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MCDDY · 02-05-2007, 02:20 PM

2nd time this has happened. Started MH to bring it to the house from storage barn where it stays plugged in 24/7. All gauges OK but then a few minutes later while warming on high idle, the Alternator warning light came on, not charging? Tach not showing any revs, no gauges working, nothing. As per the last time this happened turned on the headlights and everything works perfectly. Had a problem several yrs ago with grounding of the gauges and Monaco Techs at a rally fixed that by running additional ground wires to a seperate gounding post. Question is: if the chassis battery is fully charged do the electronics tell the alternator that it doesn't have anything to do, thus the alternator light and the goofy gauges. Then when turning on the lights, it gives the alternator something to do. Or could it just ground again?
Stumped
Dave

MCDDY · 02-05-2007, 02:20 PM

2nd time this has happened. Started MH to bring it to the house from storage barn where it stays plugged in 24/7. All gauges OK but then a few minutes later while warming on high idle, the Alternator warning light came on, not charging? Tach not showing any revs, no gauges working, nothing. As per the last time this happened turned on the headlights and everything works perfectly. Had a problem several yrs ago with grounding of the gauges and Monaco Techs at a rally fixed that by running additional ground wires to a seperate gounding post. Question is: if the chassis battery is fully charged do the electronics tell the alternator that it doesn't have anything to do, thus the alternator light and the goofy gauges. Then when turning on the lights, it gives the alternator something to do. Or could it just ground again?
Stumped
Dave

"007" · 02-05-2007, 05:41 PM

Dave the alternator will work all the time fan belt drives it. I would check your pesky grounds again, also between the engine and frame or it could be a voltage regulator problem.

ronboc · 02-06-2007, 02:45 AM

007 is right, definitely sounds like a(nother) bad ground. A lot of folk have expressed problems with the Monaco-grounds, so it's the most likely suspect as well.

Good luck and let us know what you find.

SacsTC · 02-06-2007, 11:06 AM

MCDDY,
The part that bothers me about what you are describing is the following: <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> Alternator warning light came on, not charging? Tach not showing any revs, no gauges working, nothing. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Were your batteries actually fully charged or did you have to "Hot Start" by using the batt switch?? If your alt was faulty, it could possibly overheat and shut down, but I wouldn't think the other guages would stop working.

MCDDY · 02-06-2007, 12:09 PM

Thanks for the input.
SacsTC
Not a hot start using the auxilary start switch although I do have 4 brand new 6V house batteries and an almost new (June06) 8D chassis battery, it spins the heck out of the motor. The reason I asked about ground and mentioned grounding problems and Monaco's fix for it was several yrs ago. Going down the road to Destin Fl. in July thru intermittent rain showers so had the headlights on. I rarely drive the coach at night so seldom use them. I had just bought fuel at Gulfport Ms. about 40mi back, looked down to scan gauges, temp was near 220. fuel at 3/4 tank and voltage at 10.5V. and tach was at correct RPM for the speed. Kept watching and nothing was changing, mainly getting hotter, etc. so proceeded on. Pulled into a rest area at the Al. line then realized the only thing I was doing different was had the headlights on. Turned them off and everything goes back to normal readings. Just the opposite of what it did yesterday. Went on to Destin with no problems. Called Monaco and they advised me of the problem with the "LOOP" grounding of the gauges. The ground starts at the last gauge in line and goes to each successive one and comes out at the end gauge then to a grounding bar. The tech installed 3 more ground wires and routed them to a separate grounding location on the chassis. Haven't had a problem again till yesterday. I'll pull the dash out tomorrow, a real bi_ch and try to find something loose in there.
Dave
Dave