Hi guys:)

Well, we are finally fulltiming in our 40ft Alfa Seeya, been living on famcamp on base now for almost 3 weeks. A couple of issues have come up....ie: Smelly toilet, we have been flushing lots of water when we flush, have put deoderiser in (SP?) still kinda stinky, any suggestions?

 

Have levelled rig, according to onboard levelers and seperate one on work surface, fridge still seems to be having a hard time cooling food and keeping it cooled. We have tried all the suggestions on here like seperating food, using fridge fans etc, but still not getting/staying cool enough?

 

Anyone have any idea where we can find/download manufactureres/owners manual for 2004 Alfa Seeya? we didn't get one from dealer and need some height/width info for GPS system

Thanx guys, any help would be appreciated:)

Huggies Kim x

I agree with Bill....The sewer vent on the roof might be clogged or Ive seen the cap pushed all the way down on the roof so there is no venting....( might want to cut down on the mexican food too!!!!)

use a internal fridge fan during the summer months and Level is very important.....check your roof vent (above the Ref outside Roof)....they are known habitats for birds and squirrels and any other leaf tote'n...nut packing..straw carrying string baller to hang out......that being said remove the outside cover to the fridge(outside behind fridge) and make sure all the above mentioned is not in there and the flew is clear all the way to the roof............solar powered fan systems to replace the roof vent are available for short money and well worth it!!!......the air flow behind in the flew area is very important for the cooling process ....



Most of all.....Relax , Enjoy ,Breathe , and dont forget to keep us informed !!!!!!!

We are all new to this , some of us have just been out here longer than others trying to figure it out.....LOL....!!!!!!

The only question that ever went unanswered was the one not asked.............and all failures normally occur when someone fails to ask an important question Before rather than after!!


And most of all..........They thought Einstein Was Crazy!!!!!.........look where it got us!!

There is a little clip that is on the fins inside the fridge. Slide it up (I think) to make the fridge colder. I may have that backward though.
The next time you need to dump your black tank, dump it then fill it up with water add some laundry detergent and bleach. Let it sit for as long as you can then dump it. Using a cup of bleach in the black tank to control odor is what we do.

Good catch Mike!

We use the GEO method so it didn't cross my mind that they may be using the formadlhyde (sp) packets that the bleach suggestion would be bad to mix with.

Make sure you check the actual temperature inside the referigerator with a good thermometer. Once in awhile when I grab something out of the refer it feels warmer than it should but once I check the temp inside the refer I see that it is as cold as it should be.

In addition, you'll see some temp fluctuations throughout the day depending on outside temperatures, direct sun and cycle of your refer. 35 to 43 is what we get depending on if the sun is hitting the side with the refer. Rest of the day it's 33 to 35.

Toilet smells... the gasket at the bottom of your toilet may be bad. This will allow smells from the black tank to get inside the coach. If you are handy it's a fairly simple replacement.

There is a group of folks who started an Alfa repair company here in Southern California when the factory closed. Do a Google search and you should be able to find them. They may have manuals or can give you the measurements.

I typed a reply to this this morning but I hit subscribe and it disappeared so I'll try again. Above suggestions are great, one thing we learned at the Rally in Harrisburg from their head tech with 27 years of experience at Guaranty RV was how awed he was by a product called Happy Camper. That he swore was better than anything he had ever used and a customer had told them about it. Said rigs regularly come in with "the pyramid of death" in the black tank and he would put 2 oz's in the tank and return in 15-30 minutes and NO odor and he could go to work on fixing it. It doesn't perfume odors but stops them completely. Works as well in grey tanks.

Hope t his helps after you have tried above suggestions. Guess its not easy to find but you can go to their website.

~Sherry & Jesse

Thank you guys:) We will be trying some of the suggestions this weekend, really appreciate you all taking the time to answer my questions!

