Community Forums

Blue Ribbon · 01-29-2007, 02:09 AM

Brief background - I've been having no starting battery after 2 or 3 weeks and have to use hot start to add the coach batteries to start. Battery has been in service about 28 months since coach was delivered. (Choach did NOT sit on lot - took delivery from factory.)

It is a TOTALLY sealed "maintaince free" battery. Took it to Sears, and they did a quick test, then an extensive load test and said there was no problem with the battery.

A few weeks ago, knowing I was not going to use the RV for a few weeks, I completely disconnected the battery.

Friday evening, went to the coach and it would not start. Added coach batteries, and it was OK.

Looking for opinions, and I know this is the place to come.

Thanks,

Blue Ribbon · 01-29-2007, 02:09 AM

Brief background - I've been having no starting battery after 2 or 3 weeks and have to use hot start to add the coach batteries to start. Battery has been in service about 28 months since coach was delivered. (Choach did NOT sit on lot - took delivery from factory.)

It is a TOTALLY sealed "maintaince free" battery. Took it to Sears, and they did a quick test, then an extensive load test and said there was no problem with the battery.

A few weeks ago, knowing I was not going to use the RV for a few weeks, I completely disconnected the battery.

Friday evening, went to the coach and it would not start. Added coach batteries, and it was OK.

Looking for opinions, and I know this is the place to come.

Thanks,

Hitchhiker · 01-29-2007, 02:26 AM

My hunch would be the battery is bad, I'd stick a new one in before replacing anything else. Sears may be mistaken.

Gary RVRoamer · 01-29-2007, 02:52 AM

If the battery load tests OK and still won't perform after being disconnected (did you check the battery voltage before re-connecting?), I would consider the possibility a poor connection somewhere, maybe at the starter solenoid or at the realy in the 12V/charging control module. A slightly low battery may be enough to trigger the failure and adding the coach batteries might be enough to overcome it. Or the relay that cuts in the coach batteries may be by-passing the poor connection.

But the battery is still the most likely culprit - it should be able to start the engine after a couple weeks offline, even with a poor connection somewhere. 28 months is a bit on the short side but with the expected life span of a battery. If it is a bit undersized for the job, it little bit of degradation might be enough to cause problems. Consider a high CCA rating if you replace it.

Bobg43 · 01-30-2007, 12:03 PM

I just had a similar problem. Coach would not start, had the battery tested under load, cleaned, etc. Started one time and than failed. I had it replaced and everything is fine.