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Electric toilet that starts and keeps flushing by itself?

Yahoo Message Number: 18539
Neighbor had this problem at night when he was in bed. He heard the noise and went to see his electric toilet contuously flushing and it wouldn't stop. He pulled the fuse and then went out and opened the dump valve. Dealer says that Thetford (sp?)has had problems with this and have provided a few different unsuccessful modification kits, but the latest modification kit available now is supposed to be the real fix. This sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. Can you imagine what would happen if your toilet started flushing by itself when you weren't there to pull the fuse! Guess I need to order one of those kits. Anyone ever have or heard of this problem? Thanks.

-----------

Larry, Debbie, Tiki and Tomi (Pugs) USAF Retired

2003 36' Country Coach Allure #30856 Cummins ISL 370

2002 Saturn Vue (5 spd) TOAD

Re: Electric toilet that starts and keeps flushing by itself?

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18542
Larry, It happened to me while we out of the coach. Flooded the coach "you know what water".

Solution: I got Thetford to admit they had a problem with the 1st control board they design for the ARIA electronic toilet. I got them to ship me a new Toilet with of course the upgraded control board.
The Pt. # they used was #19764.

I have a 2003 Allure 1st Ave. 40' Cascade. #30898.

Good Luck, Mike

Quote from: Larry Feather
> Neighbor had this problem at night when he was in bed. He heard

the

Quote
noise and went to see his electric toilet contuously flushing and

it

Quote
wouldn't stop. He pulled the fuse and then went out and opened the > dump valve. Dealer says that Thetford (sp?)has had problems with > this and have provided a few different unsuccessful modification > kits, but the latest modification kit available now is supposed to > be the real fix. This sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

Can

Quote
you imagine what would happen if your toilet started flushing by > itself when you weren't there to pull the fuse! Guess I need to > order one of those kits. Anyone ever have or heard of this

problem?

Quote
Thanks.

--

Re: Electric toilet that starts and keeps flushing by itself?

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18543
Another reason to run off the water at the supply when your not around, and make sure your pump is off. A pain, and noone does it I would guess, I never remember, but that will prevent this type of catastrophe.
Makes you long for the days of the 'foot flush' like our Journey had.

Why exactly does a toilet need a circuit board again ????

John and Terry
2005 Affinity

Sitting at Bluewater Key RV resort at mile marker 14 in the keys. Not too shabby.

Re: Electric toilet that starts and keeps flushing by itself?

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18569
Mike

Thanks for the info. I called Thetford and the person I talked to had never heard of this problem. She also could not locate that part number. Now I'm puzzled. I know three or four owners that have had this problem, but I can't find anyone at Thetford that knows about it.

Larry 03 Allure #30856

Quote from: allure012000
> Larry, It happened to me while we out of the coach. Flooded the > coach "you know what water".

Solution: I got Thetford to admit they had a problem with the 1st > control board they design for the ARIA electronic toilet. I got

them

Quote
to ship me a new Toilet with of course the upgraded control board.
The Pt. # they used was #19764.

I have a 2003 Allure 1st Ave. 40' Cascade. #30898.

Good Luck, Mike

[quote author=Larry Feather"

> Neighbor had this problem at night when he was in bed. He heard > the

> noise and went to see his electric toilet contuously flushing and > it

> wouldn't stop. He pulled the fuse and then went out and opened

the

Quote
dump valve. Dealer says that Thetford (sp?)has had problems with > > this and have provided a few different unsuccessful modification > > kits, but the latest modification kit available now is supposed

to

Quote
be the real fix. This sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.
Can

> you imagine what would happen if your toilet started flushing by > > itself when you weren't there to pull the fuse! Guess I need to > > order one of those kits. Anyone ever have or heard of this > problem?
> Thanks.
>
>
>

-

Re: Electric toilet that starts and keeps flushing by itself?

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18575
>Another reason to run off the water at the supply when your not around...A pain, and no one does it I would guess, I never remember
You can always get an electric on/off valve: http://cam.surf1.com/watervalve.html
On my old Newmar, I had an engine block heater switch by the front door. I would unplug the heater, and plug the valve in the outlet controlled by the switch.

Steve Harrie

Bluebird Wanderlodge

Re: Electric toilet that starts and keeps flushing by itself?

