1999 Southwind

Replaced failed Intellitec dual thermostat ECC with Waiter ECC thermostat

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Posted on November 19, 2020 by waiter@iflyez.com — 14 Comments ↓

Last year I was having all kinds of weird problems with my furnaces and air conditioners. The furnaces would come on even when they were turned off. I’d get clicking sounds coming from the Intellitec control module. Every now and then I noticed weird buzzing sounds from the A/C unit, Continue reading Replaced failed Intellitec dual thermostat ECC with Waiter ECC thermostat→

Slide moving on its own

Posted on July 8, 2024 by waiter@iflyez.com — No Comments ↓

When I store my Southwind, I do it with the slide retracted. However, over the weekend I noticed the slide was out. When I went into the motorhome to retract it, It wouldn’t retract, and I could hear a clicking sound every few seconds and I could see the slide Continue reading Slide moving on its own→

Water heater exhaust duct repair

Posted on June 13, 2023 by waiter@iflyez.com — 6 Comments ↓

I noticed the exhaust guide inside the exhaust duct had been eaten away by corrosion. The duct itself was still OK, just the internal guide was corroded and damaged. I found a piece of stainless sheet metal in my scrap pile that will do the job. I cut and bent Continue reading Water heater exhaust duct repair→

Add a fuel shutoff valve Onan 5500 generator

Posted on June 11, 2023 by waiter@iflyez.com — 8 Comments ↓

I rarely use my generator more that a couple times a year and I don’t believe in starting it if it sits for long periods of time. One of the problems with carburated engines that sit for long periods of time, the fuel inside the carb bowl evaporates and leaves Continue reading Add a fuel shutoff valve Onan 5500 generator→

Transmission overheating on early model V10 powered F53s

Posted on May 16, 2023 by waiter@iflyez.com — 8 Comments ↓

Almost every automatic transmission vehicle has an integral transmission cooler thats built into the bottom of the engines radiator. The integral cooler cools transmission fluid by transferring its heat into the engines cooling system. Unfortunately, on the first couple years of V10 powered F53 with the 4R100 transmission, Ford didn’t Continue reading Transmission overheating on early model V10 powered F53s→

F53 Alternator Replacement

Posted on October 17, 2022 by waiter@iflyez.com — 1 Comment ↓

This was a preventative replacement. The original alternator was working. but since it’s 23 years old with 86,000 miles on it, I’d rather replace the alternator at home in my driveway where I can work on it at my leisure, rather than on the side of the road, when its Continue reading F53 Alternator Replacement→

A/C Unit Replacement

Posted on July 26, 2022 by waiter@iflyez.com — 9 Comments ↓

UPDATE (Jan 20, 2023) : I’m working on an optional control module so I can control the heat pumps reversing valve with my Waiter ECC system. I have a prototype version installed and using it to develop the software. If there’s enough interest, I may offer this option to the Continue reading A/C Unit Replacement→

F53 has excessive play in gear shift lever

Posted on April 6, 2022 by waiter@iflyez.com — 4 Comments ↓

We stopped for gas in Albuquerque, NM. When I shifted the transmission into D, there was a LOT of play in the shift lever and I had to play with the lever to make sure it was in gear.. When we stopped for the night, I couldn’t get the engine Continue reading F53 has excessive play in gear shift lever→

Compartment door latch replacement

Posted on October 30, 2021 by waiter@iflyez.com — 3 Comments ↓

Two years ago my rear water compartment door was getting very hard to open. Last winter, the only way to get the compartment open was to open the adjoining compartment, then reach inn from the side and depress the water compartment door latch. Hoping the problem was as simple as Continue reading Compartment door latch replacement→

Replace main 120 volt Automatic Change Over solenoid

Posted on July 19, 2021 by waiter@iflyez.com — 26 Comments ↓

Many later model 30 amp Fleetwood class A’s are set up to have two Automatic Change Over (ACO) relays/solenoids. A quick way to tell is to look at the generator, if it has two output circuit breakers, 30 and 20 amp, you probably have two ACOs, one for the MAIN Continue reading Replace main 120 volt Automatic Change Over solenoid→

Replace Spark Plugs 1999 F53 V10

Posted on January 3, 2021 by waiter@iflyez.com — 13 Comments ↓

Here are my thoughts on changing the plugs. This is a 1999 F53 with a 2 valve V10. Before you start, use a blow gun and clean as much crap off the top as you can.. 1) Mark a cylinder number on each of the Coil-On-Plugs (COP) so you know Continue reading Replace Spark Plugs 1999 F53 V10→