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Engine Access

Yahoo Message Number: 63323
Hi all,

I am having some service done on my 2004 40 ft Allure and it will require getting access to the engine inside the bedroom.
I am looking of advice on how to remove the panels and where they are.

Thanks

Don Seager

2004 Allure 31046

Re: Engine Access

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 63327
Hi Don, On my 03 Intrigue, the bedroom slide must be extended and then immediately in front of the closet there are four push button latches, press those and the hatch lifts out (very heavy and dirty inside)

Earl Densten

03 Intrigue 11554

Re: Engine Access

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 63328
On our '05 Intrigue you extend the bedroom slide and lift the bed and in front of the closet is a square of carpet. The carpet is attached to a plywood sheet that is velcroed to the hatch below it. I used to use a small pry bar to get this layer off until I attached a short strap that is normally not visible under the bed. Once the top layer is removed you use a socket and rachet to remove four bolts that hold the hatch in place. This hatch is definitely dirty so have something to put it on when you remove it. If yours has bolts like mine, be careful when you lift the hatch to make sure you don't drop the washers onto the engine. Took me 20 minutes to get one of the washers off of the engine the first time I removed the hatch.

Bob

'05 Intrigue 11872

Re: Engine Access

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 63329
Don,

I just had the valves adjusted on my 2005 Inspire 40'. I'll describe what I did to access the top of the engine in my Inspire.
My Da vinci has only one slide on the D/S which needs to extended. My mirror closet doors needed to be removed and removal of the metal strip on the floor that guides the doors. Mine doors could be lifted out of the bottom track and moved toward the bed allowing the top to be removed from the guide on top.
I needed to remove the metal track over the carpet held down with 6 Phillips screws. I marked which end went where so when replaced the holes would lined up.
The access panel was held down with 6 bolts that threaded into nuts underneath. I think I used a 1/2" or 9/16' socket to remove the bolts. I needed to work to get the socket on the bolt due to the carpet covering the bolts. I needed a pry bar to lift up an edge to remove the panel.
Be prepared to put the panel on something because it is really really dirty, even the edges. I replaced everything just by reversing the process.
I did this myself as the Cat dealer wanted $125.00 per hour to this work.

I hope this helps.

Jock Vargo
2005 Inspire
51428

Re: Engine Access

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 63330
Earl, Thanks for the reply but there are no push button latches in front of the closet. I wish there were though.

Don Seager

2004 Allure 31046

Re: Engine Access

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 63331
Bob,

I can lift the bed frame but it sets on another frame on the floor. I am alone right now and cannot lift the bed high enough to see what is down inside. Does your bed lift right up off the carpet floor or do you have an additional frame there? I slipped a thin pry bar under the frame and it doesn't seem to want to lift.
Tomorrow I will have to get the mattress off and get some of the weight of it so I can lift it up and see under there. Hold that thought I may be back.

Thanks for the reply and help.

Don Seager

2004 Allure 30146

Re: Engine Access

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 63332
Jock,

Thanks for the reply. The bottom of my closet is 6 to 8 inches above the bedroom floor. The carpet in the closet appears to continue right under the track and down the front face to the bedroom floor. Are you saying that the hatch is inside the closet or out in the bedroom. If your track is at the bedroom floor level that I can imagine what you are saying but that is not the case in my coach.
What I see in front of the closet are two obvious cut lines in the rug. One runs from the middle of the closet doors to the bottom of the bed support. The other one runs out from the left corner of the closet, facing it, and runs straight out parallel to the front of the bed. It then turns 90 degrees and runs over to the bed support about in the middle of the front of the bed. So there is possibly two hatches but I can not lift either one with a pry bar.

At the moment I am stumped.

Don Seager

2004 Allure 31046

Re: Engine Access

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 63333
Hi Bob,

I'm curious. Do you have to remove the rear closet door track to access the engine? Of course, like a lot of things, your having the CAT engine and I having the Cummins make things different. I've never tried to access the engine from the bedroom, but I have a vague memory that the factory told me you had to remove the rear closet door track.

