Auto Park down!

[Johnsito]

So, after 1 day of owning our Land Yacht, the Auto Park actuator blows a hole and the device is permanently on. We had to have it towed to the recommended repair center. They tell me today that it will cost $1800! They say it needs a new actuator at $1400 and install at $400. Is this about right for this type of service? Also, can we just disconnect it for the time being since we have an emergency brake?

[Johnsito]

One more important note...this is a 1997 Land Yacht, not brand new.

[Johnsito]

Well, no one responded so I took matters into my own hands! . I found out how to disable Auto Park. It took 20 minutes and some sweat, but no problems. I was able to drive the RV. I found someone who will repair the Actuator. Much less than a new one! I'll update this post with details when complete!

[garry]

Look here for help;

RV.Net Open Roads Forum: Search

You can contact the expert at his address

[cwf]

Sorry we missed. A chance to help!


Can you post your solution in case someone else can benefit? It IS possible you had a unique failure no one knew how to resolve???!!!

[Johnsito]

Yes, found part of the solution on rv.net and using "bear". Resolution still in progress, but once complete, I definitely will post the entire adventure!

[Johnsito]

Auto Park REPAIRED! We were able to disengage the Auto Park feature, take it to a mechanic, get the leak in the Actuator cylinder repaired. Cost was about $500, but that is because we had the mechanic remove and replace the cylinder. The actual cylinder repair was only $118.

Some had asked for the issue, so here you go...

The morning after I bought my 1997 Land Yacht, I started the engine to take it for standard maintenance ( oil change, etc). I was in a Walmart parking lot and drove about 40 feet when the Auto Park light came on and the emergency brake engaged. The RV slid to a stop in the parking lot traffic lane.

I read the GM manual about the feature, and went online to find out where it was located on the RV. I crawled under and found the box, taking the access plate off. Seeing no Dexron III in the reservoir, I went into Walmart and bought a bottle of the fluid. I poured it in, started the RV and able to go....about 40 feet before the light came on again and the RV locked. I was close to a parking space so I gassed it to force it the extra ten feet into the space.

I crawled under again to see the reservoir empty again. So, I put on the chocks, put more fluid in and positioned myself to see the cylinder and to be in a safe position if it rolled, then had my wife put on the foot brake and put the RV into gear. Of course, the RV didn't move, but the cylinder spit out the fluid in a nice, clean stream like pouring a fresh can of oil.

We found an Auto Park specialist out of Oregon who showed us how to disconnect Auto Park from the emergency brake so that we could drive the RV. We did this in 20 minutes and took it to the mechanic.

If anyone needs the contact info of the Auto Park specialist in Oregon, who can provide diagrams to disconnect as well as has a service who repairs the cylinder at a very reasonable price, please contact me directly.