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At this writing, we are in the
final days of preparation for the Greensboro, North
Carolina Rally. I mention this because we should
not forget the time and effort that goes into a
Monaco International Rally. For over a year, the
Rally Masters, Marty and Cathy Kimball, have been
working on the rally. Cathy said her den is
completely filled with boxes and other rally
materials. There is one file, of many files, with
over 500 emails on the rally. Every day they get
calls from members, vendors, committee chairpersons,
Greensboro Coliseum staff, Monaco staff, key rally
personnel, and me. Through it all they are
juggling dozens of balls at the same time, and
making sure that none of them hit the floor (or at
least, they are picked up on the first bounce).
If you have ever volunteered
for a major project, you know that it comes at a
price. Volunteer work is not free. It usually cost
the volunteers in both time and money. So next
time you see any rally master, past or present,
please take the time to say thank you.
So, Ellen and I were in the
motorhome traveling south on the Interstate one
afternoon and the engine stopped running. Dash
lights came on and buzzers sounded off. One red
dash light said “STOP” which was an obvious
harbinger of what was going to happen, since the
engine was not running. As you may know, it is
always an exciting time when we sit disabled along
side the highway. Thank goodness for my engine
analyzer. The engine diagnostics flashed that I
had lost power to pins one and two of the Electronic
Control Module (EMC).
Another screen on my engine
analyzer said the engine battery was at 11.9 volts.
However my house batteries were well charged and had
a high voltage reading. As I have done in the past,
I turned to the Monaco Technical Advisors for
assistance. Kyle Wilson confirmed my problem and
offered details on how to solve it. The conclusion
– the alternator was charging, but the engine
battery was not receiving the charge. We started
the generator and used it to supply voltage to the
engine battery. We pressed and held the battery
boost (Kyle says not to hold it for more than a few
minutes or the solenoid may overheat) to give more
voltage to the engine batteries. The engine cranked
and we were on our way. Fear and trepidation
traveled with us the rest of the day.
And now, the rest of the
story… The alternator voltage travels through an
isolator which sends it in two directions. The
diodes in the isolator were open on one side and the
voltage charge did not reached the engine battery.
I replaced the isolator that night (I carry a spare
isolator), and everything was as good as new.
My wife insisted that I add
this footnote to the failed engine story (in her
words): “As soon as I saw the screen on his engine
analyzer that said the engine battery was at 11.9
volts, I felt that it was my co-pilot duty to inform
Art what the problem was? “It was the isolator!
“After all, this makes the 4th isolator
that “we” have installed. “We carry a back up
isolator! “But, we had to test everything.
“Ladies, I think he was trying to find another
reason for our problem. “After all the testing was
done, it was the isolator! “I was right!”
Ellen and I left Florida to go
to a Fourth of July party in Michigan. Eleven
hundred miles for a party (with diesel close to
$3.00 a gallon) seem like an expensive trip or one
heck of a great party. Actually, it was both. I
have reached that time in life were siblings are the
key to memories of long ago. Whenever, we get a
chance to get together, the party brings good times
of both now and then. The seven brothers and one
sister get along well and enjoy each others’
company. Sometimes in life the intangible rewards
are the best. So it is with each trip to Michigan.
I have put my Monaco
International, President placard on the coach. So
the next time you are traveling down the road and
pass me, don’t forget to honk. I use to say, “When
I pass you, I will honk.” However, with the price
of diesel, everyone passes me.
Hope to see you soon.
Art Brighton |
