Dealer Add-On Documentation

[Chuck.N]

We're supposed to take delivery of our new M399th any day now. We had a professional inspection done on it this past Thursday. The inspector found a few minor things that need to be addressed, plus a couple of major electrical issues that tie to some dealer add-ons we had done. These are:

• 975W Solar System
• 3kw Inverter
• 4 lithium batteries

When I talked to my sales guy before the inspection, I mentioned that I want a wiring diagram for the electrical work they were doing, and I got more than a little push back.

Without going into extreme detail on the electrical issues, my question is this:

Am I out of line making the wiring diagram a deal killer at this point in time?

I realized during the inspection that I'll be completely lost down the road without a wiring diagram if similar problems crop up. I didn't ask for a wiring diagram before they started the work, because I assumed (there's that word), that they would include it.

What are your experiences with getting a dealer to properly document the work they've done? Was I obligated to demand it before they started the work?

If any of you out there work at a dealer, don't hesitate to chime in. I'm open to hearing both sides.

TIA!

[livinthelife]

We're supposed to take delivery of our new M399th any day now. We had a professional inspection done on it this past Thursday. The inspector found a few minor things that need to be addressed, plus a couple of major electrical issues that tie to some dealer add-ons we had done. These are:

• 975W Solar System
• 3kw Inverter
• 4 lithium batteries

When I talked to my sales guy before the inspection, I mentioned that I want a wiring diagram for the electrical work they were doing, and I got more than a little push back.

Without going into extreme detail on the electrical issues, my question is this:

Am I out of line making the wiring diagram a deal killer at this point in time?

I realized during the inspection that I'll be completely lost down the road without a wiring diagram if similar problems crop up. I didn't ask for a wiring diagram before they started the work, because I assumed (there's that word), that they would include it.

What are your experiences with getting a dealer to properly document the work they've done? Was I obligated to demand it before they started the work?

If any of you out there work at a dealer, don't hesitate to chime in. I'm open to hearing both sides.

TIA!

Only you can determine if the lack of a wiring diagram is a deal breaker.

As to that wiring diagram - there may be a diagram, somewhere, but whether your rig was actually wired that way is up for debate. It's not unusual for things to not be "as they should be" since a lot depends on the how things were being done on the particular day your rig went down the line. We have multiple things on the wrong breakers in our rig.

[Chuck.N]

Only you can determine if the lack of a wiring diagram is a deal breaker.

As to that wiring diagram - there may be a diagram, somewhere, but whether your rig was actually wired that way is up for debate. It's not unusual for things to not be "as they should be" since a lot depends on the how things were being done on the particular day your rig went down the line. We have multiple things on the wrong breakers in our rig.

This has nothing to do with GD. It's all work done by the dealer. I've already received factory diagrams.

[livinthelife]

This has nothing to do with GD. It's all work done by the dealer. I've already received factory diagrams.

You're lucky to get wiring diagrams from GD. Now, I'd be cautious as to whether things were actually done that way.


OK, well dealer service departments are notorious for doing things the way they want to do them. Whether they document how they did things or not, would be up to them. Most likely - not.

[WhittleBurner]

Many people have requested wiring diagrams from GD themselves to be told no. There are no wire diagrams.

[OurNewEra]

Being a professional contracting officer, unless you and the dealer agreed on providing a wiring diagram for their work when you ordered the work they have no obligation to provide it after the work is done. Also, I don't think dealers are skilled at creating wiring diagrams. You would probably get it on a cocktail napkin if they provided something.

I wouldn't consider it a deal breaker. If they have already done the work a wiring diagram is not going to change how the work was done.

I would expect a 12 month workmanship warranty so if there are problems with what they did they should make the repairs.

At this point you may want to request the technician that did the work walk you through what they did and how the wiring was run and tied into the factory system(s).

[WhittleBurner]

What I should have said was that GD considers the wiring to be proprietary and doesn't give it out.

[Chuck.N]

I would expect a 12 month workmanship warranty so if there are problems with what they did they should make the repairs.

At this point you may want to request the technician that did the work walk you through what they did and how the wiring was run and tied into the factory system(s).

Therein lies the rub. It's a local dealer, and I don't think they'll pay anyone else do their warranty work. That remains to be seen. Driving 1,000 miles for a dealer warranty fix is a non-starter.

Last Saturday was the tech that did 90% of the work last day. It wasn't finished when he left. I'm thinking about asking the dealer to reach out to him for the diagram. Maybe he can come in on a day off from his new job. I'd probably be willing to foot half the bill for his time, if the dealer will pick up the other half.

I've decided we're going to walk if I can't get a diagram. I have a better than average understanding of electrical, but I can't troubleshoot the entire electrical/solar/generator/inverter switching system without some documentation on how they did it.

Just one example of what happened Thursday: the inspector was doing the delta T test on the A/C system, when the 50A shore power failed. Apparently the coach was configured for the generator to auto-start upon primary power failure, which it did. Unfortunately, the load didn't transfer to the generator. It just ran while the coach remained dark. It's not the inspector's job to troubleshoot problems, but even if he had wanted to, without a drawing of some kind, where does he start?