So, we have a splendide washer/dryer in the rig, I had heard good/bad things about them so we weren't too bothered about having one. We have been using the famcamp laundry facilities since we got here. The other day I decided to try ours out, (shouldn't be too difficult, right?) I checked all the knobs/dials/buttons etc, put in a few bits of laundry and started the washer, seemed to work fine, about 2 hours later!! I took out the laundry, Jays cotton shirt was now small enough to fit the neighbors dog! and everything else was so dry/creased, I had to wash them again in the laundry :) Guess it waasn't so simple huh? Anyway, after I came back to the rig, I noticed water everywhere underneath! we couldn't find any leaks or any water in the basement, we are thinking that the washer just emptied out under the coach? surely it is supposed to empty into the grey tank right?

Next, we had decided to put away the money to get the tow package fitted, we called a recommended company to install it, come to find out our car (ford escape 2010) is not a towable vehicle!! Funny noone mentioned that during the whole process of finding our RV, but it's our own fault for not doing the research. Jay is thinking about getting a tow dolly, buy I really don't like that idea.

Have a great weekend guys and thank you again for your experience:)
huggs Kim

JayKim-no regrets wrote:

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Next, we had decided to put away the money to get the tow package fitted, we called a recommended company to install it, come to find out our car (ford escape 2010) is not a towable vehicle!! Funny noone mentioned that during the whole process of finding our RV, but it's our own fault for not doing the research. Jay is thinking about getting a tow dolly, buy I really don't like that idea.

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 Are you sure the Escape is not towable?  I checked Motorhome Magazine's 2010 Dinghy Guide and it shows the Escape I-4, V-6 and Hybrid models all to be flat towable without modification up to 65-70 mph. You might want to check your owner's manual or call Ford to be sure but I've seen a bunch of Ford Escape's behind motorhomes.

I have a 2004 Alfa SeeYa 40'. Bought new.  So first let me say that you absolutely need that owner's manual.  There are quite a few cautions, warnings, specs, and how to fix/maintain pieces of info in it.  I'd also recommend that you acquire mauals on all of the sytems as installed by other manufacturers. IE: Freightliner, Catapillar, King-Dome, Attwood, applicantes, etc, etc.  There are at least a dozen of those manuals. 

Here is a valuable forum site where you can sign up and ask questions about the SeeYa
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/alfaseeya/  The first question I would post is about acquiring all of the manuals.

You asked about chassis specs:
Length  = 39' 11'  Height = 12.5'   Width = 102"   Gross wt = 32K   Carry Cap. = 2666 lbs 
Towing = 5000 lbs

Not a towable vehicle.....Funny no one mentioned that during the whole process of finding our RV, but it's our own fault for not doing the research. They never do and yes it is. A good learned lesson for all.

I concur with the vent tube and toilet ring solutions on the smell.  Pour a cup or two of water into the bowl. If it isn't holding the water, then the ring needs replacing.

Personally, if I had a dumb buyer, I'd sell the Slendide combo. Too little load capacity, too much weight, occupies valuable F/T storage space, takes too long to wash and dry, and the handle is mickey mouse. My wife absolutely concurs with that accessment.  You do need to open the gray water tank when using it so you can forget about it's use when dry camping. 

I can answer other questions you might have. PM me if you would like.

Edit by moderator: Activated link. Terry

-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Tuesday 2nd of October 2012 01:32:26 PM

Bill if your dryer Quit.....shut the Breaker completely off and then turn it back on and retest..........possible one side of breaker tripped but is not showing.......also check venting , if it is dirty or outside is not clear it will blow the hi limit fire safety.......

 

Spendid is a good system for the purpose it was made......Ive worked on them and Equator units for years........anyone not liking them normally is overloading them and does not understand that they are for daily small loads /////NOT trying to do a weeks worth on saturday!!!!!

Of course to the complainers a simple fix is to get a 5 gallon bucket , a cheap plunger and 12 feet of rope for drying purposes......if you do your laundry this way(boondock Method)...it will make you appreciate a Splendid unit very Quickly!!!!

