Batteries Dead?

[Johnandcara2]

Can anyone tell me why when I try to start my Providence 39l D/P the low battery light comes on I hit the boost batt. switch and nothing changes. Still no crank then check engine lite comes on?

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnandcara2 Can anyone tell me why when I try to start my Providence 39l D/P the low battery light comes on I hit the boost batt. switch and nothing changes. Still no crank then check engine lite comes on?

In my case, the boost solenoid was bad so i could not transfer the coach batteries to the chassis battery. 2nd scenario is that the coach batteries are too low as well. Low voltage, loose cables, bad ground all enemies of 12 volt systems.

[Johnandcara2]

I would like to know where this relay/switch is? Otherwise I guess I will have to take to dealer after a jump.Hopefully that is all that is wrong. thanks for the responds John

[Sbrownstein]

Agree that it is probably a bad boost solenoid. You can use one side of a set of jumper cables and connect the positive engine battery to the positive of the house battery and see it it starts, that does the same thing as the boost solenoid. If it works, look for the black box that the heavy positive chassis battery cable goes to (as well as the house). That should be it.

[Johnandcara2]

I think I try that first, If it doesn't work I 'll call ERS. Thanks All.

[loulong]

You have to hold the "boost" switch depressed while trying to start the engine. Are you doing this?

Also, if you can start the generator, it should charge the batteries up enough to start the engine in just a short time.

[nbounder]

Try letting the gennny run for 15 min, then try the boost button while the genny is still running. Unless you have a real unusual situation, that should start it.

[Sbrownstein]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nbounder Try letting the gennny run for 15 min, then try the boost button while the genny is still running. Unless you have a real unusual situation, that should start it.

That is only true if the boost solenoid still works! If it doesn't the house batteries will come up, but not only won't the chassis battery get a charge, the boost switch will do nothing since the solenoid is dead!

[loulong]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sbrownstein That is only true if the boost solenoid still works! If it doesn't the house batteries will come up, but not only won't the chassis battery get a charge, the boost switch will do nothing since the solenoid is dead!

Yes Scott, that's what we are trying to help him determine.

JOHNANDCARA - look here http://intellitec.com/PDF/5300606.100.pdf for a guide of how this thing works.

[Johnandcara2]

Problem Solved !!! I charged the start batteries with a trickle charger for 3 Hrs and they are not having any issues anymore. Thanks for the help.John

[InPursuit]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnandcara2 Problem Solved !!! I charged the start batteries with a trickle charger for 3 Hrs and they are not having any issues anymore. Thanks for the help.John

er the *symptom* is solved... but the PROBLEM (likely) remains
-as you shouldn't need the trickle charger in normal circumstances-

[RJay]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnandcara2 Problem Solved !!! I charged the start batteries with a trickle charger for 3 Hrs and they are not having any issues anymore. Thanks for the help.John

You need to find out why your chassis batteries are not charging properly.

[Sbrownstein]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnandcara2 Problem Solved !!! I charged the start batteries with a trickle charger for 3 Hrs and they are not having any issues anymore. Thanks for the help.John

Agree with the other responders...symptom is gone...problem persists. If your system was running normally, your converter would have topped off the chassis batteries days ago. It didn't! I would also suspect that your boost switch doesn't work either, which again is the same problem. Finally, even if you drive for days, your house batteries won't get recharged from the alternator either.

On most systems it should be a simple $20 part...but I guess you could always bring along a trickle charger.