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Overkill · 02-07-2022, 06:27 PM

Im on my 3rd MH and having a little problem with this one. Its a 2001 Fleetwood Expedition DP with a 24 valve Cummins. I have had this one a little over a year and the volt meter has always been straight up and down (12 Oclock) in the normal range. The last 2 trips it was showing around 10.5-11 volts for the 3 hour trip home last Sunday. Lights never dim, windshield wipers never slow down etc. it has 2 new class 31chassis batteries in it, and now i just replaced the alternator and new serpintine belt. Still same issue. I pulled over this week and went to the battery compartment and checked the voltage w a multi meter while the coach was running and while the dash gauge was showing 11 v. The multi meter had 13.8 v on one battery and the other battery right beside it (and wired together) only had 12.5 while the dash gauge showed 11v? Also when i charge the chassis batteries i cant just put the charger on one battery and charge both. This has me thinking i have a battery isolator relay issue. I took the cover off the BCC and removed the circuit board and saw the 2 black boxes mounted behind the circuit board labeled " chassis disconnect on one and house disconnect on the other. im not sure i even have an isolator relay? I was on the phone with Fleetwood today, no help, and was on the phone with Freightliner today too , and not much better but i did get a wiring schematic of everything "Freightliner related on the coach. The schematic doesnt even show a Battery isolator on my coach. any help here would be appreciated. Does anyone know if i have an isolator on this coach and what my prob could be. Thanks in Advance!

arcaguy · 02-08-2022, 07:36 AM

I'll take a shot in the dark and say it sounds like a bad ground on the volt meter. Your rig is at the right age were grounds start getting corroded. Other than that I've got no idea. Maybe someone else with more knowledge about your rig will come along. Good luck.

twinboat · 02-08-2022, 08:20 AM

Both chassis batteries should be showing the same exact voltage.
If not, there is a bad connection somewhere that needs to be fixed.

There is no isolator between the 2 chassis batteries.
The isolator is between the house batteries and the chassis battery banks. Don't get stuck on checking that until you fix the cabling issue between the 2 chassis batteries.

Post some pictures of your chassis battery cabling.

Overkill · 02-08-2022, 08:20 AM

Thanks for the reply. Ill check the gauge this evening.

Overkill · 02-08-2022, 08:21 AM

Ok thanks for the reply, ill get some pics tonight of the cabling.

YC1 · 02-09-2022, 07:18 AM

Have you put a voltmeter to the back of the dash meter? Check both the hot side and the ground side once you find a reliable ground. If there is any voltage on the ground side of the meter you need to fix the ground. Could be a stuck gauge, though not likely. Analog meters can have issues like that.

Is there a chance it is reading the house batteries? Who knows how someone might have changed things purposely or accidently.

Did someone add a switch somewhere that switches between the house batteries and the coach batteries?

To eliminate some of the questions can you put a jumper cable between the two banks of batteries? This would eliminate any questions about some switch or mis-wired gauge.

Is there any corrosion on any of your battery terminals? Have you checked all of the connections on and around the batteries?