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minddr · 05-30-2016, 10:22 PM

Not sure where to post this or if there is any help from forum. Just had to express my frustration at picking up new Airstream International Serenity and having one air conditioner not work. Had to take it back to Tampa from Sarasota to have it looked at. They say the air conditioner will have to be replaced. Going with the flow, but disappointing and put a wrinkle in are plans. Not looking for sympathy, but curious how often this occurs with others

Foiled Again · 05-31-2016, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minddr

Not sure where to post this or if there is any help from forum. Just had to express my frustration at picking up new Airstream International Serenity and having one air conditioner not work. Had to take it back to Tampa from Sarasota to have it looked at. They say the air conditioner will have to be replaced. Going with the flow, but disappointing and put a wrinkle in are plans. Not looking for sympathy, but curious how often this occurs with others

Basically when you buy new, it should NEVER happen. A really GOOD dealer will check in every new unit and test every system. A really GOOD dealer will do a complete walk-through with you, showing you how to use each system - and showing you that each one does work. THEN a really good dealer will also recommend strongly that you camp at or near the dealership for a couple of days for a shakedown test.

Of course it's probably hard to test the A/C if the weather is cold. And I never tested the furnace in mine because I bought it in 95 degree weather - and didn't find out that the control board was missing until months later. I rather think that it was stolen at a campground I frequent - but I'll never know for sure. So if you're going back to the dealer - GO FOR EVERYTHING. Make a list. Look at every cabinet latch, every rivet, every appliance, every storage bin and even everything UNDER the belly pan. My spare tire was stowed with the valve stem pointing UP. It's no fun to check the tire pressure in the spare, but if the valve stem isn't pointing down you're going to have to drop the spare to get to it.

wanderingduo · 05-31-2016, 12:56 AM

We had used our 4 month old trailer for about a dozen nights in all when our a/c - heat pump died. It was replaced under warranty.

xrvr · 05-31-2016, 04:57 AM

Seems to be a recurring problem. I guess this would be one of the advantages of having a two ac unit. People lived with one forever. Good luck.

OTRA15 · 05-31-2016, 05:09 AM

Lots of other threads report the same.

overlander63 · 05-31-2016, 05:30 AM

The a/c issue seems to be a relatively recent development from all manufacturers, after a recent switch in refrigerant, and related support components. If you want to "blame" someone, you can blame the agency that mandated the changes.

OTRA15 · 05-31-2016, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by overlander63

The a/c issue seems to be a relatively recent development from all manufacturers, after a recent switch in refrigerant, and related support components. If you want to "blame" someone, you can blame the agency that mandated the changes.

Jackson Center is where the buck stops for us!

If they can't supply dependable air conditioners, then they should -- at a minimum -- tell us so, and then make it up to us with a very easy replacement process, and monetary liquidated damages for supplying a defective product.

Mobile service trucks which can replace the A/C on-site wherever we are?

Hiho Silver · 05-31-2016, 06:27 AM

I'm wondering how long my AC unit will last, after it has been replaced. It seems to be an on going problem with the 13.5 units on 2015s and 2016s. So why would the replacements be any better than the originals??

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McDave · 05-31-2016, 08:23 AM

"Of course it's probably hard to test the A/C if the weather is cold. And I never tested the furnace in mine because I bought it in 95 degree weather - and didn't find out that the control board was missing until months later. I rather think that it was stolen at a campground I frequent - but I'll never know for sure. So if you're going back to the dealer - GO FOR EVERYTHING. Make a list. Look at every cabinet latch, every rivet, every appliance, every storage bin and even everything UNDER the belly pan. My spare tire was stowed with the valve stem pointing UP. It's no fun to check the tire pressure in the spare, but if the valve stem isn't pointing down you're going to have to drop the spare to get to it."

This would be a good idea for someone to do as a project: make a detailed checklist of everything an AS buyer should check on buying an Airstream. It would have the added advantage of familiarizing a new owner with the location and function of all the various things that can break or go wrong. All the little switches and valves and drains that should normally be off or on, and the consequences of their being in the wrong position. Of course, a dealer shakedown and new buyer orientation are a great help, but the shakedown doesn't help the buyer know about the things being shaken, and the orientation only is as good of the number of new things a buyer can retain in one meeting, which in my case is about two. I'm envisioning a much more detailed checklist than the ones we use when we hitch and unhitch the trailer. Perhaps this has already been done by someone on the forum?

xrvr · 05-31-2016, 08:33 AM

Reading the owners manual and all other booklets help, also.

Foiled Again · 05-31-2016, 08:56 AM

thinking back, mine failed AT the dealer the night before I bought it.

