Community Forums

fredvoos · 10-07-2017, 09:46 PM

my safari Serengeti is dead. each chassis battery shows 12.6 volts but the monitor says .3 volts. cleaned the connections, it started a month ago and has been sitting with no shore plugged in. First time I tried to start it dash lights came on and just got a clicking when trying to turn over, now nothing after cleaning connections there is nothing when trying to turn over.

oldguy70 · 10-08-2017, 06:21 AM

The 12.6 is that with a volt meter or your dash gauge.

fredvoos · 10-08-2017, 06:56 AM

the 12.6 is at the battery, the monitor in the coach says .3.

oldguy70 · 10-08-2017, 07:24 AM

Have someone try and start it.your If your voltage drop right off it's the battery if not jump your solenoid at the starter.

RamiDav · 10-08-2017, 07:40 AM

You should have 2 battery cut off switches , mine are in my rear elect bay
pass side , they are round and about 4 inches diam .

These switches are known to cause your kind of problem .

You can try working it on & off a few times and see if that changes anything
or go ahead and disconnect the wires from the back of the sw and bolt them
together .
This may get you going until you can replace it , West Marine has better
switches than the original .

Be sure to remove the negative battery cable before working on the wires .
I would also connect a charger to the start battery while checking the switch .

You could still have some sort of batt cable issue such as a poor ground
connection at the frame or engine , maybe even up front somewhere .

Charge the battery .

Ray D
03 Windsor

YC1 · 10-08-2017, 07:52 AM

The emergency start button should bring the battery banks together however if the banks are actually low under load the relay may not activate properly.

Use a good automotive jumper cable between the positive output terminals of each bank. Start the generator and let it run 30 minutes.

Try to start it after the batteries have been given a bit of a charge and leave the jumper cable in place.

MikeandJan · 10-08-2017, 08:08 AM

No mention in your post of engine or coach brand. I had the same problem with my coach earlier this year. Batteries seemed good but just could not turn engine over. Had the batteries load tested and the results were OK, but on the edge. I changed the batteries out - fairly expensive - the old batteries came in the coach and I didn't know age, etc. Same result with new batteries - problem was the starter. Cummins and Cat both refused to do roadside service on an RV although their shops were 10 miles away. Local guy changed my starter in the campground - about $550 for new starter and labor. A rebuilt starter wold have been cheaper, but the mechanic said he had mixed results with rebuilt. BTW, Cummins service said the starters "never fail."

Chargerman · 10-08-2017, 08:17 AM

I had a similar problem a couple years ago and found that the Big Boy solenoid was bad. They are easy to disassemble and clean. Most times it's the dielectric grease that they put in solidifies.

Good luck!

fredvoos · 10-08-2017, 01:04 PM

thanks to all that have replied, I have a lot to look into. really don't know where id be without this site and your thoughts. hopefully ill gain enough experience to help someone in the future. again thanks and will post any outcomes.

fredvoos · 10-08-2017, 02:11 PM

its a 2000 safari Serengeti with a 330 cat.

fredvoos · 10-08-2017, 07:13 PM

ok I have load tested the batteries the meter stays at 12.6 v while turning key. the big switch has 12.5 v on both sides. Shouldn't I have at least dim dashlights with the key on. also the voltage on the monitor says .3 instead of 12.6, what would cause that? I havnt checked the grounds yet but I found 2 of them and they look good.

jacwjames · 10-09-2017, 04:37 AM

A couple years ago I had a similar problem. Started off intermittently, I would turn the key and the nothing, turn it off and it would start. Finally I tried to start the rig and nothing.

First thing I checked was the chassis battery disconnect, it was not passing power through it. I took it out and bolted the 2 leads together and the rig started.

Replaced the disconnect (actually bought 2 since the house disconnect is the same thing). and that solved the problem.

YC1 · 10-09-2017, 05:29 AM

You did something and now the dash lights do not come on at all.

Sounds like you shot yourself in the foot. Look closely for a dropped wire. This happens all too often. Always take close up pictures before removing wires.

Post some pictures of the battery compartment and the switches.

Look in the compartment below the drive outside and see if there are some panels. Open them and take pictures.

Posting pictures is not difficult and once you do more folks will be able to help.

IF there are boxes in the compartment mentioned, use your voltmeter there. Write any readings down. I like to print the pictures and write the measurements right on them for reference. If you think you will remember them after taking three more measurements your memory is much better than mine and so is your confidence.

There is not reason to just guess at things. We need voltage measurements.

JohnBoyToo · 10-09-2017, 07:17 AM

Taking pics is a great idea so you can have them as reference when changing things...

I know when I am into an issue, if I am not methodical about the troubleshooting that hole can get deeper

My disconnects in the passenger side rear compartment: