Starting issue with 7.5KW Quiet diesel Gen

[FIRE UP]

Ladies and Gents,
While camping recently at the Quartzite event, I noticed a problem with starting my 7.5KW Diesel Generator. I know how they're supposed to start and ours used to start the way I'm thinking but, it doesn't now. What it does now is, you hit the start button, and it immediately starts cranking. It will puff out white smoke and crank for maybe, 5-10 seconds, which is way too long for those to crank, and then start to spin faster and faster until it actually starts. I know and understand that the white smoke is raw diesel so, it's not a good thing.

When we purchased the rig, about 10 months ago, it worked as it was programmed to. You'd push the start button, the gen went into a pre-heat mode, then after say, 5 seconds or so, it would start to crank and immediately start. So, my thought is, it's lost the pre-heat mode or, what ever controls it. A sensor, or, a glow plug or ????? Not too sure. It doesn't matter which switch I push to start it, it does the same thing with either one. I will try and dig into what ever paper work we received with the coach pertaining to the genny and, I'll look into whatever wiring diagrams I can find on the net. But, if some one's had this issue, and cured it, I'd sure be appreciative of your remedy if you'd let me know.

[strippit]

Fireup the problem your speaking is caused by a faulty heat sending unit in the top of the block it controls the glow plugs. had the same trouble and a new sending unit fixed it. when removing make sure you have the right size deep socked to remove it. its real tight and corners are easly rounded off then you have to heat with torch to get lose enough to remove. ask me how i know. Delbert

[FIRE UP]

Delbert,
Roger that Sir. I think I've got an Onan Service Manual on the way to me to help me with this situation. This is what I love about this and other forums, nice folks, willing to help. This is way cool! Thanks very much for the tip.
Scott

[CaptBill]

Agree the auto-preheat isn't working. Try pressing and holding the "Stop" side of the start switch for 10 seconds or so, release and immediately press "Start". On mine, I can manually pre-heat by doing this. I think that would check out the glow-plug.

[FIRE UP]

Well Men,
As usual, gremlins are in CONTROL. I got the tool box out to the rig, set up my I-pod for some nice music for the operation of diagnosing and repairing of my generator start problem and, removed the top paneling of the gen. At that point, I thought I'd make sure the problem still existed. So, I pushed the starting switch on the gen and guess what, the outside temp was around 62-65 at the time and the gen preheat held off the starter for around 3-5 seconds. Hmmmmmmmm.

This is par for the course for me. It happens, then it doesn't happen. I broke for lunch and the outside temp is still around 69. I only ran the gen for about 1 minute so, maybe it's enough to re-use the preheater-glow plugs. If it starts like it should, with a short time delay, it all goes back together. If not, well I'll keep on analyzing 'till I find the culprit. I do suspect that even running that genny for that short amount of time will negate the use of the glow plugs 'till tomorrow morning when it's around 50 degrees outside.
Scott

[tylerdmoore]

"removed the top paneling of the gen. At that point, I thought I'd make sure the problem still existed. So, I pushed the starting switch on the gen and guess what, the outside temp was around 62-65 at the time and the gen preheat held off the starter for around 3-5 seconds. Hmmmmmmmm."

Top panel....thinking I would spend some time in that area and see if you have a loose wire. Sounds like the panel removal changed something