2000 MONACO COACH DIPLOMAT — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

THIS INVOLVES A NORCOLD 1200 LRIM REFRIGERATOR AND A 2000 MONACO DIPLOMAT 40 PBD MOTORCOACH. WHEN THE REFER WAS REMOVED TO CONDUCT THE RECALL WORK, IT WAS FOUND TO HAVE CAUGHT FIRE PREVIOUSLY, AND HAD SIGNS OF SERIOUS OVERHEATING, CAUSING THE CASE OF THE REFRIGERATOR TO PARALYZE (ALUMINUM FOIL COATING, PAPER BACKING AND FOAM INSULATION BEHIND FLUE TUBE). FURTHER A FIRE HAD OCCURRED ON THE TOP OF THE FLUE TUBE, WHERE FIBERGLASS INSULATION FROM THE COACH HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE TOP OF THE FLUE TUBE, CAUSING CHARRING TO THE INSULATION AND CEILING OF THE COACH, WITH THE EARLY STAGES OF PARALYSIS SETTING IN ON THE CEILING MATERIALS (FOAM AND OZITE CARPET COVERING). PHOTOS OF EVERYTHING WERE TAKEN, AND NORCOLD DENIED CULPABILITY, STATING THAT THE COOLING UNIT HAD NOT "BEEN A LEAKER" AND THAT MAINTENANCE HAD NOT BEEN DONE, WHICH IS NOT COMPLETELY TRUE, ALTHOUGH SOME MAINTENANCE ITEMS WERE NOT PERFORMED ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL (REMOVAL OF THE REFER FROM THE COACH AND SERVICING THE FLUE TUBE). MY CONCERNS ARE 1)OVERHEATING OF THE COOLING UNIT/FLUE TUBE DURING NORMAL OPS WITHOUT FAILURE OF THE COOLING UNIT (RECALL) AND 2) INCORRECT INSTALLATION OF REFER IN CABINET/INSTALLATION OF INSULATION WHICH LED TO CONTACT WITH SAID MATERIALS AND SLOW PARALYSIS/IGNITION. THIS COULD BE A CONDITION IN ALL OF THESE COACHES. *TR

THIS INVOLVES A NORCOLD 1200 LRIM REFRIGERATOR AND A 2000 MONACO DIPLOMAT 40 PBD MOTORCOACH. WHEN THE REFER WAS REMOVED TO CONDUCT THE RECALL WORK, IT WAS FOUND TO HAVE CAUGHT FIRE PREVIOUSLY, AND HAD SIGNS OF SERIOUS OVERHEATING, CAUSING THE CASE OF THE REFRIGERATOR TO PARALYZE (ALUMINUM FOIL COATING, PAPER BACKING AND FOAM INSULATION BEHIND FLUE TUBE). FURTHER A FIRE HAD OCCURRED ON THE TOP OF THE FLUE TUBE, WHERE FIBERGLASS INSULATION FROM THE COACH HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE TOP OF THE FLUE TUBE, CAUSING CHARRING TO THE INSULATION AND CEILING OF THE COACH, WITH THE EARLY STAGES OF PARALYSIS SETTING IN ON THE CEILING MATERIALS (FOAM AND OZITE CARPET COVERING). PHOTOS OF EVERYTHING WERE TAKEN, AND NORCOLD DENIED CULPABILITY, STATING THAT THE COOLING UNIT HAD NOT "BEEN A LEAKER" AND THAT MAINTENANCE HAD NOT BEEN DONE, WHICH IS NOT COMPLETELY TRUE, ALTHOUGH SOME MAINTENANCE ITEMS WERE NOT PERFORMED ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL (REMOVAL OF THE REFER FROM THE COACH AND SERVICING THE FLUE TUBE). MY CONCERNS ARE 1)OVERHEATING OF THE COOLING UNIT/FLUE TUBE DURING NORMAL OPS WITHOUT FAILURE OF THE COOLING UNIT (RECALL) AND 2) INCORRECT INSTALLATION OF REFER IN CABINET/INSTALLATION OF INSULATION WHICH LED TO CONTACT WITH SAID MATERIALS AND SLOW PARALYSIS/IGNITION. THIS COULD BE A CONDITION IN ALL OF THESE COACHES. *TR

ON 10/15/02 WHILE DRIVING MY RV TO A CAMPGROUND, I DETECTED A VERY STRONG ODOR OF ANTIFREEZE INSIDE THE RV AND NOTICED WETNESS ON THE CARPET NEAR THE FIRE WALL. IT RENDERED THE DEFROSTING OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD NIL AND COULDN'T HARDLY SEE OUTSIDE AND DAMAGE THE SIDE COMPARTMENT OF THE R.V. THE UNIT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND MONACO REPLACED THE DAMAGED HEATER CORE ON 12/23/02. ON 1/20/08 ON A TRIP TO ORLANDO THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. I ALMOST PASSED OUT AT THE WHEEL BECAUSE OF THE STRONG ODOR OF ANTIFREEZE LEAKING AGAIN INSIDE THE COACH. SAME PROBLEM: SPITED HEATER CORE. THE PLUMBING OF HEATER IS INCORRECT AND MONACO REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM. *TR

ON 10/15/02 WHILE DRIVING MY RV TO A CAMPGROUND, I DETECTED A VERY STRONG ODOR OF ANTIFREEZE INSIDE THE RV AND NOTICED WETNESS ON THE CARPET NEAR THE FIRE WALL. IT RENDERED THE DEFROSTING OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD NIL AND COULDN'T HARDLY SEE OUTSIDE AND DAMAGE THE SIDE COMPARTMENT OF THE R.V. THE UNIT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND MONACO REPLACED THE DAMAGED HEATER CORE ON 12/23/02. ON 1/20/08 ON A TRIP TO ORLANDO THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. I ALMOST PASSED OUT AT THE WHEEL BECAUSE OF THE STRONG ODOR OF ANTIFREEZE LEAKING AGAIN INSIDE THE COACH. SAME PROBLEM: SPITED HEATER CORE. THE PLUMBING OF HEATER IS INCORRECT AND MONACO REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE RV'S WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND BECAME LOOSE. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AFTER A YEAR OF OPERATION. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED AT A VEHICLE GLASS SHOP. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY OVER THE WINDSHIELD FAILURE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE WINDSHIELD MOVED OVER AN INCH. UPDATED 09/20/06. *JB