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Dash air conditioning...

Yahoo Message Number: 18994
My coach has been in for the past three weeks for multiple problems but one that has been particularly annoying is the dash air conditioning not blowing *ANY* cold air. On the last two trips prior to taking the coach in for service, it would not blow any cold air either using the outside air or recirculation. The outside temps were in the low 90's to 100 but only blew "cooler" air once the outside temperature came down to the 60's. We were forced to turn on the roof air and run the fans the help cool things down a bit during the trips. This only worked marginally but not very well.
That said, the service outfit has said they cannot find any leaks in the system and that it is working fine. It has not been hot enough here lately to obtain the same conditions, but I am a bit concerned and wondered if anyone else has had such an issue.
I always thought, from experience, either the air conditioning blows cold air or not, even in cool ambient temperatures (60's and 70's) you can tell if the air is colder. Am I wrong about this? Anyone have a good way to test the dash air conditioning?

Thanks for any help!
Kary

05 Inspire 36'
#51499

Re: Dash air conditioning...

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18995
We went to the keys a couple of weeks ago with our granddaughter, she sat on the sofa behind the passenger seat. The air coming from the dash was barely able to keep the driver area cool, let alone right behind the passenger seat.

We did not run the genset and the front AC since the slides cover the vents when in (subject for another post). Not sure if we have the "run the front air off the inverter" option, didn't try it.

I think the standard way to analyze this is to measure the outside (ambient) temp, and the air from the vents and calc the differential.
This will tell you quickly if the required temperature drop is being achieved.

We are not impressed with the dash air so far, and the outside temps were not that bad. I have not done the about test, so i don't know if things are up to specs.

John and Terry

2005 Affinity #6453

Inspire Dash air conditioning...

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18996
Quote from: John
We went to the keys a couple of weeks ago with our granddaughter,

she

Quote
sat on the sofa behind the passenger seat. The air coming from

the

Quote
dash was barely able to keep the driver area cool, let alone right > behind the passenger seat.

John and Terry

2005 Affinity #6453
One of the features we enjoy most about our Inspire is the dash air's ability to keep the TWO (only two) of us cool in the Florida summer heat. To and from the Keys, outside air in the mid-to-upper 90's, we were very comfortable. We used recirculate, and only needed medium fan speed. The back of the bus was warm, but we weren't back there.

As I recall, the desired temp drop is about 22 degrees for a fully functioning a/c. Use a probe thermometer to check.

Jay

05 Inspire DaVinci 51457

Re: Dash air conditioning...

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18997
From: "John" john@...>

(snip) > We are not impressed with the dash air so far, and the outside temps

Quote
were not that bad. (snip)
I get the impression, after reading probably hundreds, if not thousands of "dash air" internet messages over the years, that the vast majority of Class A owners are "not impressed with the dash air," regardless of coach manufacturer/model.

I'm sure there are exceptions, but none come to mind .

Dick (& Geri) Campagna
'98 36' Intrigue #10571
Mfd: 11/97
(still unsold)

Re: Inspire Dash air conditioning...

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19000
Do you by chance know what your outlet temperature is/was?

Ron 98 Allure 30185

Re: Inspire Dash air conditioning...

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19001
Quote from: Ron Schonscheck\[br\
] >

Do you by chance know what your outlet temperature is/was? >

Ron 98 Allure 30185

Ron,

I did not measure the outlet temperature since I was happy with the output. For me, the air was cool enough to not want it blowing in my face.

The temp in the cockpit was in the upper 70's or maybe low 80's, with OAT in the mid to upper 90s.

If we were carrying pax in the back, it would have been a different story.
Jay

Re: Dash air conditioning...

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19003
I found with all three CC's I have owned, all 40 footers, the dash air is OK if I start the generator and run the roof airs until the coach gets to a comfortable temp. Then the dash air will keep it pretty comfy in the front two seats. without the roof airs.

Walt Rothermel
03Allure30811

Re: Inspire Dash air conditioning...

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19004
Yeah, I didn't expect the dash system to keep the coach cool beyond the driver and passenger area, that's not what its for.
Our coach system did not keep us cool up front however, with outside temps in the upper 80's to low 90's.

The temp delta data you provided is good info ... I stated this is the way to verify things are working correctly. I will check it out.

John and Terry

Re: Dash air conditioning...

