May/June 2013 Issue of RV Technician

Welcome to RV Technician.

With hot weather here, dealerships are sure to be getting calls about non-functioning air conditioners, so first up is a story on troubleshooting AC electrical systems. It starts with a quick checklist to help narrow down and diagnose the problem, followed by more detailed instructions for repairing various scenarios.

Also in this issue, RVDA Service Consultant Tony Yerman reveals his technique for dealing with small punctures to an RV’s roof or sides, holes that are too small to warrant replacing the entire roof or body panel. You know the kind—those one-inch punctures caused by things like small falling branches or “dings” while the unit is in tight quarters. Yerman demonstrates some ingenious ways to repair small damaged areas with less-invasive cover-up elements that are unobtrusive and blend right in. His story is called “Boo-Boo Patch Repair Technique.”

Next up is a story you’ll want to share with your customers—especially those who are new to RVing—called “Ten Tips for RV Safety.” This commonsense list of how-to’s will help them have a safer and more enjoyable experience. In fact, you might want to use this story as a hand-out for all service department customers.

Finally, this issue includes a new “Top This!” column, called “A Little Too Much Power,” that involves a problem familiar to all technicians: customers who won’t admit to you what repairs they’ve already attempted to make to their units. Read about how a misguided neighbor helped blow out the entire electrical system of the customer’s RV, not once but twice.

  

Table of Contents

• Electrical System Troubleshooting for Air Conditioner Controls - This story begins with a checklist to help quickly diagnose problems and then provides details on how to repair various scenarios.
• Boo-Boo Patch Repair Technique - Some punctures on RV roofs and side panels are just too small to bother replacing or resurfacing the entire area. Here are some clever, time-saving ideas for covering small holes.  
  
• 10 Tips for RV Safety - Millions of RV enthusiasts are taking to the roads this month. Educate your customers on how to safely operate and enjoy their units.
• Top This! - A  customer knew more than he was admitting about why his RV's electrical system had blown out not once but twice. The technician's first job was to get at the truth. 
  
• Certification How-To - There's more than one path to certification, and it's easier than you think. There are online courses, study guides and tests, and more. Choose your path.