2016 Sprinter questions from Sprinter newby

[Bobsprinter]

Maybe these questions are answered in manuals but not sure.

1. Does inverter always turn off when we kill van? i.e. Is it off until turned own?

2. My master battery switch in rear of coach "kicked off" somehow when I was using propane grill outside. Of course propane shuts off as does lights etc. We put the red knob back to "auto" and everything worked again. What was the likely problem? Everything worked again to end of trip.

Thanks!

[gmillerok1]

Welcome to the forums and congrats on your purchase. We are not far from each other. See answers below.

Originally Posted by Bobsprinter

Maybe these questions are answered in manuals but not sure.

1. Does inverter always turn off when we kill van? i.e. Is it off until turned own?

No. The inverter can be turned on and inverts the 12vdc to 120ac. If you kill the master battery switch I believe it would kill the inverter.

2. My master battery switch in rear of coach "kicked off" somehow when I was using propane grill outside. Of course propane shuts off as does lights etc. We put the red knob back to "auto" and everything worked again. What was the likely problem? Everything worked again to end of trip.

No clue. Not anything you were doing outside.

Thanks!

You are welcome. By the way I highly recommend European Autospecialists in Tulsa to service you vehicle. Highly recommended over Freightliner.

[lewster]

Originally Posted by gmillerok1

Welcome to the forums and congrats on your purchase. We are not far from each other. See answers below.



You are welcome. By the way I highly recommend European Autospecialists in Tulsa to service you vehicle. Highly recommended over Freightliner.

Oh yah! Me too!!!!

[gmillerok1]

I understand occassionally they have some really talented guy stop by and do solar and electrical upgrades... .

[Bobsprinter]

Thanks for the comments. The electrical systems is the principal mystery to unravel in our Sprinter. I've now gone to Airstream to get the "official" position on my questions. We'll see what they say.

Our Grand Tour is an amazing unit. Gets easier every time we go camping.

BTW- Muskogee is really close to us. Next door neighbors almost. You have a 2011 and you joined in 2011 so I'm guessing you really like the unit.

[gmillerok1]

I do now, but I've had more than my share of build quality issues, and there were times I regretted purchasing it and thought seriously of trading for something else. Hopefully, everything that could fail has failed and has been resolved (except for the paint failure issue on the plastic trim but AS gave me replacements for all but the bumpers that I have yet to install). But the issues I encountered from day one, and fixing them, have educated me as to the inner workings of the Interstate at this point. I'm at about 40,000 miles on this unit, and plan another 6000 miles in trips in the next 4 weeks.

Hopefully, you got one built when the installers weren't in a hurry.

If you ever need any help or questions, drop me a line. I'm next door as you stated.

Gerald

Originally Posted by Bobsprinter

Thanks for the comments. The electrical systems is the principal mystery to unravel in our Sprinter. I've now gone to Airstream to get the "official" position on my questions. We'll see what they say.

Our Grand Tour is an amazing unit. Gets easier every time we go camping.

BTW- Muskogee is really close to us. Next door neighbors almost. You have a 2011 and you joined in 2011 so I'm guessing you really like the unit.

[73shark]

Originally Posted by gmillerok1

Hopefully, everything that could fail has failed and has been resolved (except for the paint failure issue on the plastic trim but AS gave me replacements for all but the bumpers that I have yet to install).

Gerald

Were you able to get the replacement trim while still in warranty?

Mine didn't start showing up 'til about 3.5 years. And my front bumper looks just as bad as the side trim.

[gmillerok1]

Yes, they covered it under warranty, but it not intentionally.

When I was in Jackson Center getting my shower replaced because it wouldn't drain (as in, because the floor was not level), I mentioned the paint failure issue on the trim to the service manager.

He called the manufacturer of the trim panels, who told him it would hand buff out. I already tried it by hand using buffing compound with no results. The next time I went to check on the van, the tech had tried and it didn't work. So they called back and were told to use a rotary buffer. Sure enough, it got those spiderwebs off, but it had to be buffed until they took it down to the black rubber underneath in places.

For what it is worth, my bumpers are also now showing the same issue. They had not at the time I was there.

So they were trying to figure out what to do to replace the one damaged panel. I suggested that if they would give me the trim for the rest of the vehicle, I'd do the labor myself, as it takes about an hour per piece to remove, prepare and replace, and I'd been there a week already, and besides, it was obvious there was a manufacturing defect causing the paint to fail.

So they hustled up all the trim pieces they could find, except for the bumpers, wrapped them up in plastic, and gave them to me.

So, yes, they covered the parts under warranty. I haven't got around to replacing them yet. Maybe I will grow to eventually like the spiderweb design before I do.