Won’t start

[Gwood5254]

Can anyone help decide whether I need a chassis/ truck repair guy or RV repair guy. 2013 Excursion. Chassis batteries went dead with recent freeze. Just replaced them and unit still will not start or show any gages in acc position.here is the freaky part, start the generator and the gauges come to life and shows the good battery voltage, but nothing when trying to start. Don’t hear any starter or clicking (starter has not acted up previously). Doing battery boast does nothing.can’t explain why the generator would have effect since I thought it only controlled shore vs gen. 110 power, but understand it does supply the inverter / charger. Doesn’t really sound like transfer switch. Afraid truck/chassis guy won’t understand the linking of these but not sure RV type guy will know since it involves the engine start up. Don’t know if the recent cold weather in Texas had something to do with it, or not. Any thoughts of what the problem might be and who would be best resource would be appreciated
Thanks
Gdub

[okcnewbie]

My recent problem was slightly different than yours but I learned a bunch.
You could verify you are not getting the battery voltage to the ignition. This will likely be coming via a battery cable to a board and maybe a relay.
In my case I only had 4.5 volts and still haven't found out why. I eventually decided to used my jumper box to provide 12 books to the ignition switch. It was like magic. Everything came back to life and has been working great since then.
Good luck

Edit ; I do think you always need to double check your battery install if things aren't working after you changed something.

[Tha_Rooster]

Originally Posted by Gwood5254

Can anyone help decide whether I need a chassis/ truck repair guy or RV repair guy. 2013 Excursion. Chassis batteries went dead with recent freeze. Just replaced them and unit still will not start or show any gages in acc position.here is the freaky part, start the generator and the gauges come to life and shows the good battery voltage, but nothing when trying to start. Don’t hear any starter or clicking (starter has not acted up previously). Doing battery boast does nothing.can’t explain why the generator would have effect since I thought it only controlled shore vs gen. 110 power, but understand it does supply the inverter / charger. Doesn’t really sound like transfer switch. Afraid truck/chassis guy won’t understand the linking of these but not sure RV type guy will know since it involves the engine start up. Don’t know if the recent cold weather in Texas had something to do with it, or not. Any thoughts of what the problem might be and who would be best resource would be appreciated

Thanks

Gdub

Best guess they are hooked up wrong/wire left off.

[Gwood5254]

Thanks for both suggestions,
Turns out the new batteries were dead, never thought stores would sell dead batteries

[Arch Hoagland]

Originally Posted by Gwood5254

Thanks for both suggestions,
Turns out the new batteries were dead, never thought stores would sell dead batteries

Every battery I've purchased over the past 40 years gets put on a charger before I install it.

I've had to add water to 95% of them and have only ever purchased one that was fully charged...which was just last week with a Walmart maintenance free battery.

[Kiss4aFrog]

I've sold a lot of batteries over the years. We rotate stock to sell the oldest first and have machines to occasionally trickle charge them to insure a purchaser is getting a functional battery. When I say sell the oldest first they were under a certain date. If they became too old (18 mo?) they would be exchanged.

Why in the world would any store sell a dead battery? After all the reason someone is buying a battery in the first place is usually their battery failed and they need this one to start their vehicle. That and letting it go dead can damage the battery.

I've never had to charge a new battery but it wouldn't be a bad idea to do so on a low charge to be kind to the alternator the first time it's fired up.


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