|
|
06-21-2021, 06:26 PM
|
#1
|
Moderator Emeritus
Monaco Owners Club Texas Boomers Club
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 13,426
|
Generator Dies When the Engine is Started?
This last trip was hot and we had the generator and AC running when I started the engine. About half the time it died. As far as I remember, its never died before when I started the coach. What would cause that? I thought maybe the chassis battery is getting weak, it's over 5 years old now and its only one big battery, not two.
__________________
Dennis and Katherine
2000 Monaco Dynasty
|
|
|
|
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
06-21-2021, 06:41 PM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,810
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by barmcd
This last trip was hot and we had the generator and AC running when I started the engine. About half the time it died. As far as I remember, its never died before when I started the coach. What would cause that? I thought maybe the chassis battery is getting weak, it's over 5 years old now and its only one big battery, not two.
|
Chassis battery will not kill the generator. The most likely reason is fuel flow. When was the last time you changed the filter. Checked the pump, or cleaned the carburetor. You don't say what kind of coach or what genset you have, that info would help.
__________________
2006 Winnebago Journey
39K
Cat C7
|
|
|
06-21-2021, 06:49 PM
|
#3
|
Moderator Emeritus
Monaco Owners Club Texas Boomers Club
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 13,426
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by amosnandy
Chassis battery will not kill the generator. The most likely reason is fuel flow. When was the last time you changed the filter. Checked the pump, or cleaned the carburetor. You don't say what kind of coach or what genset you have, that info would help.
|
The coach is in my sig line and its a 7.5K Quiet diesel so no carb. The fuel filters are less than a year old. I've got the OEM Onan filter and an additional Parker filter in line before the Onan filter.
__________________
Dennis and Katherine
2000 Monaco Dynasty
|
|
|
06-21-2021, 07:02 PM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Kitchener, ON, Canada
Posts: 609
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by barmcd
The coach is in my sig line and its a 7.5K Quiet diesel so no carb. The fuel filters are less than a year old. I've got the OEM Onan filter and an additional Parker filter in line before the Onan filter.
|
Is the second Parker fuel filter a new addition? Shot in the dark, but maybe the extra filter is affecting fuel flow?
Generator needs fuel, air and spark (compression) to keep running. Could potentially have had a bad tank of fuel or maybe your fuel has some algae. Somewhat unlikely, but could potentially have clogged your new filters.
When was the air filter changed last?
Are you getting close to a 1/4 tank of fuel? Could be getting close to the cutoff for the generator fuel feed in the tank. If you’re saying the generator died when you started the main engine, this is usually caused by starvation of the generator fuel pickup due to the engine sucking fuel in. Very likely, if close to 1/4 tank.
After it shuts down, are you able to restart it right away? Wondering if there is some sort of over temp safety switch that is killing it. You mentioned the weather was warmer.
Just some thoughts. All the best!
Josh
|
|
|
06-21-2021, 07:22 PM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,186
|
Dennis, I think there's a good chance it is the battery.
Do you know if your gen stars from the chassis battery?
Monaco was known to build coaches both ways.
Anyway, if your gen does start from the chassis batt I think what is
happening is the voltage is dropping too low for the gen which could
be from a weak battery.
Have you tried using the boost switch? Using it may keep from
stalling the gen and help you see if it's the battery.
Ray
03 Windsor
|
|
|
06-21-2021, 07:32 PM
|
#6
|
Moderator Emeritus
Monaco Owners Club Texas Boomers Club
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 13,426
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by JJTL
Is the second Parker fuel filter a new addition? Shot in the dark, but maybe the extra filter is affecting fuel flow?
Generator needs fuel, air and spark (compression) to keep running. Could potentially have had a bad tank of fuel or maybe your fuel has some algae. Somewhat unlikely, but could potentially have clogged your new filters.
When was the air filter changed last?
Are you getting close to a 1/4 tank of fuel? Could be getting close to the cutoff for the generator fuel feed in the tank. If you’re saying the generator died when you started the main engine, this is usually caused by starvation of the generator fuel pickup due to the engine sucking fuel in. Very likely, if close to 1/4 tank.
After it shuts down, are you able to restart it right away? Wondering if there is some sort of over temp safety switch that is killing it. You mentioned the weather was warmer.
Just some thoughts. All the best!
Josh
|
The parker has been on the coach for about 14 years, the PO had fuel problems and the Onan filter kept plugging up so he installed the Parker in front of the Onan filter and in a more accessible location. I've fixed the fuel contamination issue, but left the Parker in place since it hasn't affected performance. Filters are about 8 months old. I change them yearly even though the manual says something like 2 or 3 years. I never run the tank below 1/2 tank and its happened with a full tank.
