Community Forums

Oldwirehead · 11-13-2022, 11:11 AM

When I try to start the RV, I get dash lights, turn key and then nothing. Now if I hold the battery boost it fires right up. Checked the coach battery is fully charged. Where to start?

wolfe10 · 11-13-2022, 11:13 AM

Battery cable connections at the chassis battery is where I would start.

Make sure they are clean and tight. After that, other connections from chassis battery to both positive and negative chassis connections.

Arch Hoagland · 11-13-2022, 11:38 AM

Is that after the coach has been sitting for a few weeks or every time you try to start it?

Have you measured the engine battery voltage with a voltmeter at the battery?

Robi.1014 · 11-13-2022, 08:20 PM

Agree with Wolfe. At the starting battery, either the negative or positive terminal is loose or corroded. This connection provides enough of a connection to illuminate your dash lights, but then the high-amperage demand of the starter is applied, this "poor connection" fails completely. When you apply the battery-boost switch, hour house batteries are starting the engine all by themselves.

sgtstriker · 11-30-2022, 11:02 AM

I had the same issue with my '03 Adventurer. It turned out to be the positive cable at the starter was loose..... So, as stated earlier, check ALL cable connections....

Good Luck......

Flyer15015 · 11-30-2022, 11:20 AM

[QUOTE=sgtstriker;6369457]I had the same issue with my '03 Adventurer. It turned out to be the positive cable at the starter was loose..... So, as stated earlier, check ALL cable connections....

X2 on that.
Don't stop at the batteries. check and clean the chassis ground point AND the starter connection. I went a bit further and added a ground strap from the engine bell housing to the frame rail, just to ensure a good ground.

Mike in Colorado

donr103 · 11-30-2022, 12:21 PM

A bad batteries will test fully charged.. unless you have expensive computer battery tester you cannot tell.. you need to take pictures 1st and take battery to any good auto parts store and they will test for free.. get deal.. 99% of people they say.. battery in good or fully charged are wrong.. What is date on all of your batteries and location of each.. house and chassis ?? Report back and better opinions will follow..
If you have just one bad battery.. you could burn up your alternator or worse..
Good luck and keep us posted

Robi.1014 · 12-01-2022, 08:28 AM

Quick additional trouble-shooting thought: If the dash lights go dark when engaging the starter, then the "problem connection" is not at the starter's connection.