Class B-Plus Motorhome Is Now Mine!

[VJG1977]

<p>

I still haven't had any work done on my RV, because I'm waiting to spend any more money on it, until after my house sells.<br><br>However, I found another problem with it when I was driving it the other day. The air conditioner in the cab blows air, but it's not cold air. On a vehicle this old, does anyone have an idea what it might cost to fix this or whether it can even be fixed at all?

</p><p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"></font></p><p style="margin: 0px;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'>It has been a while since I had to work on a vehicle AC but the first thing to check would be the compressor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>With the engine&nbsp;running and the hood up, have someone switch on the AC while watching the compressor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>While the V-belt spins the outer pulley when the engine is running, the AC magnetic clutch will engage when the AC is switched on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>You should be able to hear a change in the engine as the AC turns on or off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>If the clutch does not engage check the fuses and the switched wire going to the compressor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>If the compressor clutch does engage and the compressor spins but the AC blows&nbsp;warm you are probably low on Freon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>The system would need to be checked for leaks and then recharged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I have not had to have a car AC worked on lately so I'm not sure what it would cost to repair one.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'></span>&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;" class="MsoNormal"><span style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'></span>&nbsp;</p><p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"></font></p>

 

[toupalumma]

Thanks for the instructions, VJG1977. I will probably have a mechanic do this. I will let you know how much it costs.

 

[blars]

Older car air conditioners frequently have a slow leak and need recharged, but they used freon 12 which is not made anymore.&nbsp; I do not know if they make a direct replacment.<br><br><br>

 

[toupalumma]

Thanks for the response, blars. I was afraid of that. I have yet to contact a mechanic on these issues.

My house has officially been on the market for a week now, with no activity yet. But, I remain hopeful it will sell for the asking price or something close, so I won't have to use my savings to pay the seller's closing costs. But, in today's market, my realtor says, that is common practice.

Until the deal is closed, I'm not spending any more money on the RV. But I sure want to.

 

[Seraphim]

<p style="margin: 0px;">

<span id="post_message_1273704613">Older car air conditioners frequently have a slow leak and need recharged, but they used freon 12 which is not made anymore. I do not know if they make a direct replacment.<br></span><br>

</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">The new stuff can be used, but you have to get adaptors for the car's system: basically changing the size of the threaded connectors, permitting the larger connectors on the new cannisters to attach to the car's system. (I'm not explainging this well, I know).</p>

 

[akrvbob]

With a heavy vehicle like that, it is pretty common for the springs to get old and sag. All large cities have shops that specialize in axles and leaf springs that&nbsp; can diagnose and repair it. Ask about getting Firestone air bags instead. It may be the same price and the air bags give you a lot more flexibility. You install an air compressor under the hood and you can inflate/deflate each air bag depending on the load and road conditions at that moment. It's a really great system. Bob&nbsp; <br>

 

[Sailrich]

My wife really likes your van. Me too. Same color as our 90 F-150 Van. Looks like new. We bought ours about a year ago and our in the process. <br>We have no refer yet and have only ice chest, camping stove and a sink few cabinets. table&nbsp;and basic toylet bucket. It all works. Good thing my wife is 5 ft 2 in and me 5 foot 6 in. we have to stoop over to walk about.<br>

 

[Journeyman]

Older car air conditioners frequently have a slow leak and need recharged, but they used freon 12 which is not made anymore.&nbsp; I do not know if they make a direct replacment.<br><br><br>

The freon that they are currently using will no longer be made by the end of the year, due to new gov. laws, and the cost for it is is going to skyrocket. So get this done as soon as possible.<div><br></div>

 

[Cubey]

Congrats! ... Even has a small tub. Nice.<br><br>But I do find it funny how they put BIG windows right behind the toilet on those vans. <img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" align="absmiddle" border="0"><br><br>The freon that they are currently using will no longer be made by the end of the year, due to new gov. laws, and the cost for it is is going to skyrocket. So get this done as soon as possible.[/quote]<br><br>Hmm, that's news to me. I wonder what HVAC techs will do about ACs that use R12...<br><br>I don't know if the AC works in my van right now or not. If it does... I'll leave it well enough alone until it quits.. then I'll convert to R34<br>

 

[SirJoey]

