Community Forums

ashworthjjs · 09-18-2021, 10:15 AM

I have a New Mar Kountry Star 2003 deasel pusher. Generator is Generac 75D. When I try to start generator the starter acts like the battery is low.Which battery system does it get its power from? I replaced the coach batteries and no change in cranking power. With the coach batteries disconnected I still get 12 volts reading at the Generator. Does it have its own battery system?

153stars · 09-18-2021, 11:41 AM

I had same issue sounded /acted like low battery it would start if chassis batts were real good and charged. I cleaned every possible connection first including the ones at starter solenoid in genny cabinet. There are cables to the back of genny from both sides on isolators and it had ground to frame on mine try threr. I just replaced the starter, was about $50-100 it's from a Fiat motor . I had the slide I removed every cover except rear, replaced the brushes ,replaced alternator belt and its tensioner pulley, flex pipe was broken I modified for 1" stainless threaded flex pipe from Mc Master Carr, radiator had tons of soot on it, the fan belt was like new so i left it , if no slide I would have. It would be very difficult to replace starter from underneath but seemed possible top bolt will be 100% blind. You would need allen sockets for starter bolts IDR if metric or SAE sorry. I removed the passenger side cover for belt there were many wires to R&R. When I pulled starter apart brushes were worn armature commutator was black and coated with carbon, bearings/bushing worn or I may have replaced the brush set for a spare but was not worth it. It's still easier to start my Cummins than the Generac up front if chassis batts are down some. I cleaned every positive cable period besides the Cummins starter. Some American coaches had genny battery but pretty rare.

Tha_Rooster · 09-18-2021, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashworthjjs

I have a New Mar Kountry Star 2003 deasel pusher. Generator is Generac 75D. When I try to start generator the starter acts like the battery is low.Which battery system does it get its power from? I replaced the coach batteries and no change in cranking power. With the coach batteries disconnected I still get 12 volts reading at the Generator. Does it have its own battery system?

Most run off off house battery bank not the chassis batteries and no it does have its own.

PanJH · 09-18-2021, 01:46 PM

on our Dutch Star the genset is powered by the chassis batteries. So, I have a 45+/- ft. cable going from the rear of the coach to the genset. I had starting problems too. Found a back connection back on the chassis battery and also corrosion in the ground cable at the genset. That took care of my starting issues.

Skip426 · 09-18-2021, 06:30 PM

My 99 Dutch Star , the gen set starts from the house batteries .
As mentioned there is a 35' cable from the house batteries to the gen set , it is NOT one piece . Within 3 ' of the battery bank there is a 135 amp 12 colt circuit breaker , that needs to be located and checked for bad connections ( mine is on the frame rail behind the battery tray) there is also a power stud at the front of the coach where all the front systems hooked to the coach batteries connect .Including the gen set starter power cable .

Bring another vehicle with jumper cables and attach them to the + power stud and ground to the frame to see if the gen set starting improves . If it does you need to go through the whole cable looking for a power drop.

First picture, from the ground looking up, behind the battery tray at the circuit breakers , two are Freightliner the third ( yellow arrow) is Newmar .Before I cleaned everything up.
Second the power stud above and to the passenger side of the gen set, lower left of photo. .

ashworthjjs · 01-23-2022, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashworthjjs

I have a New Mar Kountry Star 2003 deasel pusher. Generator is Generac 75D. When I try to start generator the starter acts like the battery is low.Which battery system does it get its power from? I replaced the coach batteries and no change in cranking power. With the coach batteries disconnected I still get 12 volts reading at the Generator. Does it have its own battery system?

My problem was the starter was dragging. First thing I found out was that the gen starter runs off one of the cranking batteries and not the coach batteries. My problem was the starter itself. Their is an access panel on the bottom of the gen which allows access to the starter. The top bolt of the starter was difficult to get to and remove. Gen starts fine now.