It Wouldn't start

[CoastieSCPO]

We're heading to Florida next week, so I thought that I would take the rig for a quick ride as it's been sitting for about a month thru some very cold weather. And some very nasty and cold weather and snow is coming. Put the key in the ignition, turned it: nothing happened, ziltch, nada, no lights, no nothing. Well, this is distressing to say the least. I played with the shifter and still nothing. Pressed the emergency start and it started right up. Turned it off and nothing. Pressed the emergency button and it started right up again.

So, we checked the battery and the water was a tad low so i filled it. One of the positive cables to the battery was a little loose and I tightened it. Maybe, just maybe, the loose battery connection was the culprit. We'll let it sit overnight and go out in the morning and see if it will start with the chasssis battery. The battery is only 2 years old but we have had some really cold weather here.

So anyway folks, I started this thread to remind everyone to remember to go out to their rigs and check things out prior to un-winterizing or getting ready for a mid-winter trip. When my W-20 wouldn't start, I said to myself, oh no, here we go, nothing is easy. It was too early in the morning to crack a cold one, but the thought crossed my mind, such as it is. But, it's 5:00 o'clock somewhere!

Bob

[George Z]

It's almost 5 here

[bdpreece]

Ya sure you don't have a battery disconnect switch open?

[CoastieSCPO]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdpreece Ya sure you don't have a battery disconnect switch open?

Well, I keep the rig plugged in all the time with a small heater running on low power inside and a couple of 60 watt bulbs on in two compartments. The fridge is on now, so the 12 volt system is active. I'm going to go out and hook up my Battery Tender to the chassis battery.

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoastieSCPO Well, I keep the rig plugged in all the time with a small heater running on low power inside and a couple of 60 watt bulbs on in two compartments. The fridge is on now, so the 12 volt system is active. I'm going to go out and hook up my Battery Tender to the chassis battery.

Senior Chief, I keep a Battery Minder hooked up to by automotive battery 24/7 and only disconnect it when I'm running under power. So far so good. The battery is holding well PLUS the BM conditions the battery over time by de-sulfating the plates. This I understand keeps the battery in tip top condition and ready to go.

[CoastieSCPO]

Good advise Mike. Going to keep it hooked up!

[speed racer]

My unit has a small .6 amp solar panel that keeps the batterys up while in storage.

[CoastieSCPO]

Woke up to 2 inches or so of snow this morning and 2-3 more expected by noon, then the temps will plunge to single numbers tonight. When I went to bed last night, the light showed red on the battery tender, now it's a steady green. I'm going to keep it hooked up. I do like the solar system that speed racer uses. Can't wait to go to Florida.

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by speed racer My unit has a small .6 amp solar panel that keeps the batterys up while in storage.

Is this charger connected to the automotive battery? I have a solar charger on my Winnie but it's only hooked up to the house batteries.

I have seen solar chargers that back feed through a lighter socket on cars but I don't know how that would work on a motorhome.

[lllkrob]

The solar back feed through the lighter work just fine. I have a small, 12"X12" solar panel on the dash that I use when in storage. It keep the battery up to full charge without overcharging it, and the engine starts right up everytime.

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lllkrob The solar back feed through the lighter work just fine. I have a small, 12"X12" solar panel on the dash that I use when in storage. It keep the battery up to full charge without overcharging it, and the engine starts right up everytime.

lllkrob, Very good! Thanks for the response.

[cj5 jeeper]

I have a couple of solar chargers that plug into the lighter that cost about $22.00 at Harbour freight. They keep the batteries in my jeep and pickup up when we are gone. The cord is long enough that my jeep is parked in the garrage, and I could just put the panel outside. The plug for the lighter socket has a small red light when it is charging. Have been using them for several years, and they have more then paid for themself in saving the batteries. When I first used one I was told to unplug it before starting, as when the alternator kicked in it would kill the solar charger.

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cj5 jeeper I have a couple of solar chargers that plug into the lighter that cost about $22.00 at Harbour freight..

I'm on sort of a boycot of Harbor Freight products (store). I know the stuff they have there is inexpensive and some of it works OK.

[Tom-NC]

HI,

I too have had the problem that the coach wouldn't start on the Engine battery but would with the emergency switch. I checked the battery with a load device and it was very weak. THen I put an external charger on it overnight but the next morning it wouldn't start. I had to replace the engine battery after 3 years.

BTW there is a solar panel on the RV that is supposed to charge the engine battery and I connected a battery minder to the engine battery and it works fine. I do leave my coach plugged in 24/7 which I believe makes a difference.

Those battery minders/chargers work very well and I would recommend them highly. I don't disconnect mine when I am running down the road either. The unit is mounted in the RV in the cabinet by the entry steps and the cable runs under the step to the battery compartment. I don't suggest anyone install battery minder in battery compartment.

Good luck and I hope you solve your problem which is probably a bad battery.

One final point, every time you start your engine you must travel 10 miles at 25mph to put back into battery what you took out to start the engine.