Community Forums

zagguy · 02-07-2010, 08:17 AM

My wife and I just purchased a 2000 Winnebago Journey, when I got home and was looking under the chassis I noticed several hoses hanging down in front of the diesel pusher. Looks like they could easily get caught or damaged, is this normal or should there be a plate protecting them? I have to take it back to the dealer because the generator batteries won't hold a charge and It would be great to have input about the hoses...thanks

Gary RVRoamer · 02-07-2010, 09:34 AM

There is not typically a protection plate, but usually the hoses are bound up to keep them at/above the underside of the chassis.

Generator batteries? Your coach has "house" batteries that supply lighting and such to the interior and "chassis" batteries that start the engine, but no separate generator batteries. Are you having trouble getting the generator started, or some other battery problem?

zagguy · 02-07-2010, 09:45 AM

Thanks Gary, I'll know what to do or ask the service dept. to fix for the hoses. The chassis batteries are fine but when I try to start the generator it sounds like the batteries are dead. When i hit the aux. assist battery button nothing happens? Only picked up the mh yesterday so I have to call Monday for a service appt.

indiana journey · 02-07-2010, 08:15 PM

The hoses hanging down could possibly be the hoses going to the motoraid water heater. They can be tied up a little without crimping them.
When you try to start your generator, hold the start switch down untill it starts. If it is a diesel the engine has to be primed after sitting for a while. The switch will have a green light that blinks on and off untill the engine is primed and then turn the engine over to start it.
Good luck, Indiana Journey

nbounder · 02-08-2010, 08:04 PM

My genny is a gas model, and it's been hard to start for years, even after a tune-up. Priming does nothing. I intend to rebuild the carb sooner or later, but in the meanwhile, I spray starting fluid for one second (no more) into the manifold and it'll start in 5 seconds, when cold. Warm, it starts even faster, no fluid involved. Better yet, let the dealer fix it (re-build the carb?) on HIS nickle!

ernieh · 02-08-2010, 11:53 PM

Just to clarify, you can hold the start switch to OFF to prime the engine without turning the starter on Onan diesel gensets. I believe that also is true for gas units with microprocessor controls.

nbounder · 02-10-2010, 07:26 PM

Yes Ernie - the newer Onans can be primed from the drivers seat. Unfortunately, I have an 'older' unit, and there's no priming capability. More than once I crawled under the coach and appliied 12V to the fuel pump to prime it, and it was a total waste of time. I guess on my coach, I use starting fluid or re-build the carb one of these fine days. Lucky me!!