Vista 26 HE questions

[Oldtrooper]

When hooked to shore power our converter runs hot, so I am expecting it to give up some day. What model converter did you replace the OEM with and did you do it yourself. We have been using solar (360watts) most of the time, hooked to two 240amp 6 volt batteries, using a 2000watt inverter. Aside from not using the microwave, the coffee make and tv etc work fine.

[macnut]

We replaced our with a Progressive Dynamics 4 stage converter and loved the improvement.

https://www.progressivedyn.com/rv/po...er-converters/

[rottenkid]

One very important item we replaced was the door latch. I was outside of the motorhome when the door lock mechanism failed. My wife was inside. She opened the front window and I used the front tire to climb into the motorhome. I was lucky when crossing the border into Canada that we did not have to get out for inspection. The replacement door latch is a superior design. Winnebago should be ashamed at using junk like that for the door latch.

[Oldtrooper]

Thanks for the reply. When you installed the Progressive converter, did you remove the old one or just by-passed it. There’s not a lot of room where the OEM converter is. When I installed my 2000 watt inverter I used the storage bay jus underneath.

[macnut]

They removed the old converter when replacing it with the new unit.

[Dentkimterry]

Which door latch did you end up using?

[rottenkid]

https://www.winnieowners.com/forums/...1&d=1602763213

[rottenkid]

https://www.winnieowners.com/forums/...1&d=1602803004

Finally found the converter for in my HE. This unit mounted where the old converter was. Once installed I noticed that the battery voltage to be maintained all winter and I hardly added distilled water to the battery as it charge.

[rottenkid]

The door latch that I added to the motorhome was a much better design than Winnebago used in these motorhomes.

[rottenkid]

I had to change the drivers side headlight. Last year I replaced the passenger side headlight. We have daylight driver lights in Canada, so I guess this is why the low beam lights burn out. The vehicle only has 25,000 miles. On the other hand, I just replaced the drivers front headlight on my 2004 Astro van. That is the first light I ever put in my Astro van with over 300,000 kilometres.

[Tricolor]

Originally Posted by rottenkid

I had to change the drivers side headlight. Last year I replaced the passenger side headlight. We have daylight driver lights in Canada, so I guess this is why the low beam lights burn out. The vehicle only has 25,000 miles. On the other hand, I just replaced the drivers front headlight on my 2004 Astro van. That is the first light I ever put in my Astro van with over 300,000 kilometres.

The wire gauge feedeing the headlights is too small. Replace the 3 prong connectors (order them on e-bay, they are pre-assemble with a couple of inches of bigger wires), this will reduce the voltage drop in the circuit that causes premature wear of the lamps.

[rottenkid]

Do you have a site on eBay for this 3 prong connectors? I can not seem to locate them.

[rottenkid]

Would this Ford 3 prong be tgpheone your referring to?

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Ford-Lincoln...YAAOSw1-5bDdyM

[Tricolor]

Hi rottenkid. First confirm that the Vista uses 9007 light bulbs, then type 9007 light bulb connector on your search bar.

They should look like these:
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Wire-Pigtail...oAAOSwZcxdnsHv

[Morich]

Originally Posted by Tricolor

The wire gauge feedeing the headlights is too small. Replace the 3 prong connectors (order them on e-bay, they are pre-assemble with a couple of inches of bigger wires), this will reduce the voltage drop in the circuit that causes premature wear of the lamps.

Do you have any explanation of why low voltage causes a headlight to burn out?

[Tricolor]

Originally Posted by Morich

Do you have any explanation of why low voltage causes a headlight to burn out?

W=VA
The voltage drop is partly compensated by a higher current going through the lamp to maintain the power output.

For this simple reason, don't run your A/C where the shore voltage is low or you may overheat and damage the compressor.

I hope this help

[rottenkid]

I keep having o replace my step motors. They start clacking when extended. One motors quit working on the return. Any service people say, I just got a bad motor. I think it is the controller, but the service people disagree. I believe I am on the fifth mor. I installed one in the spring and it started clacking when extended. We never step on the srpsuntill they are fully extended, so I am getting very frustrated.

[Rossi6998]

That is really strange. I have had to replace my motor once (knock on wood). Has been fine since. Are you getting the correct part?

[rottenkid]

Yes, the correct part. Replaced twice at a repair centre. I replaced them with backup ones. I keep a pare because of the trouble. I do not want this happening out on the road, in Canada, you can be hundreds of miles from a place to get parts.

[Tricolor]

Originally Posted by rottenkid

I keep having o replace my step motors. They start clacking when extended. One motors quit working on the return. Any service people say, I just got a bad motor. I think it is the controller, but the service people disagree. I believe I am on the fifth mor. I installed one in the spring and it started clacking when extended. We never step on the srpsuntill they are fully extended, so I am getting very frustrated.

This is strange indeed. First check the voltage at the chassis battery when the engine IS NOT running. then check the voltage at the step motor. If ther is a drop of more than 0.2V, something wrong.

After 50K miles, I had a small sensor at the chassis A/C, the controller box in the house A/C housing and the Liepert PCB for the leveler control gone bad.
And there is a cooling gas leak in my house A/C... I may have to replace it.
Not bad for a 9 years old MH