In the meantime, ARVS attended Prevost Service Training School in Mira Loma, CA from Nov. 7-10, 2011 and is now certified in both Prevost HVAC and Electrical Systems (Multiplex).  We also have been fortunate to acquire a new van for our mobile service.  We are currently working on a roofing / front end project.

We would like to thank all of our customers for their continued support and look forward to helping new customers, as well, in this new year.  Please do not hesitate in calling us with any questions – as you may know, many times we are able to resolve the issue at hand over the phone, at no charge.

Here’s an excerpt:

A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 1,800 times in 2011. If it were a cable car, it would take about 30 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

Image via Wikipedia

Just wanted to let you folks know again about the Dometic Refrigerator Recall.  I’ve had 4 calls this week regarding Dometic refrigerators.  I certainly do not want anyone to have an unfortunate outcome by turning on their LP gas w/ a recalled Dometic refrigerator.

“These refrigerators were installed in certain recreational vehicles as original equipment and sold as aftermarket equipment. A fatigue crack may develop in the boiler tube which may release a sufficient amount of pressurized coolant solution into an area where an ignition source (gas flame) is present. This release of coolant under certain conditions could ignite and result in a fire.  There are potentially 926,877 units affected.“

“Dometic recently expanded its recall on a population of two-door refrigerators. The original recall included some two-door refrigerators manufactured between April 1997 and May 2003.  The new recall focuses on models manufactured between June 2003 and September 2006.”  Please check this link to find out if your model is in the recall.  Follow their links to find an authorized Dometic repair facility and call to make an appointment.

“At no charge to you, Dometic’s SBH Kit needs to be installed on your refrigerator.”  The authorized RV service technician can perform the installation for you in under an hour.

The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads This blog is doing awesome!.

Crunchy numbers

A Boeing 747-400 passenger jet can hold 416 passengers. This blog was viewed about 1,300 times in 2010. That’s about 3 full 747s.

In 2010, there were 10 new posts, not bad for the first year! There were 11 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 1mb. That’s about a picture per month.

The busiest day of the year was August 26th with 44 views. The most popular post that day was Testimonials.

Where did they come from?

The top referring sites in 2010 were sandiego.craigslist.org, WordPress Dashboard, repair-rv.com, and zzsst.co.cc.

Some visitors came searching, mostly for rv solutions, affordable rv solutions, affordablervsolutions.com, xantrex echo charge, and echo-charge.

Attractions in 2010

These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.

Testimonials June 2010
2 comments

About Us June 2010

Links June 2010

Prevost Webinar on Winter Prep – Heating System Maintenance November 2010

Don’t let your RV lot rot July 2010
2 comments

The following items were covered in this webinar:
* Battery systems
* Booster cables to jump start
* Engine cranking
* Preheaters
* Coolant
* Pneumatic system issues

The first comment was SAFETY - more critical in winter conditions.

Battery systems – Group 31 (4) (most common) or 8 D
- Ignition & battery switch are one in the same
- Volvo 9700 – separate battery switch to left of ignition switch

Main difference is physical size and they are cabled differently

Proper cabling is crucial
- 8D – cabled in series – reserve capacity and cold cranking amps need to be the same
- Group 31 – more connections – engine and transmission wires are smaller wires

Proper clamping

Booster cables to jump start
- use booster stud – do not jump directly to battery  (on ’94 & up)
- (-) negative on post (located on frame), (+) stud sticks up from battery
- * do not make a connection w/ donor vehicle running – connect 1st, then start donor vehicle

Engine Cranking – do not crank starter for more than 15 seconds
- starter motor needs fixed voltage
- volts x amps = watts
- as voltage drops, amps through cranking motor increases
- so, lower voltage = higher amps through starting motor and cabling system

Volvo D 13 Engine – No Ether!  Can cause engine damage on air intake heater.  Auto at 54 degrees F coolant or lower

Preheaters – Concentration: Webasto / Spheros (separate company)
- when preheaters are run year round, less problems

- Webasto: DBW 2010, DBW 2020
- rare that air shutter needs to be adjusted

- Spheros Thermo 300 – approximately 102,000 BTUs & has computer interface

Info on these preheaters can be found on the Prevost website under Parts & Service →Tech. Manuals→Manufacturer Publications.

Preheater not working?  Is it a Prevost issue or a preheater issue?
There is a difference between “Switch On” & “Start Up”

If the preheater does not “switch on”, then it could be a Prevost wiring problem.

Check wire 127 A (there were several diagrams and schematics shown throughout the webinar presentation)

* Run preheater every month
- Fuel nozzle replacement
- Flame detector (can get dirty) – there are 2 types

Webasto: disc
Spheros: rod

Understand operation – see shop manual on website
- filter screen on fuel pump

Coolant
Information on correct coolant can be found in the operation manual, the maintenance manual, and on a decal by surge tank.
- Volvo is different from Detroit Diesel
- D13 – extended life coolant only

Coolant filter – strainer on supply line to heater control valve on evaporator to heater core

Pneumatic System Issues
Tech under coach – use safety glasses

The following needs to be done in the proper order
Run engine on fast idle 1st.
1) wet tank – drain completely
check brake tanks for proper psi*
2) primary brake tank
3) secondary brake tank
4) accessory tank
5) needle recovery tank

* 120-130 psi = check valves o.k.

note any moisture – air dryer may need to be serviced

Check schematic for particular vehicle tank locations.

Prevost announced a new webinar program yesterday, for Prevost customers, operators, drivers and maintenance personnel. The next Prevost Connection Webinar will take place on October 21, 2010 at 2:30 EDT, and will be about the Volvo D13 Engine Introduction. The have also planned a Prevost Connection Webinar for November 4, 2010 about Motorcoach Winter Preparation – Heating System Maintenance. For a full listing of Connection Webinars click here.

Xantrex Echo Charge

I installed a Xantrex Echo Charge yesterday on a ’28 Jamboree. What a breeze to install. This little unit is an auxiliary battery charger that will charge an auxiliary or starting (chassis) battery by taking shore service (110v) or generator power and trickle charging the starting battery with limited voltage drop. This charger detects when the house battery is being charged and in turn, directs a portion of the charge to the starting/chassis battery. If you’re looking to keep your chassis battery charged, give this little guy a try.

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I know, that last little blurb with letters and numbers made no sense.  It seems that in order to get indexed, one needs to post some crazy code…  We’ll see what happens.  And yes, I will be including a post regarding air conditioning here soon.  It’s been a long week and today I’m heading down to see some Tall Ships.

Until next time , have a safe Labor Day weekend and Happy Camping!