Can't get MH to start after long winter nap

[TomMiller]

Went out to wake up the MH for a short drive today. Started right up without a wimper... Went about checking things out while plugged into 50amp shore power. Inverter shows batteries are charging. Checked batteries with volt meter. Two main 12v batteries each reading 14.6. Five 6v house batteries each reading 7.3. All house battery levels are up and mains are sealed battery's. Later in the day, I went to start the DP engine again and dash indicators all light up and buzz... but just get a click, nothing turns over at all... ??? I have verified I have 110v inside the MH from shore power. Lights. plugs, TV,s, Microwave, Furnace, AC all work. So, what's not working... won't start, door step not functioning, slides are not working, power seats don't move. Control panel shows a fault light for Aux batteries, but display registers 13.6. Main shows nothing on display. LP, Holding tank lights not registering anything when pushed, but water pump, hw tank and water pump all respond... I am frustrated... don't know where to check next.... would appreciate some thoughts from the community... Thanks, Tom

[dennis45]

Originally Posted by TomMiller

Went out to wake up the MH for a short drive today. Started right up without a wimper... Went about checking things out while plugged into 50amp shore power. Inverter shows batteries are charging. Checked batteries with volt meter. Two main 12v batteries each reading 14.6. Five 6v house batteries each reading 7.3. All house battery levels are up and mains are sealed battery's. Later in the day, I went to start the DP engine again and dash indicators all light up and buzz... but just get a click, nothing turns over at all... ??? I have verified I have 110v inside the MH from shore power. Lights. plugs, TV,s, Microwave, Furnace, AC all work. So, what's not working... won't start, door step not functioning, slides are not working, power seats don't move. Control panel shows a fault light for Aux batteries, but display registers 13.6. Main shows nothing on display. LP, Holding tank lights not registering anything when pushed, but water pump, hw tank and water pump all respond... I am frustrated... don't know where to check next.... would appreciate some thoughts from the community... Thanks, Tom

Might be a dumb question, but my coach will not start with the slides deployed. Is yours the same?

[96 Wideglide]

Sorry, cant help with your starting issue, but wondering.... How can you have 5- 6volt batteries ?

[TomMiller]

Originally Posted by 96 Wideglide

Sorry, cant help with your starting issue, but wondering.... How can you have 5- 6volt batteries ?

Thumb got in the way when I was counting... duh! Yes, I only have four!

Thanks,
Tom

[TomMiller]

Originally Posted by dennis45

Might be a dumb question, but my coach will not start with the slides deployed. Is yours the same?

My slides are closed... won't open

Thanks,
Tom

[dennis45]

Do you have a House Disconnect Switch?
Do you have a Chassis Disconnect Switch?
Is there an In-Line 50A Fuse off the House or Chassis Batts? This will be a Big Red coloured fuse.
The Aux Fault Light is your first clue. I would go looking for a Main Fuse somewhere off the batteries.
Try a Voltage test on the main feed into your 12V Fuse Panel, wherever it is located. That should tell you if you have a fuse problem between it and the batteries.
Just shooting in the dark here as I'm not really familiar with your coach.


Sent from my iPad using iRV2 - RV Forum

[greystroke]

First If you checked the main 12V batteries with shore power (14.6v) applied all your checking is your converter output. ALWAYS check batteries with shore power disconnected.

With Shore power disconnected, attached a volt meter across the parallel batteries and have someone watch the readings while you try to start the engine. If the voltage dips a lot then you know the batteries need charging so I would recommend pulling them and "slow charging" with a battery charger. Do each one one at a time.

Make sure all connections are clean. Dirty connections will give a similar result.

Any battery that you check the water levels make sure you also check for bad cells with a hydromenter.

After all batteries are checked then you can start checking relays etc. Just do the obvious first.

Let us know.

[Pepper2]

Shooting in the dark also. Bad ground?

[89sandman]

x2 on the bad ground. check your 12v battery connections!

[Pepper2]

And also the ground at the frame.

[deandec]

have you tried your battery boost switch to have the house batteries give the engine an extra kick?

[TomMiller]

Originally Posted by deandec

have you tried your battery boost switch to have the house batteries give the engine an extra kick?

Battery boost is not turning engine over either. The following items are not functioning:

Ignition panel lights up, but engine doesn't turn over
Battery boost doesn't do anything
Slide outs not working
Power seats dead
Power step not closing/opening
Generator not starting
Power mirrors & front power shades not moving
LP, Holding tanks, water level status lights dark
Main battery status gives no status
Aux battery displays 13.5 status, but has fault light on

[TomMiller]

No manual disconnects that I can find anywhere, but I am beginning to suspect the circuit board in the battery control center may have gone bad. Made by RV products and I got some trouble shooting instructions to try. 19 pages, so I've decided to start back @ square one first. Have pulled out main batteries and taking them in for load/charge testing. If okay, I will verify good ground connections replace and then begin trouble shooting the circuit board. Wish me luck!

Tom

[USMCRET]

Do yourself a favor and clean all of the contacts at the starter. It's a ritual I have to go thru twice a year or I end up in the same place you are in right now. Just this weekend I had to do it. My MH had been starting like a champ with no problem. Then suddenly...nothing but buzzing and chattering.

I'll bet money that is all you need to do.