05-12-2014, 07:05 AM
I am at the end of my trip from the Keys to Tennessee. I will copy below the sequence of events. This is pretty much just the facts without my editorial comments for now. I you read the account and post questions or suggestions I will follow up.
This is to document the times and sequence of events for a failure of the right front brake airline on my 1999 Newell Coach.
May 10, 2014 Left Cudjoe Key, FL at 7:20AM
Noticed unusual fluctuations in both brake and total air pressure. Finally realized I was loosing air when the brakes were applied.
At Florida City at the stop light just before the entrance to the turnpike I attempted to stop the air loss by engaging the parking brake and remove my foot from the service brake. This indeed stopped the air loss and pressure build fully while I was waiting for the light to turn green. The light changed and I pushed in on the parking brake knob to release the brakes and the entire knob and valve released from the dash when the nut came loose and I could not release the parking brakes.
9:43 I called 911 and made them aware I was blocking a lane of traffic and my location
Officer Harris arrived and assisted with direction traffic while I crawled on the floor and reach behind the dash to hold the valve and was able to push it and release the parking brake. Office Harris directed me to a location in the center of a wide road and told me I was okay to remain there until my braking problem was repaired.
9:52 I called CoachNet - my emergency road service provider
I was offered a two and I advised I would rather try to repair the problem and avoid a tow.
10:13 I spoke with “tech expert” at CoachNet and explained the problem to him.
He understood and said they would dispatch a road. He advised CoachNet would not pay for any service or parts involved in the repair.
11:03 I called Newell Coach
11:09 Newell called and we discussed the situation. I was advised to look for a problem with the hose and not to expect it to be the brake chamber itself.
I used a digital audio recorder and moved it from wheel to wheel as I went back into the coach and applied the brakes ( I travel alone ). The recorder clearly indicated a leak at the right front.
I raised the coach with the air up option and looked at the right front and immediately saw the hose was not connected to the chamber. The part that was supposed to be threaded into the chamber was no longer connected.
11:29 I called CoachNet to advise them I had discovered the exact problem and to inquire about progress on their end. I was told they had dispatched a service company that was to arrive no later than 12:55. I jotted the name down as Trans – but did not get the rest of the name.
12:05 – CoachNet called and wanted to have a three way phone call with the road service dispatcher to get my exact location. Somehow that did not work out and CoachNet said the driver would call me directly.
12:06 the road service driver called – I have him directions – and then incredibly he told me it would be 2 to 2 ½ hours before he could get to me! Somehow CoachNet had chosen a road service provider far from my location even when I was located in a very populous location. This proved to be a very expensive decision for me.
12:31 I called Newell Coach
12:43 Newell called back and I described the situation and was advised I might be able to repair it myself if the threads were not damaged.
I inspected the threads on the fitting at the end of the hose and they looked damaged to me, so I decided to just wait for road service.
About 2:30 a guy arrived in a small van. He knocked on the door and introduced himself ( I cannot remember the name ). He handed me a clipboard and said sign here and initial here – I did of course. The van had no company logo or identification but the guy was dressed as you would expect. He set out a road warning cone near his van and opened the rear doors. I peeked in and it was a mess in there and I got my first not so good feelings. It had already been 4 ½ hours.
He removed the front wheel and told me I would need a new hose, but that the brake chamber was okay. I have since learned that those very standard parts should have been on a well stocked service truck, but his was anything but that and he announced he would have to drive all the way back to Hollywood, FL to make a hose made up. He thought it would be about 2 hours each way at $120/hr.
He put the wheel back on and left.
About 6:15 he came back, removed the wheel and laid the parts on the pavement. I was surprised not to see a completely assembled hose with fittings on each end, but rather just the fittings and a piece of hose. I took a picture.
He went to work and soon it was obvious he was not able to thread the new fitting into the brake chamber. He removed the portion of the brake chamber with the female threads and showed it to me saying its threads were damaged too. Well they obviously were. Why didn’t he check them like that before he left the first time?
He now says everything is closed and he will have to drive off and find a used brake chamber and makes some calls and says he has found one. I ask if he is going all the way back to Hollywood again, and he says no.
About 9:15 or so he returns. He announces he will have to charge me for a new chamber even though I am getting a used and rusted part he removed from a truck “in their shop”. I am beyond words by now. He grinds on it to clean it up and goes back to work to finished the hose install. He has me apply the brakes and announces there are no leaks and the repair is complete.
It must be 10PM or so by now. I am very unhappy and want to get out of the road and to a safe location for the night.
