Login

1

General Discussion / Re: Slide going cockeyed

« on: October 31, 2026, 08:43:50 am »

That is absolutely horrible, a huge warning to other 2351D owners.

The twin-motor slide-out mechanism surely has a poor track record across the entire RV industry.  If only Phoenix continued installing the prior mechanism where it can be applied.  I think it may have a limit in the width, and it also costs & weighs a lot more.

2

General Discussion / Re: 1st road trip

« on: October 26, 2026, 03:30:32 pm »

It seems like your initial shake-down trip went smoothly with only two issues requiring simple DIY solutions.  Good for you.  As with "Everything RV", stay on top of what goes wrong (stuff will happen) and enjoy your trips.  Fortunately, PC problems run fewer than most other brands of motorhomes.  During our trips, I always write down in a spiral note pad, what could use attention or improvement that I cannot address during the trip.

BTW: Cool that you ran into other PC owners.  We rarely get such opportunities, and the few we do is a hit or miss concerning a conversation with the owner.

Neat tunnel!

3

General Discussion / Re: Mascerator hose durability

« on: October 26, 2026, 03:16:48 pm »

An interesting subject with an interesting reply.

As LRUCH wonders, the diameter of the garden hose could influence the back pressure in the macerator's stinky slinky.  A narrow 1/2" garden hose may restrict flow enough to expand the slinky to the point of failure.  A wide 3/4" garden house might avoid a build-up of damaging back pressure to the macerator's stinky slinky.

FWIW: Our original 2007 macerator's stinky slinky is still in operation though it had sprung two pin-hole leaks over the years.  Upon discovery, I sealed them using a dab of silicone caulk which has been lasting many years, so the caulk seems to be a viable method of repair.

4

General Discussion / Re: PC 2552 Shirt closet shelves

« on: October 24, 2026, 07:34:45 pm »

Ron, I saw your modifications to the cabinets by the TV etc. Beautiful job, looks very OEM.

Thanks!

The B+ cap shelves were quite challenging to follow the irregular shape of the B+ cap.  Through multiple adjustments, I created a pattern from paper followed by cardboard.  Once I was confident, I then transferred the shape to the shelving material, then built the units from there.  I could not fully preassemble the left side unit, rather the lower to the verticals, work it through the opening of the cabinet, then work the top shelf into place and screw it on while it was inside the cabinet.  I recall going a little crazy at one point, but I got it done well.

5

General Discussion / Re: PC 2552 Shirt closet shelves

« on: October 19, 2026, 08:13:17 am »

I am not sure this will apply to you, but back in 2007, for our cherry cabinetry, I found very close matching pre-finished shelving at Home Depot.







Not shown, I added one shelf in the shirt closet.  Inside it, my wife stores extra linen and a bin for her personal care items.

I advise NOT to rely on other people's measurements, rather measure your shirt closet, each shelf individually, because of the possible variance between them, and also to other 2552 rigs.  Being hand crafted, the cabinets may vary from one rig to another.

6

General Discussion / Re: Duo Therm Penguin A/C

« on: October 14, 2026, 09:17:33 am »

Larry/LRUCH offers great advice about getting up on the roof and identifying anything that looks suspicious.  From block foam insulation around the perimeter (assuming no ventilation is required from under the unit), to removing the top cover, clean, inspect, fasten better.

One thing I noticed with my own 2007 Duo Therm, are the special screws that hold the lid on.  They have a unique shoulder on the shaft where the threads are.  One day I noticed one was missing.  I ordered a few off the internet, keeping one as a spare in my RV tool box.  When on a ladder, just glance at the cover, making sure you see screws, not holes for screws.  Wiser yet would be to make sure they are tight.  You don't want to see a huge thingy sailing away in your rear view mirror.

7

General Discussion / Re: Automatic Transmission Fluid ATF Level

« on: October 11, 2026, 08:38:02 am »

What began as a question about possible solutions to process a Check Engine Light alarm and the relationship ATF levels possibly have on sensors measuring fluid levels quickly evolved into the esoterica of the Throttle/Pedal Position Sensor.  Code reader test results revealed a difference between the pedal / throttle sensors.was detected and the sole reason for Check Engine light

I learned the best solution was to simply replace the switch.   Exploring that possibility, I found the install /replace process includes "Hard resetting" the newly installed part with what is called "Training"

The five step process:

Turn the engine off and remove the key
Disconnect the negative battery cable
Wait 10 to 15 minutes to clear the computer's memory
Reconnect the negative battery terminal
Turn the key on (engine off) for 30 Seconds. Then start the engine and let it idle for 10 minutes with the accessories off to complete the idle relearn.

Since I store the vehicle in a distant location for prolonged periods by disconnecting all the batteries, unwittingly I probably cause the problem.  Reconnecting the battery and not abiding by a prescribed learning process could generate some complication.

Though I store our PC at home, I disconnect all batteries off-season.  Like you, I have drive by wire, assumed to be the same technically, but I never follow any kind of procedure though maybe I do without realizing it.  When waking up our rig for the season, I back it out of our garage and let it idle for an extended period of time to warm up the engine to dry out any potentially accumulated moisture.  But, I can't say that I intentionally wait 30 seconds, nor that every accessory is turned off.

