillig chassis

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 55123
Hello, we have a 1995 Magna. I had your symptoms this summer after a miswired dedicated generator starting battery event.

1. The battery in the driver front basement compartment is a dedicated generator starting battery on our rig.

2. That battery is charged by the generator voltage rectifier, or when the 2500W inverter/charger is receiving 110V from shore or generator power on our rig.

3. Inside the front electrical compartment, (first bay behind the front wheels, center of forward wall, remove bay cover,) is a red reset button near some solenoids on our rig. Press the reset button. That action restored my overhead blower, power seat, and several other dash and console functions.

4. At the same time, I learned that the battery isolator located just above the red reset switch had failed. That event allowed the dedicated starter battery to run the "house" systems when the house batteries were disconnected.
 That isolator needs to be working and the test was to throw the house battery disconnect and see if the 12v lights still worked. If they did, the isolator had failed.

5. Finally, I found that my Fresh Water fill switch produced no action. I am still in the process of solving that problem. The good folks at RV.net Technology forum and I are in our 14th page of messages trying to diagnose component failures on that PC board located in the Overhead Console. So far a transistor and a regulator have tested bad. (I only know red wire and black wire on a voltage meter. The folks there are doing remote control analysis of the PC Board thru me.) :)

Perhaps your rig has some similar layout and the above is helpful.

Dean

1995 Magna 5280

Re: Wiring schematic for 1997 Magna with Gillig chassis

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 55186
Dean:

It's nice to know that the problem is most likely isolated to a particular circuit if your power seats, etc. were also affected. It was unnerving picking-up the coach and discovering item after item that was inoperative as I drove home.
I did pull the cover off of the electrical panel in the front bay compartment and looked over the fuse panel (all fused connections were "green"), solenoids, etc., but did not see a reset button either on the solenoids (sometimes they are on the bottom) or around them. There were two red circuit breakers back by the batteries but that was it and all looked okay there.
The coach is at the repair facility so I'll drive over tomorrow to provide them with this additional information, as well as to look at the electrical panel again. The battery disconnect does function correctly. However, the generator starts with the generator battery disconnected, so something is a miss.
Thanks again for the information and for being so specific about describing it. The details help tremendously!

Take care,
Todd

Re: Wiring schematic for 1997 Magna with Gillig chassis

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 55192
Todd,

Check the bay where your inverter is located, probably center coach.
There is another electrical panel there with similar fused indicators, and look for a big red pushbutton circuit breaker near a couple of relays. It basically controls the entire front electrical box so should not be suspect, but yours might be set up differently.

Mike Cebula
'95 Magna 5266

toddsoverton wrote:
 

Wiring schematic for 1997 Magna with Gillig ch

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 55058
Also, incorrect ride height can change the drive angle, and make its won rumbling noise....not bad but wearing and annoying.
Max

98 Affinity #5487