1987 Coachmen Crusader Class C RV stalls while driving

The friendliest place on the web for anyone with an RV or an interest in RVing!
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
Status
Not open for further replies.

toneandrox

Active member
Joined
May 16, 2021
Posts
29
Location
Chapel Hill, NC
-Chassis info: Ford Econoline E350 460 engine V8
-It is a carburetor and uses gas
-Looks like previous owner removed mechanical fuel pump and replaced with electrical pump
-When vehicle is idling it will run forever without issues, even if I rev up engine
-When I start to drive, shorter distances now, it will sputter and gradually lose power until it shuts off. Early on it would start back up quickly, now it has to sit awhile before it will start .
-It appears to be more of a problem on inclines.
-We changed oil, radiator fluid, oil filter. We haven't changed the fuel filter yet because it is stuck in place and we need to get it off.
-We checked the fuel pump relay and it clicks when ignition is in the on position but the female connector to the fuel pump relay is dirty inside and we see some moisture in the connector. We were able to clean the connector a little. The relay appears to work because it clicks.
-There is a solenoid near the battery that we have to tap sometimes to get the vehicle to start, but I don't know if that solenoid would cause the vehicle to cut off once the vehicle is running.
-There is also a modification switch on the right side of the radiator that we are not sure what it is or how to tell it is in the on or off position. I attached a picture of that switch. It attaches to that little cylinder and then 2 large cables run to what appears to be a fuse and then runs to the battery. I've attached a pic of the little board/fuse the cables run to.
 

Attachments

  • 20210516_082631.jpg
    20210516_082631.jpg
    106.2 KB · Views: 8
  • 20210516_083233_HDR.jpg
    20210516_083233_HDR.jpg
    150.2 KB · Views: 5
Buy a can of starting fluid and after the engines dies and will not start, remove the air cleaner and spray very small amounts of the starting fluid into the carb while someone is turning the engine over to start it. Use very little but enough. If the engine immediately responds, shut the engine off and chances are you have a fuel issue. If there is no response, probably an electrical problem.

The solenoid you are tapping for starting will not have any influence on the running of the motor if the starter is turning the motor. It is solely used for the starter motor.

Not sure what that additional switch is but it could be the electrical link between the chassis battery and the house batteries.
 
A basic pressure gauge will indicate if there's a fuel pump or supply problem. Just because a relay or solenoid valve "clicks" doesn't mean it's working, you need to prove that whatever is being controlled (voltage or fluids) is actually happening. You could go with replacing the filter as a first step, sounds like you'd want to do that no matter what then see what happens. After that it comes down to verifying what should be happening really is. Never assume anything. Parts can fail in strange ways and whoever had it before may have done shortcuts.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM
 
Buy a can of starting fluid and after the engines dies and will not start, remove the air cleaner and spray very small amounts of the starting fluid into the carb while someone is turning the engine over to start it. Use very little but enough. If the engine immediately responds, shut the engine off and chances are you have a fuel issue. If there is no response, probably an electrical problem.

The solenoid you are tapping for starting will not have any influence on the running of the motor if the starter is turning the motor. It is solely used for the starter motor.

Not sure what that additional switch is but it could be the electrical link between the chassis battery and th
Buy a can of starting fluid and after the engines dies and will not start, remove the air cleaner and spray very small amounts of the starting fluid into the carb while someone is turning the engine over to start it. Use very little but enough. If the engine immediately responds, shut the engine off and chances are you have a fuel issue. If there is no response, probably an electrical problem.

The solenoid you are tapping for starting will not have any influence on the running of the motor if the starter is turning the motor. It is solely used for the starter motor.

Not sure what that additional switch is but it could be the electrical link between the chassis battery and the house batteries.
Hi Henry. Thanks for your advice. I will try the starter fluid when it dies again to try to narrow down whether the issue is fuel or electrical. Thanks
 
A basic pressure gauge will indicate if there's a fuel pump or supply problem. Just because a relay or solenoid valve "clicks" doesn't mean it's working, you need to prove that whatever is being controlled (voltage or fluids) is actually happening. You could go with replacing the filter as a first step, sounds like you'd want to do that no matter what then see what happens. After that it comes down to verifying what should be happening really is. Never assume anything. Parts can fail in strange ways and whoever had it before may have done shortcuts.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM
Ok Thanks
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom