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Hurricane again

Yahoo Message Number: 3264
Yesterday, I was going to report to the group that my Hurricane, after its last repair 14 days ago, was running great!
That was before I woke up two nights ago and notice that the fan was running, but no Hurricane. I went to the control panel over the entry door and saw a "2" code. Taking out my Hurricane installation book, I saw that a "2" code means that a fuse is blown.

The next morning I checked the fuses, and sure enough, the number 2 fuse from the left on the control board was blown. I put a new 15 amp fuse in it and reset the Hurricane and with great anticipation I waited for the Hurricane to reset. There it was again, a "2" code.
I called Jim Rixon and told him the circumstances and he checked with his engineer. He called me back and said it was the "board". He express shipped a new board to Freedom RV in Denver and it is now installed. (This is board #2) As I expected, the Hurricane works great. I'll let you know if it lasts longer than 14 days this time.
I guess some thanks are in order. I would like to thank Jim Rixon for his continued support. I know that he would rather have my Hurricane running properly, and so would I, but he always takes as much time as is required to get me fixed.

I also need to thank Freedom RV in Denver for always getting me in to work on my Hurricane with very little or no notice. They are great.
Well, enough of my story. Are there other 2003 Allures, besides Walt, having trouble with their Hurricane or is this an isolated case?

Tom Royer

2003 Allure 30858

Re: Hurricane again

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3267
I believe that every '03 Allure will have trouble until the air bleeder is capped like yours was. My unit is currently at JC getting the "fix" done to the Hurricane. Mine would go into the "overtemp" fault code. Also would spew all the coolant out into and over the expansion tank. The pumps (both front and rear) are very noisy I think due to running low on coolant. I am keeping my fingers crossed that is gets fixed right and that I don't have as many problems as you have had. I also appreciate Jim Rixen and his willingness to help Gary Wallstrom 2003 Allure 30872

Re: Hurricane again

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3268
What is the air bleeder? We've had our hurricane in several times, but they finally got it right, as far as we can tell. No leaks, and it runs until the coach gets warm.
03 Allure

Re: Hurricane again

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3275
The air bleeder valve is located on the same wall as the plastic overflow tank. I am told it is used on all hurricane applications that used the engine coolant as the fluid in the hurricane. As we all know the 45XL is self contained and has its own coolant supply. Suggest you contact Rixen for details. Gary Wallstrom 2003Allure 30872

Re: Hurricane again

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3279
The air bleeder is a device that was installed to allow the trapped air in the heaters circulation system to escape. It is an automatic device. The problem is that, when the circulation system control valve switches from interior heat mode to water heater only mode, the circ system is momentarily pressurized and the bleeder allows air to enter the system, breaking the seal and allowing fluid to escape. In the heating system as installed, there are devices that take care of the trapped air already in place so the air bleeder is not necessary.

Craig G
Rixen's

Re: Hurricane again

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3281
The air bleeder is a brass colored cylinder attached to the aft wall of the furnace compartment and has the large green hoses connected at the bottom.
The cylinder will unscrew and you insert a 1/4"" plug in its place.

Walt Rothermel
2003Allure30811

Re: Hurricane again

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3283
Well, I have bad news for me and my Hurricane. This morning, 11/21/02, the Hurricane stopped firing up again and there in bold red colors was a "2" code.

As soon as Junction City wakes up, I will call Doug Rutherford and get CC involved. This is two boards, an air bleeder, 2 holding tanks, overflowing coolant, and shorted fuses.
I will let you all know how it all turns out. I think it is time for a new Hurricane, or at least one that works.

Tom Royer

2003 Allure 30858

Re: Hurricane again

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3284
Tom , I completely agree with you. I told Doug Beaudry I wanted a new unit and he had Jim Rixen call me. Jim seems to be very nice and I hope the fix he gave me solved the problems. I will be travelling next week and will find out. If I still have problems, I too will insist on a new unit.

Walt Rothermel
2003Allure30811

Re: Hurricane again

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3285
Walt

Sherry and I are so frustrated, I am at a loss for words. I hope I can keep my patience when I talk with Doug. We absolutely love our Allure, but this Hurricane issue must be resolved.
Tom Royer

2003 Allure 30858

Re: Hurricane again

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3287
Tom, I firmly believe CC has put pressure on Rixen to get these problems resolved, as the very position you have taken ( we love the coach, but ) is very serious to CC.I have every assurance in my own mind CC will follow through as they have too much at stake. After all, a Hydro-Hot can probably be placed in the same space as the Hurricane.

Walt Rothermel
2003Allure30811

Re: Hurricane again

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3318
If it is located on the same wall as the overflow, ours does not have one.
Could that be why it is working?

Quote
The air bleeder valve is located on the same wall as the plastic overflow tank. I am told it is used on all hurricane applications that used the engine coolant as the fluid in the hurricane. As we all know the 45XL is self contained and has its own coolant supply. Suggest you contact Rixen for details.
Gary Wallstrom 2003Allure 30872

Re: Hurricane again

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3322
I have posted some photos in a folder called "Hurricane." Basically, it shows a before picture with the bleeder valve, an after without the bleeder valve, and an after with the overflow tank. I made these changes per Jim Rixen's instructions.

This is suppose to be the correct configuration for a closed-loop Hurricane system. My Hurricane model is the 45XL. This is the one they use on coaches that don't have a hot water heater. This type of system is not plumbed into the engine coolant system, as some other models or set-ups may be. I believe the 45XL is the one they are using on the newer Allures and some Intrigues.

