Maintenance: A Little Now, or A Lot Later
Posted by Jeff on Monday, December 1st, 2008Lack of routine maintenance is the most frequent cause of downtime in the wheelchair van community.ﾃつ Fortunately, it’s also the most preventable!ﾃつ Taking care of your handicap van is generally quick and relatively inexpensive, and only needs to be performed twice a year.ﾃつ Whether you pick spring and fall, summer and winter, or schedule your Entervan or Rampvan service each time you change your clocks for daylight savings time, making your handicap van’s maintenance a priority can help prevent costly repairs and inconvenient downtime.
The kneel actuator is located beneath the rear bench seat (trim panel removed for photo)
As an example, let’s take a look at a specific component of the conversion: the kneel actuator.ﾃつ Most BraunAbility wheelchair vans come equipped with a kneel actuator, which works to lower the van’s rear suspension to reduce the ramp angle.ﾃつ Without proper maintenance, the actuator will wear prematurely and can cost over $1000 to replace – an expense that could easily be avoided with proper maintenance.ﾃつ The most frequent cause of kneel failures comes from picking up salt and dirt on the road while driving.ﾃつ The foreign materials cause the grease to dry up, preventing the chain from moving freely.ﾃつ This causes the actuator to pull harder until either the chain breaks, the actuator burns out, or the actuator shorts.ﾃつ The result?ﾃつ A van that won’t kneel, or in the worst case scenario, a mobility conversion that won’t operate due to a short in the main controller.
As many of our customers know – as well as their family and friends – their wheelchair van is as important to their day-to-day routine as their wheelchair itself.ﾃつ With more and more disabled people enjoying active lives and maintaining careers, reliable transportation is not just a luxury, it’s a necessity.ﾃつ Not to overstate the obvious, but a person in a wheelchair normally can’t just call a buddy and ask for a ride to work when their van breaks down!ﾃつ All of us at BraunAbility know just how important our handicap vans are to each of our customers, and we focus on designing and building the most reliable conversions we can.ﾃつ I’m happy to say we’ve made great progress in recent years, especially with the 2008 Chrysler conversion.ﾃつ But try as we might, we have yet to build a wheelchair van that doesn’t require routine maintenance to stay in working order.
Once something breaks, not only are you saddled with added expense, you may find yourself in a situation where you can’t get to work, or to the doctor’s office, or to see your children’s or grandchildren’s Christmas program at school.ﾃつ AAA has calculated that it costs about $.585 per mile to own a typical vehicle.ﾃつ Of that amount, only $.05 goes toward the cost of maintaining the vehicle!ﾃつ That’s a pretty small cost per mile to help ensure your wheelchair van remains operational.ﾃつ So please don’t forget to call your BraunAbility dealer to schedule your handicap van for service.ﾃつ And if you aren’t already, ask them to get you on a regular maintenance schedule – your van will thank you for it!
Tags: service, Wheelchair Vans
March 11th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
I have a lift that is in need of repair but cannot find anyone that works on these. We are in Dallas so if someone could send me the info to service providers that would be great.
March 12th, 2009 at 10:36 am
Hello Malinda,
Thank you for your post.
We have several service facilities in the Dallas area:
Advanced Mobility, 3029 East Meadows, suite A2 Mesquite, TX 75150, Phone 972-270-7114.
Wright Way 175 East ﾃ｢竄ｬﾅ的ﾃ｢竄ｬﾂ 30 Garland, TX 75046, Phone 800-241-8839.
We also have a service facility in Dallas, but they may only service commercial lifts and may be unfamiliar with other private use accessories, like Power Door Operators, Remote Controls etc. I mention them just in case yours is a Commercial use lift. In that case they would be a good choice.
Dallas Fleet Bus Sales 4201 Willow St. Dallas, TX 75226, Phone214-823-3531.
Please let me know if I can help further assistance
Burnie Blackmon
April 6th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
At Agape Senior assisted living in Columbia SC, we have a Dodge Caravan Entervan and lately when we push the remote for the ramp to go up, the motor on the sliding door does not go on. We have to cycle the ramp down and back up again for the motor on the door to kick on and close the door. Any remedy for this?
Dougal Kear
Administrator
Agape Senior – Kathwood
4520 Trenholm Rd
Columbia SC 29206
803-787-1234
April 11th, 2009 at 11:17 am
Im trying to do some research on this lift for a friend. He is in desperate need of a wiring diagram for his lift. He has been having some problems with it coming up and down, just at times. He has taken it to someone to look at it, but say they need that wiring diagram for it, before they can fix it. Now it works most of the time, but he has been scared to drive it in fear of it not going up, and down right. I ask if anyone knows what to do about this issue please email me at mfd1428@yahoo.com, we would both appreciate it very much. Than you for your trouble on this issue we just would really like to get it fixed. the mosel # is l955se Thanks very much
May 12th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
It seems that even WITH proper maintenance these kneeling systems are terribly problematic. There’s got to be a better way.
My 06 Terraza has been back in for repairs 7 times for anything from chain replacement to controller replacement to motor replacement…including 2 weeks after it was delivered.
This is not what I expected when I put out the money for this vehicle. All the dealer does is shrug their shoulders and I must sit without transportation while we wait on parts.
