 |
Generator started by itself
06-23-2010, 08:27 PM
|
#1
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,266
|
I purchased a 2004 Journey 39K about three months ago and am very pleased with the unit. Shortly after we purchased it we traveled to our daughters house and plugged into a 15/20 amp circuit. We ran a 1500 floor heater and at 2:30 AM the generator started. I checked with Winnebago and they said the unit did not have autostart as a factory option. This has an Onan 7.5 quiet generator (maybe quiet but I sure heard it at 2:30 AM). I've looked in the generator compartment and the electrical compartment where the inverter is located and do not find anything that looks like the Onan auto start device.
Any thoughts, suggestions, etc? OK we were out in the rural area and there are feral cats. Would/could one of them nestled up in generator area and stepped on or somehow pushed the start button long enough for the generator to start?
__________________
Bob, Sandi & Marmaduke the Big Pug
SW OREGON 2004 Journey 39K, 330 Cat
If towing: a Mini Cooper or Trike or CRV
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
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!
|
|
06-24-2010, 02:43 AM
|
#2
|
|
Community Moderator
Gulf Streamers Club Country Coach Owners Club Appalachian Campers
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Chattanooga, Tn.
Posts: 8,263
|
Quote:
|
"OK we were out in the rural area and there are feral cats. Would/could one of them nestled up in generator area and stepped on or somehow pushed the start button long enough for the generator to start?"
|
Most likely reason generator started. You could inset a couple of wedges under the blades of the switch and tape into place to prevent animals from starting the generator. There are some other reasons but this has been #1. Do a search if you are interested in reading past posts on this topic.
__________________
Mike, Certified Master RV Technician
Amy, RV Merchandiser; Roxie & Mei Ling, four legs each
2000 Gulf Stream Scenic Cruiser w/ Banks & 2 toads
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
06-24-2010, 05:01 AM
|
#3
|
|
Community Administrator
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Newark, DE
Posts: 13,896
|
This is a known problem with this generator.
Moisture gets in the control cable connector at the generator and shorts out causing the generator to start.
As Mike noted, search for many posts on this issue.
__________________
Adios, Dirk - '84 Real Lite Truck Camper, '86 Wilderness Cimarron TT, '07 DSDP, '11 Virtual RV
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
06-24-2010, 05:09 PM
|
#4
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,266
|
Thank you - I shoud have searched and after your suggestions I found four or five posts with this problem and possible solutions. I thought it was a very rare happening but is it not uncommon with this model generator. Again thanks
__________________
Bob, Sandi & Marmaduke the Big Pug
SW OREGON 2004 Journey 39K, 330 Cat
If towing: a Mini Cooper or Trike or CRV
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
06-24-2010, 06:28 PM
|
#5
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Marshfield, WI
Posts: 398
|
We have the same generator and had the same problem one evening while watching TV. The next day I took the wire harness connector apart on the left side of the generator, (as viewed through the hood), sprayed it with contact cleaner, let it dry, and filled it with dielectric grease, then put it back together. No problem since then.
__________________
Denny, Connie & Shadow (former barn cat made good)
2000 Itasca Horizon, Cat 3126B, Freightliner Chassis
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
06-25-2010, 05:55 PM
|
#6
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 158
|
Same as Martind4. Good advice,
__________________
Pete - Full Timing
2000 Country Coach Magna 40' #5892
2006 Jeep Liberty
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
06-25-2010, 08:44 PM
|
#7
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,266
|
Thank you I'll pull that harness plug, clean it and use dielectric grease.
__________________
Bob, Sandi & Marmaduke the Big Pug
SW OREGON 2004 Journey 39K, 330 Cat
If towing: a Mini Cooper or Trike or CRV
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
06-26-2010, 03:08 PM
|
#8
|
|
Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 180
|
The 4k Onan in our old '92 Winnebago would start itself every time it rained.
BOTH of our houseboat engines started themselves one night during a rain storm. I'd just replaced the flybridge ignition switches, obviously with not very good ones!
Water and electric switches do not mix...
__________________
2000 40' Tiffin Allegro Bus \ 2003 Chaparral 260 SSI
1995 32 x 8 Party Cruiser pontoon FOR SALE
1988 53 x 14 Skipperliner Custom houseboat
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
|
| Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
|
| Display Modes |
 Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
»
Recent Discussions
»
Upcoming Rallies
No events scheduled in
the next 365 days.
|
»
iRV2 on facebook
|
Chevy Camaro Forum
Ford Mustang Forum
Jeep Wrangler Forum
Volkswagen Touareg Forum
Land Rover Defender Forum
