Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Keystone RV Forums > Keystone Tech Forums > Repairs & Maintenance
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 07-06-2017, 06:40 AM   #1
heiserk0410
Member
 
heiserk0410's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Millington, MI
Posts: 77
2017 Keystone Laredo 298srl AC Issue

Hi everyone,

We have used our new rig multiple times this summer and have had a laundry list of issues pop up. The dealer has taken care of most everything, but they did not fix the AC issue. We can't get the AC to kick on in the "AUTO" mode. We have to have it in the "ON" and "LOW" setting on the thermostat for the AC condenser to kick on. Even sometimes in that position you can hear the condenser hum like it's trying to kick on but doesn't have enough power to do so. We have to turn it off, wait a couple minutes, and then try again until it works. We took it to the dealer and they said that they couldn't repeat the problem. We just got back from camping over the 4th, and the same thing. Now our rig has a 50amp connection and we were dog-boned to a 30amp connection, but that shouldn't make a difference...right? I've owned multiple RV's and have never had an issue with the AC. Very frustrating to say the least.
__________________
2017 Keystone Laredo 298srl
2004 Chevy Sliverado HD Extended Cab 4x4 a.k.a. Big Red
heiserk0410 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-06-2017, 06:57 PM   #2
ctbruce
Site Team | Emeritus
 
ctbruce's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 3,878
Just a WAG, but did you have too many other electric appliances on that drew down the Amps required to run your AC? I'm no expert, so just throwing this out there to see if it will stick to the wall. Good luck.
__________________

Chip Bruce, RPh
Kansas City, MO
2016 Impact 312
2017 Silverado 3500HD SRW
ctbruce is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-07-2017, 04:47 AM   #3
heiserk0410
Member
 
heiserk0410's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Millington, MI
Posts: 77
Quote:
Originally Posted by ctbruce View Post
Just a WAG, but did you have too many other electric appliances on that drew down the Amps required to run your AC? I'm no expert, so just throwing this out there to see if it will stick to the wall. Good luck.
Nothing overbearing on the system being used. At least nothing that would have caused this issue with any of my previous rigs. Also...sorry to seem ignorant, but what is a WAG?
__________________
2017 Keystone Laredo 298srl
2004 Chevy Sliverado HD Extended Cab 4x4 a.k.a. Big Red
heiserk0410 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-07-2017, 04:54 AM   #4
Javi
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Waco, Tx
Posts: 5,456
Quote:
Originally Posted by heiserk0410 View Post
nothing overbearing on the system being used. At least nothing that would have caused this issue with any of my previous rigs. Also...sorry to seem ignorant, but what is a wag?
wild *** guess

I will say this... not all dog bones are created equal, I'd check the pedestal and the dog bone... make sure you're getting enough amps to start the a/c... at least 17 amps with nothing else on...
__________________
2015 Ford F350 DRW 6.7 Diesel XL
2020 Avalanche 313 RS
Javi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-07-2017, 05:35 AM   #5
ctbruce
Site Team | Emeritus
 
ctbruce's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 3,878
Quote:
Originally Posted by Javi View Post
wild *** guess

I will say this... not all dog bones are created equal, I'd check the pedestal and the dog bone... make sure you're getting enough amps to start the a/c... at least 17 amps with nothing else on...
Thanks, Javi! I was going towards there not being enough power to start the AC and you covered it very well.
__________________

Chip Bruce, RPh
Kansas City, MO
2016 Impact 312
2017 Silverado 3500HD SRW
ctbruce is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-07-2017, 05:53 AM   #6
heiserk0410
Member
 
heiserk0410's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Millington, MI
Posts: 77
Seems like this would be caught at the dealer when I dropped it off. If they are troubleshooting properly, they would be using my supplied power cord and my supplied dog-bone to do their testing. This hasn't happened at just one campground but every campground we have gone to this year. Hard to believe every campground that I have visited has power issues. Even the ones I've used straight 50 amp connection.
__________________
2017 Keystone Laredo 298srl
2004 Chevy Sliverado HD Extended Cab 4x4 a.k.a. Big Red
heiserk0410 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-07-2017, 06:15 AM   #7
JRTJH
Site Team
 
JRTJH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,841
Quote:
Originally Posted by heiserk0410 View Post
Seems like this would be caught at the dealer when I dropped it off. If they are troubleshooting properly, they would be using my supplied power cord and my supplied dog-bone to do their testing. This hasn't happened at just one campground but every campground we have gone to this year. Hard to believe every campground that I have visited has power issues. Even the ones I've used straight 50 amp connection.
You might want to touch base with your dealer's service advisor and ask whether they used your dogbone/power cord or not. Many dealerships have power cords that stay at each service bay and they don't "wrestle" the heavy cord out of a customer's trailer. Besides, with so many storage areas on most trailers, it becomes a "scavenger hunt" to even find where the customer hid it.... So, unless your power cord is permanently attached to the trailer, I'd guess it was never removed from the storage area.

Is that the "right way to troubleshoot"??? Only your dealership can justify their decision.
__________________
John



2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
JRTJH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-07-2017, 06:29 AM   #8
heiserk0410
Member
 
heiserk0410's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Millington, MI
Posts: 77
Quote:
Originally Posted by JRTJH View Post
You might want to touch base with your dealer's service advisor and ask whether they used your dogbone/power cord or not. Many dealerships have power cords that stay at each service bay and they don't "wrestle" the heavy cord out of a customer's trailer. Besides, with so many storage areas on most trailers, it becomes a "scavenger hunt" to even find where the customer hid it.... So, unless your power cord is permanently attached to the trailer, I'd guess it was never removed from the storage area.

