Generator won't start

[Beelady1963]

We have a 2013 Monoco Diplomat that we just purchased 1100 miles ago. VERY new to this world. Getting ready for our first trip and had to put new batteries in thinking that’s why the generator won’t start. But the generator won’t start even with the new batteries. The only thing I can tell you is that when I push a button on that very complicated panel that turns on the inverter it comes on but all that happens is a noise which I’m assuming is the inverter ? I know this is vague and will answer any questions. I just don’t know how to explain it. After spending $1600 on new batteries we hoped it would solve the problem. My husband know a lot about almost everything EXCEPT this motorhome.

[RobRoy]

Originally Posted by Beelady1963

We have a 2013 Monoco Diplomat that we just purchased 1100 miles ago. VERY new to this world. Getting ready for our first trip and had to put new batteries in thinking that’s why the generator won’t start. But the generator won’t start even with the new batteries. The only thing I can tell you is that when I push a button on that very complicated panel that turns on the inverter it comes on but all that happens is a noise which I’m assuming is the inverter ? I know this is vague and will answer any questions. I just don’t know how to explain it. After spending $1600 on new batteries we hoped it would solve the problem. My husband know a lot about almost everything EXCEPT this motorhome.

I know nothing about a 2013 that said if the generator is on a slide out will it start from the start button on the generator itself ?

Because you say your knowledge is limited, are you aware that when the generator is cold you have to hold the start button down ....and hold it down... it will not crank because it has to cycle the glow plugs to warm the combustion chamber in the generator for it to start....... and sometimes depending on the ambient temps could take 10- 20 seconds before it starts to crank over and start.

The experts here on that model will chime in soon and get you pointed in the right direction.

Hope this helps

[Beelady1963]

Thanks. I am going to the shop to look at a few things. Hope your suggestion works. I live in mn but the shop is heated but only 45-50.

[Beelady1963]

My gosh. That worked!!! Thank you so much! Now do I dare ask one more question? When I start the generator there’sa loud buzzing which is midway back on coach and is behind the aqua hot. It only shuts off if the house battery kill switch if turned off. Also there is A light is on on the aqua hot panel that says low battery/voltage vault Any guesses? Next step is the shop or the dump. ��

[RobRoy]

Originally Posted by Beelady1963

My gosh. That worked!!!

Great!

Thank you so much!

Now do I dare ask one more question? When I start the generator there’sa loud buzzing which is midway back on coach and is behind the aqua hot. It only shuts off if the house battery kill switch if turned off.

Sounds like it might be a relay?


Also there is A light is on on the aqua hot panel that says low battery/voltage vault Any guesses? Next step is the shop or the dump.

Cant help but my guess is that someone will chime in with some idea's to give you a direction to go in and you will possibly need the model of your AquaHot
��

FYI the learning curve on coaches is very steep ...... so hang tough.

and no two coaches are the same even if they are the same make and model due to options.

IMO you need your data card it's VIP it gives the options that your coach was built with so that when someone ask you something like "what model AquaHot do you have?" you can tell them with out crawling in to the belly of the beast to find it ...because their are many models of AquaHot units.

A data car is the "Rosetta Stone" as to how your coach was optioned from the factory . There may be one located in your coach somewhere or you can call the mfg and they may supply you with one. ( that is what I did some years ago)

Here is an example

it gives you the make / model and serial # of products used to build Your coach



Happy Trails

[RobRoy]

I might add that I take pics of everything on my coach .... and I mean everything and then categorize them and store them.

Every time I'm idle and around the coach I'm taking more pics, that way I don have to run out to my detached garage to look at most things.

All my manuals on my coach whe I bought it were paper manuals and years ago I took (my wife) them to "Staples" and had them scanned and turned into pdf files that way I could store them on my laptop my pc and any other electronic device I chose and that made things waaaaay! faster to look up.

Without this iRV2 information resource and all the help I get from the knowledgeable folks here, my guess I would have bowed out of the RV world some years back....... these folks will get you thru about anything or lead you to someone who can.

Happy Trails

[Lowflyer1]

Originally Posted by Beelady1963

My gosh. That worked!!! Thank you so much! Now do I dare ask one more question? When I start the generator there’sa loud buzzing which is midway back on coach and is behind the aqua hot. It only shuts off if the house battery kill switch if turned off. Also there is A light is on on the aqua hot panel that says low battery/voltage vault Any guesses? Next step is the shop or the dump. ��

When I had a loud buzzing sound in that area on shore power it turned out to be a bad shore side contactor in the transfer switch.
Once I got the contactor out, I saw that there was a moth or something similar between the contacts that caused intermittent contact.

[jacwjames]

Here is a link to where you can download a copy of your Manual and Brochure
https://www.monacocoach.com/service-and-repairs/
The PDF copy is great in that you can search it and then add sticky notes. I have both a paper copy and PDF, use the PDF way more.



You may also try and call REV, who is the current owner of the legacy Monaco brands and ask for the build or data sheet. Like previous posters have said it comes in handy. Also ask for a PDF copy of both the house & chassis wiring diagrams. Both come in handy.

https://www.monacocoach.com/monaco-owners-clubs/

[RobRoy]

and they just walk away! ...

[Beelady1963]

Well it took me a while to hit the right button to get back here! Just wanted to say thanks for your advice. Happy Trails

[YC1]

Do read the owners manual and take notes and use a highlighter. Write really important page numbers on it so you have a quick reference.

Take notes, there will be a test. Well there already has been.

Taking electronic courses in High School I began a question to my amazingly smart teacher. He told me, "if it doesn't work, read the book". But of course my response was " I read the book Mr. Hasley". He responded back, "If it doesn't work, read the book. If it still doesn't work, follow it"

He actually taught me a great lesson that day and many times over fifty years of diagnosing some new electronic device the answer might be one sentence in the middle of the 200 page manual. Just one sentence that I would then write in all kinds of places and often label the equipment with the issue.

Once you have studied the manual, pull it out again in a couple of weeks. Don't expect to learn everything, but do learn where the answers can be found.

This is a fantastic group of folks but you will enjoy your adventures so much more when you learn your very complex machine. They are much more complicated than any normal household.