Additional repair to drivers side wall

Sidewall_5_800 IMPORTANT – If you needed to do the floor-to-wall repair that I reported on last year (READ HERE) , then you’ll also need to do the repair I’m reporting on below…..

On our last trip out west in January, the Mirada developed a loud screechy noise coming from the drivers side that sounded like two Styrofoam cups rubbing together. I looked and felt around but couldn’t pinpoint the source. I checked the floor to wall bolts I installed last year and they were tight. Continue reading “Additional repair to drivers side wall” →

Generator Compartment vents

GenVent_3_600 I got this idea from another Mirada owner.

The generator compartment is fairly tight and not good for air circulation. I decided to help a little by adding a couple vents. These should help with airflow if I’m not able to open the compartment door when I run the generator.

The vents are pre-made stainless used on a watercraft, I got them on e-bay, $23 for two of them (CLICK HERE). Continue reading “Generator Compartment vents” →

Exterior entry light replacement

The original entry light was becoming intermittent from a bad bulb socket and the lens was very yellow.

A new fixture was about $7 so I decided to replace it. Instead of using the incandescent bulb, I decided to put an LED panel in it.

I retrofitted all my interior lights to these LED panels and had a few left over.

The new fixture is not a direct replacement. particularly how the screws line up. look carefully at the photo. Continue reading “Exterior entry light replacement” →

Ford fires and the cruise control recall

It was 6:30 a.m and as I looked out the window, I seen smoke coming from my neighbors F150 pickup. I go out to see whats going on and the other neighbor is raising the hood and there are flames under the hood and inside the drivers compartment.

The truck had been parked in the drive for a few days, why would it all the sudden burst into flames? Continue reading “Ford fires and the cruise control recall” →

Repair interior wall de-lamination damage

When we bought our Mirada last fall, one of the reasons we got such a great deal was because the unit had been sitting on the dealers lot for 6 months. Odds are good when potential buyers seen the water damage under the Emergency Exit window, they got cold feet and moved on.

When we looked to purchase the Mirada I seen the damage and spent a great deal of time looking at it and tried to figure out just how serious it was. My conclusion was that it was cosmetic and looked a lot worst than what it really was. The damage had been there a long time and was not getting any worst. Continue reading “Repair interior wall de-lamination damage” →

Window tint and window covers

WindowTint2_600 — no tint (left) vs tint (right)

When the sun is shining, a lot of heat comes through the windows, both while driving and while parked. The heat is nice during the winter, but during the summer, the heat from the sun keeps the A/C working overtime, especially when we’re traveling out west.

The original windows have a slight tint that blocks a little light, both from outside and inside. Besides letting in a lot of sunlight (and heat) , there is a security issue. When standing outside, you can easily see in the windows. Continue reading “Window tint and window covers” →

Blown O2 sensor from exhaust manifold

Traveling in the hilly country of West Virginia’s I-77, as I pressed on the gas to start up the next hill, the transmission downshifted and all the sudden, a loud;

BBBBBrrrrrrrrr.

It definitely sounded like a exhaust problem, maybe a broken manifold or a donut seal pooped out. These V-10’s also have a rare history of spitting plugs, but it didn’t sound like that. This is not good, URGH Continue reading “Blown O2 sensor from exhaust manifold” →

Emergency Exterior Wall Repair

IMPORTANT UPDATE – May 2016 – If you’re doing this floor-to-wall repair on your Mirada, then you also need to look at the structural plate attach screws that I also found missing. READ HERE to see that article.

A few months ago I ran across a thread in the Forest River forums where people were having some problems with wall separation on their Georgetown’s. So when this happened on a recent trip, it scared the hell out of me.

“…every time I hit a bump, I’d watch as the instrument panel would stay still, but the entire windscreen and drivers wall would bounce up and down several inches. Thank God we were on a rural road. I slowed way down and prayed this thing would stay together just a few more miles….”

When we bought our “new to us” Mirada last fall, I noticed the drivers side wall would move up and down 1/2 inch, it appeared this had been doing it for some time because there were abrasion marks on the instrument panel where a cup holder that was mounted to the wall was rubbing against the instrument panel. (see the marks in red circle). I just assumed this was normal. Continue reading “Emergency Exterior Wall Repair” →

Water valves – repair, o-rings, and replacement

WaterValve_2 These valves are used on my Coachman Mirada for the water panel and also the water heater bypass.

On another forum, someone was having problems with the water handles leaking, so I took apart one of my broken ones to see how they came apart and also to see if they could be repaired. i.e. new o-rings, etc.

1) Pull the handle straight back to remove it. They are hard to get off, but they do come off. Continue reading “Water valves – repair, o-rings, and replacement” →

Modify Screen Door to a magnetic catch

The original screen door latch on my Coachman Mirada was not user friendly.

On nice days we’d leave the exterior door open and kept the screen door closed. Unfortunately, when we wanted to go in or out, it was a real PITA getting the screen door open and was basically a 5 step process:

Slide the latch cover open.
Release the latch.
Push the door open
Slide the latch cover closed so bugs don’t get in.
Close the door.

ALSO – The cheesy plastic thing to grab the door is easily broken and a real live honest to goodness handle is whats needed.

Continue reading “Modify Screen Door to a magnetic catch” →