Is that the "right way to troubleshoot"??? Only your dealership can justify their decision.
I understand that completely. My only argument would be that if I'm a technician and my customer tells me that this has been a problem since the date of purchase and at every campground that they've gone, I would at the very least speak with the customer and ask where the power cords / dog-bones are to rule those out as a possibility also instead of just stating that they can't repeat the problem. I'll be calling my dealer and asking if they tested those out also.
__________________
2017 Keystone Laredo 298srl
2004 Chevy Sliverado HD Extended Cab 4x4 a.k.a. Big Red
heiserk0410 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-07-2017, 07:23 AM   #9
sourdough
Site Team
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,600
The dealer will check out your cable, that was supplied with your trailer, if you request it as part of a warranty check. They will not, to my knowledge, take all of your personal add ons (dogbone, generators,etc. etc.) and check them out for you. They aren't part of the warranty service.

Edit: Have you stayed with them and helped them recreate the problem? If not, they may be missing something in the sequence. When I have a complex problem, I am in the bay with the tech and service manager to assure that we are all on the same page, I see what they see and they do what I think they should to resolve the issue.
sourdough is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-07-2017, 11:27 AM   #10
heiserk0410
Member
 
heiserk0410's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Millington, MI
Posts: 77
Quote:
Originally Posted by sourdough View Post
The dealer will check out your cable, that was supplied with your trailer, if you request it as part of a warranty check. They will not, to my knowledge, take all of your personal add ons (dogbone, generators,etc. etc.) and check them out for you. They aren't part of the warranty service.

Edit: Have you stayed with them and helped them recreate the problem? If not, they may be missing something in the sequence. When I have a complex problem, I am in the bay with the tech and service manager to assure that we are all on the same page, I see what they see and they do what I think they should to resolve the issue.
I agree. I left a message for the service department but apparently they are not accepting calls until next week. I should be receiving a call from the service manager on Monday to setup an appointment to take it back in. I will recommend that we work together to see/resolve the issue. Unfortunately I'll probably have to take more time off work to do so. They are a 45 minute drive in the opposite way of my work. But...hopefully we can work together to find a solution.
__________________
2017 Keystone Laredo 298srl
2004 Chevy Sliverado HD Extended Cab 4x4 a.k.a. Big Red
heiserk0410 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-20-2017, 04:55 PM   #11
wallacedb1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Chicago
Posts: 1
Quote:
Originally Posted by heiserk0410 View Post
Hi everyone,

We have used our new rig multiple times this summer and have had a laundry list of issues pop up. The dealer has taken care of most everything, but they did not fix the AC issue. We can't get the AC to kick on in the "AUTO" mode. We have to have it in the "ON" and "LOW" setting on the thermostat for the AC condenser to kick on. Even sometimes in that position you can hear the condenser hum like it's trying to kick on but doesn't have enough power to do so. We have to turn it off, wait a couple minutes, and then try again until it works. We took it to the dealer and they said that they couldn't repeat the problem. We just got back from camping over the 4th, and the same thing. Now our rig has a 50amp connection and we were dog-boned to a 30amp connection, but that shouldn't make a difference...right? I've owned multiple RV's and have never had an issue with the AC. Very frustrating to say the least.
I have had this same problem with the A/C . The problem was the voltage drop from the power pole to the camper. I was using a cheap 30 amp 25 ft extension cord. I would turn the refrigerator and water heater on to gas and everything worked fine. Chances are your dealer is plugged straight into 50 amp service, nice clean power. That's why they can't duplicate it.
wallacedb1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-20-2017, 06:32 PM   #12
Frank G
Senior Member
 
Frank G's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Dade City
Posts: 1,039
The OP started out with 2 issues.

First issue, AC will not run in Auto. I just went out to verify the operation of our unit. With a Coleman Mach thermostat controller. With the left switch on "Cool" and the right switch on "Auto" the AC should run provided the thermostat is calling for cooling.

Second issue, Compressor will not start. There are a lot of refrigeration things at play here. 1) The unit needs enough voltage, this is spelled out in the owners manual. Check the start up voltage, amperage has nothing to do with it, they, amps, come along for the ride. Ohms law here. With a constant load as voltage decreases amps increase. 2) There is an internal time delay for restarting the compressor after a compressor shutdown. This prevents the compressor starting, or trying to start, under load and overloading the electrical circuit.

During the summer months with full campgrounds, campground electrical systems can be severely overloaded. the most noticeable result is "brownout" conditions or Low Voltage.

Bottom Line, You may have issues within your unit, but if your dealer plugs it in to a known power source and the AC works, you have to start looking elseware. There are a lot of good add on power analyzers and surge suppressors out there, Everyone should have the best they can afford to protect there investment and know what you are plugging into.
__________________
2021 Surveyor Legend 19rble
2017 Laredo 325RL
Travelers Rest Resort
www.travelersrestresort.com
Frank G is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2017, 12:26 PM   #13
heiserk0410
Member
 
heiserk0410's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Millington, MI
Posts: 77
AC Finally Works (So they say)

So we had a break for a few weeks and took the rig back to the dealer for another look. This time they say they found the problem. They say they traced it back to faulty wiring on the thermostat. We haven't had a chance to take her back out for a test drive per-say, but we sure hope they're right! I need to get that 30amp outlet run in the barn. Just got to find the time and $$.

__________________
2017 Keystone Laredo 298srl
2004 Chevy Sliverado HD Extended Cab 4x4 a.k.a. Big Red
heiserk0410 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
keystone, laredo

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates in any way. Keystone RV® is a registered trademark of the Keystone RV Company.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 11:58 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.