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19006
Kary

Yes, my '04 Allure 36' has a similar problem. For a couple months this summer the dash air would ... without my changing one setting..... alternate between blowing cold air and blowing EXTREMELY warm air. Now it blows only absolutely HOT air... it never cools.

We'll be taking it to service soon.....

Joe in battered and bruised SW Florida '04 Allure 36' #31031

Quote
>

My coach has been in for the past three weeks for multiple

problems

Quote
but one that has been particularly annoying is the dash air > conditioning not blowing *ANY* cold air.
.................snip..................

Re: Dash air conditioning...

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19008
I just remembered I had a similar problem with my present 03 Allure and discovered the controls on the co-pilot's side were set to hot and overpowering the cold setting on the driver's side. You might want to check that.

Walt Rothermel
03Allure30811

Re: Dash air conditioning...

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19010
Quote from: kary993"
r />]
Kary:

I have had the experience. It is a familiar problem to CC techs. Under the fron of the coach on Alure and Intrigue mounted close to the heat exchanger box for dash air is a motor drive valve called by them the "H" valve. Its purpose in life is to redirect the hot water back to the engine when heat is not required. When airconditioning is to be used for sure the valve belongs in the return position.
This valve is a simple mechanism but like anything else it can fail.
The techs at Severville CC pre rally diagnosed my problems . I bought a new valve and installed it myself. After that I took it appart and fixed it and now carry it as a spare. There are 4 hoses attached.

With valve not working the heater is more efficient than the airconditioning and will win the battle..... thus always hot air. Easy fix just a nusense.

James M. Green Intrigue 11021 "Rollingghetto"

Re: Dash air conditioning...

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19014
James, thank you for that bit of information. DO you think that this H valve could intermittently open and close thus sometimes provinding cooled air and other times providing hot air? Also, I assume the Inspire also has this same set up as an Allure for example?

Kary

05 Inspire 36'
#51499

Quote from: rollingghetto

Re: Dash air conditioning...

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19017
Hi Kary,

This will probably not help, but I can only relate to you what happened to us in Tucson, AZ at Beaudry RV where we purchased our coach new in February, 2005.

Wanting to make sure everything was working before we took possession of the coach, we checked the dash a/c and it was not blowing cool air. The service manager sent a CC Field Rep.(Chris) over to look at it, and he found and corrected the problem right away. It was a loose or disconnected wire in the front compartment of the coach where the generator is located. I wish I could be more specific about which wire this was, but I can't. Chris might have been Chris Snyder, who now works at Beaudry in the Service Area. He might be able to help. Call Chris toll-free at 800-284-4878/X4916 and describe your symptoms.

Stay cool, if you can.
Gary

'05 Inspire 51491

Quote from: kary993
My coach has been in for the past three weeks for multiple

problems

Quote
but one that has been particularly annoying is the dash air > conditioning not blowing *ANY* cold air. On the last two trips

prior

Quote
to taking the coach in for service, it would not blow any cold air > either using the outside air or recirculation. The outside temps > were in the low 90's to 100 but only blew "cooler" air once the > outside temperature came down to the 60's. We were forced to turn

on

Quote
the roof air and run the fans the help cool things down a bit

during

Quote
the trips. This only worked marginally but not very well.

That said, the service outfit has said they cannot find any leaks

in

Quote
the system and that it is working fine. It has not been hot

enough

Quote
here lately to obtain the same conditions, but I am a bit

concerned

Quote
and wondered if anyone else has had such an issue.

I always thought, from experience, either the air conditioning

blows

Re: Dash air conditioning...

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19021
Quote from: kaena65_80
Hi Kary,

This will probably not help, but I can only relate to you what > happened to us in Tucson, AZ at Beaudry RV where we purchased our > coach new in February, 2005.

Wanting to make sure everything was working before we took > possession of the coach, we checked the dash a/c and it was not > blowing cool air. The service manager sent a CC Field Rep.(Chris) > over to look at it, and he found and corrected the problem right > away. It was a loose or disconnected wire in the front compartment > of the coach where the generator is located. I wish I could be more > specific about which wire this was, but I can't. Chris might have > been Chris Snyder, who now works at Beaudry in the Service Area. He > might be able to help. Call Chris toll-free at 800-284-4878/X4916 > and describe your symptoms.

Stay cool, if you can.

