American Coach: Motorhome won’t start no power

[BINGHAMD]

Hello
I stored our motorhome for first time in 6 years. We had been full timers and quit. Anyway, when I stored it hit battery disconnect and turned off our inverter.
We have 2005 Fleetwood Revolution Freightliner chassis. went to take it to get some work done on it and it would not start at all no dash lights no nothing.
I used battery boost and dash lights came on but not enough to get it to start. I was able to start generator. Any thoughts. Much appreciated
I’m not mechanical at all. Don’t know who to call for this.thank you

[WeRMarshall]

Sounds like your chassis battery is dead. Not your House batteries. I'm not an expert at this stuff either but that's probably the first thing I would do is replace that or charge it if you can. Or jumping it with another vehicle and jumper cables and if it starts - let it run for awhile, letting it charge

[wolfe10]

If the house battery bank was not too depleted, your inverter/charger will charge that bank when the generator is on. But, if battery voltage too low, it will not.


SO, what is house bank battery voltage? If you have a remote panel for the inverter/charger, what is voltage and amp charge when generator is running.


There ARE "work arounds" if house bank voltage is too low for inverter/charger to charge them.



If you get the house bank charged, likely the boost switch will provide enough power to start the engine.

[BINGHAMD]

Thank you . What could have caused the engine battery to die?

[Cooperhawk]

I used to think the house and chassis batteries were both charging when it was plugged in, but on our Journey, they are not. Every month or so I put the trickle charger on the Chassis battery to peak it up, so put a charger on it overnight and see if that works.

Works for me.

[BINGHAMD]

We are not at the MH now….we’re were with it earlier to take it for a muffler repair and it wouldn’t start. We’re going back and will start the generator to build the coach batteries up….then will see if that will start the engine by using the battery boost.

[Cooperhawk]

Originally Posted by BINGHAMD

Thank you . What could have caused the engine battery to die?

Even though you turned the battery switch off there are still small draws on the batteries. For instance, the computer chips that are hot all the time. The only way to prevent this is to disconnect the battery at the post.

[Cooperhawk]

Originally Posted by BINGHAMD

We’re going back and will start the generator to build the coach batteries up….then will see if that will start the engine by using the battery boost.

Again, I'm not sure the chassis battery is charged even with the genset running.

I purchased one of those small lithium battery jump starts and it's quite amazing in the power it contains. I charge it up at home and it will jump start my vehicles several times on one charge.

[Cooperhawk]

Here's the one I have. I recommend it highly.

https://www.fleetfarm.com/detail/noc...Top%20Products

[Turbojack]

How old are the chassis batteries? You could have a bad cell in one battery which took it and the other battery down.

Also as stated above there are items that are still using a small amount of power. Over time that little bit can drain batteries down.

[gatorv]

My 2008 Revolution did the same thing. Both house and chassis batteries went dead in storage. You have to remove the battery cables to prevent this from happening. It should start after you run geny for awhile with the boost switch.
Good luck.

[BINGHAMD]

We were able to get it started by jumping it. It’s at the muffler shop now, not sure it got enough charge while driving it there. Monday, we’re taking it to get the batteries tested….hopefully no new batteries needed. But, crisis managed today. The repair shop is very limited on getting the MH in, early in the day, and we work every morning, so today was the day. And, when we figure the battery situation out, we will be disconnecting at battery posts from now on.

[wolfe10]

Remember, you can not properly load test a battery unless it is fully charged.


Testing one that is not fully charged will give you a false "bad battery".

[Tha_Rooster]

Originally Posted by BINGHAMD

Hello

I stored our motorhome for first time in 6 years. We had been full timers and quit. Anyway, when I stored it hit battery disconnect and turned off our inverter.

We have 2005 Fleetwood Revolution Freightliner chassis. went to take it to get some work done on it and it would not start at all no dash lights no nothing.

I used battery boost and dash lights came on but not enough to get it to start. I was able to start generator. Any thoughts. Much appreciated

I’m not mechanical at all. Don’t know who to call for this.thank you

My Rev also has a battery disconnect in rear engine access for chassis batteries.