Fuel Purge

[Jerry Emert]

I think I know what this is and how it's supposed to work but it doesn't do anything so maybe not!  I just had the retro kit installed for the fuel filter.  I'm not sure if it still uses the purge or not but I suspect so.  The guy that installed it as part of my warranty didn't really seem to know what he was doing when I asked him he gave me a line of BS.  So my questions are:
1. How is it supposed to work?
2. Does it still work after the retro kit is installed.
How do you operate it, I know it looks obvious but it just sits there.
Thanks in advance for your help.  I hope the pic will be attached!
Jerry

[Karl Welhart]

Jerry,

Yes, it will work with the retrofit kit installed.  It has two functions.  One, it will purge the air out of the fuel system after changing the filters. Two it will drain water in the fuel/water separator bowl after the light indicates that is sees water in the bowl of the filter to a given level. 

In each case the push of the button activates each operation respectfully. To test the operation just push the purge button and see if you hear anything running.  If not, something is wrong with the power or control panel.

[Jerry Emert]

Thanks Karl, it's broke!  Nothing happens.  I'll add it to my projects list. 

[Gerald Farris]

Jerry,
The H2O purge (water purge) will only activate if the water sensor in the bottom of the separator senses the presence of water (assuming the it was installed properly), but the air purge should turn on the electric pump to purge air from the fuel system anytime that the air purge button is pressed.

Gerald

[Jerry Emert]

Thanks Gerald, neither button does anything.  I don't know if it worked before they "fixed" it or not. 

[Gerald Farris]

Jerry,
Improper installation of the retro kit could disable the H2O purge feature, but the air purge feature should not have been effected in the kit installation.

Gerald

[Karl Welhart]

Jerry,

Does the "power" light indicate a very faint green color?  If not, it may not have power or ground coming in to the control panel.

[Edward Buker]

Jerry,

I'm not sure if all coaches are wired the same. I would check for activation with and without the ignition on as well as with the ignition on and a rear start option enabled. You want to be sure that no available ignition option (rear, front, key on or off) activates the system before you throw in the towel. It would be good to do this with a meter on the wire that feed the + 12V to this system to be sure that it has power going to this unit under some ignition option. If you find that you have 12V and no light can be activated on the unit then it may truly be DOA.

Later Ed

[Jerry Emert]

Jerry,

I'm not sure if all coaches are wired the same. I would check for activation with and without the ignition on as well as with the ignition on and a rear start option enabled. You want to be sure that no available ignition option (rear, front, key on or off) activates the system before you throw in the towel. It would be good to do this with a meter on the wire that feed the + 12V to this system to be sure that it has power going to this unit under some ignition option. If you find that you have 12V and no light can be activated on the unit then it may truly be DOA.

Later Ed

Thanks Ed, where is the rear start, whats it look like and how do you use it? 

[Edward Buker]

Jerry,

I'm not sure if your coach has this feature but if it does it is most likely in the same compartment as the filters. It usually has a couple of engine gauges and several toggle switches. It should be labeled rear start or rear run by the switches. In this photo it is on the upper right side of this compartment.

Later Ed

[Jerry Emert]

Thanks again Ed.  Nothing like that anywhere I've looked so far.  My Patriot is not laid out so nicely though and I see I have some cleaning up to do in that compartment.  Could it be back in the engine compartment?

[neil omalley]

Jerry: my '01 Patriot had that feature. My '05 does not. In other words, if it is not obvious, save your strength looking