JUNE 2005 MY WIFE AND I WERE LEAVING ROSWELL NM IN OUR 1999 WINNEBAGO MOTOR HOME WHEN WE EXPERIENCED A LOUD POPPING NOISE. I CALLED OUR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE CARRIER AND WAS DIRECTED TO A REPAIR FACILITY A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY. AFTER LISTENING TO THE NOISE AND LOOKING UNDER THE VEHICLE THEY DETERMINED IT MUST BE AN EXHAUST MANIFOLD…
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JUNE 2005 MY WIFE AND I WERE LEAVING ROSWELL NM IN OUR 1999 WINNEBAGO MOTOR HOME WHEN WE EXPERIENCED A LOUD POPPING NOISE. I CALLED OUR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE CARRIER AND WAS DIRECTED TO A REPAIR FACILITY A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY. AFTER LISTENING TO THE NOISE AND LOOKING UNDER THE VEHICLE THEY DETERMINED IT MUST BE AN EXHAUST MANIFOLD LEAK. THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE AN EXHAUST MANIFOLD GASKET LOCALLY AND HAD TO ORDER ONE. WE LEFT THE MOTOR HOME WITH THEM AND PROCEEDED TO CARLSBAD NM IN OUR TOWED VEHICLE. UPON OUR RETURN A COUPLE DAYS LATER THE MECHANIC WAS JUST COMPLETING THE GASKET REPLACEMENT. WHEN HE FINISHED, HE STARTED THE ENGINE ONLY TO DISCOVER THE NOISE WAS STILL THERE. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE #4 SPARK PLUG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD BLOWN OUT AND ALSO BROKE THE COIL. THEY WERE ABLE TO GET A NEW SPARK PLUG AND COIL FROM THE LOCAL FORD DEALER. AFTER REPLACING THESE PARTS WE WERE ABLE TO RETURN TO COLORADO. ON JULY 6, 2006 WE WERE AGAIN LEAVING TOWN WHEN APPROXIMATELY TWO MILES FROM HOME WE HEARD THE FAMILIAR POPPING NOISE. I RETURNED HOME AND DISCOVERED THE SAME #4 SPARK PLUG HAD BLOWN OUT AGAIN BREAKING THE COIL. I WENT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND PURCHASED ANOTHER SPARK PLUG AND COIL THINKING ALL I NEEDED TO DO WAS REPLACE IT. I ASKED THE PARTS PERSONNEL WHAT CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN AND THEY TOLD ME THEY HADN'T HEARD OF THIS BEFORE AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED IT. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AT REPLACING THE SPARK PLUG I CALLED A MOBILE REPAIR SERVICE TO SEE IF THEY COULD ASSIST ME. THE PERSON I TALKED WITH TOLD ME ABOUT THE TRITON V-10 BLOWING SPARK PLUGS AND THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE CYLINDER HEADS AT A COST OF $2,000. I THEN CALLED A LOCAL GARAGE AND EXPLAINED MY PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEY COULD TRY AND PUT A HELICOIL IN THE HEAD TO FIX THE PROBLEM FOR AROUND $220. I TOOK THE MOTOR HOME TO THEM AND THEY WERE ABLE TO DO THE HELICOIL FOR $220 PLUS THE SPARK PLUG AND COIL THAT I FURNISHED. THIS SECOND SPARK OCCURRED AT 29,600 MILES. *NM
WINNEBAGO IS RECALLING CERTAIN RECREATIONAL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1200-SERIES NORCOLD REFRIGERATORS. THE POPULATION OF REFRIGERATORS BEING ADDRESSED CONTAINS EITHER A SENSING ALGORITHM OR THERMAL SWITCH TO SHUT OFF POWER TO THE REFRIGERATOR WHEN HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE DETECTED IN ORDER TO PREVENT A POTENTIAL FIRE. THE RESPONSE TIMES OF THE SENSOR ALGORITHM AND THERMAL SWITCH DEVICES TO STOP POWER ARE NOT SUFFICIENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE SENSING ALGORITHM OR THERMAL SWITCH INSTALLED TO SHUT OFF POWER TO THE REFRIGERATOR WHEN HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE DETECTED DUE TO A POSSIBLE HYDROGEN GAS LEAK MAY NOT SHUT OFF IN SUFFICIENT TIME TO PREVENT A FIRE.
Remedy: WINNEBAGO IS WORKING WITH NORCOLD TO IDENTIFY AND NOTIFY ANY AFFECTED OWNERS. OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT NORCOLD DEALERS TO RECEIVE THE REMEDY FREE OF CHARGE. PLEASE SEE NORCOLD'S DEFECT REPORT 10E-049 FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING DECEMBER 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NORCOLD AT 1-800-767-9101 OR WINNEBAGO AT 1-641-585-3535.
WINNEBAGO IS RECALLING MY 1999-2002 ULTIMATE ADVANTAGE, ULTIMATE FREEDOM, MY 1999-2001 CHIEFTAIN, MY 2000-2001 BRAVE, MY 2001 JOURNEY MY 2000 MINNIE WINNIE, MY 2000-2002 ITASCA HORIZON, MY 1999 SUNCRUISER, MY 2001 SUNFLYER, AND MY 2000 SUNRISE MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH NORCOLD REFRIGERATORS. A FATIGUE FAILURE IN THE SECTION OF THE COOLING UNIT WHICH CONTAINS THE REFRIGERANT COULD ALLOW THE LIQUID SOLUTION TO SLOWLY LEAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: EXTENDED OPERATION OF A LEAKING COOLING UNIT COULD LEAD TO A FIRE FROM GAS WHICH MIGHT ESCAPE.
Remedy: WINNEBAGO IS WORKING WITH NORCOLD TO REPAIR THESE REFRIGERATORS. NORCOLD WILL PROVIDE THERMAL SWITCH KITS TO OWNERS ALONG WITH THE NECESSARY FORMS AND INSTRUCTIONS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NORCOLD AT 1-800-767-9101 OR WINNEBAGO AT 1-641-585-3535.
CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH NORCOLD REFRIGERATOR COOLING UNITS MODEL NUMBERS 442, 443, 452, EV452, 453, 462, EV462, 463, EV463, 482, EV482, 483, EV483, 874, AND 875. THESE REFRIGERATORS CAN EXPERIENCE A BREAK DOWN IN A RUBBER SEAL WITHIN THE GAS VALVE. AS THE RUBBER SEAL AGES, A LEAK MAY OCCUR, ALLOWING PROPANE GAS TO ACCUMULATE IN THE BURNER AREA.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE CONSEQUENCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE, POSSIBLY CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
Remedy: NORCOLD WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT GAS VALVE FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NORCOLD SERVICE CENTER AT 1-800-667-3005 OR WINNEBAGO AT 641-585-3535.
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1999 Winnebago Chieftain Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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