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Radiator leak

Yahoo Message Number: 19872
I believe this had been discussed a while back, but here we go again. It's funny how we (me) don't pay a lot of attention to a problem we don't have, and then when we do have that problem we can't remember the details. Took my coach out for a 45 minute drive today to a tow vehicle installation place. While we were hooking up my new toad, I noticed a blue radiator fluid leak coming from the left rear side of the coach. It leaked maybe a little less than a pint of radiator fluid while I was there. I thought, oh no! I left there and drove another 45 minutes to Buddy Gregg's dealership in the Dallas area for some warranty repairs previously scheduled. When I got there I took the service tech out to see the leak and it had quit. They are going to check it our, but the tech said that sometimes on the Cummins (mine's the 400 hp) that if the coach has been sitting a while and it's cold outside (35 degrees here this morning) that they may leak a little then quit. I'm thinking he knows something, but just doesn't want to give me the bad news of the previously discussed radiator problems. Anyone heard of the Cummins doing this and then quitting? He also said that there had been some radiator problems, but not in the Allure with the Cummins. He also said radiators are on a 6-8 weeks wait list on some of the coaches with larger engines. Any thoughts on this situation? We're suppposed to be heading for Florida Jan 1 for the East Coast Homecoming, but now I'm worried.
Thanks in Advance

R. D. Vanderslice
Rockwall, Texas

06 Allure 470 - 31294

Re: Radiator leak

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19874
Hi RD

We're one of the fortunate/unfortunate ones that experienced a radiator leak on our coach, a 2005 Magna with a C-13 Cat. We had ours repaired at Buddy Gregg in Dallas, along with three other people. I say we are fortunate because we did discover the problem and were able to get it fixed.
We were initially told there was a 6 week waiting time for a new radiator, too, but Country Coach really went to bat for us and we had our new one in about 7 business days.
It was a very stressful time and we were fortunate to have the problem taken care of before any damage occurred. Best of luck with yours.

Tom Sims

05 Magna #6479

Re: Radiator leak

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19876
RD,

It's not uncommon for a leak at one of the hose clamps at the first sign of cold weather. Did you see any antifreeze on the ground prior to starting your short trip? I would bet it was weeping then. Tighten the clamps and you will probably be good to go.
Tom

04 Allure 30979

Re: Radiator leak

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19889
I am having the intercooler replaced on my ISL 400. They (JB Radiator ) seem to be having quite a few problems. Fortunatly Doug Rutherford has bailed me out again so as its at no cost.
TWI 2004 Intrigue 11731

Original Message:
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From: R. D. Vanderslice Rdvan@... Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 19:39:10 -0800 (PST) To: country-coach-owners@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Country-Coach-Owners] Radiator leak

I believe this had been discussed a while back, but here we go again. It's funny how we (me) don't pay a lot of attention to a problem we don't have, and then when we do have that problem we can't remember the details. Took my coach out for a 45 minute drive today to a tow vehicle installation place. While we were hooking up my new toad, I noticed a blue radiator fluid leak coming from the left rear side of the coach. It leaked maybe a little less than a pint of radiator fluid while I was there. I thought, oh no! I left there and drove another 45 minutes to Buddy Gregg's dealership in the Dallas area for some warranty repairs previously scheduled. When I got there I took the service tech out to see the leak and it had quit.
They are going to check it our, but the tech said that sometimes on the Cummins (mine's the 400 hp) that if the coach has been sitting a while and it's cold outside (35 degrees here this morning) that they may leak a little then quit. I'm thinking he knows something, but just doesn't want to give me the bad news of the previously discussed radiator problems. Anyone heard of the Cummins doing this and then quitting? He also said that there had been some radiator problems, but not in the Allure with the Cummins. He also said radiators are on a 6-8 weeks wait list on some of the coaches with larger engines.
Any thoughts on this situation? We're suppposed to be heading for Florida Jan 1 for the East Coast Homecoming, but now I'm worried.
Thanks in Advance
R. D. Vanderslice
Rockwall, Texas

06 Allure 470 - 31294

mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://mail2web.com/ .

Re: Radiator leak

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19896
Thanks Tom, I did not have a leak while it sat at my home for the last three weeks. I got home from the Smoky Mountains (foliage tour) on Nov. 9, parked the coach and didn't crank it up until yesterday, drove 22 miles and bingo, a leak. Drove another 25 miles and no leak. I hope your guess is correct. Buddy Gregg will be doing a pressure test in a few days, hopefully, so we will find out. Thanks for your thoughts.

R. D. Vanderslice
06 Allure 470

Re: Radiator leak

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19897
Is the intercooler a separate unit from the radiator? I don't know anything about intercoolers, except I think they cool the turbo? Is JB radiator the supplier for CC or does CC get their radiators, intercoolers, etc, from Cummins? Thanks for your comments.

R. D. Vanderslice
06 Allure 470 - 31294

"cmarshall@..." wrote:

Re: Radiator leak

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19898
Tom

Thanks for taking the time to respond. I'm hoping, if I do need a radiator, that Buddy Gregg and I can convince CC to send one immediately, since I have paid for the CC East Coast Rally Jan 5. The only fear is that I didn't buy my coach from Buddy Gregg. They seem like great people and I would have tried to buy from them, but they didn't have the coach. Hopefully I will know in a few days when they do the pressure testing. Good to hear that they took good care of you.

R. D. Vanderslice
Rockwall, Texas

06 Allure 470 - 31294

Re: Radiator leak

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19918
Here is an interesting site on Charge Air Coolers. I believe that's what you are questioning. http://www.honeywell.com/sites/ts/tt/turbofactsbenifits_howworks.htm
I'm not sure whether the term "Charge Air Cooler" and "Intercooler" are synonymous. I have always referred to our systems as "Charge Air Coolers". It's the large cooler that mounts outside the radiator and is charged with air from the Turbo, The air is cooled prior to being forced into the engine.
When you develop a leak in the Charge Air Cooler, you lose the boost from the Turbo as the air escapes through the cracks rather than being forced into the engine. There is no liquid in the system.

I think.

Larry
Intrigue
10762
 

Re: Radiator leak

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19923
The intercooler is the "charge air cooler" according to Cummins and cools the pressurized air from the turbo to the intake manifold. JB builds the entire assembly I gather. If you will look back at previous e-0mails I believe they have changed the design of the entire assembly, so as to allow easier repair and to prevent self destruction. TWI Intrigue 11731, 2004/ ISL 400

Original Message:
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From: R. D. Vanderslice Rdvan@... Date: Thu, 01 Dec 2005 17:27:45 -0800 (PST)