Generator Starts, But Not From Inside

[dmason]

My 10.0 KW generator will not start from the dashboard switch or the switch on the panel in the hallway. It starts right up using the start switch on the generator.

I thought my coach batteries might be low, having just replaced them, so I took the coach on an hour road trip. Generator wouldn't start from inside coach. Checked battery voltage and all were reading between 6.4 and 6.6. Pulled out generator slide and pushed start button . . . cranked right over and started. After generator had run for about 45 minutes shut it down and tried again from inside. Same result as before, just a dull click and a half-hearted sound that the generator was trying to start.

Is there a relay or fuse between the inside switches and generator that's not working? Thanks for your advice.

[Barlow46]

Open the generator slide and while facing the front of the coach, look to the left side (passenger/curb) of the generator where the wiring connector is. It may be loose. Push it together real good and see if that makes a difference. If that doesn't help, take a look at your inverter panel and see if your settings are correct. (usually gen. will start from remote switches and then stop about 30 seconds later) if you have it on manual start/off setting. It sounds like a bad connection between the remotes and the generator. Usually at the connector I pointed out.

[Dixieray53]

On my Bounder, there was a toggle switch on the gen. basically on/ off. I turned the switch to off, cuz' I am a boy, and all the inside power stopped working . Moved the toggle the other way and guess what...all was right in the Gen/inverter world ...Check the switches at the gen...
Good Luck D

[justimagination]

........Remove the GROUND CABLE where it connects to the generator frame, use a wire brush and clean it real good. Good luck, and keep us posted.
David G.

[ShapeShifter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barlow46 Open the generator slide and while facing the front of the coach, look to the left side (passenger/curb) of the generator where the wiring connector is. It may be loose. Push it together real good and see if that makes a difference.

That's the first thing I would check. This is what it looks like:

Then, follow that cable back along the frame, and there may be another connector to check.

I had a very similar problem this past fall, and it turned out that the locking tab of this second connector had broken, allowing the connector to partially separate. I could always stop the generator from inside, but sometimes I could start it, and sometimes I couldn't. My fix was to fully mate the connector and put a nylon tywrap around it keep it together.

I had to extend the generator, crawl under, and sit up inside the area where the generator normally sits to reach that connector. Full details of my troubleshooting and repair are here: Remote generator start not working, please help

That did it for me, and it's been working fine ever since. Hopefully it'll be something simple like that for you. Good luck!

[dmason]

3/28 Update: Located both connections mentioned above and checked for tightness. Both were tight. Disconnected and reconnected both with no improvement, i.e., generator still will not start from inside of coach. Starts fine from switch located on generator. Any more suggestions before I visit the dealer? Thanks.

[ShapeShifter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmason Any more suggestions before I visit the dealer? Thanks.

Look for a loose connector in the harness behind the dash where it runs to the first switch?

One more thought. Separate the connector at the generator (the first picture in my previous post.) Using a bit of wire, short the terminals on the generator side that correspond to the brown and red wires, and the generator should start. Then, with the generator running (use the switch on the generator if necessary) short the terminals on the generator side that correspond to the brown and green wires, and the generator should stop.

If either of these tests fail, the problem is likely inside the generator. If they both work, the problem is likely in the coach wiring, and it's going to take more effort to trace the wires and check each for continuity or a broken wire. It won't tell you the exact problem, but at least it will help limit the places to check. Divide and conquer.

[deandec]

I ran a cheater wire from the inside start switch positive out the window to the generator wire positive. This bypasses the original wire.

If the genny now starts with the interior switch you have a bad connector or broken wire.

My wire was broken due to the front mounted generator slide in and out motion over the years.

[dmason]

Update 5/12: Problem: Generator not starting from inside of coach and finally it wouldn't start from the generator. Seems the manufacturer located the grounding point from the generator to the chassis too far back. When the generator slide was extended it put too much strain on the grounding strap and over time the grounding strap connection to the chassis became loose and finally broke. New grounding strap and locating the chassis grounding point closer to the front of the coach fixed the problem.

[Barlow46]

Quote:

Originally Posted by justimagination ........Remove the GROUND CABLE where it connects to the generator frame, use a wire brush and clean it real good. Good luck, and keep us posted. David G.

Good call Justimagination! ....even if it was on the other end of the ground...still the ground. Still not really understanding why it started from the generator...guess it was because the slide out caused the ground to "tighten-up" so to speak and when it was retracted, the ground was not made.

[coach11]

I am looking to purchase a 2005 HR 42 PLQ Imperial. Are there any concerns Ishould look into? thank you.