Viair 550C problems :-(

I've had this 550C for about 3years now without any problems. It's in the bed, hooked to a 5 gallon tank, with a 145 PSI pressure stwitch and water trap. The compressor wire (8gauge)goes to a relay and from the relay the wire goes through a 30amp or 40amp fuse then connected to my Optima red top battery.

It has been connected like that for the whole 3 years and recently I started blowing fuses 30 or 40 amps all the time!! Basically it will start pumping air and if I play with the switches again IT WILL NOT start again, instead it blows my fuse hooked to the battery right away.

Here what was done now for troubleshooting,

The compressor wire I have now is brand new, the previous one was replaced because it did heat up eventually. After replacing it we all tought that it would resolve my problem because it seemed like an obvious short BUT NO!! I still have the problem.

My red Top is only 2 years old and my Alternator maybe 3 or 4 years old, Anyways I had my charging system checked and both the battery and alternator are good.

What else could be my problem? Could it be my compressor? Because we pretty much checked everything else.

I am at the point now to try out another compressor?!?! Or is there a way of finding out or testing the compressor to see if it's draws too much and therfore blowing my fuses

Your help is needed here guys and is greatly appreciated as always!!
Thanks!

Did you check the ground wires on every thing?

it could be the compressor putting out more amps and drawing more power due to age and use..now it trying harder to keep up in return pulling to much.....just a thought

Originally posted by biguglywagon

Did you check the ground wires on every thing?The ground on the compressor is fine, what else do you mean by everything?

Originally posted by jdozier1279

it could be the compressor putting out more amps and drawing more power due to age and use..now it trying harder to keep up in return pulling to much.....just a thoughtThis is what I am beginning to think, Is there a way of testing this out with just the compressor?

Keep bringing your inputs as this is starting to be a bit frustrating for me

Ok...Ive also got a 550C & had the same thing happen to me. Mine would heat up, blow fuses & then wouldnt come on for awhile.
We found out that the relay inside the head was heating up & going bad so I replaced it & its working fine now.

Edited: 6/20/2007 12:03:57 PM by Nissan4x293

Originally posted by smcprez

Ok...Ive also got a 550C & had the same thing happen to me. Mine would heat up, blow fuses & then wouldnt come on for awhile.We found out that the relay inside the head was heating up & going bad so I replaced it & its working fine now. Yes my problem is very similar to yours, basically when the compressor starts for the first time in awhile, it will pump until full. Then if a wait a few minutes, like more like 15 or 30 minutes, it might start pumping again and will stop on its own. But if I decide to play with the switches again right away, for sure the comp wont start, sometimes it makes a really weak noise for not even a second then I knowfor sure that the fuse is blown but most of the time I hear nothing, I am like, it should be pumping by now and it's not, then I look under the hood sure enought blown fuse again

Is there a repair kit available for those compressors?

Keep bringing your inputs guys I really appreacite the help here

Im not sure if there is a repair kit or not. I sure you can contact Viair & see what they
have to say. I will say that Ive had little to no trouble with my compressor since I removed the old relay, replaced it & rewired the inside with some heavier wire & insulated it with an ass of electrical tape!

Originally posted by smcprez

Im not sure if there is a repair kit or not. I sure you can contact Viair & see what theyhave to say. I will say that Ive had little to no trouble with my compressor since I removed the old relay, replaced it & rewired the inside with some heavier wire & insulated it with an ass of electrical tape! Ok thanks! I guess that your repair was "homegrown" then? Basically you decided to take your 550C apart to see what was wrong with it?

Does anybody else have any inputs regarding my problem?

Thank you all!!

Get ahold of Lance at Viair...he'll be able to give you a hand..

lancem@viaircorp.com