Community Forums

stormy2000 · 08-30-2018, 10:23 AM

I have a used 2014 bounder 35K and the engine does not start after a week or so of non-usage. The main battery shows low voltage of less than 12v to about 10v at times. The aux battery V is good and everything works off of the aux.

I have had RSA come and give me a jump and the Bounder runs great after that but if I park it and leave it alone for a week, I will require a jump again to get started.

I have a new battery purchased at a Ford dealership which matched the OEM battery of the Bounder. The 100 mo warranty is still good.

I took the Bounder to Alliance Coach at wildwood fl, and they looked it over and said the Bounder does not have the charging capability to charge the engine battery only the house batteries.

Is this valid? are the Bounders unable to recharge the engine battery? no converter? or is the converter not connected so as to keep the engine battery charging while connected to shore power?

Do I need to call Fleetwood or Ford? to verify the charging of the engine battery while attached to shore?

thank you again,

bill

nothermark · 08-30-2018, 10:35 AM

From your description it does not. Not many gas RV's do. I'm not even sure most Diesels do but they are in a different price league. Even if it does putting in a trick l start or similar might be a lower cost fix.

House Husband · 08-30-2018, 10:41 AM

Your Bounder does indeed have a system to keep all batteries charged no matter the source. This had been a Fleetwood plus since 1995. When either battery bank reaches 13.3 volts the isolator relay closes and all batteries charge. Most likely the isolator relay is at fault, It is located in the Battery Control Center. Some where close to the batteries.

Richard

twinboat · 08-30-2018, 10:44 AM

Get a Tri K L Start, Yandina 100 battery combiner, Cyrix 100 battery combiner or on of the other brand devices.

They will keep your start battery topped off, as long as you are on shore power, and the house batteries are being maintained.

There are also battery tenders that plug into 120 volt outlets that keep the start battery from draining. Battery Minder comes to mind.

firedoc · 08-30-2018, 10:54 AM

Or the Trik l starts big brother Ample Start.

Gary RVRoamer · 08-31-2018, 01:08 PM

Quote:

I took the Bounder to Alliance Coach at wildwood fl, and they looked it over and said the Bounder does not have the charging capability to charge the engine battery only the house batteries.

They are wrong about that. All Fleetwood coaches have that capability - the house 12v system will charge the engine battery as needed. HOWEVER, the charge management function will not charge the engine battery until the house batteries are at or near full charge. If you have weak house batteries, the charge status may never reach the point where engine charging is enabled. It could also be that the solenoid used to switch the connection between the two battery banks is no longer working. It's the same solenoid as for the Aux Start switch, so try that to see if it works.

twinboat · 08-31-2018, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer

They are wrong about that. All Fleetwood coaches have that capability - the house 12v system will charge the engine battery as needed. HOWEVER, the charge management function will not charge the engine battery until the house batteries are at or near full charge. If you have weak house batteries, the charge status may never reach the point where engine charging is enabled. It could also be that the solenoid used to switch the connection between the two battery banks is no longer working. It's the same solenoid as for the Aux Start switch, so try that to see if it works.

Actually the charge management only measures volts. 13.3 volts and it combines the 2 banks.

That's if it has a bi-directional system.

stormy2000 · 08-31-2018, 03:46 PM

thanks, I will try to isolate if the problem lay within the system itself before going with a floater type charger for the battery. also when using the bounder's battery meter monitor, the house shows bout 13v so accordingly the engine battery should begin to charge.

their is a battery dis box in the above the radiator and I'll check that to see if any f uses are burnt and need replacement or other problem if any.

thanks for the advice and info.

Gary RVRoamer · 09-01-2018, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Actually the charge management only measures volts. 13.3 volts and it combines the 2 banks.

Correct. Both the RVP and the Intelletec charge controllers consider a house system voltage of 13.3 to be "fully charged". It's not a very precise measurement, but it is sufficient for the need.

Bounder28T · 09-04-2018, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stormy2000

thanks, I will try to isolate if the problem lay within the system itself before going with a floater type charger for the battery. also when using the bounder's battery meter monitor, the house shows bout 13v so accordingly the engine battery should begin to charge.

their is a battery dis box in the above the radiator and I'll check that to see if any f uses are burnt and need replacement or other problem if any.

thanks for the advice and info.

Stormy, Gary Brinck has given you the best answer IMHO. I have a 99 Bounder, it has two switches over the entry door on the right side. One switch is AUX (House Batteries) and the other is MAIN (Chassis Battery). When NOT stored I leave them both ON. These switches operate solenoids in the BCC. Fleetwood explained to me "When the switches are on and either of these conditions: the engine is running, or the generator, or on shore power all batteries receive a charge. Solenoids/relays are a failing point. I keep spares. In my BCC there is a solenoid that is very hot, it is continuously energized on shore power etc. It is the same solenoid that gets energized when the AUX switch on the dash is used to start the engine with house batteries. If that solenoid fails your chassis battery will not charge from the generator or shore power. TEST: Plug your coach into shore power, wait 20 minutes, check your Battery Control Center for a hot solenoid. If you don't feel a hot solenoid you have a failure, either control or power.

stormy2000 · 09-04-2018, 09:49 PM

I got the email response from fleetwood rev group and here it is:

Thank you for contacting REV Recreation Group.

In regards to your inquiry, the coach is equipped with a Magnum invertor. This would assist with charging the chassis battery when plugged in. The coach is equipped with both a main and aux disconnect switch, typically located either by the entry door or near the monitor panel. Make sure the main disconnect did not become engaged, thus not allowing the charge to get to the batteries. Also attached is a troubleshooting guide for the battery control center to check the main disconnect.

For further assistance, we would need to refer you to a dealership.