No dash lights, backup camera, dash blower

[w4ayw]

Need help please.  Three weeks ago I carried my 1998 Monaco Windsor to a repair facility so the awning could be repaired.  Three weeks later, the repair facility stated that they could not repair the awning and I should come to get my coach...yes it took them three weeks to decide that they could not repair the awning.  I went to pick up the coach today.  The repair facility is over an hour away from me... 60 Miles.  When I got in the coach to drive it home, cut on the key, I had no head up display lights ( dash lights), no backup camera, no radio, no dash blower.  The coach cranked first turnover and aired up normally.  The allison lit up just fine.  The inverter showed on and charging as it should and the meter read 115 volts like it should.   I checked the 12volt lights though out the coach and all worked fine.  Checked the voltage of the batteries and they read fine.  The only thing that is not working is the dash display and dash items as mentioned above. 

I am away from the coach so my question is :   Is there a fuse that could cause the problem mentioned and would it be safe to drive?

I did check the battery cut off switched and turned them on off a few times hoping to get lucky but no joy.

Any suggestions and trouble shooting ideas would be appreciated. 

Jim Greene   1998 Windsor

[Ivan K]

Can't say for sure that it is your issue but it could be the ignition solenoid is bad or intermittent. Mine does it sometimes and the symptoms are no dash fan, no cruise control. Not often enough but I do have a new solenoid when I get to it. Ours  is in the front run bay and looks just like a salesman solenoid. It always works on second try so I am certain it is the contacts. If not that, then the wiring from ignition switch accessory terminal, there could be a fuse in between. Different coach but a possibility.

[Just Jim]

Please let me know what you find out on this.  My 95 Dynasty has similar issues...  dash lights work, but not the dash fans, sometimes the cruise control.  I've always assumed it is a ground or relay somewhere and just have not taken the time to go through them all.

[vanwill52]

18 hours ago, Ivan K said:

Can't say for sure that it is your issue but it could be the ignition solenoid is bad or intermittent. Mine does it sometimes and the symptoms are no dash fan, no cruise control. Not often enough but I do have a new solenoid when I get to it. Ours  is in the front run bay and looks just like a salesman solenoid. It always works on second try so I am certain it is the contacts. If not that, then the wiring from ignition switch accessory terminal, there could be a fuse in between. Different coach but a possibility.

I'm with Ivan on this one.  I have replaced that ignition solenoid contactor twice in eight years on my 2000 Dynasty.  Last time I bought one for twice the price that had silver alloy contacts.  The solenoid contactor's website promoted the silver alloy contacts for "circuits in which the amperage is low", saying that the silver alloy contacts were more reliable in low-amp situations.  The reasoning was that if the current was high, it tended to arc on make or break and kept the contacts "fresh".  I disassembled (destroyed) one of the solenoid contactors I removed.  Sure enough, the copper contacts looked very fresh but with an oxide layer on them.

On a side note, the manufacturer of the solenoid contactor stated in its directions that it should NEVER be mounted with its plunger axis HORIZONTAL, as that tended to cause the contacts not to connect, especially under low-amp situations.  Monaco had installed both the solenoid contactors in my front run bay horizontally.  When I replaced one of them the second time, I turned them into the orientation prescribed by the manufacturer--dome end upward.

[w4ayw]

I went to pickup the coach this past Wednesday...I was getting the car hooked up to take it home and I noticed that the steps would not retract.  Closer inspection found that the Techs at the repair facility had turned or flipped every switch in the house.  So I set about returning the switches to their proper position.  I then turned on the key and all my dash lights, backup camera and blower came to life.  I am almost sure now that the ignition solenoid is the problem and I will replace it as soon as this holiday day weekend is over...I checked it again this morning and everything is still working just fine.

Thanks for your help and advise on trouble shooting this problem...you were spot on as always.

Jim G 1998 Windsor

I should have included this question in my previous post... on the drive home, the speedometer and the tach were not reading correctly.  They would read all over the place.   Is this a separate problem form the ignition solenoid.  Is the speedometer and the tach picked up off the alternator and could the alternator be failing as well.   

Jim G

1998 Windsor