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09-21-2012, 08:00 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 6
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Help--Southwind won't start!
Hi
New member from central Texas. We have a 35 ft Southwind and enjoy going to the Gulf every chance we can get and camp on beach. we have a question that hope someone can help us with.
we have a 454 Chevy engine. just installed a new heavy duty battery and still no start. it clicks but wont even try to turn over. last time we were out it always started so thought it was the battery. any ideas? would appreciate help, Stumped!!! 
Thanks
DAdams
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09-21-2012, 08:39 PM
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#2
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: In a lawnchair
Posts: 11,993
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Howdy and welcome, fellow Texan. I'm not much help with mechanical problems, so hopefully someone will be along soon with some answers.
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09-21-2012, 08:45 PM
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#3
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Registered User
Vintage RV Owners Club Gulf Streamers Club
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Indiana
Posts: 4,951
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Just because it new doesnt mean its charged... Did you charge it first?
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09-21-2012, 09:21 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Pensacola, Florida
Posts: 5,173
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Hi DAdams, welcome to the forum. If the battery is charged, you may need a new starter selenoid.
__________________
Travel well, travel safe,
Jim
2006 Tiffin Phaeton - 2011 Cadillac SRX
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09-22-2012, 06:40 AM
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#5
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Moderator Emeritus
Jayco Owners Club RV Trip Wizard
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Poinciana FL
Posts: 7,781
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Is the problem all the time, or only after its been running for a while? I know some of these had problems with "hot start", the starter was too close to one of the exhaust pipes or headers. The long term solution was to install a shield between them. Others had fuel lines that ran too close to the exhaust and they'd get vapor lock, again after stopping with a hot engine.
__________________
Jay and Peggy Monroe
"Can't take it with you, not leaving any behind"
2024 Jayco White Hawk 26FK
2024 Ford Expedition
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09-22-2012, 07:24 AM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Port Huron,Mi
Posts: 63
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There is another thing you could try. If when turning the key to the start position and you hear the starter relay click in means you are getting some juice to the starter. So, if the battery is fully charged then it could be the connection to the starter is dirtry or loose and not getting enough voltage to turn over the starter. Disconnect and check wires and clean all connectors then try again. If you still just get a click sound then it most likely the solnoid or starter itself. Good Luck
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Rick & Alyce 
04 40B Mandalay 350 Cat
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09-22-2012, 07:36 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Weston, Fl.
Posts: 916
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Quote:
Originally Posted by logghome
Hi
New member from central Texas. We have a 35 ft Southwind and enjoy going to the Gulf every chance we can get and camp on beach. we have a question that hope someone can help us with.
we have a 454 Chevy engine. just installed a new heavy duty battery and still no start. it clicks but wont even try to turn over. last time we were out it always started so thought it was the battery. any ideas? would appreciate help, Stumped!!!
Thanks
DAdams |
Check the connections at the starter. You might have a loose connection or a corroded connection. Clean them up and give it a try. I have had your problem on one of my old Chevy trucks with a Gas V8. Loosed connections that actually looked and felt tight. Have fun. Seeya on the road.
__________________
2003 Newmar Kountry Star 3905, Freightliner XC chassis with CAT 330. Winnie the black lab, pretty Airbus captain wife, retired airline pilot with 11 grandkids. UH-1 pilot (Huey) U.S. Army 1967-1983. RVN 68-69. Northern Idaho my summer home.
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09-22-2012, 07:59 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 370
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Sounds to me like a bad ground or a starter solnoid. It could also be the bendix within the starter. I once had a Fleetwood/Pace Arrow with a 454 engine. Mine had the shields to protect the starter from heat. also had heat shields to protect the sparkplugs from excessive heat. Good luck. Try jump starting, could be the new batterys aren't up to full charge.
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 Bill, enrolled member of Choctaw Tribe. 2005 Fleetwood/Revolution,AFE Filter,Aero Exhaust,Koni FSD shocks,KarKaddy SS. Progressive HW-50C.
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09-22-2012, 08:46 AM
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#9
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 6
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Thanks fr advice
You are all awesome, thanks for the different ideas. We will try the easiest first, lose connectors. That would be nice. Battery fully charged and this has never happened, started good about 3 weeks ago.new battery has not help, power there you can hear a click, but wont even try to turn over.
Thanks again 
DA
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09-22-2012, 10:13 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Baton Rouge, La
Posts: 838
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If it clicks one time each time you atempt to start I would bet it is the solnoid. I have had bad solnoids several times. It is attached to the starter so you must remove them together unless you have more room than I did. Some solnoids can be taken apart and cleaned, there is a spring loaded disk and two contacts to clean if they are not burned badly.
If you hear the starter spin and the engine does not turn then it the starting gear or (Bindex)
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09-22-2012, 10:33 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 2,500
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Why not use the old way of a screw driver to short across the two large terminals on the starter ? If it cranks, you have a bad solenoid . ??
__________________
Monkey, pilot of a Great Dane hauler,
2015 Silverado 2500 Duramax/Alison 4x4 CrewCab 2016 Cougar 28SGS
1ST CAV
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09-22-2012, 08:53 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Phx, Arid~zona
Posts: 11,106
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Not all of us like a spark shower. 
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09-23-2012, 07:45 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 2,500
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dunner
Not all of us like a spark shower. |
Very True. Sorry, guess I'm still stuck in old car days when things were better accessed from above. Not so in the case of motorhomes... Was thinking more as an emergency thing to get home... Not for everyday "proper" troubleshooting. 
__________________
Monkey, pilot of a Great Dane hauler,
2015 Silverado 2500 Duramax/Alison 4x4 CrewCab 2016 Cougar 28SGS
1ST CAV
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09-23-2012, 07:55 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Phx, Arid~zona
Posts: 11,106
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I would still use a screwdriver if I suspected the solenoid or wanted to spin up the starter motor to see if it was working ok.
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