Chassis Battery

[Lt Keefer]

Had a couple of weird occurrences on my summer trip. The chassis battery got weak enough that I had to use the emergency start switch to start the coach one morning. Well, I was in Chugwater Wyoming, and as expected, no place to purchase a battery for a Ford F-53. No worries, there is a Wal Mart in Casper, I thought I'd get one there. Nope, none in stock. Had to go all the way to Montana to find a battery in stock.

Anyway, for the whole trip, the rear camera was flickering and showing lines in the in dash display. I thought, great time to order a new in dash radio and replace it when I get back to Texas. On the way to Wal Mart, it started raining and the info display on the dash flashed 'brake fluid low level' and the brake light illuminated. Well, I coasted to the side of the road and checked the master cylinder. It was full. Took off slowly, tested brakes and they worked. I proceeded, cautiously, to Wal Mart and purchased the battery. Right away the lines in the in dash display went away. It appears the Axxera doesn't like low voltage. So, no new in dash for me, saved a few bucks.

As to the brakes, I broke out my code reader and there were no codes stored. So I guessed that the F-53 does not have a brake system control module. I went online and searched this forum and found nothing. But on another forum, I found a thread about the electrical plug on the master cylinder of the F-53 getting wet and sending out the distress signal. I disconnected the plug on the street side of the master cylinder, blew it out with a can of air, connected it back and the light went out.

I know long post, but I just wanted this info to be out there for future users. Sometimes the fixes are pretty simple, a new battery and a dry electrical connection.

[MJC62]

Appreciate the heads up on master cylinder plug. I will file it away in the memory bank. Actually, I better right it down my memory bank is partially erased...

[The Gritz Carlton]

Adrenaline tester for sure...amazing how we roll along with no issues for so long and then...they line up against us and all come at once. Stay calm, qualify and resolve...great job!!

[paulwadley]

That is some great info to remember.

Thanks for sharing it.

Paul

[Jimbo56]

Originally Posted by Lt Keefer

Had a couple of weird occurrences on my summer trip. The chassis battery got weak enough that I had to use the emergency start switch to start the coach one morning. Well, I was in Chugwater Wyoming, and as expected, no place to purchase a battery for a Ford F-53. No worries, there is a Wal Mart in Casper, I thought I'd get one there. Nope, none in stock. Had to go all the way to Montana to find a battery in stock.

Anyway, for the whole trip, the rear camera was flickering and showing lines in the in dash display. I thought, great time to order a new in dash radio and replace it when I get back to Texas. On the way to Wal Mart, it started raining and the info display on the dash flashed 'brake fluid low level' and the brake light illuminated. Well, I coasted to the side of the road and checked the master cylinder. It was full. Took off slowly, tested brakes and they worked. I proceeded, cautiously, to Wal Mart and purchased the battery. Right away the lines in the in dash display went away. It appears the Axxera doesn't like low voltage. So, no new in dash for me, saved a few bucks.

As to the brakes, I broke out my code reader and there were no codes stored. So I guessed that the F-53 does not have a brake system control module. I went online and searched this forum and found nothing. But on another forum, I found a thread about the electrical plug on the master cylinder of the F-53 getting wet and sending out the distress signal. I disconnected the plug on the street side of the master cylinder, blew it out with a can of air, connected it back and the light went out.

I know long post, but I just wanted this info to be out there for future users. Sometimes the fixes are pretty simple, a new battery and a dry electrical connection.

Thanks for the heads up.

[Mr Sunshine]

Thanks for that information. Instructions almost nonexistent for those issues.

You'll be glad you replaced the Axxera!