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GuitarLefty · 10-01-2012, 08:19 PM

'94 Fleetwood Southwind
The motor is a 230hp Cummings Diesel - when starting there is an issue, turn the ignition and you get a click, I wait at least a minute to let the glow plugs warm. I put in a new commercial grade battery. It always cranks but usually after several attempts. Is there some type internal protection built in? There seems to be a loss of electrical current when the key turns fully, the radio goes back to no settings
Any thoughts? We are wanting to roll !!!

Skip426 · 10-02-2012, 12:04 AM

The Cummins starter, has contacts in the solinoid ; on the side of the starter under the small plate , held on with 3 , 8mm headed bolts, there is a spring loaded plunger with a bronze plate that moves down to contact 2 brass contacts to feed power to the armature. These contacts arc every time the starter is used, so they wear, some times they can be cleaned, most times the contacts need to be replaced.This could be your click but no crank problem , BUT should not bother the radio memory, for that you have a bad connection some where, the radio memory will drop out below 9 volts. Start at the battery and check all your power and ground connections. If necessary have some one turn the key while you look for the problem, wear eye protection, bad connections can spark.
Were you having this problem with the other battery?

GuitarLefty · 10-02-2012, 04:55 AM

Yes Sir, I replaced the old battery which was a 740 cca marine battery, obviously not the correct battery so I replaced it with a 1050 cca commercial grade battery.
The "bad connection" problem that is going on now was an issue before replacing. The connection on the negative post at the battery was an issue, but isn't any Longer.
I'll check underneath the coach per your advise after checking the contactor.

calhyatt · 10-02-2012, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitarLefty

'94 Fleetwood Southwind
The motor is a 230hp Cummings Diesel - when starting there is an issue, turn the ignition and you get a click, I wait at least a minute to let the glow plugs warm. I put in a new commercial grade battery. It always cranks but usually after several attempts. Is there some type internal protection built in? There seems to be a loss of electrical current when the key turns fully, the radio goes back to no settings
Any thoughts? We are wanting to roll !!!

Your observation that the radio goes back to no setting lead me to believe you have connection problems somewhere in the system. Check those grounds, make sure everything is clean and tight. Have somebody turn the key while you look at those battery connections. Wear eye protection. Check the cable to the starter solenod and make sure it is clean and the connection to the starter is tight. Hope you have some luck with this. Good luck and Seeya on the road.