2012 Seneca Engine Noise

[Busa1300]

Hello!

We have a new 2012 Seneca and were wondering if there are any other owners here that have an engine noise at about 55-65 mph that sounds kinda like a bad bearing. This "noise" goes away when I accelerate or back off the throttle. We had it at the dealer for some other issues and they took it to Freightliner to have the noise checked into along with some door wind noise addressed. $371.00 later Freightliner could not hear any noise. We hear it...the dealer hears it...but freightliner does not.

Wondering if others notice this same noise. It pops up at freeway cruise speed only.

Thanks!

[Rustic Eagle]

I don't have a MH, but you mention "hearing" a noise, is there any vibration associated to the noise? Did they check the clutch fan, U-joints? It could be a lot of different things.

This guy had a vibration issue with his 2013 Seneca: http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fu...d/26589797.cfm

Bob

[Busa1300]

Hi Bob.

No vibration, just the noise. If I had to guess, Id say the noise comes from the throttle body. The noise can be affected by throttle position when the noise is happening. It's kind of a high pitch noise that can only be created at freeway speeds.

Not sure what they checked as they did a test drive (at the bargain price of only $142.00) and found no unusual sounds. What I'm trying to find out is if others M2's sound this way as well.

Thanks,

Denie

[Seann45]

See if they will let you take the mechanic for a ride... then you can recreate the conditions that cause the noise..

[brianmac]

Hi Busa1300. I have the noise too. I am on my first trip in the unit but the first time I got on the freeway, I noticed the noise at between 60mph and 65mph. To me it sounds like crickets chirping. I have no idea what it is, but I will have the freightliner people check it out when I return home. Have you had any luck with your freightliner service techs since December? To me the noise was obvious so they would have to be able to reproduce it I think. However, make sure the engine is warmed up before they drive it. On my first day out, I was several miles to the interstate and heard the noise right away, on my second day out, I was < 1 mile from the interstate and didn't notice the noise for a few minutes until the engine was warmed up.

I hope this helps and please post back if you discover any cause for this.

Thanks!

Brian

[Nialll]

I too have the noise
Crickets or chirping at 60 mph. To me sounded like fan belt noise
I never worried too much about it.

[Grumpy]

Don't know if this is the same noise but this was posted on RV NEThttp://www.rv.net/CFORUM/index.cfm/f...d/26589797.cfm

[Busa1300]

Sorry for the late reply. Been busy and rigs been at the dealer for a month!

Freightliner states noise is normal. The noise is from the throttle body and it can be altered by varying the throttle position. I'm going to devise a cover to fit the throttle body and see if this can eliminate or quiet it somewhat.

I have another noise question. Anybody getting a rattle noise from the drivers door area? When driving it sounds like the rattle is to my left and behind me.
Also, how is the fit of your doors in general? Ours were so poor you could actually put your fingers through the seal to the outside at the top portion of both doors. Freightliner has since adjusted them (there was much wind noise and air passing through seals) and are better but they could be adjusted even tighter...going to do this myself.

Thanks everyone! I'll update when try my "fix" of this noise.

[NHRA ROB]

The noise you hear is going from shifter cable.There is a fix, my coach is at Freightliner being repaired.

[Busa1300]

Can you give me more info? Exactly what the fix is (part number?) so I can be specific when I go back to Freightliner.

Thanks.

[NHRA ROB]

Call Valley Freightliner in Mount Vernon WA (877)848-0472. They had an engineer from Freightliner to repair it last week. Talk to Andrew in service. Have you had any issues with your Seneca ? I just got a 2013 36 FK and I starting to worry. I have had over 3 pages of issues and have only had it home for a few days. Jayco has a painter flying out tomorrow to try to fixs the paint. Just wondering if anybody else is having so many problems on a brand new coach??

[Busa1300]

Originally Posted by NHRA ROB

Call Valley Freightliner in Mount Vernon WA (877)848-0472. They had an engineer from Freightliner to repair it last week. Talk to Andrew in service. Have you had any issues with your Seneca ? I just got a 2013 36 FK and I starting to worry. I have had over 3 pages of issues and have only had it home for a few days. Jayco has a painter flying out tomorrow to try to fixs the paint. Just wondering if anybody else is having so many problems on a brand new coach??

Yes, we had issues as well with our 2012 36FK. However, so has a friend that has a new $250K Alegro Red class A. From what I can tell it seems to be a common thread with new MHs. Most all our issues were things needing adjustment. The dealer we purchased from had the coach on the floor for a long time (we purchased in October of last year) and had wear and tear issues. Most all our issues should have been fixed before we took delivery by the deal but were not. My biggest complaint is the rattles in the cab... we had about 16 coach issues and 10 chassis issues. To be honest, the problems we've had were not as severe as those that my friend had with the Alegro. Fit and finish much better on the Jayco, Genset system, camera system and leveling system all better on the Jayco as well. The Alegro leveling jacks broke OFF in the first month. He's had structural cracks in the corners of the openings for the slides, every cabinet door is way out of alignment and more.
I'd not worry yet as all our issues, other than the chassis rattles, have been resolved and no new ones have popped up.

I have to say, I wish I'd got the 2013 just for the larger wheels and air suspension. However, the price was hard to pass up on the 2012.

I can send you a list of problems we had if you like to compare.

Thanks for the info on the "noise"...

Denie

[GuidoDoc]

Saviors! I have had my 37fs for only 2 months and I thought I was nuts with this chirping whirring noise. I tried to get some help from another RV forum but this post nailed it. I think I even used the same description when I described it to the tech at the Freightliner dealer. He is waiting to hear back from the engineer but this should help move things along. We narrowed it down to the shifter cable too by pushing on things while driving.

Could someone elaborate on the throttle body possibility? Do you mean where the pedal mechanics are in the cab or the engine throttle body?

[GuidoDoc]

Looks like the shifter cable fix worked. My local Freightliner got the TSB and the parts pretty easily. It is a silly little repair only took about an hour. They replaced a small metal ? shaped clamp with a new design that included a bushing and had a second screw. I didn't have a chance for a great test drive afterward due to a torrential downpour but I don't think i heard the noise. Fngers crossed.

[Busa1300]

It was just a guess on my part on the throttle body based on the fact that throttle position seemed to affect the noise. And yes, I was referring to the engine throttle body.

Do you have the actual TSB number so I can pass this on to my dealer?

[GuidoDoc]

I didn't get a TSB # but it was called the shift cable isolator for noise at cruising speeds. Seemed like they found it pretty easily.

[Busa1300]

Originally Posted by GuidoDoc

I didn't get a TSB # but it was called the shift cable isolator for noise at cruising speeds. Seemed like they found it pretty easily.

Thanks. Coach going in this weekend...I'll post the results!

[FandMinMO]

We Just took delivery of a Seneca and have exactly the same problem. It is between 1700 and 1800 RPM and again between 2300 and 2500 RPM. Several hours at Freitghtliner service yesterday. So far they have agreed that it is a problem, but don't know how to fix it. So far no charge. It sounds to me like somehow we need to get Freightliner to recognize the problem and give us a fix. I don't want to drive across the country listening to this. Is there a way to get Jayco corp. to interceed on our behalf?

[FandMinMO]

The freightliner part number is KPP294201. Our FL shop is ordering one for us as we speak (blog?)
Fred L

[GuidoDoc]

Sounds like they found the TSB. We took ours out this weekend and it was fixed! The same tone is faintly audible but nothing that i would even notice had it not been so bad before. Hope yours gets taken care of too.