2001 Monaco Diplomat
Operator Field Guide · Rev A
Site Setup
Arrival flow · pull in to plugged in
Arrival Sequence
- 01 Pull in and park on the pad. Aim for approximately level to keep ram travel short.
- 02 Dump air. AIR DUMP wedged — nickel or sunglasses earpiece. Full procedure: Guide › Leveling.
- 03 Level the coach. RVA J-II panel — pads under the 3 rams, LEFT · FRONT · RIGHT to center the bubble. See Leveling.
- 04 Hook up 50 A shore power. Cord lives in bay D5. Pedestal breaker OFF while connecting, then ON.
- 05 Connect city water. City water inlet at the wet bay — D4.
- 06 Connect sewer. Wet bay D4. Keep the black and gray valves CLOSED until you're ready to dump.
- 07 Close blinds. Windshield privacy shade + front-cap shades; slide-out and bedroom last.
- 08 Verify shore power is working properly. Wait 30–45 s for the green EMS lights before switching on AC or any high-draw load. Rule: Electrical › No green, no AC.
Cook Camp
Outdoor kitchen · rugs, tables, grills, smoker · from bays D2 / D3 / P2
Where It Lives
- D3 Tables · benches · pop-up canopy (not the coach awning)
- P2 Rugs · BBQ grill · Blackstone griddle + table · Green Mountain mini smoker · smoker pellets
- D2 Grilling propane bottles · fire pit
Setup Order
- 01 Roll out the rugs and stake them down. Rugs from P2, rug stakes from D2. Everything else stages on top.
- 02 Raise the pop-up canopy over the P4 / P5 side for extra shade. Pop-up canopy from D3. This is the free-standing one — the coach's electric awning has its own procedure, see Awning.
- 03 Set out tables and benches under the canopy. From D3.
- 04 Assemble the Blackstone table + griddle in kitchen position. From P2.
- 05 Position the BBQ grill. From P2.
- 06 Set up the Green Mountain mini smoker; grab the pellet bag. Smoker + pellets from P2.
- 07 Set up the fire pit at a safe distance from the canopy. From D2.
- 08 Connect a grilling propane bottle to whichever unit you're using. Bottles live in D2. Snug hand-tight — no wrench on brass.
Awning
Coach electric awning · key-enabled · rocker in entry stairwell
Extend
- 01 Wind check. No wind now, nothing forecast. If either is uncertain, leave the awning in.
- 02 Ground clear under the awning path — furniture, string lights, kids.
- 03 Grab the RV key ring from the cupboard above the driver's seat. Insert the awning key and turn it ON. This enables power to the awning motor.
- 04 Entry stairwell — hold the rocker to OUT / EXTEND.
- 05 Watch both arms. If one catches, GENTLE shake and light assist to free it. Two more sets of hands ready. Never force.
- 06 Release the rocker at your desired extension. Turn the key OFF.
Retract
- 01 Clear everything under the awning — chairs, tables, cords, string lights.
- 02 Key ON.
- 03 Stairwell rocker — hold IN / RETRACT.
- 04 Assist the arms in as they travel. GENTLE shake if either sticks. Same rule: up to 3 people, never force.
- 05 Fully retracted — check both arms are seated flush against the coach.
- 06 Key OFF. Stow the key.
Leveling
RVA Model J-II · 3 hydraulic rams · under couch + D2 bay
Set Up & Level
- 01 Ignition key to ACC (accessory).
- 02 Turn the leveling system ON. Wait for the GREEN ready light.
- 03 Press AIR DUMP down and wedge it held. Use a nickel or a sunglasses earpiece to hold the rocker — it's momentary.
- 04 Let ALL the air out. The coach lowers all the way to the ground.
- 05 Slide a pad under each of the 3 jacks. Use the T-handle with the hook (same compartment) to drag the pads into position.
- 06 Extend / retract LEFT · FRONT · RIGHT to center the bubble level.
Panel Lights
- GreenSystem on / ready to level.
- RedJacks down — don't drive.
- AmberWorking / not yet level.
Stow Before Driving
- 01 Key to ACC, leveling system ON.
- 02 RETRACT all three rams all the way up.
- 03 Pull the pads; stow pads and T-handle in the D2 bay.
- 04 Confirm the RED light is OFF.
- 05 Release AIR DUMP. Let the bags re-inflate — coach rises to ride height.
- 06 System OFF. Drive only with the red light out and coach fully aired up.
Electrical — Power Up
Intellitec 50 A Smart EMS · Trace RC-9 remote · Same cabinet as slide-out controls
Power Up
- 01 Connect shore power OR start the generator.
- 02 Wait 30–45 seconds. Don't touch any switches yet.
- 03 Watch the panel for the green lights = system settled and ready.
- 04 Only then turn on the roof AC or any high-draw item — microwave, water heater.
