Oily Electrolyte
Letters from people who added four ounces of mineral oil to each cell of a battery bank appeared in “Tech Talk” in March 2014 (page 18) and August 2014 (page 18). I did this, and I am amazed at how well it has worked the past 1 1/2 years. I see no corrosion, and I have had to add only a small amount of water during that time. My question: Does the oil ever have to be replenished?
Gene Maples, F408822
Emery, South Dakota
I did not recommend adding mineral oil to the batteries and have not used it myself; therefore, I cannot say whether the oil must be replenished. Although we received letters from FMCA members who added oil and were pleased with the results, the August 2014 column included a comment from an Interstate Batteries representative who noted that the company does not recommend adding anything but distilled water. None of the folks who wrote to us to say that they had added the oil mentioned the need to replenish it, but you might try researching the topic on the Internet.
Taillight Malfunction
In the May 2015 “Tech Talk” (page 19), Robert Huggett asked if he could add a third brake light by running wires from his current brake light. He questioned if the turn signal would cause the third brake light to flash. The answer is yes, unless he has separate bulbs for brake and turn signals. If they are separate, he could add the third brake light with no problem. However, if his turn and brake lights are the same bulb, then the solution is a complete revamping of the wiring all the way back to the turn signal switch.
Herman Mullins, F302225
Whitewright, Texas
The last sentence is not entirely correct. A taillight converter, such as one by Tow Ready (part number 118158), can be used to isolate voltage to a third wire (such as a center brake light) when receiving input from two wires (such as left turn/brake and right turn/brake). The issue of adding a center brake light is addressed at www.etrailer.com/question-28078.html.
Workhorse Chassis Repair
We have a 2004 Newmar gas-powered Kountry Star built on a Workhorse chassis. While returning from the FMCA Family Reunion in Madison, Wisconsin, this past summer, we broke down at 9:00 a.m. near Garfield, North Dakota. A frantic day began, as we could not find a shop that would work on our coach. We had to be towed 100 miles into Fargo, where we located Corey’s Car Care Center and arrived there at 9:00 p.m. They allowed us to park overnight, started work on our problem at 8:00 a.m., and had us on the road by 1:00 p.m.
However, our confidence in traveling is shaken, given the difficulty in finding service centers to work on this coach. More than 35 calls were made to find a shop. I guess Workhorse no longer exists. How can we find a national list of shops that are approved to work on this motorhome? We love our Newmar coach, but the thought of traveling across the country in it is unsettling.
Jim & Cathy Matthew, F367667
Renton, Washington
Sorry to hear about your breakdown. It’s great that you found an independent shop to fix the motorhome and get you back on the road, but I can understand your concern about service.
Workhorse still exists. The company left the motorhome chassis business for a time, while continuing to produce chassis for other vehicles. In 2015, Workhorse announced it was re-entering the motorhome market. The company’s website, www.workhorse.com, indicates there is a nationwide network of more than 400 dealers and service centers, but they may not all work on motorhomes. You can search for the company’s motorhome service centers at http://workhorse.navistar.com/Default.aspx?tabid=197. That site says the information has not been maintained, so please be aware that the list may be outdated.
You might want to take along the FMCA RV Marketplace directory as you travel. It lists FMCA commercial members that offer RV repair and service. That might help to bolster the list of possibilities. The most recent version appears in this issue beginning on page 228.
Another good resource is FMCA’s Stoppin’ Spots directory. It appears in each January issue and online at FMCA.com. One element of this directory is “Mechanic’s Helper” (see page 202). The folks listed as mechanic’s helpers have offered to assist fellow members in finding a good RV service center in their area.
You might also want to join FMCA’s Workhorse Chassis Motorhome Club chapter. Chapter membership is a great way of sharing information. For information about the chapter, visit www.workhorseclub.com.