Starting Issue

[PapaD]

Hello RVers, I am new to the site. I am PapaD I have an 05 HR Vacationer 34 ft. on a Workhorse chassis. Along with it right now I have a starting issue. The RV will start just fine using the boost switch but will not even turn over using the chassis battery. When I turn on the switch, the dash lights come on then go off. I have checked all the fuses and they were all good. I am thinking along the lines of a relay or isolator. I have had the battery checked and it is putting out 12.5 V and 525 CCA. Any suggestions?

[PapaD]

Hello RVers, I am new to the site. I am PapaD I have an 05 HR Vacationer 34 ft. on a Workhorse chassis. Along with it right now I have a starting issue. The RV will start just fine using the boost switch but will not even turn over using the chassis battery. When I turn on the switch, the dash lights come on then go off. I have checked all the fuses and they were all good. I am thinking along the lines of a relay or isolator. I have had the battery checked and it is putting out 12.5 V and 525 CCA. Any suggestions?

[sknight]

Sounds like a connection problem, usually a ground. There's enough connection to provide a few amps of power, but when you put a large load on it nothing happens. When you boost it you bypass the poor connection, and it starts.

["007"]

Have you checked the ground side off battery to frame of chassis.
You have 40 & 50 amp fuses in starting circuit you can check.

[Rick Long]

Clean the ground on the chassis battery where it connects to the frame. AND DON'T JUST GO LOOK AT IT AND THINK IT LOOKS OK... CLEAN IT!

Lots of little gremlins will disappear and life will be good again.

[George Z]

Clean and tighten both ends of both starting battery cables.

[DriVer]

The "First" rule in diagnosing any 12 volt electrical system problem is to assure an effective ground. One should start by disconnecting the battery cables, cleaning those and restoring the connections and checking for operation.

[Joe Gilbert]

Just because the battery voltage is 12.5V does not mean the battery is good. It does indicate there are no shorted cells but does not guarantee a good battery. The ground studs are welded to the frame so you only need to be sure the threads are clean and the battery connections are also clean.

[PapaD]

Ok, the generator uses the chassis battery for starting; it starts fine. I checked the battery with an OHM meter I get 13V. I checked the battery with the display in the MH and get 12.4V.

I turn on the switch to attempt to start the MH; I get dash lights, wait a few seconds thay go off all but 3 lights, Check eng, Battery and seatbelt. Wait and they all come back on again but the starter will not turn over at all. When I try the starter all lights on the dash go out and it clicks about 2 or 3 times then nothing.

[sknight]

The block ground is probably the problem. There's a ground on the engine itself, often times the ground lead for the instruments comes from the back of the engine.

Check your connections, including on the positive on the starter itself. The extra batteries could be wired in there, a seperate ground on the block. Gotta hit the basics.

["007"]

If you have a high resistant ground opening,loose and dirty corroded connection, what you describe will happen, as everyone has said check the grounds to engine block and off your chassis battery and 12v to starter cable lead. Also check the mounting bolts holding starter to motor mounting.
Most Gen work off house batteries for starting.

[PapaD]

I just want to say thanks to all that helped! This is a great site. Somewhere you can gone and bounce issues off of other RVers and learn from them.

I did get my issue cleared up. After all the aggravation I have been through. I was sitting at Camping World this morning waiting for them to check my battery; I had Wal Mart check it last week and they reported it being good. Anyway, Camping world was short on help so I brought the MH home and took the battery out then took it to autozone, guess what, BAD! I replaces the battery, starts great.

Thanks again everyone.

PapaD