Community Forums

widmerhd · 08-20-2017, 01:50 PM

Not sure where to start bought a 2001 Damon Escaper a few months back and have been fixing as I go. The generator has been starting and running great until now.

When I can get the generator started it runs well and everything functions as it should. Inside the front door is the in use and store house switch. When I activate the Store mode the generator dies. Is this normal? Does the coach need to be in use mode for the genny to run?

Genny starts when it feels like it. Sometimes it will start and function as it should. Other times it will turn over, attempt to start and quit all in 4 -5 seconds. Other times it will not turn over at all as if it is getting no power.

Found one way to start genny is to use the Chassis boost switch to start, today that worked well and ran the genny for an hour. Stopped the genny and tried to restart, would attempt to start but dies right away. Used the chassis boost switch to start and the genny started and ran, the moment I let go of the chassis boost switch the genny quit running. Tried to restart and got nothing no click, nothing even with the boost switch.

I have checked the three fuses under the genny cover by the coolant fill and they are fine. Totally lost as to what to do. Any Ideas??

PS the batteries for the chassis and House are great. Over 13V (2 chassis & 6 House)

fast_st · 08-20-2017, 02:07 PM

A few questions, what kind of onan generator is it? Model and such. Using the chassis boost might have a key for part of it, you'll have to check the grounds and positive connections from the generator on back to the batteries, sometimes a flaky ground or dirty connector can give you full power one moment and nothing the next. Remove each connector, sand the terminals and mounts, make them all bright and clean to start with. I've worked on a few class A's for friends and found some pretty dodgy connections here and there.

FatChance · 08-20-2017, 02:09 PM

How are you measuring the "over 13v" for the house and chassis batteries? Are you using a multimeter on the batteries themselves?

If you are using the digital read out in the coach, that is just house batteries. Your symptoms suggest bad chassis batteries.

pplwizard · 08-20-2017, 02:49 PM

Gen should not run in store mode.

widmerhd · 08-20-2017, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fast_st

A few questions, what kind of onan generator is it? Model and such. Using the chassis boost might have a key for part of it, you'll have to check the grounds and positive connections from the generator on back to the batteries, sometimes a flaky ground or dirty connector can give you full power one moment and nothing the next. Remove each connector, sand the terminals and mounts, make them all bright and clean to start with. I've worked on a few class A's for friends and found some pretty dodgy connections here and there.

Model No: 7.5HDKAJ11.451G Will check and clean the connections and see if that helps, can't hurt. Still struggling with why I would get no power sometimes even using the chassis boost and why it would start and quit immediately.

Thank you for the insight.

widmerhd · 08-20-2017, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FatChance

How are you measuring the "over 13v" for the house and chassis batteries? Are you using a multimeter on the batteries themselves?

If you are using the digital read out in the coach, that is just house batteries. Your symptoms suggest bad chassis batteries.

Used a multi meter on all batteries and three house batteries are brand new. Batteries are all strong. Used battery amp tester as well, holds volts under load.

The digital readout on the coach is goofy will read as low as 4 to 5 volts at times and 13 or so at other times.

widmerhd · 08-20-2017, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pplwizard

Gen should not run in store mode.

That's excellent means as least that part of the system works as it should. Thank you for the insight

OLYLEN · 08-20-2017, 06:16 PM

Check all your grounds, not just on the batteries and check battery cables for good connection. Checking grounds means removing and cleaning. Also connections at the back of the Gen. plus ground to the Gen. With the wide variety of voltage just gotta be a connecting point somewhere.

LEN

widmerhd · 08-28-2017, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLYLEN

Check all your grounds, not just on the batteries and check battery cables for good connection. Checking grounds means removing and cleaning. Also connections at the back of the Gen. plus ground to the Gen. With the wide variety of voltage just gotta be a connecting point somewhere.

LEN

PROBLEM SOLVED!!!!!!!

After hours of frustration it was a problem cable after all. Posting in the hope it may help someone else.

I have six house batteries stacked above each other. The top shelf of batteries was hiding some connections, in particular the relay that ties the house and chassis batteries together. After removing the top bank of batteries to access ALL connections I found I had 13 volts to one side of the relay (chassis batteries) and the other side of the relay only had 5 volts. Followed the 18" cable back and it connected directly to the positive on the house batteries. Had 13V at the house batteries.

Pulled cable off relay cleaned everything and reconnected... 13V now at the relay

Everything is now working GREAT. Thank You.