GENSET starting problem (SOLVED)

[Belgique]

Disregard....it cured itself or something because started perfect a few minutes ago. 18 mo old Grandson was here and I suspect he may have hit the master battery turn of switch when this happened and then reset it later...smart kid :-)

Thanks...Steve

2001 Itasca 35U; Onan 5.5kw, Model HGJAB901A

Ran genset for about 6 hours coming to here without any issues. Normal start at beginning of the trip. The next day needed to move to another site and attempted to start genset.

"¢ Pushed the start button and a "thump"� kind of sound...nothing else. Doesn't try to turn over or anything. Same action using any of the 3 start switches.
"¢ No trouble code flashes
"¢ Other 12v systems in coach dim, go off, etc during the "thump"� and then return to normal.
"¢ Perhaps a significant clue: If not plugged in to shore power, get absolutely nothing...not even the "thump"�.
"¢ But, 12v systems are fine the rest of the time no matter if on shore power or dry. House batteries are 6mo old and run the coach fine and for a long time when dry camping.

I wonder if there is something in the genset starting circuit that is pulling a huge load? But I don't understand why I get nothing if not on shore power?

Thanks in advance! Steve

[Belgique]

Disregard....it cured itself or something because started perfect a few minutes ago. 18 mo old Grandson was here and I suspect he may have hit the master battery turn of switch when this happened and then reset it later...smart kid :-)

Thanks...Steve

2001 Itasca 35U; Onan 5.5kw, Model HGJAB901A

Ran genset for about 6 hours coming to here without any issues. Normal start at beginning of the trip. The next day needed to move to another site and attempted to start genset.

"¢ Pushed the start button and a "thump"� kind of sound...nothing else. Doesn't try to turn over or anything. Same action using any of the 3 start switches.
"¢ No trouble code flashes
"¢ Other 12v systems in coach dim, go off, etc during the "thump"� and then return to normal.
"¢ Perhaps a significant clue: If not plugged in to shore power, get absolutely nothing...not even the "thump"�.
"¢ But, 12v systems are fine the rest of the time no matter if on shore power or dry. House batteries are 6mo old and run the coach fine and for a long time when dry camping.

I wonder if there is something in the genset starting circuit that is pulling a huge load? But I don't understand why I get nothing if not on shore power?

Thanks in advance! Steve

[dstinch]

try the battery cabels that go to the gen set. make sure there tight first. Don

[AFChap]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Disregard....it cured itself or something because started perfect a few minutes ago. 18 mo old Grandson was here and I suspect he may have hit the master battery turn of switch when this happened and then reset it later...smart kid :-) </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Could have been the switch, but if it was off you should not have had 12v lights, etc either. Could be that the house batteries (they serve as engine starting battery) were too low to turn the generator engine over ...one clue to that is the noticeable dimming of 12v stuff you mentioned. Leaving it plugged in for awhile gave the batteries a chance to charge up to the point it would start. And don't forget that you can use the "battery boost" switch to start the generator from the engine starting batteries, just as you can use it to start the engine from the house batteries. Hopefully, both battery banks are not too low at the same time!!!

[NeilV]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Belgique:
Disregard....it cured itself or something because started perfect a few minutes ago. 18 mo old Grandson was here and I suspect he may have hit the master battery turn of switch when this happened and then reset it later...smart kid :-)

Thanks...Steve

2001 Itasca 35U; Onan 5.5kw, Model HGJAB901A

Ran genset for about 6 hours coming to here without any issues. Normal start at beginning of the trip. The next day needed to move to another site and attempted to start genset.

"¢ Pushed the start button and a "thump"� kind of sound...nothing else. Doesn't try to turn over or anything. Same action using any of the 3 start switches.
"¢ No trouble code flashes
"¢ Other 12v systems in coach dim, go off, etc during the "thump"� and then return to normal.
"¢ Perhaps a significant clue: If not plugged in to shore power, get absolutely nothing...not even the "thump"�.
"¢ But, 12v systems are fine the rest of the time no matter if on shore power or dry. House batteries are 6mo old and run the coach fine and for a long time when dry camping.

I wonder if there is something in the genset starting circuit that is pulling a huge load? But I don't understand why I get nothing if not on shore power?

Thanks in advance! Steve </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Steve,

I also have a 2001 35U and had the same problem last July. The bypass relay had started to fail. The 12 volt systems inside the coach ran fine but the starter circuit would not work well enough to start the genset. It got to the point where we would have to rock the bypass switch several times to get the relay to engage well enough the get it started. We eventually have to use a portable jump starter to get through the remainder of our trip and used the 12 volt lugs with the remote start switch on the generator when we needed to start it. When we got home we had the relay replaced and it has worked fine ever since.

[Belgique]

Thanks All!! Maybe G'Son isn't the accused I wondered about all that but it worked fine today so I thought he had done something...he touched every switch in the coach (which is fine...love having him there).

Neil: Can you clarify what you did? Not sure what "bypass switch" and "relay" you mean (and what you replaced). I don't have a Winnie dealer in my area, or is it an Onan issue? Thanks! Steve