Brian Davis

'05 Intrigue OVTS (w/ Cummins)
Coach #11901

Re: Engine Access

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 63334

Don,

Dig around in the corners of the cover. I know there are screws/bolts there. I can see them from the bottom. I checked mine and found the head of something. It felt like there was a slot for a screwdriver, but I'm not certain of that.

Tom R

2004 Allure 31026

Re: Engine Access

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 63335
? Thanks Tom, That is part of tomorrow's plan of attack. I'll keep you guys posted. I also hate paying $125/hour just to gain access before they even begin.

Don Seager

2004 Allure 31046

Re: Engine Access

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 63353
on my coach you extend the slides and feel arpound the carpet in front of closet for edge of panel that is held in with velcro. Use screw driver and lift it out. You will see four bolts to remove. I had to take the closet doors off and remove the runner on bottom that the doors slide on before I could get to my motor.
Don 07 Allure 31588

Re: Engine Access

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 63354
on my coach you extend the slides and feel arpound the carpet in front of closet for edge of panel that is held in with velcro. Use screw driver and lift it out. You will see four bolts to remove. I had to take the closet doors off and remove the runner on bottom that the doors slide on before I could get to my motor.
Don 07 Allure 31588

Re: Engine Access

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 63356
Thanks Don (other Don),

Unfortunately that is not quite what I am looking at. I can see the lines of the outer hatch cover in the rug in front of the closet. About 1/4 of it extends in under the frame that the bed sets on. When I raise the bed I can see the rest of the cover but the slide mechanism is setting right on top of the bed frame. The closet floor in my coach is raised 8 inches above the bedroom floor so it would not seem that removing the tracks would accomplish anything. I guess that I can try it. Can't hurt at this point as long as I don't break the closet doors.
I have had a lot of help from everyone but I had hoped that someone with a 2004 Allure 40ft Newport had done this before. It seems that the placement of the hatch varies with the year and model.

Don Seager

2004 Allure 31046

Re: Engine Access

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 63359
Don,

Our repair shop just had to get into my engine to replace Cat sensor and yes they did remove the track under the bedroom closet doors to gain full access. I have a 2006 40' Inspire but I think the backs are similar.
M & M Frederick
51782

Re: Engine Access

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 63360
Thank Mary,

Is the floor of you closet at the same level as the bedroom floor in front of it? Mine is 8 inches above the floor in front of the closet. I can see the raised portion where the closet is out in the engine compartment. I can also see the entire removable plate and it ends right at the rise for the closet floor. None of it is under the mirror door track. My problem is that 1/4 of the panel is under the bed frame and I can not figure out how to get it out from under the bed.

Don Seager

2004 Allure 31046

Re: Engine Access

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 63375
Brian, we've had a lot of work done in our engine compartment via the bedroom and have not had to remove the closet doors or track. I tried to do that once and couldn't figure out how to get it done as I could not find the screws that held the hatch down. The closet part of the hatch is held in with just wood screws. We've had AC work done, and the valve cover has been off of the engine twice - once when a plug came out of the valve actuator cover and last year when they did the valve adjustment. Both times the mechanic said they had plenty of room.

Bob

'05 Intrigue OVTS with C13 11872

Re: Engine Access

Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 63382
Don,

Our closet floor and floor in front of the closet are the same level. My bed base and closet are on the same level and are about 8 inches higher than the floor in the rest of the coach.
M & M

Re: Engine Access

Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 63403
Don, send an email directly to your friend George Harper. He is preparing for a trip and probably has not seen your request. George just recently removed his engine cover and I am certain he can help you.

