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Porky pig · 07-10-2013, 03:33 AM

Hello all, I am fairly new to this motorhome deal and mine is sort of driving me bonkers. I have a 1993 pace arrow 37 foot coach, it has 108000 miles. My issue is, since we have owned it, the chassis battery has always needed a boost from the house, you know, I go to start it, won't turn over, push the little toggle switch on the dash to get a boost from the house batteries and viola, fires right up. Well I was tired and quite frankly afraid that one day the boost button would let me down, so I went a bought a brand spanking new chassis battery, big one at that, 850 cca, put it in, and yeha, coach fired right up no booster needed. Let her sit at idle for about 20 minutes, did a walk around, all ok, shut er down. Decided a wanted to move the coach back a few more feet, got in, turned the key, nothin, pushed the boost, nothin. Checked ground, and all the wires that I could see, all looked ok. Just for giggles I started the genny, let it run for about 10 minutes, turned the key, nothin, hit the boost, fired right up. Please help a perplexed new owner. Thanks

Gary RVRoamer · 07-10-2013, 11:21 AM

Most likely you have a poor quality connection somewhere in the starter circuit, e.g. battery to starter relay to motor, or on the chassis battery ground. It can get enough oomph to start with all batteries online, but not quite enough with just the chassis battery.

BFlinn181 · 07-10-2013, 11:44 AM

I'd suggest checking the connections on the starter. While under there, use multimeter to check voltage. The fact that the boost switch wouldn't work could indicate a bad connection between which ever system powers the boost switch solenoid.

**TonyDi** · 07-10-2013, 12:00 PM

I agree with the others you have to have a bad connection somewhere. If you can remove the wires from the starter see if you have voltage there and how much. Clean the contacts on starter and the wires see if that helps.

Porky pig · 07-10-2013, 01:34 PM

Thanks for all the ideas, we will check those things and let you all know. Don

nazoomer · 07-11-2013, 07:36 PM

if it is a GMC platform check the grounding strap from the frame to the block. Take it off and grind down to bare metal.

Nazoomer

Porky pig · 07-15-2013, 11:12 PM

Well, had a chance to play around with it today. No hiccups, started right up. Going to look for a ground issue tomorrow, then chase all the battery leads after that. Wish me luck.

Porky pig · 07-19-2013, 02:37 PM

Great news, traced all ground wires back to the engine block, took them all off, cleaned them all up including the grounding mesh strip, reinstalled, hooked up chassis battery and vavava vroom. Awesome help from all you good folks made the difference. Thanks so much. Have a great day