Ghost switches July 01, 2018, 10:59:37 pm Good evening ladies and gentlemen, I'm new to Lazy Daze but not new to RV's in general. We recently purchased a 1994 27' mid bath and I have been doing my routine of self education. First off I was checking out the water system and I knew the pump would run then all of a sudden no pump then I remembered one of my ghost switches. It was in the bathroom evidently for emergency pump cutoff. Ok so I got that one. Then I found one in the cab over area and I searched long and hard and finally noticed a night light on, so now I'm good with it. But on the passenger side arm rest there are the window controls, the door locks and a little red button that sounds like it may control an electric fuel pump, I thought maybe a booster for the generator but I don't think so. would it, could it be a primer for the engines fuel injection? I can hear it run something but I cant see it and it'll only run a short while and then shuts it's self off. The button has to be depressed continually for anything to happen.So with that thought in mind does anyone out there have any ideas? Why mount it on the passenger door?thanks in advance.
Re: Ghost switches Reply #1 – July 02, 2018, 12:18:23 am Quote from: JonS - July 01, 2018, 10:59:37 pm... But on the passenger side arm rest there are the window controls, the door locks and a little red button that sounds like it may control an electric fuel pump, I thought maybe a booster for the generator but I don't think so. would it, could it be a primer for the engines fuel injection? I can hear it run something but I can't see it and it'll only run a short while and then shuts it's self off. The button has to be depressed continually for anything to happen. So with that thought in mind does anyone out there have any ideas? Why mount it on the passenger door?Hello Jon. Our 2009 LD doesn't have a "little red button" as you described. Nevertheless, I wanted to say hello and welcome you to the LDO Forum. If that "little red button" came from the Factory, then without a doubt someone on this Forum will know everything there is to know about it. Finally, we look forward to hearing more about your '94 MB and any more ghost switches, and some of your travel adventures. 1 Likes
Re: Ghost switches Reply #2 – July 02, 2018, 12:45:12 am I suspect someone has added the bathroom switch and the “little red button”.I have never seen either, Factory installed, or have have seen postings here pertaining to them.It’s time to start tracing the wiring for the red button.Most older rigs have all sort of modifications and added accessories . A lot can be added in 24 years.Let us know if you determine what the button controlsAnd welcome to the cult.Larry
Re: Ghost switches Reply #3 – July 02, 2018, 07:02:26 am Thanks for the thoughts. guess one of the two previous owners thought it a good place for a red button, the wife wasn't likely to push anything. Just seems like a tuff spot to put any modifications.Thanks for the welcoming and I'll stay in touch.Jon.....
Re: Ghost switches Reply #4 – July 02, 2018, 10:02:22 am Jon S.,I think every RV has quirks. We modify them like we modify Sticks and Mortar homes. I added a water pump switch in the 1988MB bathroom for those night time calls to race from the rear bed(s). It is in parrallel with the kitchen pump switch, so either turns it on and both must be off for the pump to be off. The pump light is on when either switch is on. If you say the red switch runs the Ford chassis fuel pump then it is to solve the age old Ford problem wth the TFI ignition module on the distributor. This involved 1983 through 1995 Ford Lincoln and Mercury cars in this class action suit.1983-1995 Ford/Lincoln/Mercury Ignition Module Stalling - Center for AutosafetyFrom the internet I found that that when the module over heats the first thing that happens is the heartbeat signal from the TFI to the fuel pump relay stops and the fuel pump(s) shuts down. The indicator is the fuel pump prime does not occur when the key is switched from off to on. You can hear this when it is not noisy. So a previous owner likely put in the red momentary switch to take power window power feed it to the fuel pump relay under the right kick panel. His co-pilot would hold the switch while he started the engine and drove clear of the lane of traffic. Wait an hour and it would start and run without a problem. By the time the mechanic would test it the heat was gone and so was the problem, in Ford's opinion.I have two RV's built on the Econoline platform 1988 and 1991. Both have this problem. When the TFI over heats the Fuel pump shuts off and the engine continues to run on the residual fuel pressure in the line until you are stopped. You now have a 5 ton piece of stationary tin blocking the traffic. It looks like a fuel pump failure, but by the time you get to a service center the heat is gone and the engine runs. The Mustang racing groups and the V8 Miata groups have worked out a solution by reloacating the TFI module remotely. Your rig is late enough it's TFI module may already be remotely mounted. 2 Likes
Re: Ghost switches Reply #5 – July 03, 2018, 06:46:19 pm Very interesting read Rod, I am definitely going to research this fully. The old MH was a dodge with a carburetor I thought I'd move into the 21st century with fuel injection now I see I have a new learning curve. I'm mostly Chevy and understand them.Thanks for the input.Jon....