Unbelievably I have to jump start his van from my coach to get him on his way. I am presented a bill for $1,070.94
Russ
This is to document the times and sequence of events for a failure of the right front brake airline on my 1999 Newell Coach.
May 10, 2014 Left Cudjoe Key, FL at 7:20AM
Noticed unusual fluctuations in both brake and total air pressure. Finally realized I was loosing air when the brakes were applied.
At Florida City at the stop light just before the entrance to the turnpike I attempted to stop the air loss by engaging the parking brake and remove my foot from the service brake. This indeed stopped the air loss and pressure build fully while I was waiting for the light to turn green. The light changed and I pushed in on the parking brake knob to release the brakes and the entire knob and valve released from the dash when the nut came loose and I could not release the parking brakes.
9:43 I called 911 and made them aware I was blocking a lane of traffic and my location
Officer Harris arrived and assisted with direction traffic while I crawled on the floor and reach behind the dash to hold the valve and was able to push it and release the parking brake. Office Harris directed me to a location in the center of a wide road and told me I was okay to remain there until my braking problem was repaired.
9:52 I called CoachNet - my emergency road service provider
I was offered a two and I advised I would rather try to repair the problem and avoid a tow.
10:13 I spoke with “tech expert” at CoachNet and explained the problem to him.
He understood and said they would dispatch a road. He advised CoachNet would not pay for any service or parts involved in the repair.
11:03 I called Newell Coach
11:09 Newell called and we discussed the situation. I was advised to look for a problem with the hose and not to expect it to be the brake chamber itself.
I used a digital audio recorder and moved it from wheel to wheel as I went back into the coach and applied the brakes ( I travel alone ). The recorder clearly indicated a leak at the right front.
I raised the coach with the air up option and looked at the right front and immediately saw the hose was not connected to the chamber. The part that was supposed to be threaded into the chamber was no longer connected.
11:29 I called CoachNet to advise them I had discovered the exact problem and to inquire about progress on their end. I was told they had dispatched a service company that was to arrive no later than 12:55. I jotted the name down as Trans – but did not get the rest of the name.
12:05 – CoachNet called and wanted to have a three way phone call with the road service dispatcher to get my exact location. Somehow that did not work out and CoachNet said the driver would call me directly.
12:06 the road service driver called – I have him directions – and then incredibly he told me it would be 2 to 2 ½ hours before he could get to me! Somehow CoachNet had chosen a road service provider far from my location even when I was located in a very populous location. This proved to be a very expensive decision for me.
12:31 I called Newell Coach
12:43 Newell called back and I described the situation and was advised I might be able to repair it myself if the threads were not damaged.
I inspected the threads on the fitting at the end of the hose and they looked damaged to me, so I decided to just wait for road service.
About 2:30 a guy arrived in a small van. He knocked on the door and introduced himself ( I cannot remember the name ). He handed me a clipboard and said sign here and initial here – I did of course. The van had no company logo or identification but the guy was dressed as you would expect. He set out a road warning cone near his van and opened the rear doors. I peeked in and it was a mess in there and I got my first not so good feelings. It had already been 4 ½ hours.
He removed the front wheel and told me I would need a new hose, but that the brake chamber was okay. I have since learned that those very standard parts should have been on a well stocked service truck, but his was anything but that and he announced he would have to drive all the way back to Hollywood, FL to make a hose made up. He thought it would be about 2 hours each way at $120/hr.
He put the wheel back on and left.
About 6:15 he came back, removed the wheel and laid the parts on the pavement. I was surprised not to see a completely assembled hose with fittings on each end, but rather just the fittings and a piece of hose. I took a picture.
He went to work and soon it was obvious he was not able to thread the new fitting into the brake chamber. He removed the portion of the brake chamber with the female threads and showed it to me saying its threads were damaged too. Well they obviously were. Why didn’t he check them like that before he left the first time?
He now says everything is closed and he will have to drive off and find a used brake chamber and makes some calls and says he has found one. I ask if he is going all the way back to Hollywood again, and he says no.
About 9:15 or so he returns. He announces he will have to charge me for a new chamber even though I am getting a used and rusted part he removed from a truck “in their shop”. I am beyond words by now. He grinds on it to clean it up and goes back to work to finished the hose install. He has me apply the brakes and announces there are no leaks and the repair is complete.
It must be 10PM or so by now. I am very unhappy and want to get out of the road and to a safe location for the night.
Unbelievably I have to jump start his van from my coach to get him on his way. I am presented a bill for $1,070.94
Russ
Russ White
2016 Winnebago Vista LX 30T
#530 ( Sold )
1999 45' Double Slide - Factory upgrade 2004
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