EXHAUST FIRE!

[TRAILERKING]

Hi I am new here. I am looking at buying a 1997 41' Wanderlodge. It had an issue at the back left corner near the exhaust. It caught fire and the fire fighters got it out in time however they did more damage than the fire. They chainsawed the inner wall open and severed through two large wiring harnesses. I am wondering if there is tracer markings on these wires to identify? Is this fire problem common with these coaches?
Thanks.
Bernie

[Stephen]

Yes there is tracers and the wiring is numbered sarting at the load centres

[TRAILERKING]

So is this a common problem with the fire issue?
I looked some more at the severed wiring harnesses and my question is, are their wiring schematics quite detailed? I could see numbering at the terminal strip at the end of the wire run. However in these harnesses which are cut completely in half have three or four wires of the same colour (such as purple and green with a white tracer. It is simple enough to trace from that cut back to the terminal strip in the back storage closet but from the cut going back the other direction not too sure. Unless their wiring schematics are very informative and detailed. There is quite a few 110 volt wires cut too but that seems to be not too difficult to figure out. Not sure if I want to buy this unit unless all that low voltage wiring issue can be sorted out. Are there any wiring schematics available on line via internet?

[Rick]

Parliament in Florida should have all the wiring schematics for that unit. VIN # and give them a call.

[fxdwg]

It probably had an exhaust leak, which if undetected can start a fire. Just do good routine preventative maintenance and you'll be fine.

[IMANEWBIE]

Originally Posted by TRAILERKING

Hi I am new here. I am looking at buying a 1997 41' Wanderlodge. It had an issue at the back left corner near the exhaust. It caught fire and the fire fighters got it out in time however they did more damage than the fire. They chainsawed the inner wall open and severed through two large wiring harnesses. I am wondering if there is tracer markings on these wires to identify? Is this fire problem common with these coaches?
Thanks.
Bernie

Hello Bernie,
I feel your pain. I just purchased a '91 with the same problem. My plan is to replace the exhaust system and then deal with the cut wires. The PO was lucky and got the fire out fast so there was no wood damage just wires cut and fire proof insulation burned up.

You can see the pictures I posted in my profile pics.

If the price is right, it will be worth your time. I have no regrets and LOVE my bird.

Good luck with your decision.

[peteaeonix]

The muffler/exhaust stack is very difficult to inspect. Time and rust make an exhaust fire a potential danger. I had noticed a lot of rust at the top of my muffler (the stack had become loose) and took the coach in for a replacement. When the old muffler was pulled out, I felt very lucky that the way the muffler happened to fail had not directed hot exhaust against anything particularly flammable -- as most certainly I'd have had an exhaust fire if that had been the case.

It's important to get some flashlights, mirrors, and a contortionist to make regular exhaust inspections.

Indeed, at the next year's safety inspection and service, the technician discovered that the muffler and linking exhaust pipe had "relaxed" and was in contact with a water hose from the engine to the radiator. (When everything is tight, there's an air gap of about 3 inches.) Upon that discovery, I had all the main water hoses replaced. Even though we tightened up the muffler mounts, I also installed heat shielding between the exhaust pipe and the water hose to reduce the chance of further problems.

The scary part is that the heat from the exhaust system could easily have caused the water hose to burst ... resulting in catastrophic loss of cooling water -- probably in the worst possible place -- putting the engine at risk of major damage.

Careful inspections are your friend.

[Dan & Cindy]

HarborStuff has their low end video inspection system on sale for $79.99 http://www.harborfreight.com/digital...era-67979.html . I used one to inspect the nooks and crannies in my exhaust stack and it did a decent job. I think the quality of the electronic gadgets they sell is much better than the mechanical stuff they sell.

[rwoody]

got to get mine off this bus u guys have me scared

how about a 5" muffler in stack

or just a stack

[Stephen]

we sell a muffler that is 9 inches in diameter gives a couple more inches of breathing room