Does Braun take any accountability in helping me, the consumer to figure out if there is something more serious going on here? It’s not very fair that parts which have lasted a maximum of 6 months at any given time will be costing me out of pocket in the not to distant future. There’s got to be an answer here and I’d like to hear it.
Thanks.
May 12th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Hello Dennis,
Thank you for your post.
The kneeling system for lowered floor minivans has gone through quite an evolutionary process. In the early to mid 90ﾃ｢竄ｬ邃｢s we had a lot of problems. The system we used today has been completely redesigned and has a pretty good track record. Obviously several factors could effect, how well a system holds up. I need to gather some more specific information. If you will furnish me with the VIN for your vehicle, the name of the dealer (ﾃ｢竄ｬﾋ徭) who have serviced your kneel system along with any service records you have, I will look into your specific situation and see if I can come up with some answers.
Sincerely
Burnie Blackmon
May 12th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Thanks Burnie. To me, there’s clearly something going on and I really hope you’re able to help figure out what it is. Did I mention it’s waiting on parts at the moment? It went back 2 weeks ago. Had the kneel motor and controller replaced…was returned with what was described as “wiring problems” and works less now than before it went for repair–the side door doesn’t operate AT ALL now. Status–waiting on parts!
The servicing dealer has never (on this and a previous vehicle) ever provided me with service documents while the vehicle was under warranty. However, the VIN on this one is:5GADV33L36D140315 The current mileage is merely 23,960 MILES/38,500KM. Servicing/selling dealer is Kino Mobility Toronto. There are other constant annoyances like a knocking of the exhaust up in the front end some place that has never been corrected, a fuel filler that only allows for 15/16th of a tank of gas before clicking the pump off and the drivers seat plug falling out randomly.
This last situation with the kneel system also required me to pull the release under the rear seat to get the system to go up, then I was informed that I’ve got an older system in there using a cable that seizes.
I hope you can find some answers. I’m not feeling very safe driving my only bit of freedom at the moment.
May 21st, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Burnie:
It went out for repair this morning. Came back this afternoon. Took it for a 15 minute drive and came home. Door opened, ramp went down and the suspension did nothing. Then the ramp wouldn’t go back up. So, to sum it up it’s right back where it was before burning a tank of gas having it driven back and forth for repair. This ain’t right at all. HELP!!!
May 22nd, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Hello Dennis,
I have been in contact with Kino Mobility, to obtain a complete service history of your van. I have also forwarded the information that I have already received from you to our Product Support Team. I will continue to forward them information as I receive it. The kneel system is a fairly simple system. Frankly, I am more than a little surprised that the dealer with the help afforded by our Product Support staff has not already found the problem. I remain confident that we can find the problem. I will stay in touch.
Burnie
May 26th, 2009 at 7:20 am
Thank you for the assistance Burnie.
June 3rd, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Hello, I have run accross a serious problem while trying to assist a handicapped person in need in relationto a Braun ramp product. First of al i would like to say that the van in general has been wonderful for him. He is able to get in and out of it very well for nearly 10 years now since he bought the vehical. But now that somthing has gone wrong with it we have been very disapointed with the availability of parts to repair it. I found that the casting which the ramp motor actuator mounts on had broken on all 3 of the mounting lugs. This housing is a casting made from very cheap material, i say this for two reasons, one it broke under normal service which it should have never done, and secondly when we tried to repair it it melted at a very low temprature (700 deg. F) aluminum normally melts arounf 1200 deg. F. This is not the disapointment i am writing in regards to though. What we are disapointed with is that we are not able to purchase replacment parts for the unit. Like i mentioned there is a broken casting which is replacable but not available. So instead of being able to buy the casting for what I would estimate around $50.00 maybe $100.00 at the most we were forced into having to buy the entire motor and gear box assembly which cost nearly $700.00. this is a crime considering the limited income that most handicapped individuals are living with. I have asked the local distributer, which have nothing to say other than that just the way it is, I have asked the manufacture of the assembly who Braun buys it from whith a responce, that it is Brauns problem not theirs, and pretty much the same responce from Braun saying it would have to be somthing that the manufacture would have to supply. This is rediculous, the fact is the supply chain is set up to take advantage of the goverment funding and insurance buy making impossible to get spair parts, and forcing them to buy the complete assembly. Its bad enough that these Americans have disabilities, they also have this type of treatment from the people who should be there to help. I will be sirprised if i see this go on the post but I feel compelled to write it any way.
Marv Coon
Orem Utah
June 4th, 2009 at 8:41 am
Dear Marv,
Thank you for your post. We value your comments.
I would be happy to look into the concerns you have expressed, if you would supply the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number), for the vehicle in question. I am, unfortunately limited to the availability of parts from the manufacturer, but I will do what I can.
Our purchasing department is in a constant struggle to find good quality yet inexpensive components, to use in the modification process. Generally they do a pretty good job. We also try to maintain an inventory of replacement parts. A large inventory of many small parts is an expensive proposition, requiring a large expensive facility and lots of employees to operate it. This only increases the price to those who already have little ability to afford it. It is a difficult balancing act but we do our best and we try to improve that balance as new situations arise.
Please be assured that from our beginning we have had one driving motivation and that is to provide quality transportation at an affordable price. After all we are not only providing transportation equipment for the general public but also for many of our employees &/or their family members. It is in our own best interest to do the very best job we can. We are not perfect but we certainly want to be.
Sincerely,
Burnie Blackmon
Assistive Technology Specialist