Re: Ghost switches Reply #6 – July 03, 2018, 10:33:45 pm Quote from: JonS - July 03, 2018, 06:46:19 pmVery interesting read Rod, I am definitely going to research this fully. The old MH was a dodge with a carburetor I thought I'd move into the 21st century with fuel injection now I see I have a new learning curve. I'm mostly Chevy and understand them.Thanks for the input.Jon....Posting a photo of the red button would be a big help.Chris
Re: Ghost switches Reply #7 – July 04, 2018, 01:46:28 am Jon,I went with fuel injection because of California's smog requirements. Same sort if thinking.
Re: Ghost switches Reply #8 – July 04, 2018, 09:51:40 am My initial thought regarding the little red button was that it might be for an ejection seat on the passenger side. On occasion, both Cyndy and have thought it might be a useful accessory. Since you bravely already pushed it, I guess that possibility is ruled out.Welcome to the forum.Harold 2 Likes
Re: Ghost switches Reply #9 – July 04, 2018, 10:50:43 am You need to put a sign on it that states, “In case of panic press here”. 2 Likes
Re: Ghost switches Reply #10 – July 04, 2018, 04:37:44 pm I'm good with the panic button. Every once in a while it would be real handy. Who ever did it for what ever purpose did a good install, I'm good with the pump override and I'm going to do a little more research on it. 1 Likes
Re: Ghost switches Reply #11 – July 04, 2018, 08:01:21 pm A couple of years ago I had mysterious gremlins that had the white backup lights on full time (I fortunately discovered this while it was plugged in at the house in preparation for a trip, rather than when boondocking somewhere that the batts could have died). I was due for an oil change/general checkup & so asked the guys at Merle Kelly Ford in Chanute, KS, (who had done some excellent previous work & I was going through there again) to help with that, too. I'd asked questions about gremlins & backup lights here on the site before I headed to Chanute, to no avail, & the guys spent all day tracing wires from the engine/etc. Towards the end of the day they seemed to have traced to somewhere in the outer compartment on the back corner of the driver's side...despite better access than other compartments, it was still a bear--I suggested taking off the mattress on that TB for access from above, & while rummaging around to move the mattress found an unknown toggle switch in the corner/under the mattress (apparently a post-Mothership modification), which miraculously turned off the lights when I flipped it...the only thing we could figure was that I must have tripped it while wrestling that mattress back into place after changing the linens for the trip. The service manager is really good--he has explained to me every step they take for everything they've ever done (it's not just customer service with them, it's customer education)--he was gracious enough to only charge me for half the day's hours they'd expended, saying they got an education they could use with future customers as they worked their way through the troubleshooting process.A year later another service provider at Osborn Automotive in Osborn, MO, who is also very good with customer education, educated me about the inertia switch behind the outside passenger panel.Good luck with your ghost switch--& may there be no associated gremlins lurking to cause confusion at inopportune moments.Lynne 1 Likes
Re: Ghost switches Reply #12 – July 11, 2018, 06:06:29 pm Jon, I just wanted to say I feel you.We are the third owners of our LD. The original owners put all sorts of swoopy things in it after purchasing it from LD, including adding antilock breaks (I didn't know you could do that after the fact). We are still figuring things out.We have about 10 wires coming off our cab battery that we still need to trace but we have to take the battery out to have any chance of doing that. We found some hidden things and are slowly working to bring things up to speed (some items were disconnected at some point or need a little TLC to get them working again). Since we work still, at the rate we are going (some RV repairs mixed in with some enjoying life on top of the normal things that just have to get done), we think we will have it all fully done in another year (e.g. 2 years ownership total). But we are learning tons and that was our real goal.Jane 1 Likes
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