Starter Problem?

[Edw]

Hi All, Well - after our first year of RVing (trouble free) we finally had a small problem. Took the rig out for final gas up and parking for winter when it failed to restart at station. Just one loud click at starter each time I turn the key. Called CoachNet, They were great - two thumbs way up for them. Tried trouble shooting on phone but we could not get it to crank. CoachNet hooked us up with CapeWay Towing out of Hanover MA. Sent out a big rig with a couple young men who really new what they were doing. Towed the rig through some very tight streets (Downtown Plymouth, MA) and dropped it right where we needed it. Now I only need to trouble-shoot and repair. Any ideas on problem would be helpfull. BIG Thanks to Coachnet and Capeway Towing. And thanks in advance for any info. Ed

[ChasA]

Ed
You didn't say what you tried with CoachNet. But here is how I'd approach the problem:
1) Remove both battery cables from your starting battery and clean the posts and the inside of the clamps (sandpaper works). While you're at the clamps, check the condition of the cable where the clamps attach. Re-attach the clamps and try starting the engine.If this doesn't fix the problem, go to the next step.
2) Attach a voltmeter to the battery and observe the meter while someone attempts to start the engine. If the meter drops below 8 volts while trying to crank the engine, the battery needs recharging or the battery is bad. If the meter drops to only about 10 volts, the battery is okay and something else is wrong. If the meter barely moves, it indicates a bad connection or open somewhere in the circuit. Check all connections from battery + to relay to starter motor.
3) Connect the voltmeter - to the - terminal of the battery and the + meter lead to a bare metal point on the engine. Try cranking again. You should see a very little or no reading on the meter. If you see more than about 1 volt, you have a bad ground connection.
4) If everything so far checks out okay, find the starter relay (this is probably what makes the click when you try starting). USE EXTREME CAUTION IN THE FOLLOWING STEP. THE ENGINE MAY TURN. BE SURE NOTHING IS NEAR BELTS, PULLEYS OR FAN BLADES. Put a jumper cable (heavy duty like you would use for jump starting your car). Use only one of the cables and jumper across the large terminals on the relay. If the starter turns the engine over, the relay is at fault, if the starter doesn't turn over, it is bad.Hope this helps.

[Edw]

ChasA: Thanks for the advise. Only tried tapping starter to get freed up. Did not work.
I hear the small click on relay somewhere around the fire wall but also a loud click on the starter itself. Will try items as you listed and see what happens, Thanks, Ed

[full-timer]

ED,the relay should be on the right side of the radiator. Get under the front of the motor home on passenger side and look up on the side of the radiator,it will be located low so you should be able to see it.

Joe

[Onaqwest]

The two separate clicks indicate that both the start relay and the starter solenoid are picking.

The loud click also says the mechanical part of the starter solenoid is doing it's job.

Turn on an interior light and attempt to start the rig. If the light drastically dims then the starter is stuck and not turning at all. It will need to be removed and repaired.

If the light does not completely dim then it indicates that the electrical portion of the starter solenoid is not passing power through to the starter.

Check battery connections (both at the battery and at the starter). The cables in question will be the very large ones, not the smaller wires.

You could jumper around the starter solenoid (the large cable connections on the starter) with a jumper cable to prove the point.

BTW - that solenoid can be repaired (internal contacts burnished and cleaned) or replaced for much less than the price of a new starter.

[Edw]

Thanks for all the info. Turned out to be a bad starter or at least I replaced the unit and now works great. Tested all the items as above. Connected meter to - battery and + to ground, meter read 24v while cranking. Checked all grounds and decided to remove starter. Starter gear was frozen and stuck in out position. Brought to NAPA for testing. passed 1st time, failed next 2 but never spun. Solinoid was hot after testing. Unit was NAPA part 2 years old. If I had the receipt it would have been free. Lifetime warranty on this one with receipt. Mech in store advised they go bad every two years due to the position, debris and heat. Note to self - Keep receipts.
Thanks Again All.

[Onaqwest]

EDW, Thanks for your feedback. We like to know when we either have or have not been of help. The feedback helps everyone. lou

[royis]

I had this problem on 1999 Sea View.
Replace the relay on the side of the radiator.
This relay has all the saftey interlocks.

No one could find the problem till I went to Yuma Az.