Generator
Cummins Onan Quiet Diesel 7500 · 7.5HDKAJ · 35 A 2-pole · 3 qt oil w/filter
Wet-Stacking Recovery Run
- 01 Confirm enough fuel for a 1–2 hour run under load. Rated 7.5 kW at full load burns roughly 0.7 gph diesel.
- 02 Turn the panel rotary switch to ON.
- 03 Press and HOLD Start / Preheat. Watch the red LED — that's the preheat glow-plug cycle. Hold 5–15 seconds; release when the engine catches.
- 04 Warm up 5–10 minutes at no load.
- 05 LOAD IT UP: both roof A/Cs on, water heater on electric, microwave running periodically. Target 4.5–7 kW draw (60–95% of rated). Under-loading is what caused the problem — solve it with load.
- 06 Run under load for 1–2 hours. Longer if it was severely wet-stacked. Listen: engine should settle from rough to smooth as heat builds. Watch exhaust: dark smoke should clear.
- 07 Cool-down: drop load to near zero for 2–3 min, then Stop.
- 08 Going forward: exercise the genset monthly at 50%+ load for 1–2 hours. Prevention beats cure.
Start / Preheat / Stop (from the coach panel)
- 01 Rotary switch to ON.
- 02 Press and HOLD Start / Preheat. Red LED on = preheat cycling. Diesel needs the glow plugs warm before firing. 5–15 seconds is typical, longer when cold.
- 03 Release when the engine catches. Let it settle 30–60 sec before adding load.
- 04 To stop: shed load, let it idle 30–60 sec (turbo cooldown discipline), then press Stop momentary.
- 05 Rotary switch to OFF when done.
Indicator Flash Codes
- 1 rapid Preheat active
- 2 rapid High engine temp — shed load, check coolant and airflow
- 3 rapid Low oil pressure — STOP and check oil level immediately
- Slow Service required — see service manual
Routine Maintenance (250 hr / annual)
- Oil + filter3 qt, API CE, 15W-40. Filter 185-5409.
- Fuel filterOnan 149-2513.
- Air cleanerOnan 140-2897.
- CoolantLevel check every start. Change per service manual interval.
- ExhaustInspect manifold for leaks and wetness (wet = wet-stacking signal).
Flat-Tow
2017 Cadillac Escalade 4WD · 2-speed transfer case (N + 4LO) · Blue Ox tow bar · manual battery cutoff
Hook Up & Go
- 01 Park level. Windows up, doors closed. Once power's cut you can't run the windows.
- 02 Set park brake. Start the engine.
- 03 Transmission to N (Neutral).
- 04 Transfer dial to 2HI, then turn toward N and HOLD 10+ seconds. N light blinks, then goes SOLID = transfer case in neutral.
- 05 Verify: shift to R, then D. Truck must NOT move. If it creeps, redo step 4.
- 06 Transmission to P (Park).
- 07 Engine OFF. Press START without the brake → ACC. Amber accessory light on. Take the fob with you.
- 08 Release the park brake.
- 09 Battery cutoff → OPEN. Confirm dead — dome light and horn off.
- 10 Connect tow bar, cables, lights, brake line — then run the Blue Ox check below.
Blue Ox Hookup Check
- Both arms fully extended and locked — pull coach forward a few inches, arms snap rigid.
- Every pivot and clevis pin has its clip or cotter pin — both ends.
- Safety cables crossed in an X, shackles threaded and pinned.
- Blue lighting cord plugged both ends — test brake, turn and markers.
- Breakaway cable clipped to the COACH, not the removable bar.
- Battery cutoff confirmed OPEN.
Unhook On Arrival
- 01 Disconnect tow bar, cables, lights, brake line.
- 02 Battery cutoff → CLOSED.
- 03 Set park brake, hold brake pedal, start engine.
- 04 Transmission to N.
- 05 Transfer dial to 4HI (or AUTO). N light goes off.
- 06 Shift to P. Confirm normal drive.
Plumbing — Shower Valve
Phoenix Faucets 4" two-handle · PF213350 · Lasco S-447-3NL stems
Replace The Valve
- 01 Shut water off at the pump AND the city inlet. Open the shower to bleed pressure.
- 02 Open the galley cabinet chase to reach the red / blue PEX runs. No dedicated shower panel — go in through the kitchen.
- 03 Pull trim, remove handles and escutcheons; unscrew and lift out the old Phoenix valve body.
- 04 Fit the new Phoenix PF213350 with SharkBite / PEX female adapters. PTFE tape on threads. Hand-tight, then a quarter-turn — do NOT overtorque the plastic fittings.
- 05 Charge the system slowly. Check both stems and every joint for weep. Cycle hot / cold a few times.
- 06 Re-fit handles, escutcheons, trim. Confirm no drip after a 15-minute soak test.