I have a 2004 Alfa SeeYa 40'. Bought new. So first let me say that you absolutely need that owner's manual. There are quite a few cautions, warnings, specs, and how to fix/maintain pieces of info in it. I'd also recommend that you acquire mauals on all of the sytems as installed by other manufacturers. IE: Freightliner, Catapillar, King-Dome, Attwood, applicantes, etc, etc. There are at least a dozen of those manuals.

Here is a valuable forum site where you can sign up and ask questions about the SeeYa
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/alfaseeya/ The first question I would post is about acquiring all of the manuals. >>>>>>>>>>>

Thank you TXRVr!! Good to know a fellow Alfa Seeya owner is around with experience and willing to share it:) Have already joined the alfa owners forum:)

I actually found someone on Ebay selling the manual, hoping to get it in the next day or two. We do have a lot of the other operating manuals for the other systems, also a maintenance schedule that will come in handy, we stopped by the dealers the other day and they gave us the system manuals, even offered to pay for the manual from Ebay, so we are not disappointed with their service. The washer incident was just a learning process, we have used it since (following advice from here) successfuly, but we still prefer to use the laundry facilities in the camp.

The toilet (stinky issue) seems to have cleared up, we are thinking that it may have been due to non-use, (about 6 months since last used before us) We did use a chemical deoderiser and we have ordered the "happy camper" powder too, thanx Westwardho amd Mike!

The escape non-towing problem hasn't been resolved yet, we are gettting conflicting info from different dealers, Jay talked to an older mechanic that told him to forget it and buy a tow dolly, younger guys tell him it can be modified, they have given him a phone # to get a definitive answer from the people that should know, at Ford. Will keep you posted on the info we get, Jay is just thinking about getting a hitch on the back of the escape and then just renting a tow dolly for one way trips, then dropping it back off at rental place when we arrive. For now our plan is to only move around every 4/5 months, so that might work. We still have the money put aside to get the tow package/brake system if we can get it done.

TXRVr, I'm sure we will have lots of questions coming up, so really appreciate you offering your experience
Thank you all, this sure is a great place to learn!
huggs Kim

With the fridge I think i read that after you ajust the clip that slides up an down on the fins of the fridge that you have to turn the fridge off let the temp ajust to the same as room temp and then turn it back on to get the temp to change in the fridge I would like to know if this is true or can you just move the clip.

thanks Mike so you don`t have to turn the fridge off just make the ajustment and wait 24 hours so is it up for cold and down for warm.

I can think of a couple of things regarding the low shower water pressure: 

• We had the same problem and had to resort to turning on the pump when we took a shower.  It was a temporary fix but one that made a huge difference... we just had to make sure we had adequate water in the fresh water holding tank. 
• Check for a flow restrictor somewhere in the shower line and remove it.  It will be a plastic disk with a small hole in the middle. 
• We replaced the standard shower head with an Oxygenics shower head.  The Oxygenics makes low water pressure feel like a lot more than it really is.  You do need to add a shutoff on the shower line though but you can buy one at any Home Depot.
• Lastly I'd check the flow rate of your water pressure regulator.  Many of those inexpensive ones you buy at camping supply places reduce the pressure but reduce the flow rate as well.  We wound up with a Watts 263A that lets a much larger volume of water through while still regulating the pressure. 

Hope some of these ideas will help!

I go along with Ron on the Watts 263A for water pressure.  We are under the opposite circumstances as the water pressure in this mobile home park is really high.  Enough so that it was causing leaks just about everywhere.  We initially got one of those "regulators" at an RV store, but it limited pressure and flow to 45psi.  We ordered the Watts 263A with stainless steel innards and now run absolutely fine at about 58 or 59 psi.  The place we bought it from has a regular 23A model, the model with the stainless innards, and another that is stainless inside and outside.

