starter will not turnover

[graduate78]

Hey guy's, need to pick your brains. Have a 2002 Monaco Windsor, have been having a few minor problems crop up. This one concerns the starter not engaging. All dash light come on and clear, turn key to start and nothing and had started it just 30 min. before. Also noticed that the nuetral light "N" did not come on on the shift indicator when the key is on, but cannot remember if it normally would be on unless the engine was running. Any help would be appreciated. THANKS MN-GRADUATE78

[Mike Canter]

Not sure that I understand by you saying the starter is not engaging. That usually means the starter motor is spinning but the starter drive is not going out and engaging the flywheel ring so the motor will not turn. Is that what you mean or do you mean the starter is just clicking and not turning or do you mean absolutely nothing when you turn the key???

Could be one of several things. The fact that the N is not lighted can mean the transmission is not in neutral and if so the starter will be locked out. So you need to find out why it is not in neutral.

One of the other causes is that the batteries are bad or dead and need charging. Did you try starting it using the BOOST switch to cross over your house batteries to your chassis battery? If not then try that.

Another cause if the starter does nothing is that the battery cables are loose or dirty. They cannot be cleaned while attached to the battery. You would need to take them off and wire brush them and then put them back on tight.

Another cause could be the starter solenoid is bad.

Or if the starter is spinning but not engaging the motor then the starter drive is bad.

Please provide us with more info so we can help you.

[George Z]

Check neutral safety switch.

[graduate78]

Thanks for the quick response. To clarify, when I turn the key, nothing happens-no clicking, starter does not turn. Also checked for loose wires, none-where is the nuetral safety switch? Thanks again.

[Mike Canter]

What worries me is what you said earlier that you don't see an indication that the transmission is in neutral. Can you explain that more. If it is not actually in neutral then it will not start.

[graduate78]

When I turn the key on and all the check light come on , and then go off-should the "N" on the panel next to the driver -where you put it in drive, nuetral or reverse show up before you start the engine? It is blank

[Sammie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by graduate78 When I turn the key on and all the check light come on , and then go off-should the "N" on the panel next to the driver -where you put it in drive, nuetral or reverse show up before you start the engine? It is blank

Try this! With one hand turn the key to the start position. While holding the key in the start position jiggle the shifter. You may have a shifter linkage that needs adjusting.

You didn't say if this is a gas or diesel rig. If its diesel disregard the above.

Sammie

[Mike Canter]

You said the motor was running 30 minutes prior to this happening. Did you do anything to the MH in that thirty minutes?

Are you absolutely sure that your chassis battery is good and charged and the battery cables are tight. You should have a voltage gauge on the dash...what does it read with the key on? What happens if you turn the headlights on? Are they bright?

If the battery is good then the logic in the transmission is not going to let you start the motor because it does not know that it is in neutral. You are going to have to figure out why there is no power. Somewhere there is either a loose cable to that transmission shift/display unit or a cable on the transmission or from the transmission to the elecetronic control unit is loose or there is a fuse blown.

[Sammie]

Graduate78, I found this thread. Hope it helps.

Sammie

Trouble starting engine

[Alan Roberts]

Hello - I don't know about the lack of N on the Allison pad unless it may be indicating a low chassis battery or a bad cable.

There is a large relay (actually 3 of them) under the hatch in the bedroom floor (not in the closet). Two of the relays are for the grid heater and the third is for the starter. The block diagram is inside the rear run box door.

Hope this is useful

Alan
02 Windsor PKD
Beaverton, Or.

[graduate78]

Just had the starter checked out -okay, will let yall know what happens after we put it back on and try it. Thanks again!!!!

[Mike Canter]

So Graduate78 did you show 12 volts on the dash volt gauge with the key on? Did the headlights come on bright? What about the transmission shift panel not being lighted up?

[graduate78]

Okay, put starter back on - still doing the same thing. Have good voltage also. Making a call to Monaco tech support in the morning. Still think it has to do with the panel for the transmission not showing neutral.

[Mike Canter]

OK, this is what I can find out so far. The Allison transmission ECU is located in the shift selector box so if it doesn't light up then it has no power. For info...If Neutral is not selected when you go to start the motor then the ECU will automatically put the transmission in Neutral. I believe the problem with not being able to start the motor and the transmission shift panel not lighting up are two different indications of a common problem which is a power problem. Just a guess here is if you turn the ignition key on and you get no power to the transmission then you are also not going to get the power required to energize the starter solenoid to spin the starter.

So the question I ask you is when you turn the ignition switch to the on position does all the dash indicator lights such as Check Eng, Oil Pressure and other warning lights come on? If so that means that at least power is getting to the switch. If the warning and indiactor lights do not come on then you have no "accessory" power from your battery to your ignition switch. Let me know if you have power to the dash warning lights when you turn the ignition key on.