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18578
-Larry We had the problem with our Aria electric toilet when it was almost a year old.I called Thetford and they wanted the model and serial # from the underside of the bowl (front).They told me to take it to an authorized dealer and have them look at it and call them. Thetford gave me a reference # and told me the names of closest dealers. At the time we were in Seaside OR so we took it to Camping wORLD IN tacoma WA.Thetford authorized a new toilet and paid for 2 hours labor. They said the electronics in the little rubber enclosure on the rear was allowing moisture to enter the switches. The new toilet had a different design. Thetford was great and it did not cost me anything but time and inconvenience. Almost a year to the day after the replacement the second toilet did the same thing while we were at CC for service, and again Thetford authorized a new toilet and 2 hours labor to remove and install. My coach was a 2002 Allure, coach # 30792.I would call Thetford and speak to a customer service rep. They certainly should be aware of the problem. Good luck- Macke 2003 Magna #6277--

In Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com, "Larry Feather" wrote:

Quote
Neighbor had this problem at night when he was in bed. He heard

the

Quote
noise and went to see his electric toilet contuously flushing and

it

Quote
wouldn't stop. He pulled the fuse and then went out and opened the > dump valve. Dealer says that Thetford (sp?)has had problems with > this and have provided a few different unsuccessful modification > kits, but the latest modification kit available now is supposed to > be the real fix. This sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

Can

Quote
you imagine what would happen if your toilet started flushing by > itself when you weren't there to pull the fuse! Guess I need to > order one of those kits. Anyone ever have or heard of this

problem?

Quote
Thanks.

--

Turning water off when gone

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18590
The new 2006 Allures (and maybe others) have touch switches for turning lights and the water pump on and off from multiple locations, AS WELL AS A master push button which turn off all (or most) of the lights AND the water pump. Great when you are leaving the coach.

I suggested to CC engineers, during the class reunion factory tour, that every coach should have an electric solenoid water valve on the supply line. The master push button (or a master water switch) would turn off the water pump AND master supply water valve (when connected to city water). A good practice at night or when away from the coach - - kill all potential flooding sources. The engineers liked the idea -- maybe we will see it in future year coaches. No more walking around the outside of the coach to turn off the city water, and forgetting to turn it back on when you return. I have seen a water line fitting break in a neighbors fifth wheel. Fortunately they were in their rig when it happened and they heard it at 2 a.m. If it had failed 12 hours before, while they were gone, their fifth wheel would have been flooded!

I am making a little tool box with a built-in pressure gauge, pressure regulator and electric valve (which is controlled by a RF remote control switch) to remotely turn off city water.

Herb

2002 Allure #30690
Forum Moderator

Re: Electric toilet that starts and keeps flushing by itself?

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18591
Larry, OK, I'll give you all I have. I'm almost positive the Tech's name I talked to was "JOE". The Thetford Order No. they shipped the new Toilet on was #22221, dated 10/25/04. The Shipper No. is 748960.
The Toilet Model shipped was ARIA II HI CP BONE. The Return Authorization No. for the bad Toilet was 135726.
If Thetford can't find the transaction from all this, there "Smoke & Mirroring you.

Good Luck, Mike

Quote from: Larry Feather
> Mike

Thanks for the info. I called Thetford and the person I talked to > had never heard of this problem. She also could not locate that

part

Quote
number. Now I'm puzzled. I know three or four owners that have

had

Quote
this problem, but I can't find anyone at Thetford that knows about

it.

Quote
>

Larry 03 Allure #30856

[quote author=allure012000"

> Larry, It happened to me while we out of the coach. Flooded the > > coach "you know what water".
>

> Solution: I got Thetford to admit they had a problem with the

1st

Quote
control board they design for the ARIA electronic toilet. I got > them

> to ship me a new Toilet with of course the upgraded control

board.

Quote
The Pt. # they used was #19764.
>

> I have a 2003 Allure 1st Ave. 40' Cascade. #30898.
>

> Good Luck, Mike
>
>

[quote author=Larry Feather"
>]
> > Neighbor had this problem at night when he was in bed. He

heard

Quote
the

> > noise and went to see his electric toilet contuously flushing

and

Quote
it

> > wouldn't stop. He pulled the fuse and then went out and opened > the

> > dump valve. Dealer says that Thetford (sp?)has had problems

with

Quote
> this and have provided a few different unsuccessful

modification

Quote
> kits, but the latest modification kit available now is

supposed

Quote
to

> > be the real fix. This sounds like a disaster waiting to

happen.