Gary

'05 Inspire 51491

[quote author=kary993"

>

> My coach has been in for the past three weeks for multiple > problems

> but one that has been particularly annoying is the dash air > > conditioning not blowing *ANY* cold air. On the last two trips > prior

> to taking the coach in for service, it would not blow any cold

air

Quote
either using the outside air or recirculation. The outside temps > > were in the low 90's to 100 but only blew "cooler" air once the > > outside temperature came down to the 60's. We were forced to

turn

Quote
on

> the roof air and run the fans the help cool things down a bit > during

> the trips. This only worked marginally but not very well.
>

> That said, the service outfit has said they cannot find any leaks > in

> the system and that it is working fine. It has not been hot > enough

> here lately to obtain the same conditions, but I am a bit > concerned

> and wondered if anyone else has had such an issue.
>

> I always thought, from experience, either the air conditioning > blows

> cold air or not, even in cool ambient temperatures (60's and

70's)

Quote
you can tell if the air is colder. Am I wrong about this? Anyone > > have a good way to test the dash air conditioning? > >

> Thanks for any help!
>

> Kary

> 05 Inspire 36'
> #51499

>Sounds like something is not opening and closing. CC should send
you to someone who only works on air conditioners. Should be easy to fix.

Re: Dash air conditioning...

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19026
Let me add to the dash AC discussion. My results are different from most motorhomers. I have an '04 Allure 33'. I live in Alabama so I know hot humid weather and we travel each summer to the west so we know hot dry weather. I am able to run comfortably in all but the bedroom (which is warm)with humid weather ambient temps to high 90s and dry temps to low 100s.

The way I do it is to open the roof vents about an inch or two. This allows the warmest air in the coach to vent out the roof and it is replaced with cooled, vented air.

Now, before you say that that is because I have a short coach, I'll say that I have owned other coaches, including a 40' Wanderlodge, and the same process works. I believe that the key is the vented roof.

On the subject of the hot air when AC and low temp is selected....I have had that problem in every coach I have owned. It has always had a simple fix. It is either the circuitry in the control unit at the dash or it is the (or one of the two) mixing valves that control the supply of hot water to the heater core. Both are easy to get to and are easy for a technician to troubleshoot and repair. Not even very expensive.

That is my experience for what it is worth. Good luck to all in cooling their coach.......next summer.

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

Re: Dash air conditioning...

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19029
Quote from: kary993

Kary:

If CC supplied you with books like we got it is shown in the pipeing diagrams. It is easy to spot if you crawl under the front of the coach. You will see the 3/4" hoses where they enter your heater box and it is located nearby.. Yes it could be intermitent.
Jim Green

Quote
James, thank you for that bit of information. DO you think that this > H valve could intermittently open and close thus sometimes provinding > cooled air and other times providing hot air? Also, I assume the > Inspire also has this same set up as an Allure for example? >

Kary

05 Inspire 36'
#51499

[quote author=rollingghetto"

>
>

[quote author=kary993"
>]
> Kary:

> I have had the experience. It is a familiar problem to CC techs. Under > > the fron of the coach on Alure and Intrigue mounted close to the heat > > exchanger box for dash air is a motor drive valve called by them the > > "H" valve. Its purpose in life is to redirect the hot water back to > > the engine when heat is not required. When airconditioning is to be > > used for sure the valve belongs in the return position.
> This valve is a simple mechanism but like anything else it can fail.
> The techs at Severville CC pre rally diagnosed my problems . I bought > > a new valve and installed it myself. After that I took it appart and > > fixed it and now carry it as a spare. There are 4 hoses attached.
>

> With valve not working the heater is more efficient than the > > airconditioning and will win the battle..... thus always hot air. Easy > > fix just a nusense.
>

> James M. Green Intrigue 11021 "Rollingghetto" > >
>
>
> >

> > My coach has been in for the past three weeks for multiple problems > > > but one that has been particularly annoying is the dash air > > > conditioning not blowing *ANY* cold air. On the last two trips

prior

Quote
> to taking the coach in for service, it would not blow any cold air > > > either using the outside air or recirculation. The outside temps > > > were in the low 90's to 100 but only blew "cooler" air once the > > > outside temperature came down to the 60's. We were forced to

turn on

Quote
> the roof air and run the fans the help cool things down a bit

during

Quote
> the trips. This only worked marginally but not very well.
> >

> > That said, the service outfit has said they cannot find any

leaks in

Quote
> the system and that it is working fine. It has not been hot enough > > > here lately to obtain the same conditions, but I am a bit concerned > > > and wondered if anyone else has had such an issue.
> >

> > I always thought, from experience, either the air conditioning

blows