Community Forums

zman62 · 07-07-2009, 08:52 PM

The alternator light just came on as well as a warning bell in our camelot. The gauge is showing we are charging at 13v. Any Ideas? What is the warr on the cummins? Is this the grounding problem i have read about?

Thanks for any help.

Monacoach · 08-28-2012, 08:42 PM

wow three years and no reply...... just came across your post while searching my alt light issue............... I'm hearing more and more about some fuse to the alternator...... my alt light and warning buzzer came on, but unlike in your case the volt gage is reading very low as well.

deSanford · 08-28-2012, 10:05 PM

When our "Alt Fail" light along with BONGS every 20 seconds came on while driving to Quartzsite this last January I felt sick to my stomach. Then with help from some of the Monaco IRV2 group I realized that the charging system was good. A call to Navistar in Coburg, Ore. told me it was a relay. So for about $60.00 I have a new relay and NO more Alt Fail problems. deSanford

CJScepter · 08-28-2012, 10:44 PM

The alternator went out on a 1999 Monaco Dip. I used to have. I was 200 miles from home so I put some jumper cables between the house and chassis batteries and started up the generator. The volt gauge will read your current voltage, it will drop as you travel. I also lost the tach at the same time. I removed the alternator and took it in for a rebuild, seems like repair bill was around $150.00, much better than $600.00 -$700.00 they wanted for another.
Good Luck!
John G.

deSanford · 08-28-2012, 11:00 PM

You could have driven all the way home during day light as the engine doesn't require any 12 volts to operate. deSanford That is if it is a "diesel".

Monacoach · 08-29-2012, 07:13 AM

deSandford you mention a relay. Ironically I first noticed our problem after changing the AC condenser relay. Started coach and had this problem with alt lite and chime so went back and replaced that relay with original, but it changed nothing. I don't think its related but who knows....... now I'm waiting for a call from the Rv tech to tell me where I can find a fuse or relay for the Alt.... still hoping for the easy fix.. it just seems to premature for the alternator to fail.......

deSanford · 08-29-2012, 07:19 AM

Have you checked the out put of the alternator to see if it is putting out the correct Voltage? It may in fact be working, but something like a "relay" is causing the fail light and bongs. Lets hope it is just that and not necessary to replace the alternator. deSanford

Monacoach · 08-29-2012, 11:00 AM

After running the engine for a while, after shutting it down I had 80 percent capacity at the chassis batteries however I did not check it while it was running.... good point I will check that today............. ps I have an appointment Friday morning to get it looked at.

Monacoach · 09-15-2012, 09:48 AM

probelm was the alternator it self....

dmastin · 10-18-2012, 07:26 PM

I have a 2011 Ambassador and periodically the Alt Fail will come on. If I turn off the generator the problem goes away or i start the generator and the problem goes away. sometimes when the generator is off I have the problem. I've had the Alternator checked by the RoadMaster service center and everything was in order.

Any additonal idea's?

Dutch Star Don · 10-18-2012, 09:46 PM

dmastin.....If you run the generator and engine at the same time, you're charging the batteries from two different points and will sometimes cause the alt light to come on. The same thing can happen when you're connected to shore power.

JimM68 · 10-19-2012, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmastin

I have a 2011 Ambassador and periodically the Alt Fail will come on. If I turn off the generator the problem goes away or i start the generator and the problem goes away. sometimes when the generator is off I have the problem. I've had the Alternator checked by the RoadMaster service center and everything was in order.

Any additonal idea's?

I've had this, very sporadically, on my 08 knight. it's happened maybe 3 times, and hasn't happened for a year. I ignore it if the voltmeter is right. I installed a pair of digital voltmeters in my dash to ensure i always had a real certainty of what my voltage is in both battery banks.