Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > MOTORHOME FORUMS > Class A Motorhome Discussions
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 08-05-2016, 07:43 AM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Sparks, NV
Posts: 10
Onan generator mystery

I have a 2000 Tiffin 40' Allegro Bus. I keep it at my parents house. I got a call from my sister last night saying the generator was on. I jumped in the truck and headed 20 miles across town with the RV keys to investigate. Sure enough, the generator was running. How can a generator start all by itself? There are two press and hold switches, one inside the rig, the other under the hood on the generator itself. The rig was locked and the hood was closed and the only way to open the hood is with the latch inside of the locked rig. Has anyone experienced anything like this before? Perplexing!
CALICAMPERS is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 08-05-2016, 07:51 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
photopilot's Avatar
 
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 585
You probably have auto start, which kicks in when your house batteries drop to a programmed voltage. Look in your owner's manual for how to turn it off. Sorry I don't have more detail.

Walt
__________________
Walt & Bonnie
2006 Monaco Camelot 40PAQ, Cummins 400 ISL
'22 Ford Escape PHEV, Roadmaster BP, Sterling towbar
photopilot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2016, 07:52 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
Chief Alen's Avatar
 
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Manalapan NJ
Posts: 493
Some gen-sets start themselves to keep the battery charged, got the manual you can set the gen-set controls.
__________________
2018 Newmar Ventana le 4002 .NKK 22567
2015 Unlimited Sahara hardtop/soft top.
Be good,be happy, tomorrow is promised to no man!
Chief Alen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2016, 04:39 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
National RV Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,581
Don't know what generator you have but the Onan 7500 will self start when one of the connectors gets damp. On mine it was large multi wire connector to the passenger side of the generator. Yep, real surprise when a generator that does not have an auto start function starts on its own.
__________________
Bob & Sandi, dogs Tasha a Frenchie and Tiki a Skipperkey
SW OREGON 2005 34 foot DolphinLX
If towing: a bright red 2016 Mini Cooper on a tow dolly.
1ciderdog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2016, 04:42 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
D Lindy's Avatar
 
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,636
Add to the above items, look real close at the top of the generator it's self where the start switch is. Several members have had cats or other animals climb up there the stepped on the start switch. Look for feet prints in the dirt.
__________________
2012 Journey 40U (Our Incredible Journey)
2008 Dodge Dakota(TOAD) 2005 Honda Shadow in TOAD
AF-1 braking system
D Lindy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2016, 05:09 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Steve Ownby's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Cosby, Tn
Posts: 6,587
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1ciderdog View Post
Don't know what generator you have but the Onan 7500 will self start when one of the connectors gets damp. On mine it was large multi wire connector to the passenger side of the generator. Yep, real surprise when a generator that does not have an auto start function starts on its own.

Ciderdog is correct. This is a known issue with the 7.5 & 8 kW units. As he said the big connector on the side of the unit that contains the control wiring can get moisture & you get the phantom start.
__________________
Steve Ownby
Full time since 2007
2003 Monaco Signature
Steve Ownby is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2016, 06:25 PM   #7
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Sparks, NV
Posts: 10
Thank you everyone! I will double check all of your suggestions and if I uncover anything, I will post back!
CALICAMPERS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2016, 09:41 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
Newmar Owners Club
American Coach Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Oxford, Conn & Davenport,Florida
Posts: 849
Quote:
Originally Posted by CALICAMPERS View Post
Thank you everyone! I will double check all of your suggestions and if I uncover anything, I will post back!
I had a 99 DSDP with a 7.5 onan.....it would constantly start on its own..in a campground, going down the road,,,,,,it had gotten water inside and shorten the wires out....ended up cleaning contacts and sealing...then ran a bead of sealant over the gen where the black and green meet..solved the problem...Chuck
__________________
2017 45 FT Newmar Mountain Aire Seville Freightliner..with a 2015 Granite Grand Cherokee
Limited....GO NOLES
2012 (Piglet)American Tradition Merlot-Spartan>>SOLD
chuckster52 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
generator, onan



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Generator Mystery damdannyboy RV Systems & Appliances 1 02-24-2016 03:47 PM
Generator mystery Dutch Star David Entegra Owner's Forum 7 10-10-2015 02:19 PM
Generator Mystery Papamyer1 Newmar Owner's Forum 13 07-03-2015 09:12 AM
Retrofit Onan Carb with Commercial Onan Fuel Injection? DrLew iRV2.com General Discussion 10 01-23-2012 09:34 AM
Mystery start of Onan 8000 Diesel Gen pvm171 RV Systems & Appliances 5 01-23-2011 10:14 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 10:25 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.