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Front entry door handle broken . Will not open!
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So is there a concensus that on the XL II you can open the door from the inside if the outside latch fails?
I thought I read Prevost had an upgraded part or fix…any ideas on cost if so?
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Quick update:
You can open door with a long homemade tool from the inside latch.
Got it apart, riveted part to outside handle casing broke off, need to replace the whole part, but it looks like it is an Atwood RV part, gonna see if I can dig one up now. Easy to get it apart and fix, just need part now!
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Intrigued by the 9 foot pole technique. But how do you get access to the inside from the driver’s side electrical compartment? Is there an opening I have missed?
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That is valid for the XLII because the toll window is part of the electrical compartment door. Doesn’t work for the XL, but that windshield comes out and goes in so easy that is the way to enter those coaches.
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New handle and linkage from Prevost is $114…found identical handle on ebay for $40 but linkage is different.
This will give me a good oppurtunity to clean and lube everything inside the entry door once part comes in and i re-assemble!
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Doing more preventative maintenance, where does one attach a cable to open entry door on a riveted XL if latch breaks and you cant open door from outside
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G man. The signature should show the model and year of bus because the means of gaining entry may vary, such as from an XL to an XLII.
But for sure at some point provide a means to open a door with a failed mechanism because this has happened not only keeping people out, but also keeping some people in.
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On my XLV, I drilled a very small (#40) hole above and below the lock release on the door and the driver side sliding window and safety wired them in the unlocked detent. You would have to look very close to see it. I know that this compromises security somewhat, but those windows do not slide easily and would have to be pried open from the outside. I think that someone intending to break into the coach would probably seek entry at another place and if even if at that window would probably break it before trying to open it. Remember, locks only keep honest people honest.
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What Karth did not tell you about his story of the cop arriving was that as Dick was working to unlock the drivers side of his car door with his clothes hanger, the cop showed up. Dick told him what he was doing and the cop walked to the passenger side grabbed the door handle and opened the door. The cop looked across the top of the car and said “This side is open.” and Dick replied. “Yeah, I know, I already got that side unlocked.”
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To echo Gary’s question
Is this issue prone to H3 or only XL series?
Chuck
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All are affected. There have been a number of threads about this topic, including some showing replacement of affected mechanisms.
2000 Featherlite H3-45
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Leesburg, FL -
As Jon says “all are affected”.
As this small malfunction happens always at the worst possible time. Most of the Prevost owners know of someone who got caught when the small parts inside the drivers door break or fall apart.
On all three Prevost I’ve owned this drivers door mechanism has been service as part of regular maintenance.
AL
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Al
What is the service you recommend, or have had done?
Chuck
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My “service” was to expose the latching mechanism and inspect it in great details to see if anything was loose, cracked or subject to breaking. It was OK.
But because stuff happens I added a nylon strap from the last part of the door release mechanism and ran it to a point at the bottom corner of the window glass so to open the door all I have to do is lift it from inside the coach, or if I am outside to lower the entry door toll window and lift it.
My coach is an XLII so to lower the window on my locked coach I have a key hidden to allow me to open the door at the driver’s seat, where I can reach in and push the button on the dash to lower the entry door toll window.
Each type of coach or vintage of coach may require something a little different from what I did, but I am sure every one can be provided with a means to open the entry door in an emergency when needed.
As a practical matter an XL windshield can be removed and replaced so easily and quickly if I still had my XL I might not do anything to allow emergency access from outside, and might just figure something out to allow the entry door to be opened from the inside.
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Unfortunately, we had the entry door lock break on our H345 in 2015. We were in Santa Rosa, NM, at a RV park. The park had a restaurant on the property so as we were leaving for dinner and when I went to lock the door, it sounded funny. I tried to reopen the door and it would not unlock.
A call to AAA was useless. We ended up having to stay in the hotel next door until the next morning. Can you imagine, no toothbrush, toothpaste, PJ’s, etc.?
The next morning, a call to PASS (Prevost Action Service System) really didn’t help much. I was thinking we would need to have the windshield removed but with the help of the campground owner, he managed to put together an extension PCV pipe with a angled pipe on the end and was able to reach the door handle lock to slide it open. After a million tries, it worked! I gave him a nice tip and we were on our way.
I took the coach to Prevost Mira Loma for the warranty repair. After that experience, I still never feel comfortable with that lock (bad memories). Thank goodness I had taken the keys with me as I could open the driver’s bay door to use the emergency electric window button to put down the window for the guy to get to the door handle.
Mark
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