Recall NHTSA 24V3945

[smokepoles]

Can anyone provide me additional info on how to identify and fix the possible issue? I mean a 10 minute repair.

[NXR]

Here is one: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/202...4V395-5223.pdf

There's more info here but you need to read through it: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/202...4V395-8839.PDF

Ray

[smokepoles]

I have a 2016 Puma 253 FBS 5th wheel and stiill not sure how to identify issue. I find the attached in the battery compartment. The bottom wires go to a 'fuse' box near pin box where direct connections are made to the 7-pin plug from trailer. The top wires are from converter (left) and battery. The bottom wires are to 7 pin, and the left wire power to front legs.

[smokepoles]

I opened up the cover on breaker shown in my prior post. It appears all is in order regarding the recall. That is, the black top right (positive direct from the battery) is on the copper post of the breaker, while the black wire on bottom providing auxillary power to the 7 pin plug is on the silver 'aux' post.


It is interesting to me that the top black wire on left (I believe from converter) is also on the 'aux' post. I assume for the same reason as above to prevent possible issue with power from battery flowing back to converter.


The red wire on left also on 'aux' post goes to the motor for the landing gear, and there is later an additional 30 amp in line fuse.



Finally, the red wire bottom right going from the copper post leads to trailer's safety brake controller.

[denville]

Two photos one showing incorrect wiring (2 wires on left side of breaker) and correct with wire moved

[dalford]

Originally Posted by denville

Two photos one showing incorrect wiring (2 wires on left side of breaker) and correct with wire moved

Thanks for the info. I also received the recall. I have a 33IK 5th wheel. Mine is wired like your photo1. I will move it.

Just curious did you do this or did your dealer? My other question is the small red wire at the top. Awful small wire to be connected to battery buss without protection. It seems it should be on the other side protected by the resettable breaker, no?

I also wonder why do they have 2 resettable breakers wired in parallel?

[Comoco]

Originally Posted by dalford

Thanks for the info. I also received the recall. I have a 33IK 5th wheel. Mine is wired like your photo1. I will move it.

Just curious did you do this or did your dealer? My other question is the small red wire at the top. Awful small wire to be connected to battery buss without protection. It seems it should be on the other side protected by the resettable breaker, no?

I also wonder why do they have 2 resettable breakers wired in parallel?

I just received the recall notice. Are these connections in the front storage compartment?
Thanks!

[NXR]

Me, I would never assume that wiring from one RV to another, even the same model, looks the same.

I would check at the 7-pin connector with a voltmeter to assure I have power. Then I would disconnect the wire I think goes to the connector. Then, once I am certain I have the correct wire, I would place it where it is supposed to be.

And, of course, always take a BEFORE and AFTER picture.

Ray

[dalford]

Originally Posted by Comoco

I just received the recall notice. Are these connections in the front storage compartment?
Thanks!

I assume your is the same. My 33IK is a 2016, your’s is a 2022. Look in the front basement and behind the curved plastic cover see if you have the buss bar and resettable breakers against , for better words, firewall.

As NXR points out it would be best to take a DVM and make a couple of measurements. If you’re not well versed in using a DVM just put your DVM into DC mode and at the highest range above 12 volts. Measure on your trailer side cord between Aux 12 volt to and GND pins. Before doing anything this should measure ~12 volts. Now disconnect the suspected bad wiring and remeasure and the reading should be 0 volts. Move the wire to the protected side of the breaker and measure again for ~12 volts.

I will get around to it, maybe this weekend while I’m camping. Mine has been wired this way since I took possession in August of 2015 so I’m not super worried about it. Kinda hard to short that terminal to ground but I can see it happening.

While I’m at it I’m going to trace that small wire (at the top left) that is connected to the non protected side of the buss to see where it goes. Seems to be awful small wire not to be protected.

As a side note, if your hydraulic pump does not run (nothing, no noise) this is where the resettable breaker (look on side for small reset button) is for the motor. The large red wire at the top goes to the Trombetta relay.

[NXR]

Originally Posted by dalford

I will get around to it, maybe this weekend while I’m camping. Mine has been wired this way since I took possession in August of 2015 so I’m not super worried about it. Kinda hard to short that terminal to ground but I can see it happening.

You might want to rethink that.