Here is a link to my blog where I wrote a review of the Watts regulator  If you are really bored, you can watch the videos where I did flow tests before and after installation of the regulator.  At the end of the review, there is a link to the source where we bought ours.

Review of Watts 263A Water Pressure Regulator

Terry

Kay, you probably already thought of this but the easy way to see if your pressure regulator is causing low shower flow rate is to remove it and try the pressure without it.  If the campground water pressure is only 45-50 psi then you won't do any harm in removing it just as a test.  I don't know as I'd leave it off for long though because even though the pressure is only 45-50 right now water pressure can vary widely depending on how many people are using the water at the same time you are.

If turning on the pump didn't increase the water pressure for the shower then I'd investigate either the new shower head or look for a flow restrictor in the shower valve.

Terry and Jo wrote:

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If I read Kay's first comment about the water pressure right, they have low pressure at all faucets with the shower being the worst, especially since one wants quite a bit of water coming from there for showers.  So, are you using a water filter anywhere that may be plugged enough to slow things down?  At your city water inlet, is there a little screen within that fitting that might be somewhat plugged?

With regards to the oven, it appears you have good enough pressure since the burner will light when you light it separately.  When the pilot light is burning, does it look like the flame from it is reaching over towards the burner?  If not, you may need to find a way to clean out the line going to the pilot light.  I am assuming that you do have a good flame both at the pilot and when the burner is burning as well.

I would suggest you try Ron's idea of getting water without a flow/pressure regulator.  Open a window and with one of you outside at the hydrant and the other inside watching the water flow, have the outside person open the valve a little at at time to prevent a high pressure situation.  You might want to try the toilet to see what kind of "flushing flow" you are getting, or if your shower is on a hose, use that with it pulled down so water doesn't get everywhere.

If your pressure improves quite a bit, I'd guess that your flow/pressure regulator may be the issue.  I'm basing that idea on your statement that your water flow is similar to ours with the 45 psi regulator.  If you have the Camping World regulator, I was thinking that those were supposed to be set at around 50 to 55 psi.  So, try that as well.

Good luck with finding solutions.

Terry

-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Wednesday 31st of October 2012 05:56:19 PM

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Thank you Ron and Terry,  Jay was out there last night checking the different entry points for water into the RV, he couldn't find any clogs or crud anywhere he looked. the toilet flush goes through phases, i'm guessing it depends on the amount of water being used in the famcamp at the time of us flushing? We have tried the pressure coming in with/without a regulator on the hose, doesn't make any difference really. We are using a water filter, it's one that fits under the kitchen sink, we had the dealer check that out and the connection to the kitchen faucet, he cleaned out the little wire screen in the spray attachment, but that hasn't helped either, he also checked the pressure without it in. I'm thinking that it could just be an issue with the pressure coming from the hookup? maybe there is a leak from root damage or something underground? seems wierd that everyone else we talk to is happy with the pressure?

 

Terry, yes the gas flow on the oven is good when it is going, the pilot light is lit, but as you mentioned, it isn't a large enough flame to reach the gas bar...sounds like there is an issue in that part of the pipe, will get Jay to look through the manual to see if we can clean that ourselves, thank you!!

We don't have any idea how the last owners were regarding services/maintenance, but from the way they took care of the inside/outside cleaning and upkeep and the fact that they kept the RV inside when not in use, we are hoping they were pro-active with that. (fingers crossed)

 

huggs Kim x

If your neighbors pressure is better maybe you can do the test from their faucet. With their permission, of course.

or somebody put a screened o ring gasket on the hose or at your inlet connection

Kim.....there is no such thing as amateurs in fulltime RVing.........only Masters in training!!!!!!! and as far as I know one has achieved the highest bestowed honors!!!!


you might want to tell jay to check that attachment he took off......could be a clogged water pressure regulator......might not be needed now but some parks tend to have high water pressure and without it it can cause problems fast.......