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Old 04-04-2013, 07:38 PM   #1
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no crank issue

HI! I'm new to the whole RV'ing world. We purchased a 1998 Newmar Dutch Star last December. We drove it home from Tenn to Pennsylvania with no problems. However, I went out to start it the other day and it wont even crank over. It has new batteries in it and I have checked and cleaned the ground on the frame. What I have noticed is that when I turn the key on, the transmission display flashes on and right back off and stays off. PLEASE HELP! Any ideas or thoughts would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much!
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Old 04-04-2013, 07:44 PM   #2
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You should have an auxiallary start button. Turn your key to the run position but don't try to crank it while holding the button down. Hold the button down for a couple of minutes and then try to start it. Hopefully this will bring your other bank of batteries online. OR, try to start your generator and let it run for about 30 minutes before trying again.

You actually need a voltmeter to check your batteries. Even new batteries can be run down easily with just a few things left on.
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Old 04-04-2013, 08:31 PM   #3
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Sounds like you have dead chassis batteries. The same thing happened to me a couple of weeks ago. I tried to use the auxiliary start switch and it didn't work for me. Only thing that worked was removing the batteries and charging them up with a strong battery charger for a few hours.
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Old 04-05-2013, 05:30 AM   #4
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U also might check and clean cables at the starter
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Old 04-06-2013, 05:49 PM   #5
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You might also check the battery bank. I recently bought my 1st diesel pusher, a 2000 Dutch Star. my battery bank has strange looking connectors tying the 2 start batteries together then having terminals for the Chassis connections on them. mine were so corrosion filled on the bottom, you couldn't see it from above, I soaked all 4 connectors in water for a couple hrs. The water turned blue! dried them out , re connected them, no further problems with batteries.
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Old 04-06-2013, 06:15 PM   #6
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The chassis battery power to the dash runs through a 135amp fuse, mounted on the frame , near the batteries, mine is above the muffler. You need to check the connections there too. There are two , side by side the other is for the coach battery power to the front of the coach.
Are you on a Freightliner or Spartan chassis?
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Old 04-07-2013, 06:45 AM   #7
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Thank you all! It is a Freightliner chassis. Any ideas where I might be able to find this aux starter button? I am going to pull all connections from battery to starter leads apart today and clean them up. I do recall seeing a couple fuses near the batteries as well. Thanks again, I will keep everyone posted on how I make out!
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Old 04-08-2013, 06:38 AM   #8
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Thanks again everyone. We got it up and running yesterday. Apparently one of the new batteries wasn't any good. Put a new one in and took right off! I kinda feel dumb that I overlooked such a simple repair. I do appreciate all the help!
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Old 04-08-2013, 11:32 AM   #9
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Originally Posted by orangecrate View Post
Thanks again everyone. We got it up and running yesterday. Apparently one of the new batteries wasn't any good. Put a new one in and took right off! I kinda feel dumb that I overlooked such a simple repair. I do appreciate all the help!

Good news. Do put a voltmeter across it with the engine running and then shut down and start the generator. You will want to know if it is getting charged. If it is not you will have a dead battery soon.
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