Firefly/Forest River frustration

[DaktariEd]

We have had our Isata 3 for about 7 months, purchased new from a dealer.
Multiple times we have retrieved the rig from the indoor storage, turned on the house power and found the Firefly screen unresponsive to touchscreen input.

I spoke with a FR service tech, who connected me to a Firefly tech. The only fix was to hard reset the unit by pulling off the inner panel under the sink, accessing all the electronics, identifying the J17 spade connector and pulling it. After a moment we plug it back in and the problem is solved (until next time).

We took it to the dealer (LazyDays Tucson), who found nothing wrong, and charged us a service fee for doing so.
This last time I was smart enough to document the issue on video. (Dealer couldn't discount our claim.)

The dealer says Firefly suggests installing a switch in-line on the J17 lead. A reasonable simple fix.

Forest River apparently is dragging their feet to approve this.
Seriously?
I had heard that FR was very good about servicing their products but given that our RV has been sitting at Lazy Days for a month, I am having my doubts.
Any thoughts, better fixes, or assistance (bclemens?) would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Ed

 

[Desert Boat]

Dynamax has a reputation for quick warranty approval. If there is a delay of more than an a few days, something has gone wrong in communication, and need to pick up a phone. Have you contacted your Dynamax warranty rep to see what is going on with the claim?

There is something wrong in your firefly installation, but the switch seems a way to avoid fixing.

Installing a switch is probably a 15 minute job. The dealer has now spent far more time on getting approval for the work than the cost of the work itself, to say nothing of the opportunity cost of keeping the coach out of service.

 

[rsdata]

although I understand the need/want to get this fixed under warranty the loss of the use of this expensive coach would not be worth it to me and I would just do what countless other owners would have done and just install a switch myself...

you will probably do better workmanship anyway

 

[chriscowles]

... The dealer says Firefly suggests installing a switch in-line on the J17 lead. A reasonable simple fix. ...

A switch seems like a crude way to avoid diagnosing the real problem but, if you install one, make sure it's momentary. I.e., it's closed only while holding the button. I suggest putting it somewhere that it won't be bumped accidentally.

 

[rsdata]

Multiple times we have retrieved the rig from the indoor storage, turned on the house power and found the Firefly screen unresponsive to touchscreen input.

are you sure this problem is not caused by a house battery getting low on voltage during storage?

house batteries support several items that remain ON while in storage and will bring down a battery within a couple of weeks to a level that probably interrupts the operation of that item... it sounds like the fix is just performing a reboot of that computer screen

 

[DaktariEd]

The Lithium house Batteries both check out ok.
It's probably a software glitch but until Firefly fixes their end, I see the switch as the only simple option.



Ed

 

[NMWildcat]

The Lithium house Batteries both check out ok.
It's probably a software glitch but until Firefly fixes their end, I see the switch as the only simple option.



Ed

Sounds like a simple reboot to me. Surely there is an easier way to remove/restore power....

 

[Delco Bobby]

We have had our Isata 3 for about 7 months, purchased new from a dealer.
Multiple times we have retrieved the rig from the indoor storage, turned on the house power and found the Firefly screen unresponsive to touchscreen input.

I spoke with a FR service tech, who connected me to a Firefly tech. The only fix was to hard reset the unit by pulling off the inner panel under the sink, accessing all the electronics, identifying the J17 spade connector and pulling it. After a moment we plug it back in and the problem is solved (until next time).

We took it to the dealer (LazyDays Tucson), who found nothing wrong, and charged us a service fee for doing so.
This last time I was smart enough to document the issue on video. (Dealer couldn't discount our claim.)

The dealer says Firefly suggests installing a switch in-line on the J17 lead. A reasonable simple fix.

Forest River apparently is dragging their feet to approve this.
Seriously?
I had heard that FR was very good about servicing their products but given that our RV has been sitting at Lazy Days for a month, I am having my doubts.
Any thoughts, better fixes, or assistance (bclemens?) would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Ed

Make sure you are contacting Dynamax and not Forest River for help and claims.

 

[bclemens]

1. This is the one and only time I have heard of this.
2. What do you mean the lithium batteries check out?
3. Why couldn't you just be unplugged, hit the disconnect (taking away 12V power) and then turning the disconnect back on? That should reboot the system as well????
If this were a software issue, I would think we would see more of this.

 

[n1acguy]

Just a guess, but from my experience, it sounds like a dealer problem, and not a FR problem.
I had an issue that the dealer was giving me the run around with, and when I talked to FR direct, they told me the dealer didn't even request approval. it was promptly handled once I took it to another service agency that FR authorized.

 

[DaktariEd]

1. This is the one and only time I have heard of this.
2. What do you mean the lithium batteries check out?
3. Why couldn't you just be unplugged, hit the disconnect (taking away 12V power) and then turning the disconnect back on? That should reboot the system as well????
If this were a software issue, I would think we would see more of this.

The service techs at Lazy Days say the batteries are fully charged. I don't know if they did any other testing of the batteries.

We tried the battery disconnect several times, with no improvement. The firefly panel lights but the touchscreen buttons for lights are "dead." Some of them do switch between grayed out and blue (on) but nothing happens with the lights themselves.
If we connect to shore power the firefly will not extend awning or slide-out.
Similarly the water pump switch changes from gray to blue but the water pump doesn't work.

Firefly techs instructed us to do a "hard reset" by pulling J17. That seems to be the only reset that works.


Ed

 

[NMWildcat]

Factory battery cutoffs do not always cut off everything.

 

[Phreak480]

Factory battery cutoffs do not always cut off everything.

That may indeed be true but the user @bclemens is the rep from Dynamax (previously the GM of Dynamax and now for all of Forest River motorized) so he is the voice of the factory on how it works. He is intimately familiar with these coaches.

 

[Chuck_S]

The switch for a hard reset seems reasonable and probably take you no time to install. Not sure why Forest River has to approve it, it's Firefly's system not theirs.

As you're experiencing taking a RV to a dealer should be your last resort although in this case they found and repeated Firefly's solution to you.

-- Chuck

 

[Sunseeker16]

I had a similar issue with my Big Foot leveling system. It would become unresponsive. They told me to pull the hot wire for a few seconds the put it back on. It worked but I had to pull the screws from the cabinet and remove the face plate each time. After a couple times I went to Lowes and bought a normally closed push button switch and wired in the line. Easy now.

 

[NMWildcat]

That may indeed be true but the user @bclemens is the rep from Dynamax (previously the GM of Dynamax and now for all of Forest River motorized) so he is the voice of the factory on how it works. He is intimately familiar with these coaches.

And your point? I think everyone on this forum knows bclemens.
I would just check to verify if the battery cutoff actually cut off power to this particular system.

 

[bclemens]

Well, here is the manual from the online manual. Firefly wiring diagram included at the end. https://forestriverinc.help/#/dynam.../content/publication-16-en_us-multiple-709422

However I am flying blind a bit. I get that it is an Isata 3, but a model year and floor plan would help. I see Lazydays, but they have multiple locations. Poster's home base is AZ, so I will again assume Phoenix area Lazydays?

 

[DaktariEd]

Well, here is the manual from the online manual. Firefly wiring diagram included at the end. https://forestriverinc.help/#/dynam.../content/publication-16-en_us-multiple-709422

However I am flying blind a bit. I get that it is an Isata 3, but a model year and floor plan would help. I see Lazydays, but they have multiple locations. Poster's home base is AZ, so I will again assume Phoenix area Lazydays?

Sorry, trying to do too much today at work, etc....
2022 Dynamax Isata 3 24 FW.
We are in Tucson.
Thanks,
Ed

 

[bclemens]

Sorry, trying to do too much today at work, etc....
2022 Dynamax Isata 3 24 FW.
We are in Tucson.
Thanks,
Ed

I was told there is a software fix that everyone is aware of, but on July 8th, their own tech did not seem to be aware of it.

FYI, the issue is only when a vehicle is stored for a long time without use, NOT plugged in. I am still unclear if that means the batteries die and cause it, or that it literally "goes to sleep" after a set time period of no power source noted.

I was hoping to get an answer to that question soon...but at least we know a fix is imminent.

 

[Phreak480]

And your point? I think everyone on this forum knows bclemens.
I would just check to verify if the battery cutoff actually cut off power to this particular system.

My point is if he says to do it a certain way it's because that is the way that works.