<div><b><font face="Arial"><br></font></b></div><div><b><font face="Arial">WOW!!! I'm STUNNED!!!</font></b></div><div><b><font face="Arial"><br></font></b></div><div><b><font face="Arial">That's IDENTICAL to the one I had! Even the color (inside &amp; out both), exterior trim, floor plan, EVERYTHING! And yes, like you, I had to sit my microwave on the shelf above the fridge! The only difference I can see is that you have an awning, which mine didn't have, no doubt an after-market add-on.&nbsp;</font></b></div><div><b><font face="Arial"><br></font></b></div><div><b><font face="Arial">I've owned 3 different motorhomes, a slide-in, &amp; a couple of trailer campers, but this little Class B was my all-time favorite! </font></b></div><div><b><font face="Arial"><br></font></b></div><div><b><font face="Arial">U mentioned a wiring problem... that's scary, cuz that's how I LOST mine! Wiring harness caught fire!&nbsp;<img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/eek.gif"></font></b></div><div><b><font face="Arial">Hope U have better luck with yours!</font></b></div><div><b><font face="Arial"><br></font></b></div><div><b><font face="Arial">Congrats on a great find!&nbsp;<img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif"></font></b></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>

 

[seagullplayer]

Battery drain issues:<br>The clutch relay for the AC should be checked, it can stick on, it is an easy check for your regular mechanic.&nbsp; (Unplug the clutch connector with the key off, if it clicks it was stuck on.)<br>Your alt. can also cause this problem.<br><br>Good luck, nice van.<br><br>

 

[toupalumma]

Thanks for all the responses.

Yesterday, I had a freelance mechanic come over and spend 3 hours trying to figure out the electrical problem. He found a corroded tail light bulb and socket. He replaced them, but I haven't tested it yet, to find out if that was the culprit.

He also found a radiator leak and discovered a lot of gunk under the radiator cap. He wanted to fix it for me, but that would have involved flushing out all that stuff in the street. I live in suburbia and didn't want to do that. So my RV is in my regular mechanic's shop for that right now.

I also discovered the gas mileage is only 4 mpg! OUCH! So, I also asked my regular mechanic to do a tune up and check tire pressure.

This little RV hobby is gonna nickel and dime me to death. :-(

SirJoey, I hope you were not in your RV, when the wiring harness caught fire.

 

[toupalumma]

Well...my RV dream is quickly going sour. My mechanic said every single hose, tube, fitting, etc on the cab A/C is rotted or completely useless. AND...parts are no longer manufactured. AND...even if we could find decent parts, the repair cost would be $2000. *sigh*

So, I thought maybe the ceiling A/C might work and that would be sufficient to cool the cab. Well...I plugged the RV into my house power last night to test it. I turned on the switch and I heard a humming sound, but no fan came on and no air blew out. So, I turned it off and unplugged the RV. *sigh*

I am so mechanically challenged I have no idea how to work on any of this myself and to delve any further into fixing anything, I will have to spend more money on this rolling money pit.

So, I am now trying to figure out the quickest and least painful way to just get rid of the thing.

Any further advice would be very much appreciated.

 

[Trout]

<p>It might be the compressor, they do make a larger capacitor for it to help kick it on.&nbsp; the fan is the other part in question.&nbsp; There should be a fan to cool the coil which could be stuck.&nbsp; See if it moves freely, or under tension ( or not at all)&nbsp; Sometimes you can free it up with WD 40, but it wont last.&nbsp; The only thing that really does is let you know if the rest of the a/c is working.</p>

 

[toupalumma]

Thanks for the advice on the ceiling a/c, Trout_Valium. But, as I said, I am so mechanically challenged that I wouldn't have the faintest idea of how to do what you make sound so simple.

I have the RV advertised on Craigslist. Hopefully I can sell it for something decent. If not, I may look into donating it to charity.

 

[william_k]

I'm sorry to hear about your van's troubles!!&nbsp; That's terrible!<br><br><img src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/bawl.gif" align="absmiddle" border="0"><br>

 

[howardsells2000]

Toupalumma, did you have any luck selling your camper? It looks good even though it needs work. I just recently bought an old class c but the class b types seem to be pretty popular and had I found one cheap enough I would have bought one.

 

[toupalumma]

Howardsells2000, I still have it. I have it priced at $4000 on Craigslist. I've had about four callers, but no lookers. An RV mechanic told me the price is fair, even though it needs work.

 

[toupalumma]

We still have our little money pit RV and now we have a new problem. With the weather turning so hot, the stink of sewage has now begun to emanate from it. There is no way we can sell it like that! It never smelled bad at all, until this hot humid weather moved in.

So, we now have to either commit to fixing that problem at the very least or just go ahead and donate it to a charity.

What would you do?

 

[toupalumma]

Oh yeah! There is one bit of good news. We no longer have the battery drain problem. I'm not sure which of the following fixed it, but here's what we did.

1. Paid a freelance mechanic to troubleshoot the electrical system. He found a corroded tail light and replaced it.
2. He also found out that the cigarette lighter was corroded. We couldn't find a replacement part, so he just took the bad one off and left it off.
3. I found three items in the coach that were turned on...the temp control for the heater...the roof a/c switch...and a switch near the stove that I can't figure out what it turns on.

Maybe a few more things can be fixed as easily. Here's hoping.