Of course it was Colonial, so I thought I'd be delayed in the sale, but no, they pulled a new unit into the shop and took IT's A/C off and installed it in MINE then waited for the manufacturer to replace the original.

Class act, eh?

But I have had more problems with this one than the 06 Safari, and they both have the same refrigerant. There was a thread a couple of weeks ago about a mini-a/c unit for window use. Now I have the BIG Avion, which had jalosie windows - I might consider it, especially if I can drop the cord outside into a 20 amp plug and not have to worry about needing 50 amp service to run two A/C's

Paula

rheiniger · 05-31-2016, 12:25 PM

We also had one of the two air conditioners inoperable on our freshly delivered 2016. It's being replaced right now at the dealership.

FCStreamer · 05-31-2016, 12:38 PM

i don't blame the dealer. I had that happen on mine. It worked fine while at the dealer. I stayed ovenight at the dealer and it worked fine. Two days later it stopped working. There is no way the dealer could have predicted that.

It happens. Don't let it frustrate you. It is part of RVing. Things break. Have a plan to fix it, fix it, and enjoy.

kdickinson · 05-31-2016, 01:20 PM

It sure is frustrating on a new vehicle / trailer. But thank goodness for warranties

guskmg · 05-31-2016, 04:20 PM

Dometic has sewed up the market and therefore competition is non-existant. Capitalism with competition for quality and price does not flourish in this case and the manufactures have only one source of supply. If the component manufactures would bench test their products before delivery that would help. The same with refer cooling units. Anyone, who rebuilds them will tell you Dometic is really built with poorly designed components. and the story goes on.
guskmg

rgwatkin · 05-31-2016, 05:43 PM

Just thought I would post this for general knowledge. Pulled into Barstow,ca this afternoon at the shady Lane RV. Temp=100. Turned on the Dometic AC and it would run for 15 min and shutoff. At a 100deg.outside. I was motivated to do some troubleshooting! Measured AC amperage and it was climbing throughout 15 min period. Measured incoming voltage and 5% low. Tightened all AC lugs on my 2012 FC and AC ran like a charm. Shady Lane RV is an old RV camp and we were the farthest out from master panel so guess power drop due to old connections. Problem is limited options in Barstow!

minddr · 05-31-2016, 11:25 PM

Good idea!

Quote:

Originally Posted by McDave

"Of course it's probably hard to test the A/C if the weather is cold. And I never tested the furnace in mine because I bought it in 95 degree weather - and didn't find out that the control board was missing until months later. I rather think that it was stolen at a campground I frequent - but I'll never know for sure. So if you're going back to the dealer - GO FOR EVERYTHING. Make a list. Look at every cabinet latch, every rivet, every appliance, every storage bin and even everything UNDER the belly pan. My spare tire was stowed with the valve stem pointing UP. It's no fun to check the tire pressure in the spare, but if the valve stem isn't pointing down you're going to have to drop the spare to get to it."

This would be a good idea for someone to do as a project: make a detailed checklist of everything an AS buyer should check on buying an Airstream. It would have the added advantage of familiarizing a new owner with the location and function of all the various things that can break or go wrong. All the little switches and valves and drains that should normally be off or on, and the consequences of their being in the wrong position. Of course, a dealer shakedown and new buyer orientation are a great help, but the shakedown doesn't help the buyer know about the things being shaken, and the orientation only is as good of the number of new things a buyer can retain in one meeting, which in my case is about two. I'm envisioning a much more detailed checklist than the ones we use when we hitch and unhitch the trailer. Perhaps this has already been done by someone on the forum?

overlander63 · 06-01-2016, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OTRA15

Jackson Center is where the buck stops for us!

If they can't supply dependable air conditioners, then they should -- at a minimum -- tell us so, and then make it up to us with a very easy replacement process, and monetary liquidated damages for supplying a defective product.

Mobile service trucks which can replace the A/C on-site wherever we are?

Okay, I guess I have to spell this out in extremely plain English, so there can be absolutely NO misunderstanding, since you seem to have misunderstood:
There are absolutely NO air conditioners that will "last" anymore. Period. From any RV air conditioner manufacturer. ALL are crap. Some are slightly less crappy than others, but all will fail, or not even function, either right out of the box, up to within a few years' use.
Thank your government for environmental regulations that have required this, and the refrigerant manufacturers that have conveniently noticed the older stuff is bad for the environment, right about the time their patents are due to expire.
I have a brand-new Penguin heat pump sitting in my garage, while I patch and baby the 1992 model currently on my trailer, hoping I can get another season out of it before I start the clock on the replacement.

alantbird · 06-01-2016, 09:21 AM

The 64 trade wind I had in 04 was ALL orig. Everything worked perfectly! the most impressive was the A/C! These days you cant buy ANYTHING for good money with any lasting power.