Community Forums

Larry & Rita · 11-05-2012, 10:18 AM

2006 Holiday Rambler, 40 foot Deisel.
I started the engine yesterday and I had a red light on the dash that said "ALT. CHARGE".
I don't like red lights.
Started fine and ran like normal, what should I be worred about?
I did notice the charge guage seemed to stay around 14.
We have been sitting for two months.

Francesca · 11-05-2012, 10:26 AM

If your rig's been sitting for two months, maybe your engine battery was down to the point where the "alternator charge light" comes on as a sort of heads-up. The high-charge-guage reading would make sense, at least to me, in that situation...

rex · 11-05-2012, 10:33 AM

If the dash volt gauge is at or above 13.5 you are OK, but keep a very close eye on it. The light will come on if the alternator fails but the dash gauge would then read 12 volts or lower. If the dash gauge stays at or above 13.5 and the light stays on, then the Hasmar relay in the front run bay under the driver's window is bad. That is a special potted relay available only from Monaco.

If the dash gauge reads 12 volts or lower, the alternator is not charging and will need to be rebuild. Monaco does not use a standard alternator, so don't let a shop sell you a new one unless they get it from Monaco. Rebuilding will be much less expensive.

bborc · 11-05-2012, 02:33 PM

I had the same problem one time. Started it up while plugged in to shore power. alt light came on and alladin showed 15 volts. I unplugged shore power and it went back to normal charge 13.6 volts.

nodine · 11-05-2012, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry & Rita

2006 Holiday Rambler, 40 foot Deisel.
I started the engine yesterday and I had a red light on the dash that said "ALT. CHARGE".
I don't like red lights.
Started fine and ran like normal, what should I be worred about?
I did notice the charge guage seemed to stay around 14.
We have been sitting for two months.

Unplug the shore power and the light should go off.

Bob

Sammie · 11-05-2012, 05:29 PM

Check the alternator on the engine to see if the serpentine belt is still in place. I threw a belt on my Cat C7 and had the same lights come on while driving. Everything else seemed fine until the engine started to overheat.

Good Luck,
Sammie

Dynasty_09 · 11-05-2012, 08:44 PM

Like Bob, everytime I start the engine while being plugged on shore, my Alt light is ON, when I unplugg, it goes to normal. I would suggest not to unplug the power while the engine is running.

R2Home · 11-06-2012, 09:44 AM

Keep an eye on the volt gage! We had a high then normal out put and were several hundred miles from any place to work on it. The altenator was 'over' charging an cooked the chassis batteries. It made a mess but........Got the MH to a Kenworth shop where they replaced the altenator, batteries and cleaned up the battery bay.

RustNnails · 11-06-2012, 10:02 AM

When your volt gage shows overcharging it helps to turn on all of your lights, heater/air conditioner on high and any other 12 volt appliances you have, then travel at the lowest speed possible for traffic. The goal is to use as much electricity as possible.

Or if you know where your voltage regulator is you can tap (not hit) it with a small hammer, sometimes this will unstick it. Then you can get it replaced.

wa8yxm · 11-06-2012, 12:47 PM

Sometimes after sitting a long time it takes a while for everything to work again, Alternators are epically sensitive to moisture, Watch the voltage, if it starts doing like Bo Derek getting older (10-9-8-7) actually if it goes 14,13.12, Find repair fast. (or otherwise charge it, You can fire up the generator and if needed put a portable automotive smart charger on it for an emergency trip).

If it clears up and stays at 14 V.. you are not in trouble.

JimM68 · 11-06-2012, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa8yxm

Sometimes after sitting a long time it takes a while for everything to work again, Alternators are epically sensitive to moisture, Watch the voltage, if it starts doing like Bo Derek getting older (10-9-8-7) actually if it goes 14,13.12, Find repair fast. (or otherwise charge it, You can fire up the generator and if needed put a portable automotive smart charger on it for an emergency trip).

If it clears up and stays at 14 V.. you are not in trouble.

On our way home from lazydays with our knight, I got an alternator light twice. Both times, shutting down and restarting cleared it, and the dash voltmeter was normal throughout.
It happened once on our next trip.
In 2 more years, it hasn't happened again.