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bluekimel · 12-11-2010, 08:22 PM

I have a 1989 Southwind 25N with the 454 that I just drove after 4 years of sitting, 350 miles. Everything worked great engine house lights fans everything working great. I got it home and went to start the generator and it all stopped the generator turned once and then I lost all power no starting the engine no lights no nothing. I've checked all the fuses and replaced one under the dash, and can't get one under the hood a 5 amp fuse labled INT DIS to stop blowing. I did get momentary generator and house lights back after my first search but it dissapeared again mysteriously as it did before and I couldn't turn over the engine when it came back. Now it's all gone again and I am baffled. I am not an electrician so if anyone has had experience with this please help! I think it's one of the two solenoids (house, and chasis) that is bad but I can't find either one. Please and thank you

Sammie · 12-11-2010, 08:26 PM

First try checking all the connectios on your batteries.

Sammie

RJay · 12-11-2010, 08:37 PM

Start with the automatic transfer switch. Pull the cover and check for a burned odor or anything unusual. If you were still plugged into shore power and carrying load when you started the generator it could have damaged the contacts when the ATF switched power to the generator. The ATF is a black box usually in the outside electrical bay.

GaryKD · 12-12-2010, 08:03 AM

Hi bluekimel,
Welcome to iRV2. What is the condition of the engine and house batteries? How old are they? Is the water level correct? What is the VDC reading? Gut feel says something happened to the batteries. If the batteries are not in excellent condition, all kinds of weird stuff will happen. Also, like Sammie posted, make sure all the connections are clean and tight. This includes both ends of the ground wires.

I'm not sure your coach has a transfer switch. The easy way to check is in the electrical bay, is there a female plug to plug in the shore power cord so generator power can be provided to the coach? If so there is no transfer switch. If not, you have a transfer switch.

CD · 12-12-2010, 09:00 AM

I don't know ANYTHING about your hook up but if it were me I would completely disconnect the generator and get the rest of it working. Then I would check out the gen set before hooking it up again.

bluekimel · 12-12-2010, 10:37 AM

Thank you guys. The batteries are brand new from two weeks ago, and yes unfortunately I was plugged in to the shore power when I tried the genset. I will check the electrical bay and see if I have a transfer switch or not and let you know what happens. Thank you all so much I just don't have enought information as to what my new coach actually has to be able to check everything. I've always owned late 60's and early 70's Winnebago's which are a little less electrical and much different in their problems. Thanks again I'll get back to you all on this

GaryKD · 12-12-2010, 12:23 PM

Hi bluekimel,
As you make additional checks, please let us know:
1. VDC reading on the engine and coach batteries.
2. If the batteries are not at 12.6 VDC or higher, put a charger on them.
3. Once the batteries are fully charged (12.6+ VDC):
3a. connect the coach to shore power
3b. what are you able to power in the coach?
3c. 120 VAC appliances
3d. 12 VDC appliances
4. Once you are sure the chassis batteries are fully charged, will the engine start?

We really need to start at the beginning of both power sources (12 VDC and 120 VAC). Make sure they are good and then determine what has and does not have power and go from there.

Unless the battery connect (boost) button is pressed the coach and engine batteries should be separate from one another. Please make these checks and post the results. This can take several paths unless we know the source power is good and what has power. Until we figure this out, consider following CD's post and not try the generator.

bluekimel · 12-14-2010, 11:53 AM

Sorry for slow reply work has stalled my progress. Well the two 6 volt's were dead so I have found that when they are charged I have venerator and step controle and all the lights in the coach work but nothing mechanical. I don't get dashlights wiper's or anything having to do with the actual running of the rig. After looking at my outside electrical I found that I don't have a switch it's just wire nuts from the factory in the box back there. The batteries read 12.2 on the 12 volt, which I still need to re charge, and 6.3 for the 2, 6 volts. I have sort of traced it with a buddy to the coil in the distributer that is shorted and causes the 5 amp fuse to blow. It's not the switches in the coach as I had previously thought. It must either be the coil in the distributer or the solenoid in the front electrical box under the hood that runs the chasis electrical. I will keep you all posted. I am trying to do his in between all sorts of jobs. Thank you all again very much for your input. I'm learning what my rig has first hand . Haha.

CD · 12-14-2010, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluekimel

Sorry for slow reply work has stalled my progress. Well the two 6 volt's were dead so I have found that when they are charged I have venerator and step controle and all the lights in the coach work but nothing mechanical. I don't get dashlights wiper's or anything having to do with the actual running of the rig. After looking at my outside electrical I found that I don't have a switch it's just wire nuts from the factory in the box back there. The batteries read 12.2 on the 12 volt, which I still need to re charge, and 6.3 for the 2, 6 volts. I have sort of traced it with a buddy to the coil in the distributer that is shorted and causes the 5 amp fuse to blow. It's not the switches in the coach as I had previously thought. It must either be the coil in the distributer or the solenoid in the front electrical box under the hood that runs the chasis electrical. I will keep you all posted. I am trying to do his in between all sorts of jobs. Thank you all again very much for your input. I'm learning what my rig has first hand . Haha.

Also remove the distributor cap and check points (stuck together, broken, burned, something shorted etc).

bluekimel · 12-20-2010, 02:28 PM

Okay here I am to say I got the right solenoid for the chassis and replaced it. The motorhome starts perfect and runs great. I did replace the two brand new optima 6V batteries because they turned out to not be the correct kind or size and they weren't able to hold the power draw for long. I now have two Interstate 6V heavy duty deep cycle's that will do the trick. I traced the kill switches in my coatch and found them to be good, then traced the power to the solenoid's up in the front and that's what it turned out to be the chassis solenoid was bad I initially replaced it with a generic car solenoid but that wasn't strong enought. I went to Giant RV and got the same one that came off and was blown, and put it in and the motorhome started right up. What a wild goose chase. Thanks to you all I know not to start the generator with the shore power plugged in, and I know that there is no switch or fuse in the outside power box but that I need to be ware of my solenoids as I start figuring out the rest of my appliances. Thanks again for your quick responses. I will deffinately call again, but if I can assist anyone on this forum I will do my best as you all did.

Happy Holliday's to you all.

Sincerely Bluekimel