Community Forums

Matt D · 04-26-2017, 12:43 PM

Boost is like a jumpstart, it's best to do with the generator or shore power connected, and hold the switch for at least 15 minutes, one minute won't do it.

Regarding what is going on, it's either low batteries or as Chuck said a starter problem. It's very easy to tap the starter.

-Matt

Dutch Star David · 04-26-2017, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt D

Boost is like a jumpstart, it's best to do with the generator or shore power connected (shore power is connected),, and hold the switch for at least 15 minutes, one minute won't do it. One minute was per instructions from Spartan-will try longer-not sure if my finger will hold up for 15.

Regarding what is going on, it's either low batteries or as Chuck said a starter problem. It's very easy to tap the starter. Going to have to crawl under the engine to find the starter. It's not visible from above.

-Matt

Thanks for the help.

brobox · 04-26-2017, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlovitt

Thanks for the help.

Learned a trick on this forum and now carry a golf Tee for holding the tag dump switch down when making tight maneuvers. It will also work for the battery boost switch the same way.

Dutch Star David · 04-26-2017, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt D

Boost is like a jumpstart, it's best to do with the generator or shore power connected, and hold the switch for at least 15 minutes, one minute won't do it.

Regarding what is going on, it's either low batteries or as Chuck said a starter problem. It's very easy to tap the starter.

-Matt

Bad chassis batteries-lasted less than 3 years. Replaced with Interstates.

brobox · 04-27-2017, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlovitt

Bad chassis batteries-lasted less than 3 years. Replaced with Interstates.

Was that the problem with the starter?, sounds like it was. Were those the factory installed batteries? Any signs of the batteries getting weak before they died?

Dutch Star David · 04-27-2017, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brobox

Was that the problem with the starter?, sounds like it was. Were those the factory installed batteries? Any signs of the batteries getting weak before they died?

Yes, yes and no.

brobox · 04-27-2017, 08:05 AM

Thanks for the answers. Another thing Classic owners need to be aware.

Matt D · 04-27-2017, 08:06 AM

One thing I discovered is the production date of the coach can be 6-12 months later than the chassis. Therefore, a 2014 MY coach could easily have batteries and tires from 2013.

Batteries seems to last around 4 years, so it sounds quite typical.

Chances are that your house batteries will follow within 6 months.

-Matt

Dutch Star David · 04-27-2017, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt D

One thing I discovered is the production date of the coach can be 6-12 months later than the chassis. Therefore, a 2014 MY coach could easily have batteries and tires from 2013.

Batteries seems to last around 4 years, so it sounds quite typical.

Chances are that your house batteries will follow within 6 months.

-Matt

Crap! More good news.

brobox · 04-27-2017, 11:52 AM

It's hard to believe that us Classic owners are getting to the end of our battery life already. It seems like yesterday that we were taking out first trip. Posts like this are a good reminder to us that our coaches are not new anymore and we can expect the unexpected to start showing up.

Ready2Travel · 04-27-2017, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt D

One thing I discovered is the production date of the coach can be 6-12 months later than the chassis. Therefore, a 2014 MY coach could easily have batteries and tires from 2013.

Batteries seems to last around 4 years, so it sounds quite typical.

Chances are that your house batteries will follow within 6 months.

-Matt

Maybe I'm lucky but on last MH chassis batteries lasted almost 9 years before needing replaced. House batteries only lasted 4-5 years.

brobox · 04-28-2017, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ready2Travel

Maybe I'm lucky but on last MH chassis batteries lasted almost 9 years before needing replaced. House batteries only lasted 4-5 years.

A lot depends on location. In the cool upper NW that is true. Store the batteries in hot humid FL and they last 1/2 as long. When I lived in CO I never had to replace car batteries. In FL I am lucky if I can make the 3 year warranty. David is in TX, so his heat cooks batteries as well.

Dutch Star David · 04-28-2017, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brobox

A lot depends on location. In the cool upper NW that is true. Store the batteries in hot humid FL and they last 1/2 as long. When I lived in CO I never had to replace car batteries. In FL I am lucky if I can make the 3 year warranty. David is in TX, so his heat cooks batteries as well.

Really good to know but, not enough reason to leave TX.

BPoland · 04-28-2017, 07:15 AM

Another thing to consider is what happened with the batteries from the time the coach was built, until you picked it up. Were they kept charged, or more likely the case, they were allowed to become fully discharged numerous times. If that happened, the life expectancy of those 2013 batteries is not too good.

We had the same problems with the batteries of our 2014 Bay Star. Coach was built in 11/13 and sat on the dealers lot in FL until late August 2014, when we bought it. When we bought it, the batteries were fully charged. But within the month, I noticed that they would discharge pretty quick. Being a new coach owner, I didn't know any better. I had the batteries tested and they were both marginal at best. I was able to get interstate to replace them under warranty. The batteries were over 3 years old, but less than 2 years since we bought the coach.

I would suggest replacing them and start fresh, with a known product and history. Just my 2 cents.