George in Birmingham
'04 Allure 31038
George in Birmingham
2003 Magna 6298

Engine Access

Reply #19 –
Yahoo Message Number: 74000
I have a 2004 Allure with a major oil leak that we believe may be coming from the top of the engine somewhere.
I seem to recall it is possible to access the engine from the rear bedroom of my 2004 Allure (40' Newport Floor Plan w tag and 3 slides) but I've never tried it.
Am I imagining things or is this possible? If so, how do you do it?

Jim Mercer

2004 Allure #31070
Albuquerque, NM

Re: Engine Access

Reply #20 –
Yahoo Message Number: 74011
Newport could be different then the High Cascade.
On ours, you remove the mattress, the bed frame. Remove the rear closet door, and take out the floor runner it slides in.
Then a carpeted panel removes from the floor, hard to find sometimes, but a flat had screwdriver should find it.

Best of luck,
Smitty

04 Allure 31017
04 Allure Sold to a nice new owner! Now enjoying a 07 Magna Rembrandt 45' ISX600 #6775
"We're ONDROAD for THEJRNY!" (Toad and Coach license plates, say Hi if you see us!)

Re: Engine Access

Reply #21 –
Yahoo Message Number: 74014
Jim,

I have a 40 ft 2004 Allure triple slide Newport. If yours is like line you should have a step up in the bedroom about half way across the rear of the bed. The rear closet floor should be up another step with the doors mounted pretty much on the edge.
There should be a thin line break in the rug running from the right corner of the washer cabinet forward toward the front of the coach to about 4 inches before the first step up. Then it makes a right angle and runs in under the bed. Now look right in front of the center of the two mirror doors where the meet when closed. There should be another line running from the closet step in under the bed. These lines mark the edges of the access hatch and as you can see a major piece of it is under the bed. The back line is hard to see because it runs right along the front of the step up to the closet. No portion of the hatch extends out into the closet area and the doors or the rails do not have to be removed.
If you grab the foot of the bed just below the plywood that the mattress sets on it will pull up away from the bed frame. Cut about a 3 ft piece of wood and insert it under the raised portion so that you can take a better look under there. You should see that the steel frame that the slide moves on is setting right on top of the bed frame. In the center is the pedestal that the slide motor sets on and it is bolted to the floor. If you unbolt the pedestal from the floor you can support the slide frame up about 2 or 3 inches. CAUTION CAUTION CAUTION. The pedestal bolted to the floor and attached to the slide frame is ALL that holds the slide in the coach. If the coach is low even a small amount on the driver's side the slide can roll out of the coach and land on the ground. Not a pretty sight. Be sure to take some steps to secure the slide before unbolting the pedestal.
Now with the slide frame up a bit you can unbolt and remove the bed frames from the floor and take them out of the way. On my coach the hatch is not bolted down. It hardly needs it with the bed frame and slide frame bolted to the floor and sitting on top of it. Still it is a sticky job to carefully pry it up. By now reversing to process should look like a piece of cake.
Mind you this is the same coach that CC installed the generator up front with no rails. Access hatch my foot! No wonder it costs so much to have anything done that requires accessing the top of the diesel Takes 1/2 a day just to get to it.
Well good luck and if you get real lucky yours will be different. Any questions drop me an offline email.

Don Seager

2004 Allure 31046

Re: Engine Access

Reply #22 –
Yahoo Message Number: 74024
Thanks, Don.

It looks like we have a match. It also sounds like it is such a major project that I'd better let the folks at the dealer try it.
Jim Mercer

Re: Engine Access

Reply #23 –
Yahoo Message Number: 74032
Jim,

If you haven't already, you might want to at least walk through the process even if you don't attempt the actual removal. The access hatch comes in many flavors in the various CC models and some are worse than others. Ours is right up there.
Many of the kind folks here came to my aid offered suggestions including pictures but only one was a match for my case. Anyway unless a dealer has been up against it before they may find it difficult to believe that gaining access would be that difficult. You don't need them hunting for a better way on your dime. It just isn't there.

Don Seager

2004 Allure 31046

Searching for Gopher Wood in advance of Irene here in the Lakes District of NH