Quote
Can

> > you imagine what would happen if your toilet started flushing

by

Quote
> itself when you weren't there to pull the fuse! Guess I need

to

Quote
> order one of those kits. Anyone ever have or heard of this > > problem?
> > Thanks.
> >
> >
> >

---

Re: Electric toilet that starts and keeps flushing by itself?

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18592
Thanks Mike, I'll check that out. I sent them an email too, before I called them. Still haven't recieved a response. They don't know who I was when I called because they didn't ask my name, so my email query should still be valid. Thanks for all your help!

Larry, 2003 Allure #30856

Quote from: allure012000
>

Larry, OK, I'll give you all I have. I'm almost positive the

Tech's

Quote
name I talked to was "JOE". The Thetford Order No. they shipped the > new Toilet on was #22221, dated 10/25/04. The Shipper No. is

748960.

Quote
The Toilet Model shipped was ARIA II HI CP BONE. The Return > Authorization No. for the bad Toilet was 135726.

If Thetford can't find the transaction from all this, there "Smoke

&

Quote
Mirroring you.

Good Luck, Mike

[quote author=Larry Feather"

> Mike
>

> Thanks for the info. I called Thetford and the person I talked

to

Quote
had never heard of this problem. She also could not locate that > part

> number. Now I'm puzzled. I know three or four owners that have > had

> this problem, but I can't find anyone at Thetford that knows

about

Quote
it.
>
>

> Larry 03 Allure #30856
>
>

[quote author=allure012000"
>]
> > Larry, It happened to me while we out of the coach. Flooded the > > > coach "you know what water".
> >

> > Solution: I got Thetford to admit they had a problem with the > 1st

> > control board they design for the ARIA electronic toilet. I got > > them

> > to ship me a new Toilet with of course the upgraded control > board.

> > The Pt. # they used was #19764.
> >

> > I have a 2003 Allure 1st Ave. 40' Cascade. #30898.
> >

> > Good Luck, Mike
> >
> >

[quote author=Larry Feather"
> >]
> > > Neighbor had this problem at night when he was in bed. He > heard
> > the

> > > noise and went to see his electric toilet contuously flushing > and
> > it

> > > wouldn't stop. He pulled the fuse and then went out and

opened

Quote
the

> > > dump valve. Dealer says that Thetford (sp?)has had problems > with

> > > this and have provided a few different unsuccessful > modification

> > > kits, but the latest modification kit available now is > supposed
> to

> > > be the real fix. This sounds like a disaster waiting to > happen.
> > Can

> > > you imagine what would happen if your toilet started flushing > by

> > > itself when you weren't there to pull the fuse! Guess I need > to

> > > order one of those kits. Anyone ever have or heard of this > > > problem?
> > > Thanks.
> > >
> > >

> > >

-

Re: Turning water off when gone

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18594
Herb,

Could you please share the details of the tool box with electric, RF controlled valve, i.e. make, model etc. Thanks. It sounds like good protection.

Tony Ferrara
04 Inspire 51172

Re: Electric toilet that starts and keeps flushing by itself?

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18616
I think I know the problem with the toilet. It just cycles, is that right.

There is a microswitch that is operated by a circular cam with a indent on one side. When the slot hits the microswitch it opens and stops the flushing. when you flush again it starts the cam moving in the cycle and will stop again at the indent
What happens is the cam sometimes comes loose on its shaft and won't turn and is stuck in an open position or the microswitch is misaligned and wont release when it hits the indent.
I don't know if I hit the problem or not as I just saw this post and decided to put in my 2 cents.

Thanks for the opportunity to respond.

Tom 97 Magna with electric toilet

Quote from: Larry Feather
> Thanks Mike, I'll check that out. I sent them an email too,

before I

Quote
called them. Still haven't recieved a response. They don't know

who

Quote
I was when I called because they didn't ask my name, so my email > query should still be valid. Thanks for all your help! >

Larry, 2003 Allure #30856

[quote author=allure012000"

>

> Larry, OK, I'll give you all I have. I'm almost positive the > Tech's

> name I talked to was "JOE". The Thetford Order No. they shipped

the

Quote
new Toilet on was #22221, dated 10/25/04. The Shipper No. is > 748960.

