Yesterday we started our trip to NE and noticed that the fuel gauge was bouncing around between 1/4 - 1/2 full right after we headed out. After we filled up with diesel it stopped bouncing. About a 100 miles later our alternator started acting erratically. It normally reads a steady 13.8v but when I slowed down it dropped abruptly to 11v but rose rapidly and steadily to 13.1v where it leveled out for a while and then climbed again to 13.8v. At 13.8v it bounced back and forth between 13.8v & 14.1v for 20+/- miles and then leveled out at 13.7v for another 10 miles when we called it quits for the day.

Some other things that I noticed is the water temp was running 195 vs. 192. Oil pressure was 45. A visual of the alternator & belts seemed normal.

The nearest repair place is 125 mi. Do you think that we can make it? ... and what do you think the problem is?

Carl Feren

Are you towing a trailer? No.....just kidding!

It doesn't sound terminal in any of your issues for me to feel uncomfortable waiting it out. You are not discharging on the batteries, fuel can slosh around, mine will do it occasionally when below half full, and temps are very close (and it's been hot in most places).

While this could be controversial, I'm of the school that some things are better left to fail rather than chasing phantom issues. Obviously, this theory wouldn't pertain to safety concerns or worries that could lead to catastrophic failure, but none of your issues sound that worrisome to me.

A suggestion would be to clean any electrical connections to these sensors and gauges that are easily accessible.

When in doubt clean ground connections. Start at the battery.

quote:

Originally posted by ccctimtation:
When in doubt clean ground connections. Start at the battery.

Couldn't agree more. Sounds like you're losing a ground somewhere.

Take a reading at the alt using the case or ground wire of the alt for a ground. If it reads bad here, then you probably do have a bad alt.

check your belt for slippage thats how I found out that our vibration damper was in need of replacing.
the belt was fraying.good luck watch your temp. gauge
lenny

Some vee belts will wear a little and the inside of the belt will contact the bottom of the pulley groove, unloading the vee sides. Slippage and erratic or insufficient output can be the result.

This does not happen with poly-vee belts.

Carl,

Keep us posted on what you find out about the fuel gauge.
For the last two years I have had the same problem. I fill the tank and it reads fairly good from full to half tank. Then at the half tank mark it starts bouncing around from about the quarter of a tank to the half tank mark.
When it stops bouncing at just a little under the quarter tank mark I know I have little under a quarter of a tank. I'm afraid that some day it won't be accurite at that quarter reading.

Jim

1985 Barth Regency 35 ft MCC
8.2 Detroit 225HP Allison 4 Speed

quote:

Originally posted by Jim & Barb Rustige:
Carl,

Keep us posted on what you find out about the fuel gauge.
For the last two years I have had the same problem. I fill the tank and it reads fairly good from full to half tank. Then at the half tank mark it starts bouncing around from about the quarter of a tank to the half tank mark.
When it stops bouncing at just a little under the quarter tank mark I know I have little under a quarter of a tank. I'm afraid that some day it won't be accurite at that quarter reading.

Jim

1985 Barth Regency 35 ft MCC
8.2 Detroit 225HP Allison 4 Speed

Jim, you could have a problem with wiring to the fuel level sender or within the sender itself. Since it reads resistance, the system is very intolerant of imperfect connections, including the ground. The ground connection to the chassis is particularly subject to corrosion.

You might want to take a look at part of my posting on Fuel Tank Tips.

Bill thanks for the tip on the ground wire I'll have to check on that when I can. I have a head problem about crawling under a vehicle. I get a little light headed due to a vein disorder and will get nose bleeds. So sometimes I get under there and most of the time I try to avoid it.

I went over those fuel tank tips and will read it again later.

Thanks again, Jim

Based on the overwhelming consensus that our problem was most likely a faulty ground we hit the road this morning with absolutely NO erratic behavior for the entire 260 miles. The water temp held steady at 192, oil pressure was steady at 45 and the alternator stayed at 13.9v except when put on the coach air and it dropped to 13.8v. The fuel gauge still bounced a little as it got down to around 3/8 to 1/4 full.

One thing I forgot to mention is that on Tuesday when the alternator readings were erratic, it was raining. Today was sunny & dry. Whether that had anything to do with it I don;t know but I suspect that it might have contirbuted to it.

It sounds like all the erratic readings can be traced back to poor, dirty or corroded connections so as soon as we get to CT I will take a day to clean & grease as many connections that I can find ... starting with the battery, alternator & fuel gauge ground. We also have problems with the heating/cooling fan running for a few minutes and then shutting off and with the inside generator start switches. They will shut the generator off but I have to start it at the genset. I will let you know if cleaning the terminals for all these ills has any effect but I suspect that it will.

Thanks again for all your input.

Carl Feren

quote:

Originally posted by Carl Feren:
I will take a day to clean & grease as many connections that I can find .... I will let you know if cleaning the terminals for all these ills has any effect but I suspect that it will.

Even if it doesn't solve your problem, it is good preventive maintenance.

quote:

Originally posted by lenny and judy:
check your belt for slippage thats how I found out that our vibration damper was in need of replacing.
the belt was fraying.good luck watch your temp. gauge
lenny

Vibration Damper? ... Is it for the motor or is it on the alternator itself?? In either instance, where do I find it?

It is located on the engine Crankshaft and is designed to dampen the vibrations created by an inherently unbalanced engine, which most are. The reason it is important to your alternator is that the crank pulley (bolted to the dampener) is the "drive" pulley for all your engine driven items like alternator, water pump, fan (if not electric or hydraulic). Therefore, if the dampener is shot, it can play havoc with the belts and the seals. In extreme cases it can come apart and cause impact damage too.

quote:

Originally posted by Bill N.Y.:
Because of the age of these coaches, and the design of these harmonic balancers, we now have 2 types of people on our forums... Those that have replaced their balancer and those who will soon be replacing them...

Please read these links

http://barthmobile.com/eve/for...=876104372#876104372

http://barthmobile.com/eve/for...31087061/m/750101932



Billy T had his fail - Lenny and Judy - several others have too.

CHECK YOUR HARMONIC BALANCER on your coach - 8.3l owners especially.

It strikes me as a bad design feature to have the belt engage the outside, putting stress on the layer of rubber. On my gasser, the pulleys are all attached to the solid inner hub.