Hit a deer carcass, now generator won't start, 6.0 kW Onan quiet diesel

[ualdriver]

RV type in the signature.
6.0 kW Onan Quiet diesel generator

I'm driving my "new to me" RV home and I hit a deer carcass at about 65 mph. Now my 6.0kW Quiet diesel generator is REAL quiet. It won't start.

I'm at a truck stop waiting for the morning so I can get some associated tire damage inspected, but while I'm sitting here, could someone point me in the right direction as to what I can do for some initial troubleshooting steps?

Battery voltage is good (12.5v) per the little battery monitor in the house. When I hit the start button in the house, the lights dim (just a little bit) as if the battery is taking a load, but nothing happens. If I open the front hood and hit the start button directly on the generator, I hear a rapid "ticking" and the light next to the switch flashes rapidly, only while the start switch is depressed. The generator does not turn over at all. When I release the start button the little red light doesn't flash.

Usually when I hit a start button and I hear ticking like that, I'm thinking starter solenoid, but I have no idea where it is on this thing and it is dark right now.

Any advice appreciated. I have limited tools as all of my RV tools are at home, which is where I was driving the RV to.

Thanks!

[Skip426]

You may have to get under the gen set to check that the ; power and ground cables at the rear center, of the housing , are still in place . I should say that's where they are on my 7500.
The ticking your hearing and flashing on the start button , are kind of the prime/glow plug cycle of the gen set. Mine does the same prior to start up.
Have you tried holding the boost button ( emergency start ) on the dash while hitting the gen set start button?

[ualdriver]

Originally Posted by Skip426

You may have to get under the gen set to check that the ; power and ground cables at the rear center, of the housing , are still in place . I should say that's where they are on my 7500.
The ticking your hearing and flashing on the start button , are kind of the prime/glow plug cycle of the gen set. Mine does the same prior to start up.
Have you tried holding the boost button ( emergency start ) on the dash while hitting the gen set start button?

Thanks very much. Holding the button in did the trick. Operator error. So starting these diesel generators you normally have to hold that start button in for several seconds and nothing happens at first?

[Bigd9]

Originally Posted by ualdriver

Thanks very much. Holding the button in did the trick. Operator error. So starting these diesel generators you normally have to hold that start button in for several seconds and nothing happens at first?

That is correct.

[Skip426]

Originally Posted by Bigd9

That is correct.

And ; the cooler the outside temps , the longer the pre-start cycle will take.

[burfurd]

Yup, what they said!

[Mr_D]

Takes a few seconds for the intake heater or glow plugs to heat up, just like the main engine.

[ualdriver]

Originally Posted by Bigd9

That is correct.

Originally Posted by Skip426

And ; the cooler the outside temps , the longer the pre-start cycle will take.

Originally Posted by burfurd

Yup, what they said!

Originally Posted by Mr_D

Takes a few seconds for the intake heater or glow plugs to heat up, just like the main engine.

Thanks all. When I picked the rig up in PHX, it started as soon as I hit the start button, but that is probably because it was 115F. Then when I tried to start it, it was much cooler out (75F maybe), it didn't turn over right away, I had just hit a deer in that general area of the rig, so I figured I had somehow damaged the generator. I also didn't know one had to hold that button in until it started, unlike my old gasoline generator that cranked right away.

Thanks for all the help......more questions like to follow with this DP : )

[Bigd9]

Most diesel engines are like that. Either you hit the switch and wait for the plugs to warm before it will crank, or you have to turn the switch, wait for the "wait to Start" light to go out before you should turn the starter.

What damage did the deer carcass do to the coach?

[Dr4Film]

As posted earlier, when I am in Florida the generator cranks over usually after about 5-10 seconds. When I am in Alaska sometimes it takes 50-60 seconds before the engine starts to crank.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

[ualdriver]

Originally Posted by Bigd9

Most diesel engines are like that. Either you hit the switch and wait for the plugs to warm before it will crank, or you have to turn the switch, wait for the "wait to Start" light to go out before you should turn the starter.

What damage did the deer carcass do to the coach?

Thanks for the info.

Luckily, very little. It was only half a carcass (yup, yuck) and I was able to swerve over about one foot to avoid a direct hit. It hit my front tire, went under the right side of the rig, and then hit my right rear tire. The only damage I could find was some sidewall damage to both tires. The sidewalls had two small shallow slices but that's it. Took the rig to Goodyear and they said they were fine. No body damage. No damage to the underside. Just a lot of meat chunks. I was damn lucky.

[Bigd9]

Did you save the "meat chunks" for supper?

Glad it all worked out for you!

[ualdriver]

Originally Posted by Bigd9

Did you save the "meat chunks" for supper?

Glad it all worked out for you!

Thanks!