2006 Pace Arrow Batteries Draining Quickly

[vagaron]

I think I may have the same kind of battery for both house & main. I know they're the refurbished 12V EconoPower type, though there's no other info on the batteries (except date: 7/16) about CCAs or Ahs.

Problem is, after charging them up with the generator, they read about 12.8V each. After about an hour they were down to 12.2V. Today, a few days later, they're both down to 8.8V, not enough to start the engine or even start the generator.

I charge the house batt at home and get get things going again, but from my limited knowledge it seems wrong that both batts are going down at the same rate. I can't find anything in the coach that is ON to drain the charges. In fact, my A/C unit has a small 5A solar panel that's supposed to keep the house batt from losing charge, provided there's no load on it.

Isn't something wrong to (1) cause the drain and (2) drain both batts at once? I'll have the coach in for some work soon anyway, but I was wondering where I might look for the problem first.

Ron

[JohnRR]

Mine turned out to be the solenoid in the BCC.

[twinboat]

First test would be to charge the batteries to 14 volts, not 12.8. Next unhook the cables and wait a day. If the drop by themselfs, there shot.

You could also have them tested.

[vagaron]

JohnRR, How do I locate/test that solenoid? Is it inside the box of the BCC or on the side?

[JohnRR]

It's in the upper left corner of the top picture, it's the silver looking barrel with the orange warning label inside the box. It really was not that bad to change out considering its location,

DO NOT FORGET TO DISCONNECT ALL THE BATTERIES BEFORE YOU DO IT!!!

I used these to check it out

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...est%20Info.pdf

Good Sam Club Open Roads Forum: Chassis battery disconnect failed while driving

I've read there are less expensive ones available but I opted for the original, it lasted 10 years the first time why not now.

On-Line Parts Store

[vagaron]

Thanks for all the info on this. I haven't had time to completely diagnose this. I did take twinboat's advice, and I think the batteries are OK. Will let you know when I find out more.

Ron

[Arch Hoagland]

Two questions...

Did you just buy this RV? Reason I ask is you say date is 7/16 on the batteries.

Refurbished batteries? Haven't heard of refurbished batteries for a long time.

[wa8yxm]

you said: "After charging from Generator"

How long did you generate: Minimum charge time is six hours, this assumes the proper size Converter/charger for the batteries you have.. If you have upgraded the battery bank you upgrade the re-charge time.

Now.. YOu mentioned the batteries are Refurbs.. But you did not mention how long since they were Refurbed.. One thing I have noticed is that as batteries age. they run down faster.. A new starting battery may well last for weeks.. But when it's years old. days, and when it's old enough hours. Same parasitic loads all during that 10 year period. Then suddenly it's back to Weeks (Cause you replaced it).

[vagaron]

JohnRR, I have some other symptoms to compare to your experience. I got voltage readings on the main control panel showing chassis and house batteries at 12.4V with nothing running. However when I put the multimeter on them, the house batt was 12.4 but the main was 10.6. It has seemed suspicious to me that the two batts always seem to read the same on the control panel.

Also, even using the aux start switch to connect the chassis and house batts to try to start the engine did not work. It didn't seem to increase the power to the starter at all. Does this seem consistent with the relay failure you had? It kind of sounds that way to me.

By the way, the price has dropped on the relay, now only $60. I think it's worth ordering to try out anyway. I read posts on this and other forums about the part failing, esp. on a Thor Hurricane, even causing it to completely lose engine power while running on the highway. I can do without that!

Re other questions about the batteries, I bought the coach end of last October. The dealer had already installed the 12V Econo Power batteresi, which are refurbished Interstates. There's no info on the batteries themselves except the 7/16 date.

[JohnRR]

I don't really remember any readings now but the logic I used more so than the reading was if the solenoid was working properly I would expect different readings at the two different sides.

My aux start would not work either so using the guess method I figured the start battery was starting to continually go dead when on shore power for about a week without running the engine. The battery stayed up while driving from point to point. So I figured the solenoid was not closing to charge the start battery with shore power the same as it would not start with the aux.

Not having another set of hands to push the aux and check the readings accurately I just replaced it trusting my judgement and the so many postings of others.

I had some preliminary readings from months before I did the change but like I mentioned they've long gone from my memory.

As far as the battery condition themselves I'd suggest taking them/it (removed) to a auto parts store to have a load test performed. I have my own load tester so again I kept no records of the readings?

For a back yard battery test if you have the time after the start battery is charged disconnect the negative battery cable and let it sit about the same amount of time it takes for it to go dead then reconnect it and see if it starts. If it still does not start I'd consider dumping it, OTH if it does start or crank like normal I'd eliminated it from my short list of problems. Like what twinboat posted.

Hope it helps.

[vagaron]

SUCCESS!! Or at least I think so... Today I spent at least 2 hours getting that new relay (solenoid? -- whatever) installed. Tedious, but after finishing and reconnecting the batteries, I was able to use the house battery to start the engine! Very satisfying. Time will tell whether it's a real "fix," but it looks good so far.

$60 and time well spent. Thanks so much for the tip!

[Arch Hoagland]

Thanks for the update, sometimes we don't get to hear what fixed the problem!

[JohnRR]

It's good to hear it worked out for you and thank you for the update they are important for those who may do a search of the subject in the future.