New guy needs help with genny question

[Marinelender]

I'm looking at an '03 39 Winnebago with 7.5 Onan....the fuel gauge is broken (reads empty when tank is confirmed full) and the gen starts but will only run 4 - 5 minutes before shutting off. Oil level good, coolant good. Seller says the faulty gauge shuts the gen down...I thought it was the location of the fuel pick up in the tank that prevented the gen from running once fuel was low, not the reading on the gauge. Anybody know?

[smlranger]

Unless someone here knows the answer to that question, I would say since Winnebago installed the genset, they could best provide the answer. In any case, I'd make the seller have the gauge fixed/replaced before any money exchanges hands. If the gauge is malfunctioning due to a faulty engine VDU (vehicle data unit....sends all the signals to the dash gauges), that can be a pricey item ($418 plus the labor to R & R). The VDU's in some FL motorhome chassis of that era had problems.

Since that rig is built on a Freightliner chassis, a FL dealer should be able to get the fuel gauge working.

[Bill Adams]

I know that on my coach the gen shut down is triggered by the coach's low fuel warning light but the genny won't start and won't run a second past that light coming on. If yours runs for several minutes after starting then I would suspect another issue.

[Marinelender]

smlranger...Bill, thanks for your thoughts. The seller is having the gauge replaced and I'll have the gen tested after that's fixed. My guess is a bad fuel filter, I agree that if it was the fuel gauge shutting the gen down it wouldn't allow it to run at all.