Buzz off!

[Folkranger]

Went in the MH today to do my regular lay-up checks. Move the van a few feet and run the engine for a few minutes. Started up and the step warning buzzer started and wouldn'tstop with the switches. (step not retracting, even with a bit of help) I found that it stopped when I switched off the 12v at the panel. Odd!

Later had another look and the step switches worked with and without the 12v on. Odd!

 

[Lenny HB]

Later had another look and the step switches worked with and without the 12v on. Odd!

The step electrics are fed from a permantly live supply on Hymers.
You shouldn't run the engine for just a few minutes. Modern diesels never get up to operating temperature on tickover, once started they should be driven straight off unless you want expensive repair bills.

 

[Folkranger]

You shouldn't run the engine for just a few minutes. Modern diesels never get up to operating temperature on tickover, once started they should be driven straight off unless you want expensive repair bills.

Thanks Lenny, I would agree with this. I start the engine to move the van not to primarilly to run the engine. The engine runs for a minute or two with gentle revving to get some oil flowing only. If I wasn't moving the van I wouldn't start it at all. If I were younger I would be using it all season like you but nowadays the cold doesn't do me any favours.

Any idea why the step stuck?

 

[autorouter]

The step electrics are fed from a permantly live supply on Hymers.

So if the step doesn't retract properly, the buzzer will not turn off, while the engine is running. However the buzzer is located in the display panel, so it looks like the power for the buzzer is cut off when the 12V habitation power is switched off (unlike Brit MHs the habitation power stays on while the engine is running).

 

[Folkranger]

it looks like the power for the buzzer is cut off when the 12V habitation power is switched off (unlike Brit MHs the habitation power stays on while the engine is running).

Not really, The step and buzzer normally both work even with the 12v off at the panel. For some reason the step wouldn't retract so the buzzer kept buzzing. Then when I turned 12v on, the step retracted and the buzzing stopped. and then everthing worked as normal.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Folkranger]

Just found a text sent yesterday by my tracker monitor company when I was in the MH saying they had received a signal saying my battery had been disconnected. The plot thickens!

 

[autorouter]

I'd be looking at the battery contacts, at the terminals and any chassis earth links, to check that they are clean and firm. Sometimes a nut on a terminal clamp can seem to be fully tightened, but is not clamping the terminal tightly,

Bad contacts can be weird and contradictory. Sometimes they let a small current flow, but heavily restrict a high current. Sometimes they don't let a small current flow, but will let a large current through. It depends what the blockage is - resistance or oxide layer.

 

[Folkranger]

I'd be looking at the battery contacts, at the terminals and any chassis earth links, to check that they are clean and firm. Sometimes a nut on a terminal clamp can seem to be fully tightened, but is not clamping the terminal tightly,

Bad contacts can be weird and contradictory. Sometimes they let a small current flow, but heavily restrict a high current. Sometimes they don't let a small current flow, but will let a large current through. It depends what the blockage is - resistance or oxide layer.

I hadn't thought of the good old fashioned obvious. These days I tend to think "software glitch" first.

 

[ambulancekidd]

Ah the beauty of old school engines, my 1995 Kon Tiki is a turbo, but otherwise, its a shovelful of coal in terms of tech. Started first touch of the button yesterday.
Ran up to temp & now she's ready to rock n roll asap.

 

[autorouter]

Another thing to check is the 2A fuse near the 50A fuse, next to the leisure battery. The thin wire is a battery voltage sense wire, used by the EBL to measure the leisure battery voltage accurately, avoiding voltage drop errors along the 50A power wire. If the EBL can't see that voltage, the built-in chip switches everything off. I'm not sure if a bad contact at the fuse could cause the symptoms, but it's possibility.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[TheBig1]

clean and lubricate all the step pivots and thoroughly clean the limit switches. They are exposed under the van and dirt and debris builds up, leading to it all seizing up

 

[stevewagner]

So if the step doesn't retract properly, the buzzer will not turn off, while the engine is running. However the buzzer is located in the display panel, so it looks like the power for the buzzer is cut off when the 12V habitation power is switched off (unlike Brit MHs the habitation power stays on while the engine is running).

Every British van we have had the hab electrics switch off when the engine runs. We’ve had three Autotrails and I modified them all so that the hab power worked once the engine was running

 

[joe and sue]

Every British van we have had the hab electrics switch off when the engine runs. We’ve had three Autotrails and I modified them all so that the hab power worked once the engine was running

Do you have an Idiot's guide on how to do that please,
BTW I am the idiot !!

 

[Folkranger]

Another thing to check is the 2A fuse near the 50A fuse, next to the leisure battery. The thin wire is a battery voltage sense wire, used by the EBL to measure the leisure battery voltage accurately, avoiding voltage drop errors along the 50A power wire. If the EBL can't see that voltage, the built-in chip switches everything off. I'm not sure if a bad contact at the fuse could cause the symptoms, but it's possibility.

I'll have a look.

 

[Folkranger]

clean and lubricate all the step pivots and thoroughly clean the limit switches. They are exposed under the van and dirt and debris builds up, leading to it all seizing up

I'm sure I've read somewhere that you should not lubricate the step as this collects grit which leads to wear.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Lenny HB]

The low battery warning from your tracker will be the starter battery, the step is wired to the hab battery.

Could be worth taking the step gearbox apart and checking the gear wheels. Stripped teeth is a common problem, maybe getting a bit worn.

 

[Lenny HB]

I'm sure I've read somewhere that you should not lubricate the step as this collects grit which leads to wear.

OK to use a silicon spray but do not use WD40 it will swell the nylon bushes and bu**er it.

 

[Folkranger]

OK to use a silicon spray but do not use WD40 it will swell the nylon bushes and bu**er it.

But how will it butter your bushes>