8

General Discussion / Re: Smart tv upgrade

« on: October 06, 2026, 04:51:20 pm »

My PC has rear speakers in the bed area but they are connected to the in dash radio. Never really understood why since you really don't hear much from them when driving, unless it for someone resting in the bed while the other is driving.

The same here with our 2007 2350.

We appreciate the 5speaker +subwoofer surround sound system with DVD/FM head unit.
MSRP was $504
We paid $388

9

General Discussion / Re: Automatic Transmission Fluid ATF Level

« on: October 06, 2026, 09:36:10 am »

Problem Defined!

As suggested, I found an AUTOZONE parts retailer where they ran diagnostics tests on my FORD E350.  Upon my request,  using their "FIX FINDER" to list trouble codes, they were able to determine the Throttle / Pedal Position Sensor was the culprit causing the Idiot Light to illuminate.

The Technician at the counter was kind enough to explain.  Simply put, the connection between the accelerator pedal and fuel flow is electrical.  Not mechanical linkage.  Switch A and Switch B share an acceptable range of voltage. 

As he pointed out, the error also causes Cruise Control to disengage.  A very knowledgeable individual, with a lengthening line of customers building, I refrained from asking additional questions.  One being: what prompted the Idiot Light to disengage?  About a half dozen engine off/on cycles??

Generally speaking, a Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) is fast and affordable to get replaced.  It is located on the throttle body, an easy project, even for a shade tree mechanic.

I would get it replaced ASAP.  Today it's a light on the dash board.  Tomorrow you might have strange drivability and/or lower gas mileage.

10

General Discussion / Re: Automatic Transmission Fluid ATF Level

« on: October 06, 2026, 09:22:42 am »

The general rule is that it is excellent to change the transmission fluid per the recommended intervals.

BUT...

If the vehicle has been neglected in this regard for 100,000 miles (a very crude number), contaminants build up throughout the transmission in the form of physical globs.  When servicing the transmission under this condition, the fresh fluid introduces fresh detergents that break-free the globs having them traveling throughout the transmission reeking havoc that shows up as transmission problems.

I have first-hand experience with this.
A number of decades ago, our son bought an old car in his college years.  Not knowing any better back then, we changed the transmission fluid and filter.  Soon thereafter, the transmission didn't work right.  It quickly got so bad that we had to scrap the car.

11

General Discussion / Re: Automatic Transmission Fluid ATF Level

« on: October 05, 2026, 09:07:14 am »

Even those times the pan is removed and the filter discarded, the refill to capacity amount to capacity is considerably less.

It sure is.

The external secondary bell jar filter is an odd feature that is found only in the 2004 to mid 2008 5-speed TorgShift transmission.  Only a portion of transmission fluid runs through it, and if it becomes 100% clogged, no harm is done to the transmission as the system is then bypassed.  It is an "extra" system solely for "refined" filtering.  The filter in the pan is different too so maybe it does not filter as well as the one that replaced it in the years that followed.

Here is a picture off the internet of the external transmission filter bell jar housing.


This is the filter inside it.  It appears to be a "refining" filter for maintenance of the fluid.

12

General Discussion / Re: Sewer hose storage

« on: October 04, 2026, 07:43:05 pm »

Does not every PC have a manual dump backup system?

13

General Discussion / Re: Smart tv upgrade

« on: October 04, 2026, 05:32:59 pm »

I know what you mean about the external rooftop antenna.  The wings like to "slap" the roof with bumps in the road.  I stuck on the wing tips, large thick felt pads used for sliding furniture on hard floors.  That completely solved the irritation.  I also added a signal boosting contraption on the antenna, wondering if it does any good.  For as often as we utilize the antenna, it is hardly worth keeping.  But you know how it can go, the day that I remove it, is the first trip out that I wished I hadn't.

14

General Discussion / Re: Automatic Transmission Fluid ATF Level

« on: October 04, 2026, 05:21:23 pm »

Pay very close attention to the exact type of transmission fluid to add.  I read that it is VERY critical.  I always keep one quart in the motorhome.

Our 2007 Automatic Transmission - TorqShift 5-speed requires.....
fluid name: Motorcraft MERCON SP
fluid part number: XT-6-QSP/MERCON SP

For our 2007 TorqShift 5-speed with secondary external bell-jar transmission filter, at 25,000 miles I drained the trans pan via the drain plug, replaced only the external filter, and considered it good until 50,000 miles.  The transmission fluid that drained out looked great/fresh.  At 50k I will be dropping the pan and replace the internal filter along with repeating what I did at 25,000 miles.

Our odometer is currently at 46,000 miles.

15

General Discussion / Re: Automatic Transmission Fluid ATF Level

« on: October 04, 2026, 03:48:00 pm »

Taildragger,

Drive your rig to an Autozone.  At NO CHARGE, they will read the code(s) and provide the interpretation of the code(s).  That is a good and FREE place to start concerning a "check engine" light, or "check something" light.

I bought a code reader from Temu for less than $10 to display the code for all my vehicles.  With that code (or codes) I then do a Google search to get what the code means.  It saves me trips to Autozone.

Once in a great while, a code will come up for the evaporative system.  "Oh, someone didn't install gas cap adequately."  What an easy fix.  Install the gas cap tightly, then use the code reader to reset the system.