HWH FWS Issue

[Neemer]

Anyone have any idea what’s going on here? This just started over the weekend. The bottom of the slide creeps out, even when the coach is just sitting there. There is a rhythmic thumping just above the wet bay which I’m sure is related. These pics show a progression.

 

[scottramer]

It could be several things. First thing I would do is manually cycle the solenoids. I would put the slide out then cycle them on and off.
If there is some dirt stuck in one of them it might dislodge it.

 

[Neemer]

So, it turns out I have a significant hydraulic fluid leak at one of the FWS cylinder locations. I stopped to fuel up and there it was…the red puddle of death dripping from behind a driver’s side storage compartment door. Oy.

I called Newmar customer service and ended up in a three way conversation with HWH customer service. After being assured the slide wouldn’t continue to creep outward beyond 3” or so, I felt comfortable enough to continue the journey.

Fortuitously, I’m headed to the mothership, so this should get taken care of pretty quickly.

 

[Neemer]

Bullet dodged.

A lifting cylinder that raises the FWS straight up before going in failed badly. It sprayed fluid like a severed artery in a horror movie. The failure had a cascading effect that affected other nodes in the mechanism’s chain of function. When the cylinder loses pressure, the slide falls downward until it sits squarely on the floor tile, and in my case, one of the secondary effects was a binding of another cylinder’s mechanism which would not allow the slide to close completely.

Yesterday my tech was afraid to do anything with the coach or slide with the condition it was in, including driving the coach over to the campground. So I got to spend the evening at Oakwood Resort (thanks for the recommendation @Neal).

The good news is Newmar is on it in spades. There are three techs and a forklift out there right now installing a new cylinder and repairing the whole shebang. I’m thankful there is no significant damage to any of the floor tiles.

I must be living right, as I cannot believe the luck I had on this episode. Being where I am when this happened is more luck than the law allows. I hope I didn’t expend my remaining life’s allotment.

I now know more about FWS than I ever wanted to, but the chief takeaway for me is this is not a DIY project. If ever a pro is needed, it is with this slide mechanism.

 

[J&JD]

Curious @Neemer , will this be covered by Newmar or is it on your dime. That looks like a pretty pricey project.

 

[Neemer]

Unless I get pleasantly surprised tomorrow when presented with the bill, it’s all on my dimes, quarters, Lincolns, and Franklins. They have said nothing to me to make me believe otherwise. I’m a little put out that a 2.5 yr old component would fail so catastrophically, but HWH appears to be holding the line on where their coverage stops.

I suppose my case is one where an extended service warranty would have been economical.

First world problems.

 

[purring along]

Unless I get pleasantly surprised tomorrow when presented with the bill, it’s all on my dimes, quarters, Lincolns, and Franklins. They have said nothing to me to make me believe otherwise. I’m a little put out that a 2.5 yr old component would fail so catastrophically, but HWH appears to be holding the line on where their coverage stops.

I suppose my case is one where an extended service warranty would have been economical.

First world problems.

I have been following your posts about the full wall slide, and I am also becoming more educated than need to. Our coach is at newmar getting a complete retiling, after many tiles cracked with no replacement on the full wall slide. Good luck with the repairs!

 

[Neemer]

I have been following your posts about the full wall slide, and I am also becoming more educated than need to. Our coach is at newmar getting a complete retiling, after many tiles cracked with no replacement on the full wall slide. Good luck with the repairs!

Wow. That’s what I was fearful of, knowing how difficult it is (or impossible) to get matching tiles. Best of luck. I hope your new floor meets your expectations.

 

[Rich W.]

Wow. That’s what I was fearful of, knowing how difficult it is (or impossible) to get matching tiles. Best of luck. I hope your new floor meets your expectations.

They said they can still match my 2016 tiles but talked me out of replacing a cracked one due to the cost and the minor nature of the crack.

 

[Neemer]

Unless I get pleasantly surprised tomorrow

I was pleasantly surprised. It wasn’t free, but they are sending me home a happy man. Further validation for my decision to stick with Newmar and limit my maintenance and repair to their service center whenever possible. What a week! I need a beer.