> The Toilet Model shipped was ARIA II HI CP BONE. The Return > > Authorization No. for the bad Toilet was 135726.
>

> If Thetford can't find the transaction from all this,

there "Smoke

Quote
&

> Mirroring you.
>

> Good Luck, Mike
>
>
>

[quote author=Larry Feather"
>]
> > Mike
> >

> > Thanks for the info. I called Thetford and the person I

talked

Quote
to

> > had never heard of this problem. She also could not locate

that

Quote
part

> > number. Now I'm puzzled. I know three or four owners that

have

Quote
had

> > this problem, but I can't find anyone at Thetford that knows > about
> it.
> >
> >

> > Larry 03 Allure #30856
> >
> >

[quote author=allure012000"
> >]
> > > Larry, It happened to me while we out of the coach. Flooded

the

Quote
> > coach "you know what water".
> > >

> > > Solution: I got Thetford to admit they had a problem with

the

Quote
1st

> > > control board they design for the ARIA electronic toilet. I

got

Quote
> them

> > > to ship me a new Toilet with of course the upgraded control > > board.

> > > The Pt. # they used was #19764.
> > >

> > > I have a 2003 Allure 1st Ave. 40' Cascade. #30898.
> > >

> > > Good Luck, Mike
> > >
> > >

[quote author=Larry Feather"
> > >]
> > > > Neighbor had this problem at night when he was in bed. He > > heard
> > > the

> > > > noise and went to see his electric toilet contuously

flushing

Quote
and
> > > it

> > > > wouldn't stop. He pulled the fuse and then went out and > opened
> > the

> > > > dump valve. Dealer says that Thetford (sp?)has had

problems

Quote
with

> > > > this and have provided a few different unsuccessful > > modification

> > > > kits, but the latest modification kit available now is > > supposed
> > to

> > > > be the real fix. This sounds like a disaster waiting to > > happen.
> > > Can

> > > > you imagine what would happen if your toilet started

flushing

Quote
by

> > > > itself when you weren't there to pull the fuse! Guess I

need

Quote
to

> > > > order one of those kits. Anyone ever have or heard of this > > > > problem?
> > > > Thanks.
> > > >
> > > >

> > > >

---

Re: Electric toilet that starts and keeps flushing by itself?

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18618
Thanks for the insight Tom. I don't have this problem yet and hope I never do. I just heard about it and was trying to find a way to prevent it. For now, we turn off the water when we leave the coach. Need to find an easier way. Ideally a remote control shut- off valve would be nice. Haven't found one yet on the market, but one of our members here (Herb) is in the process of fabricating one with off-the-shelf parts from Home Depot. Thanks again.

Larry, Debbie, Tiki and Tomi (Pugs) USAF Retired

2003 36' Country Coach Allure #30856 Cummins ISL 370

2002 Saturn Vue (5 spd) TOAD

Quote from: tom22681
I think I know the problem with the toilet. It just cycles, is > that right.

There is a microswitch that is operated by a circular cam with a > indent on one side. When the slot hits the microswitch it opens

and

Quote
stops the flushing. when you flush again it starts the cam moving > in the cycle and will stop again at the indent >

What happens is the cam sometimes comes loose on its shaft and

won't

Quote
turn and is stuck in an open position or the microswitch is > misaligned and wont release when it hits the indent.

I don't know if I hit the problem or not as I just saw this post

and

Quote
decided to put in my 2 cents.

Thanks for the opportunity to respond.

Tom 97 Magna with electric toilet >

[quote author=Larry Feather"

> Thanks Mike, I'll check that out. I sent them an email too, > before I

> called them. Still haven't recieved a response. They don't

know

Quote
who

> I was when I called because they didn't ask my name, so my email > > query should still be valid. Thanks for all your help! > >

> Larry, 2003 Allure #30856
>
>
>

[quote author=allure012000"
>]
> >

> > Larry, OK, I'll give you all I have. I'm almost positive the > > Tech's

> > name I talked to was "JOE". The Thetford Order No. they

shipped

Quote
the

> > new Toilet on was #22221, dated 10/25/04. The Shipper No. is > > 748960.

