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qwertyd10n · 05-14-2021, 10:28 PM

The vent in the shower of our 2019 International 27FB is not working when the button is pressed. I was advised by a "helpful" AS dealer service rep to check the fuse in the switch, but I don't believe our vent units have fuses in the switches.

Can anyone give me a couple troubleshooting tips for these types of vent fans?

Thanks,
Dion

mikeinca · 05-14-2021, 11:30 PM

This may seem obvious and I can't really tell from the photo but make certain that there is nothing impeding the fan. The cheap foam gasket material around the inside of the vent cap has a habit of coming loose and can keep the fan from rotating. You will press the on/off button and nothing happens.

This occurred on our 2020 Globetrotter recently and I had to remove the vent cap (2 screws on my trailer) and replace the gasket for the bathroom fan with better quality foam weather stripping. I checked the shower vent fan and the gasket was coming loose there as well (although not yet interfering with the fan) so I did some preventative maintenance.

Might be worth checking.

ROBERTSUNRUS · 05-14-2021, 11:38 PM

Hi, the push button switches are junk, both the vent fan switch and the sewer light switch. I replaced mine with toggle switches.

qwertyd10n · 05-15-2021, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeinca

This may seem obvious and I can't really tell from the photo but make certain that there is nothing impeding the fan. The cheap foam gasket material around the inside of the vent cap has a habit of coming loose and can keep the fan from rotating. You will press the on/off button and nothing happens.

This occurred on our 2020 Globetrotter recently and I had to remove the vent cap (2 screws on my trailer) and replace the gasket for the bathroom fan with better quality foam weather stripping. I checked the shower vent fan and the gasket was coming loose there as well (although not yet interfering with the fan) so I did some preventative maintenance.

Might be worth checking.

Thanks for the tip @mikeinca. In your experience were they removed from the outside/roof of the trailer?

qwertyd10n · 05-15-2021, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROBERTSUNRUS

Hi, the push button switches are junk, both the vent fan switch and the sewer light switch. I replaced mine with toggle switches.

Another great tip @ROBERTSUNRUS - I'll see if I can track down some suitable toggle switches. Do you have a picture of the ones you installed?

Foiled Again · 05-15-2021, 10:05 AM

Itoght be a good idea to see if you could find a pull chain switch.....

If you decide it is necessary to activate the fan from a seated position.

mikeinca · 05-15-2021, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qwertyd10n

Thanks for the tip @mikeinca. In your experience were they removed from the outside/roof of the trailer?

Yes. The screws are visible on the exterior of the vent cap. A stepladder is all that is required to reach the screws and the caps; you don't have to actually get on the roof. It's an easy fix if it turns out the gasket is your problem.

ROBERTSUNRUS · 05-16-2021, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qwertyd10n

Another great tip @ROBERTSUNRUS - I'll see if I can track down some suitable toggle switches. Do you have a picture of the ones you installed?

Hi, check out this thread; "shower vent fan help" page #1 and post #5.

Pencilpusher · 05-16-2021, 07:46 AM

I just had this same issue with my shower fan. The foam weatherstripping came loose and became tangled in the fan which ultimately burned out the motor. At first I also thought it was the switch but my multimeter confirmed I was getting power to the little fan motor but the motor was not turning. I ordered a new motor for about $30 from etrailer. The fan motor is held in place by two little screws and is easily accessible once the vent cover is removed. I then replaced the foam weatherstripping and replaced the vent cover. 15 minute fix and now works perfectly!

SuperTrouper · 05-16-2021, 09:40 AM

I replaced both of mine with these. Much smoother operation and you can replace from the inside. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Brad

nhaas · 05-16-2021, 10:14 AM

Pop off the cover, try spinning the fan with your finger. if it doesn't spin, check if there is something in the way, if not it is a bad motor, purchase a new fan. Someone else had a link to it. My motor was frozen, I replaced it in 30 minutes.
It would have been faster except my dad disconnected the wires at the switch so no one could use it...

Quote:

Originally Posted by qwertyd10n

The vent in the shower of our 2019 International 27FB is not working when the button is pressed. I was advised by a "helpful" AS dealer service rep to check the fuse in the switch, but I don't believe our vent units have fuses in the switches.

Can anyone give me a couple troubleshooting tips for these types of vent fans?

Thanks,
Dion

qwertyd10n · 05-16-2021, 09:30 PM

Alright, I took the top cover off and the fan spins freely with no obstructions, so that doesn't seem to be the problem and motor doesn't appear to be seized up.

I grabbed my test light and and found that there is power going into the lead going into the bottom of the motor (shower side) that is fed by the black wire coming from the switch. The power goes off and on with the switch, so the switch seems to be working as well.

This leads me to believe that although the motor spins it may be shot... unless it's some sort of fuseable link as I've read elsewhere.

I am having a hard time figuring out how to access the motor though... there is a small tin cover on the side that is held on by a screw from the bottom, but I can't seem to get the handle and screen off from below. There are two screws holding the screen onto the metal bracket, but they don't turn out of the bracket when I turn them. Is there something else they attach to that I can't see?