__________________
Dennis and Katherine
2000 Monaco Dynasty
|
|
|
06-21-2021, 07:39 PM
|
#7
|
Moderator Emeritus
Monaco Owners Club Texas Boomers Club
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 13,426
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by RamiDav
Dennis, I think there's a good chance it is the battery.
Do you know if your gen stars from the chassis battery?
Monaco was known to build coaches both ways.
Anyway, if your gen does start from the chassis batt I think what is
happening is the voltage is dropping too low for the gen which could
be from a weak battery.
Have you tried using the boost switch? Using it may keep from
stalling the gen and help you see if it's the battery.
Ray
03 Windsor
|
Ray, I'm not sure which battery starts the generator, I just assumed it was the chassis batteries since the generator auto-starts when the house batteries get low. I was going to actually try to measure the battery voltage when starting the coach, but if it works correctly with the boost switch that works too.
__________________
Dennis and Katherine
2000 Monaco Dynasty
|
|
|
06-21-2021, 10:37 PM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 1,344
|
I am having the same issue....
This week I am cleaning fixing up all my battery connections on the chassis battery’s.
Odd part it only happens when it’s hot out. This of course could be the heat effecting the cranking amps of the battery’s.
My other issue, I think related, is when driving if I start my genny I get a voltage drop that can cause other systems to have errors. ie. the transmission controller errors and I have to go to neutral to reset.
If I find out anything I will try to post back,
__________________
New to us 2000 Monaco executive 40 500hp tag
|
|
|
06-22-2021, 07:35 AM
|
#9
|
Moderator Emeritus
Monaco Owners Club Texas Boomers Club
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 13,426
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Biljol
I am having the same issue....
This week I am cleaning fixing up all my battery connections on the chassis battery’s.
Odd part it only happens when it’s hot out. This of course could be the heat effecting the cranking amps of the battery’s.
My other issue, I think related, is when driving if I start my genny I get a voltage drop that can cause other systems to have errors. ie. the transmission controller errors and I have to go to neutral to reset.
If I find out anything I will try to post back,
|
Well, it was definitely hot out. All the days were over 100, a couple at 108/109. Way too hot for June, even in Texas. On another note, the AC kept it nice and cool inside.
__________________
Dennis and Katherine
2000 Monaco Dynasty
|
|
|
06-22-2021, 07:46 AM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,186
|
I remember some yrs ago where some owners mounted a battery upfront at the generator to alleviate some of these issues. I think those were upper-end coaches with larger generators though. In those cases, it wasn't a case of killing the coach engine but too small of cables to the gen causing slow or hard gen starting. Still, that could probably solve your issue
Ray
03 Windsor
|
|
|
06-22-2021, 10:26 AM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 6,544
|
I've also had this happen. I think it's the chassis battery getting weak or poor connections. I suspect it stops the generator fuel pump when you are cranking the main engine.
__________________
97 Monaco Windsor- Sold
07 Monaco Executive McKinley- Sold
04 Monaco Signature Chateau IV
|
|
|
06-22-2021, 11:43 AM
|
#12
|
Moderator Emeritus
Monaco Owners Club Texas Boomers Club
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 13,426
|
We I was not paying quite enough attention this morning, now I’m replacing fence posts along our line of blackberry bushes! I won’t be able to check this out until later.
__________________
Dennis and Katherine
2000 Monaco Dynasty
|
|
|
06-22-2021, 01:29 PM
|
#13
|
Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 54
|
I have had the exact problem in the past. My case was the batteries.
|
|
|
06-22-2021, 02:16 PM
|
#14
|
Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: On the road
Posts: 1,915
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by RamiDav
I remember some yrs ago where some owners mounted a battery upfront at the generator to alleviate some of these issues. I think those were upper-end coaches with larger generators though. In those cases, it wasn't a case of killing the coach engine but too small of cables to the gen causing slow or hard gen starting. Still, that could probably solve your issue
Ray
03 Windsor
|
Either a PO or an option from the factory but my coach another battery in front of the generator on the slide. It looks factory because the Generator is mounted back for the battery mount and box.
Tim
__________________
Full Time 2000 Dynasty Regent FD, 8.3, Banks Turbo, 5" Diameter Exhaust, 475 HP 1425 Torque, FASS system, towing 05 Pilot 1500 Watts solar 800ah lithium & E-Bike
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|