Author Topic: engine/tranny temp/air level light  (Read 7265 times)

Jerry Emert

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engine/tranny temp/air level light
« on: June 08, 2014, 11:54:42 PM »
We took a short trip this weekend.  Inverter still not fixed but everything else is.  A couple questions:
1.  I noticed that every now and again the "Air Level" light would flash on and off.  Sometimes staying on for 10 seconds or so.  Is this normal?
2. Engine according to Aladdin was running around 188 which sounds like a normal temp.  Is it?
3. Tranny temp was running around 210.  Normal?
Thanks again for your help.
Jerry
Jerry, Chief USN Retired
2003 Patriot Thunder Lexington 40' 3 Slides
C-12 Ser#  2KS89983
4000MH

Lee Welbanks

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Re: engine/tranny temp/air level light
« Reply #1 on: June 09, 2014, 05:23:45 AM »
Quote from: Jerry Emert
We took a short trip this weekend.  Inverter still not fixed but everything else is.  A couple questions:
1.  I noticed that every now and again the "Air Level" light would flash on and off.  Sometimes staying on for 10 seconds or so.  Is this normal?
2. Engine according to Aladdin was running around 188 which sounds like a normal temp.  Is it?
3. Tranny temp was running around 210.  Normal?
Thanks again for your help.
Jerry

Jerry,

That is normal for the level system to flicker about every half hour. Once level it will wake up and check level and adjiust as needed, sometimes where the day temp goes up you will hear the air exhaust from one end or the other.
My Cat C13 operates between 188 and 195 unless in a really hard put I've bumped 200 and shifted down and backed out.
My trans runs round 170 to 180 no more no less, yours sounds a little warm or could be a sending unit.

Lee

Jerry Emert

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Re: engine/tranny temp/air level light
« Reply #2 on: June 09, 2014, 05:32:18 AM »
Quote from: Lee Welbanks

Jerry,

That is normal for the level system to flicker about every half hour. Once level it will wake up and check level and adjiust as needed, sometimes where the day temp goes up you will hear the air exhaust from one end or the other.
My Cat C13 operates between 188 and 195 unless in a really hard put I've bumped 200 and shifted down and backed out.
My trans runs round 170 to 180 no more no less, yours sounds a little warm or could be a sending unit.

Lee

Thanks Lee, the air level light was coming on while driving.  Still ok?
Jerry, Chief USN Retired
2003 Patriot Thunder Lexington 40' 3 Slides
C-12 Ser#  2KS89983
4000MH

Gerald Farris

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Re: engine/tranny temp/air level light
« Reply #3 on: June 09, 2014, 06:19:11 AM »
Jerry,
I do not think that the air level light should come on when driving. You should call HWH and explain you symptoms to their technical support personal. They can tell you exactly what you should expect, and what is wrong if anything.

Your engine temperature is normal.

Are you reading the transmission temperature on the Aladdin at highway speed. If so, you are within the expected range for Dexron III, but you are about 10 or 15 degrees high for TranSynd. Your transmission fluid will also run hotter in stop and go traffic. Your transmission will also run a little hotter if your coach does not have a liquid to liquid transmission cooler. Monaco did not use liquid to liquid coolers on some of the 2003 and 2004 coaches.  

Gerald

Jerry Emert

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Re: engine/tranny temp/air level light
« Reply #4 on: June 09, 2014, 10:09:43 PM »
Quote from: Gerald Farris
Jerry,
I do not think that the air level light should come on when driving. You should call HWH and explain you symptoms to their technical support personal. They can tell you exactly what you should expect, and what is wrong if anything.

Your engine temperature is normal.

Are you reading the transmission temperature on the Aladdin at highway speed. If so, you are within the expected range for Dexron III, but you are about 10 or 15 degrees high for TranSynd. Your transmission fluid will also run hotter in stop and go traffic. Your transmission will also run a little hotter if your coach does not have a liquid to liquid transmission cooler. Monaco did not use liquid to liquid coolers on some of the 2003 and 2004 coaches.  

