Community Forums

jrugarber · 10-11-2022, 07:19 AM

I've been having an intermittent starting issue w/the Generator since leaving Mi. on 10.3.2022, when using the V/T/Dash control it would not start, after numerous attempts we were able to start it on a number of occasions throughout our travels though. We had a stretch of ~ 3 days that it started correctly from inside the Coach. Last night we pulled into C/Barrel, (Pooler Ga.) and could not get it started from inside. Voltages were both (Chassis 12.9 // House 12.9) The Service code when pulled was 32 - "Low cranking speed", in fact, when attempting to start inside there is NO engine cranking. Sooooooo... I opened up the front Gen. cover outside reached in, pushed the start switch on the Unit itself and it started right up! This morning, again, no start from inside the Coach, (Chassis 13.1 / House 12.4) going outside using the Unit switch it started? I had called Cummins thinking it was an issue w/the Gen. but now I'm thinking it may be an internal Coach issue, called Entegra, they weren't able to help much as their recommendations were standard responses. I did pull the dash panel checking the wires to the Gen. switch, everything looked/felt secure, inadvertently shut the Gen. down by hitting the switch, but immediately started it back up using the dash switch, although I'm wondering if the switch could be going bad? I did not pull the V/T panel as I am reluctant to start pulling things apart that may not have been a problem.
Unit was serviced 6.2022 @ a Cummins Coach Care facility, connections
(+/-) on the rear of the Unit are clean and tight, coolant is good, oil is good.

I apologize for the long post, as I seem to be in a bit of a quandary at this point.
Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Thanx

Gary.Jones · 10-11-2022, 07:39 AM

John

Dont you also have a generator start button right on the first panel of the Vegatouch wall control panel? I have two ways to start the genny on my coach. 1 = on the video panel usually showing the GPS or other video/audio functions and 2= on the Vegatouch panel right outside the mid bath door on my 45B chassis. I would think you would have that also. Now, when you say you cant get it to start from inside, I assume you are trying only the dash display. Correct?

Now, on my coach, when anything does not work correctly that has anything to do with the Vegatouch system, the first thing I do is try a 12 volt reboot of the whole system. I kill the 12 volt system with the switch right inside the main door (below/beside the passenger seat) and see if just rebooting the Vegatouch system is enough to cure the problem. Have you done that? Shut off the 12 volts for 30 seconds and then turn it back on. I make a bee-line for the Vegatouch panel and watch the reboot process as it goes through its various stages.

Gary

brobox · 10-11-2022, 07:50 AM

The plug on the left side of the generator probably needs to be cleaned and weather proofed. That plug is the remote start plug, they are not weather resistant and corrode very easy. Clean the inside of the plug and tape it including the exposed wire with a weatherproof tape. Photo shows how exposed the wires are for water to run down and corrode the pins.

777 Driver · 10-11-2022, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary.Jones

I have two ways to start the genny on my coach. 1 = on the video panel usually showing the GPS or other video/audio functions and 2= on the Vegatouch panel right outside the mid bath door on my 44B chassis.

On my '18 Anthem, there's one additional generator start option from inside the coach, a generator start rocker switch (similar to the one on the generator) in the panel over the entry door.

If neither the Xite panel nor the VegaTouch would work to start the generator, I think I'd try the switch over the entry door. I'm not sure if that uses the same circuit logic as the Xite and VegaTouch or if it's separate.

Take care,
Stu

jrugarber · 10-11-2022, 08:06 AM

Thanx for the responses guys, we’ll be checking into Creek Fire RV Park this afternoon for the week so I’ll be able to troubleshoot further.
Gary, those failed attempts included using the V/T.
Stu, I don’t think I have that switch above the door but I will check.
Chuck, I’m hoping your suggestion is the game winner!

Thanx again for the responses, I will keep you posted.

777 Driver · 10-11-2022, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrugarber

Stu, I don’t think I have that switch above the door but I will check.
Chuck, I’m hoping your suggestion is the game winner!

John, on my '18, the rocker switch is adjacent to the manual override switches for the heat pumps and near the OTA antenna control panel. I do believe that it's independent of the Xite/VegaTouch system and uses the same wiring connection that Chuck references in his post.

Take care,
Stu

jrugarber · 10-11-2022, 08:59 AM

Some pictures to clarify things...

Above my door there are no additional Gen. switches, mine is on the dash panel (green circle)
It looks as though I have 2 plugs that I may want to take apart, clean and
re-tape to minimize water intrusion going forward, possibly a bit of dielectric grease while I'm in there.

777 Driver · 10-11-2022, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrugarber

Some pictures to clarify things...

Above my door there are no additional Gen. switches, mine is on the dash panel (green circle)

https://www.irv2.com/forums/attachme...7&d=1665499948

Thanks for the photos, John. Indeed, on my '18 Anthem, that switch is above the entry door. Just a guess, on my part, but, I think that switch may bypass the Xite/VegaTouch circuitry to start/stop the generator.

Take care,
Stu

brobox · 10-11-2022, 10:25 AM

The plug with the green and yellow wires is the remote start plug. Why they do not use a waterproof plug in that location that gets all of the road spray from wet roads does not make sense. After the experience with my Classic, I now tape the plug when I bring a new coach home, with rescue tape.
Also reason #47 I don't drive in heavy rain anymore.

When mine acted up, we had been driving in heavy rain and decided the Walmart ahead was good enough. Sure enough the plug was wet and I had to go out in pouring rain, manually open the old style generator compartment to start the generator. On the delivery of my 19 I taped that plug before leaving NIRVC and the 21 as soon as I got home. That is one lesson I really learned the hard way.

jacwjames · 10-11-2022, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brobox

The plug on the left side of the generator probably needs to be cleaned and weather proofed. That plug is the remote start plug, they are not weather resistant and corrode very easy. Clean the inside of the plug and tape it including the exposed wire with a weatherproof tape. Photo shows how exposed the wires are for water to run down and corrode the pins.

This is probably the most likely culprit as it is the communication harness from the generator to the coach. It is a known problem. Spray it out with some Electra clean and then use some dielectric grease on the pins.

Bobby Dowdle · 10-11-2022, 12:47 PM

Brobox is correct. That connector is where you need to be checking. Make sure all pins are seated properly and they don't have any corrosion on them.

Butte64 · 10-12-2022, 10:24 AM

With the rocker switch are you pushing the bottom first to prime until light stops flashing, the pin pushing the top?

jrugarber · 10-12-2022, 02:58 PM

Jerry,

Based on the Cummins "Operator Manual" - HDKCB, Pages 22-23 Section 4.3.2 Priming and Section 4.3.3 Starting, it seems to indicate pressing "STOP" to prime after a fuel filter change and/or after running out of fuel, whereas, normal starting procedure would be to press the "START" only and the Unit should start. This had been the case when I opened the front access area and manually pressed the "START" switch subsequently starting the Unit with no issue, as had been the case prior to this issue beginning. I'm hoping that Chuck, Bobby and Jim J's solution will be the answer. I will be cleaning and checking the wiring tomorrow and will post the results.
Thanx for the response though!

RVFunlovers · 10-12-2022, 06:36 PM

I had the generator fail to start from inside the coach on my 17 Cornerstone. It was right after driving through hours of rain. The next day it started fine and I never had the issue again. I suspect the plug next to the generator was wet.

On my 22 I can start the generator from the VT, the. VT Dash control panel, or the switch in the panel above the main door.