Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Radiator Issue (Read 745 times) previous topic - next topic
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Radiator Issue

Yahoo Message Number: 76434
We appear to have been struck by the Country Coach radiator demon. I have watched the many past postings always hoping somehow we would be spared. Not to be.
Our 2007 Allure had been in storage for several months with no signs of leakage, brought it home for packing last night and shortly thereafter noticed some drops of antifreeze beneath the radiator area. Took it to Omaha Truck Center where it is being diagnosed but early indications preclude anything simple (inexpensive) like hose or clamp.
It had lost enough dripping over night that it required about two gallons of antifreeze to be full again. The shop techs couldn't see anything absolute but did see indications where fluid had been drawn into the fan and dispersed by it.
Strangely, we ran it for a half hour to build pressure and temperature after refilling and there was no more dripping. Still, after the obvious leak, the shop would not proclaim it road worthy and feels there is a leak somewhere in the radiator itself based on evidence.
They are presently removing it to do pressure tests and visuals which can't be done easily they say while in the coach.
I have the United States Warranty extended coverage and am curious if others who have had radiator issues may have an experience with them. If so I would appreciate any advice or counsel. In the initial phone conversation the tone seems obvious that they will challenge and probably decline coverage although the radiator is listed as a covered item. Their first statement is that they need to see all service records to confirm that the annual Country Coach required radiator/coolant inspections were performed. While the coach has been serviced and coolant levels monitored and specified antifreeze added if necessary, we certainly took no samples for PH testing.

Again, experiences or advice will be appreciated.
Gerry Brown

2007 Allure 31447 (Hood River 430, Cummins ISL)

Re: Radiator Issue

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 76445
Gerry,

Sorry to hear of your dilemma. IMHO, your bus is way too new to be having radiator problems. I can't speak about warranty coverage because we didn't have any when our radiator went south. We just paid the $5K and kept on moving after 9 days hold up in the truck repair yard. My slide show is here: http://muniac.smugmug.com/photos/swfpopup.mg?AlbumID=16803460&AlbumKey=2qwGtc Perhaps the pictures and captions will provide some useful information. It's important to solve the problem not just delay the same break down again. Make sure you deal with knowledgeable people and not parts changers. There's a BIG difference. My guess is you've got a leak where the cooling tubes enter the header. The design of the radiator mountings are flawed if your radiator setup is the same as our bus. And I'd wager a fair bet that it is exactly the same gig. Aluminum expands at a greater rate than steel does. Why someone would weld a rigid steel U channel to an aluminum core completely escapes me. Take a close look at your radiator to confirm this.
I've bitched about this in several other posts here, meaning CC needs to do a whole lot better on this one. Hopes are that an educated consumer means better products for us all. We're certainly not splitting the atom. Good luck with the repairs and I'm really sorry you and everyone else has to go through a scene like this. Happy New Year to all!!

At 01:18 PM 12/27/2011, you wrote:

Re: Radiator Issue

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 76453


Hello Gerry; I would like to give you a heads-up on the United States Warranty Company you are with and I was with.
They have the reputations of worst warranty company in the RV industry.
My wife and I were talked into this warranty at the time we bought our 2005 Inspire CC. at Guaranty RV, in Junction City , OR . Every time we had a problem, we would call them for help, were told, Oh that isn't covered. We did receive from them $100.00 to repair our electric step, parts alone price was $292.00 with no installation.
Last year in Nov. 2011, we were struck with radiator demon also. Took coach to Premier Coach Services Tucson , AZ. Was told, don't set you hopes to high that this company will pay your claim, Premier tried their best to get U.S. to pay our claim. Claim was disallowed .
The worst part of this story is, a Country Coach just ahead of ours had the same problem (bad radiator) This coach was insured by U.S. Warranty, their clam was paid in full. Talked to U.S. asked what in the Hell was going on here, was told, Oh this problem is a manufacturing problem. We are not going to cover any more radiator problems.

We canceled our warranty with U.S. We were reimbursed the money left on our warranty, minus the $100.00 we had received from them.
Good luck, you'll need it.

Don Hobby 2005 Inspire 51265

Re: Radiator Issue

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 76464
Scott

Great pictures. I assume the radiator came out from the side as apposed to the bottom? I aways thought it had to come out from underneath. Good to know the coach doesn't need to jacked, but hope I don't have to worry about it. Also, what year is your coach? Thanks for the pictures!

Larry, 03 Allure, 30856

Re: Radiator Issue

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 76469
Gil - Link works fine and judging by the view count I gather many have opened it successfully. Not sure why you're having problems. Perhaps old PC and/or OS.

At 01:01 PM 12/28/2011, you wrote:

Re: Radiator Issue

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 76471
Larry - Glad you enjoyed the pictures. Our bus was backed onto ramps and then the air bags were inflated. A safety jack was then put under the tow hitch socket. The radiator was removed from the bottom. It was dropped down and the bottom end was tipped outward to facilitate complete removal. It's a heavy clumsy unit that required some wrestling with. My bus is a 2006 (see signature all the way @ bottom). I try to document these things as I feel it's important. We the owners know the deal better than anyone else. My vote for 2012 is less BS, more facts, insight and better solutions. I encourage businesses to cut out the reasons and make with the results. On the consumption side, we consumers need to understand the challenge businesses face to turn a profit. Perhaps we can meet in the middle somewhere down the road.

At 06:15 AM 12/29/2011, you wrote:

Re: Radiator Issue

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 76472
Gerry, when our radiator recently developed a leak (2002 Intrigue) it was first suspected that it had an aluminum core and that was the contributing factor. After dripping out over 5 gallons of coolant while parked I refilled the system and ran the engine for 20 minutes (with the cap on loose so as not to build up pressure). After this test run, the leak slowed down and for the most part stopped. But when we finally got it to the shop and removed the radiator they found that stones had been tossed up and damaged the side of the radiator core. The 20 minute test run somehow temporarily sealed the pin-hole leak(s). So those leaks can come and go and unless it can be found to be a hose or hose clamp, the radiator has to come out for repair, re-core, or replacement. As a point of reference, several shops quoted me 16 labor hours for removal and replacement on top of whatever the cost will be for the radiator.

Steve B, #11382

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Re: Radiator Issue

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 76473
Gerry: You will probably find, as I did, that U.S. Warranty will disallow your claim for the radiator and refer you to the "exclusions" portion of the written warranty. You will find that welds, metal fatigue, etc are not covered. My radiator failed at 30,000 miles in Junction City, Oregon and we replaced both the radiator and the charge air cooler - neither were covered by U.S. Warranty. After I explained the radiator problem on my first telephone inquiry, I was told that they do not cover Country Coach radiator problems anymore. Wish I had had a better experience with U.S. Warranty.
 

Re: Radiator Issue

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 76475
Dave Remingtnon, told me once that he can pull and install the radiators in three hours, using lifts. But that doesn't include draining the system, flushing the system and refilling the system. If the transmissions has become contaminated now they have to drain flush, install new filters, refill and checkout. Some times they have to pull the Thermostat as they can't the engine hot enough to flush standing still even blocking the radiator, so each scenario has its own solution and takes more or less time.
TWI 2004 Intrigue 11731