Gerald

Thanks, the tag on the transmission says Transynd on it?  Still ok temp?  it was highway driving about 85 outside.  How do I tell if it has the liquid to liquid?  It has a cooling system filter in the rear near the fuel filters by what looks like a metal tank with a sight glass in it.  Does that help?  

Jerry, Chief USN Retired
2003 Patriot Thunder Lexington 40' 3 Slides
C-12 Ser#  2KS89983
4000MH

Gerald Farris

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Re: engine/tranny temp/air level light
« Reply #5 on: June 09, 2014, 10:44:29 PM »
Jerry,
The transmission temperature is within tolerances, but it will depend on what type of transmission cooler you have to determine if it is the temperature that you should expect.
 
To determine what your transmission cooler is, just follow the cooler lines from the rear of the transmission (towards the front of the coach) to the cooler.

The cooling system filter is designed to maintain the SCA levels in the coolant if you are running ethylene glycol (green) coolant. There is a repetitive problem with hose failures to the coolant filter on that coach, and the preferred solution to that problem is to either change the coach over to Cat ELC (extended life coolant) and remove the hoses and plug them at the engine since the coolant filter will no longer be needed, or reroute the hoses and replace them with high temperature silicone hoses. If you are running green coolant, you should change the coolant filter yearly to maintain the SCA levels in your coolant.

Gerald

Jerry Emert

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Re: engine/tranny temp/air level light
« Reply #6 on: June 10, 2014, 12:08:00 AM »
Whats the approximate cost of changing to ELC?  How long does it take?  Thanks again as always!
Jerry, Chief USN Retired
2003 Patriot Thunder Lexington 40' 3 Slides
C-12 Ser#  2KS89983
4000MH

Edward Buker

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Re: engine/tranny temp/air level light
« Reply #7 on: June 10, 2014, 12:11:01 AM »
Gerald, Jerry,

I think what he has found near the fuel filters and the tank with the sight glass is the hydraulic fluid filter for the fan and steering system.

The cooling system filter Gerald is referring to is underneath the coach on the passenger side of the Cat engine. It is a spin on canister filter like an oil filter, maybe one quart in size. You may or may not have one depending on what has been done in the past.

Later Ed

Jerry Emert

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Re: engine/tranny temp/air level light
« Reply #8 on: June 10, 2014, 12:20:21 AM »
Quote from: Edward Buker
Gerald, Jerry,

I think what he has found near the fuel filters and the tank with the sight glass is the hydraulic fluid filter for the fan and steering system.

The cooling system filter Gerald is referring to is underneath the coach on the passenger side of the Cat engine. It is a spin on canister filter like an oil filter, maybe one quart in size. You may or may not have one depending on what has been done in the past.

Later Ed
Hopefully a pic came through with this!  This is a pic of the filter the dealer told me was a coolant filter.  I don't have one available with the holding tank in it.  The tank is in the rear most bay on the passenger side about as far back as you could put it.  The filter is just below it to the right.  Both to the left of what I think are the fuel filters.

Jerry, Chief USN Retired
2003 Patriot Thunder Lexington 40' 3 Slides
C-12 Ser#  2KS89983
4000MH

Jerry Emert

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Re: engine/tranny temp/air level light
« Reply #9 on: June 10, 2014, 12:23:58 AM »
Fuel filters?  Maybe?
Jerry, Chief USN Retired
2003 Patriot Thunder Lexington 40' 3 Slides
C-12 Ser#  2KS89983
4000MH

Edward Buker

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Re: engine/tranny temp/air level light
« Reply #10 on: June 10, 2014, 12:41:36 AM »
Jerry,

The last shot is definitely fuel pre filters. The one before that looks to me to be hydraulic due to the size of the lines feeding it and the fact that there are no valves which the coolant filter usually have. I am not absolutely sure so following the liquid lines or getting a cartridge PN would give you the answer. Someone who owns your coach or Gerald should have a definitive answer on this one....

Later Ed