> > The Toilet Model shipped was ARIA II HI CP BONE. The Return > > > Authorization No. for the bad Toilet was 135726.
> >

> > If Thetford can't find the transaction from all this, > there "Smoke
> &

> > Mirroring you.
> >

> > Good Luck, Mike
> >
> >
> >

[quote author=Larry Feather"
> >]
> > > Mike
> > >

> > > Thanks for the info. I called Thetford and the person I > talked
> to

> > > had never heard of this problem. She also could not locate > that
> > part

> > > number. Now I'm puzzled. I know three or four owners that > have
> > had

> > > this problem, but I can't find anyone at Thetford that knows > > about
> > it.
> > >
> > >

> > > Larry 03 Allure #30856
> > >
> > >

[quote author=allure012000"
> > >]
> > > > Larry, It happened to me while we out of the coach.

Flooded

Quote
the

> > > > coach "you know what water".
> > > >

> > > > Solution: I got Thetford to admit they had a problem with > the
> > 1st

> > > > control board they design for the ARIA electronic toilet.

I

Quote
got
> > > them

> > > > to ship me a new Toilet with of course the upgraded

control

Quote
> board.

> > > > The Pt. # they used was #19764.
> > > >

> > > > I have a 2003 Allure 1st Ave. 40' Cascade. #30898.
> > > >

> > > > Good Luck, Mike
> > > >
> > > >

Quote from: Larry[/quote

Feather"

Quote
> > >]
> > > > > Neighbor had this problem at night when he was in bed.

He

Quote
> heard
> > > > the

> > > > > noise and went to see his electric toilet contuously > flushing
> > and
> > > > it

> > > > > wouldn't stop. He pulled the fuse and then went out and > > opened
> > > the

> > > > > dump valve. Dealer says that Thetford (sp?)has had > problems
> > with

> > > > > this and have provided a few different unsuccessful > > > modification

> > > > > kits, but the latest modification kit available now is > > > supposed
> > > to

> > > > > be the real fix. This sounds like a disaster waiting to > > > happen.
> > > > Can

> > > > > you imagine what would happen if your toilet started > flushing
> > by

> > > > > itself when you weren't there to pull the fuse! Guess I > need
> > to

> > > > > order one of those kits. Anyone ever have or heard of

this

Quote
> > > problem?
> > > > > Thanks.
> > > > >
> > > > >

> > > > >

--

Re: Turning water off when gone

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18645
There are two approaches to making it convenient to turn the city water off in your coach at bed time and EVERY time you leave. I have pictures for both at links below.

1. Make a little tool box with presure regulator, gauge and electric solonoid water valve. Use a short hose to connect box to water supply and your standard longer hose to the coach. Also run a long electrical wire from the box (24VAC) to a sprinkler transformer plugged into an RF (radio frequency) remote control switch that is plugged into your bay outlet.
 http://www.suncitykid.com/allurewater/waterbox.jpg shows an example (but without the electrical hooked up yet).

2. Buy an electric water valve (without anti-syphon like that used above). Put a hose connection on the input end as shown, and a reinforced hose on the outlet side (maybe a foot or two long) which connects to the coach. Let it hang in the bay. Wire the electrical as described above.
 http://www.suncitykid.com/allurewater/watervalve.jpg shows the valve.
 Home Depot carries the valve and the 24 VAC transformer. They also, at least around Christmas, have the remote control switches which is a little box with a one foot pigtail cord to plug into 110 VAC, and the transformer plugs into the little remote control box. Put the remote transmitter near the front door of your coach. You could alternatively wire the 24VAC to a remote switch. (How about to a motion sensor -- no motion, no water!)
2. I have decided to switch to another approach (because I
discovered the coach has a high quality pressure regulator built in).

Final comments, NEVER run the washing machine unattended. Any make sure the toilet stops flushing.
Herb

Quote from: Tony Ferrara\[br\
]
Herb,

Could you please share the details of the tool box with electric,
RF controlled valve, i.e. make, model etc. Thanks. It sounds like good protection.

Re: Turning water off when gone

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18646
Herb...when you put together your 'kit' for the remote control, put a bunch together and sell them to us...either that or how much does your wife charge to "loan you out?" I think you've got a great idea! We've always been paranoid about the city water line, but not to the point of turning it off overnight. However, we always do it if leaving the coach for a day or more. I'd love something like that to retrofit the coach, but alas, hubby is "mechanically challenged" as am I.

Jan McNeill

2001 Intrigue 11320