This is likely the reason for the recall: https://www.classaction.org/news/for...ystem-problems


According to the case, Forest River manufactures the subject RVs without installing a fuse or circuit breaker to protect the wiring system. If a short occurs in the wiring between a seven-way junction box and an RV’s battery, the unprotected wire will overheat, creating a fire risk, the lawsuit stresses.


It does not matter that this was a miswiring problem. There is no functioning over-current protection on that circuit. Me, I would not even consider a self-resetting breaker to be effective. Those things can be a fire risk in themselves because they cool down and try to start the fire over and over.


The plaintiff, a Montana resident, claims in the suit that his 2019 Forest River “Puma” 5th wheel RV caught fire around May 2020 as he and his family were leaving a campground. The lawsuit alleges that the wire responsible for charging the RV’s 12-volt batteries had shorted and burned, as allegedly depicted in this photo included in the complaint:

“This wire was not adequately insulted or protected in places, and its conductors were not provided with overcurrent protection or protected by a breaker,” the suit alleges.

Ray

[dalford]

Originally Posted by NXR

You might want to rethink that.

This is likely the reason for the recall: https://www.classaction.org/news/for...ystem-problems


According to the case, Forest River manufactures the subject RVs without installing a fuse or circuit breaker to protect the wiring system. If a short occurs in the wiring between a seven-way junction box and an RV’s battery, the unprotected wire will overheat, creating a fire risk, the lawsuit stresses.


It does not matter that this was a miswiring problem. There is no functioning over-current protection on that circuit. Me, I would not even consider a self-resetting breaker to be effective. Those things can be a fire risk in themselves because they cool down and try to start the fire over and over.


The plaintiff, a Montana resident, claims in the suit that his 2019 Forest River “Puma” 5th wheel RV caught fire around May 2020 as he and his family were leaving a campground. The lawsuit alleges that the wire responsible for charging the RV’s 12-volt batteries had shorted and burned, as allegedly depicted in this photo included in the complaint:

“This wire was not adequately insulted or protected in places, and its conductors were not provided with overcurrent protection or protected by a breaker,” the suit alleges.

Ray

Thx for the reply FYI, the breaker is not a self reset. It is a resettable breaker not an auto reset breaker.

[NXR]

Originally Posted by dalford

Thx for the reply FYI, the breaker is not a self reset. It is a resettable breaker not an auto reset breaker.

Great, good to know. It looked like a self-resetting one from what little I could see.

Ray

[boatcat AH6NR]

Puma 2010 235FSB, same recall. Possibly third owner, wiring all messed up. I rewired and put in extra breakers. The main thing is to have wire from 7 pin on aux term only so that if wire is shorted it will pop that breaker, and not cause havoc. I'd put a pic on but mine are jpg's.

[boatcat AH6NR]

Not sure how this is going to work. may come up separately.
Wiring for Puma 235FSB

[boatcat AH6NR]

Green wire with separate fuse goes to 7 pin connector.
I'll get it together one day.

[Backfire]

Originally Posted by dalford

Thanks for the info. I also received the recall. I have a 33IK 5th wheel. Mine is wired like your photo1. I will move it.

Just curious did you do this or did your dealer? My other question is the small red wire at the top. Awful small wire to be connected to battery buss without protection. It seems it should be on the other side protected by the resettable breaker, no?

I also wonder why do they have 2 resettable breakers wired in parallel?

I just did the recall on my 35IK. The small wire on the top left had an inline fuse on mine.

[dalford]

Originally Posted by Backfire

I just did the recall on my 35IK. The small wire on the top left had an inline fuse on mine.

Thanks for the info. I have not traced mine out yet but will do that shortly and report back.

Where did the small red wire go to? Just curious before I trace mine.

[Backfire]

Originally Posted by dalford

Thanks for the info. I have not traced mine out yet but will do that shortly and report back.

Where did the small red wire go to? Just curious before I trace mine.

I did not trace mine as I was running short on time.

[Larry-NC]

Originally Posted by boatcat AH6NR

Puma 2010 235FSB, same recall. Possibly third owner, wiring all messed up. I rewired and put in extra breakers. The main thing is to have wire from 7 pin on aux term only so that if wire is shorted it will pop that breaker, and not cause havoc. I'd put a pic on but mine are jpg's.

JPGs load fine on this site.