My coach was delivered with the bleeder valve and no overflow tank.
This would not work with the closed-loop system according to Jim.
The bleeder valve is intended for units that are tied into the engine coolant system.

I would suggest anyone having problems with the Hurricane to contact Jim directly at Rixen's. He will know what is wrong, and how to correct it.

Hey Joe and Patti... sounds like your Hurricane was done right the first time.
Rob

'02 Intrigue - #11480

Re: Hurricane again

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3334
Rob,

Not exactly. First time we took it to Rixen's shop here in Vancouver/Portland. Second time we took it to Guaranty in Junction City, Ore. Third time took it back to Junction City. But don't get me wrong, we were very happy with the level and kind of service at Guaranty. Compared to the way we have been treated by other local dealers, we feel like we are in RV heaven. I would like to check out the pictures, though.
Thanks,

Joe and Patti

Re: Hurricane again

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3335
Thanks,

As you can see from my other post, I have taken it to Rixen's shop here in Vancouver/Portland (it's on Hayden Island), and Jim spent some time with it.
He never said anything about an air breather valve. And the only thing on the aft wall is the plastic overflow bottle, so maybe on the 03's they started doing something different.
Joe and Patti Frazier

Re: Hurricane again

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3336
Joe, mine is a 2003 and it had no overflow bottle but did have a breather.
Buddy Gregg in Dallas added the bottle and I removed the breather.

Walt Rothermel
2003Allure30811

Hurricane again

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3479
The #*@& thing is leaking and I suspect it never stopped. Last week I dry camped at my son's house and the unit operated flawlessly for the first time. What I didn't know because I was parked on grass is that the unit was leaking coolant. When I got home we had a couple of cold nights so I set it on 55 degrees to protect against freezing. Low and behold it is puddling coolant right under the unit, with no sign of leakage inside the compartment.I could not touch coolant through the filler and had no way to add any due to the filler location. I finally added coolant through the overflow tank. I told Doug Beaudry at CC this morning that I want CC to get me a new unit to replace this one that always has something wrong with it. It's a crying shame to have a coach you're very fond of and then start to lose that fondness over a defective appliance CC doesn't build. I'll post CC's decision regrding replacement of the unit.

Walt Rothermel
2003Allure30811

Re: Hurricane again

Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3483
Quote
The #*@& thing is leaking and I suspect it never stopped.
Walt Rothermel
2003Allure30811

Walt

I am so sorry to hear about your Hurricane. I can't tell you how many nights I sat up all night just listening to the Hurricane to see if it would fire up or not. I think mine may finally be fixed. (I almost hate to say that in case it jinx me)
One problem I did have a couple days ago was no HOT WATER again. This has been a problem since I picked up the coach at the factory. I just couldn't understand why I could not get hot water, when everything else seemed to be working ok.

Anyway, I turned off the hot water switch at the control panel above the door, then turned it on again. HOT WATER!!!

Craig-if you see this post, could you enlighten me as to why this would occur?

Hope it works out for you Walt. Let us know what Doug says about the new unit.
Tom Royer

2003 Allure 30858

Re: Hurricane again

Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3487
Tom

I will check it out and get back to you. I think that there might be an issue with the controller aquastat but I need the smart guys to tell me how to check it out.

Craig

Re: Hurricane again

Reply #18 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3488
Walt

Has the bleeder on the circulation line been removed yet? If you want, call me at the office, 800 925 6260, and we can walk through this.

Craig

Re: Hurricane again

Reply #19 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3489
Craig, the bleeder has been removed ( by me) and I moved a bridge on the control board per instructions of Jim Rixen. This is in the hands of CC now, as I'm not going through any more repairs on this unit. I feel I've been more than patient.
Walt Rothermel
2003Allure30811

Re: Hurricane again

Reply #21 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3491
Mine is leaking, too. I had it in a week or so back and they removed the bleeder valve so that it would not boil over. Now, every couple of days I have to add coolant because it "disappears". Also, getting some fumes inside from it. The smell is bad and causes eyes to burn.
Doesn't usually get cold enough here on the Texas coast to need the furnace but have the past couple of days. I have found that the heat pumps don't work as well as on my previous coach. I could use them down to about 38 degrees. These don't work below about 42-44.

Ree

Full-timing in 2003 Allure 30852

Gettin' ready to head to Margaritaville!

Re: Hurricane again

Reply #22 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3492
Ree

How much coolant do you add every time? Do you see any collant on the ground? You need to inspect (or have inspected) the air fan units inside your coach to see if they are leaking. Are you smelling the odor inside your coach?

Craig

Re: Hurricane again

Reply #23 –
Yahoo Message Number: 3495
Craig,

I was at the dealer's last Friday and Sat. They took the bleeder out and added coolant. During the next 6 or 7 days, I have added about 1/2 gallon. Before I went to the dealer last week, there was a lot of "something" on the asphalt under the unit. I figured it was water, then it when it over heated and lost the coolant, I did not know what was leaking. Kept thinking I would put some cardboard under there so I could see what it was. It has been raining off and on all week, so have not been able to do that.
The fumes have been inside the coach. Have not run the furnace in a few days because it has warmed up. I have contacted the dealer to see when I can come back. Time is getting tight for me to get there.

Ree

Full-Timing in Allure # 30852
Headin' to the Baja on Dec. 24!!