1987 Chevy Lasalle Champio P30 Help with Generator and Propane.1st time owner.

[chevRV87]

Hello everyone,wow could i really use your help. I recently purchased a 1987 Chevy lasalle Champion p30 that sat for years and was barely ever used. It only has 26,000 miles on it and is in perfect condition on the inside. The problem I am having with it is the generator and battery terminal connections to the auxiliary battery. I am not sure the wires are hooked up to the correct terminals since the battery was missing when I purchased it and none of the cables are labeled . I have not been able to find one of the same model to take a peek at how they are supposed to be attached to the battery around me or any where online. I was hoping maybe someone on here might just have one or know how it should be hooked up ? If anyone could help with this I would greatly appreciate it. The next issue is the generator will not start. After checking it does not receive any fuel or spark. The stove also does not light due to no propane coming out of the pilots. The Lp detector does work and i can here it click open the valve but i still will get no fuel to the stove or generator. The microwave also will not power on ( not sure if this is because of the generator ? propane tank is also full) I also cannot figure out where to refill the AC refrigerate if anyone knows the answer to any of the above questions i would be very grateful for any and all help. This RV will be home starting on the first of the month so I really need the help, so I hope someone out there might have an idea on how or where I might be able to get more help with it . I have worked on cars but never had an RV before , pretty confused with all the new wires and connections.

[92LandYacht]

The battery should be easy to figure out. Get an ohm meter and verify which connection is tied to chassis ground. That will be the ground terminal and the other will be the positive. Most systems require 12V DC. Pictures would help a bunch.

[Mark_K5LXP]

You're soundly in self-maintained territory. You're just not going to find many RV's of that vintage in service, and far fewer of your exact model. Ideally you'd scare up someone on a forum that used to have one and has some recollection of what's there but barring that, plan on chasing this stuff down and resolving it yourself. As you learn and discover things, make notes, take pictures and archive websites. You want all this data in one spot you don't need internet access to see.

Not as dire as it sounds though, most RV's especially that age are going to be pretty straightforward. Nothing that some time spent with a simple multimeter, a flashlight and basic tools can't resolve.

By the numbers:

I am not sure the wires are hooked up to the correct terminals since the battery was missing

So, you hooked up a battery anyway? The hazard there is if you hook something up backwards, you can create a whole new set of problems and repairs... Ideally you'd get a photo or diagram and start with that. If that doesn't exist, you can't go with trial and error without risking damage. So quality time with a meter and your eyes to trace wiring to make your own diagram will go a log way towards hooking the thing up right, and having a diagram for your future use.


the generator will not start. After checking it does not receive any fuel or spark.

Assuming then it turns over? Usually if there's power to run the starter, there'd be power to run a fuel pump. Checking pump function then fuel flow (filters) would be first. No spark is a separate problem, but without knowing what generator you have it's impossible to say what to check for first.


The stove also does not light due to no propane coming out of the pilots.

Usually the stove is the one thing that always works, so if it's not getting gas your first stop is the tank valve/regulator assembly. Gas is there, or it's not.


The microwave also will not power on

Are you plugged into shore power? Microwaves run on 120V AC. You should have an AC breaker panel somewhere.


I hope someone out there might have an idea on how or where I might be able to get more help with it .

A mobile RV tech would come to you, and likely could resolve a good portion of the problems for as long as you can afford his time.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

[chevRV87]

Hello and thank you for all of your input. I apologize for taking so long to reply , i went ahead and brought it home so i could take pictures for you guys to have a better understanding of my situation and the type of generator it has currently. The first pictures will be of the battery terminal connections. There are also some lose wires in the shot that i have no idea what they were supposed to be hooked up to or if they have been disconnected intentionally. I also heard it could possibly be the coil that is stopping the generator from getting a spark or that it is possibly due to something with oil pressure not being high enough ? I have also started to consider if i should actually just replace it..... But i really wanted to use the original if I could for now and possibly through the future. Well not sure how to go about posting so many photos so if you see a issue or cable you might recognize please just let me know. Or if you or anyone else needs photos of anything else you can also let me know and i can respond with a picture now that i have the vehicle here with me. Thank you all again , I really cannot express my gratitude to you guys who have tried to help me.

[chevRV87]

And here are some photos of the battery terminal connections.The white wire that is not stripped i had on the negative terminal , just not connected in this picture. There is also a blue wire to the left in front of the radiator that is loose , not sure where it goes normally or if they disconnected it on purpose.The same with the white stripped wire that leads up to a solenoid I think ? its the last picture . Just took a bunch to try and give an angle on how mixed up it is if anyone could help.

[92LandYacht]

Looks to me like the coil on the generator is completely missing as are the spark plug wires.

The battery connections are a complete rats net. You have some work out for yourself.

[craigd853]

Originally Posted by chevRV87

Hello and thank you for all of your input. I apologize for taking so long to reply , i went ahead and brought it home so i could take pictures for you guys to have a better understanding of my situation and the type of generator it has currently. The first pictures will be of the battery terminal connections. There are also some loose wires in the shot that i have no idea what they were supposed to be hooked up to or if they have been disconnected intentionally. I also heard it could possibly be the coil that is stopping the generator from getting a spark or that it is possibly due to something with oil pressure not being high enough ? I have also started to consider if i should actually just replace it..... But i really wanted to use the original if I could for now and possibly through the future. Well not sure how to go about posting so many photos so if you see a issue or cable you might recognize please just let me know. Or if you or anyone else needs photos of anything else you can also let me know and i can respond with a picture now that i have the vehicle here with me. Thank you all again , I really cannot express my gratitude to you guys who have tried to help me. Attachment 424032

Attachment 424033

Attachment 424034

Hello, as LandYacht suggested you are missing your coil pack and the loose wies that are where the coil pack goes is what attaches to the coli pack If it were me I would start from scratch on the genny. First thing to do is a compression test to see if the engine has compression before doing anything else. If it does then you can go from there. No sense in waisting money if the compression test reveals engine is toast. As far as your batteries are concerned you will need to straighten out the wiring before doing anything else so you know where everything goes. Those look like 12 volt batteries are they? If they are then they shold probably be wired in parallel together or maybe not. One battery might be your chassis battery and the other for your coach. Either way they both look like regular automobile batteries which I find starnge because one would think the other if used for deep discharging would be a deep cycle battery. You didnt say if you knew how to use a volt meter but I'm going to assume you do because you bought a rig thats going to require some work. So check your bigger cables and check to see what they are going to. Of course the ground wires will be running to the frame of your coach and you should have one running to the other negative side of the batteries tying them together. After getting your positive and negative wires straightened out you can then trouble shoot the no fuel condition, probably bad fuel pump or the carb is toast both because of the age and lack of use. A rebuild or a replacement is in order at the very least. The coil was removed for some reason so obviously there was an issue with spark one might assume. Good luck and I'm sure others will be along here shortly to offer advise.

[chevRV87]

Originally Posted by craigd853

Hello, as LandYacht suggested you are missing your coil pack and the loose wies that are where the coil pack goes is what attaches to the coli pack If it were me I would start from scratch on the genny. First thing to do is a compression test to see if the engine has compression before doing anything else. If it does then you can go from there. No sense in waisting money if the compression test reveals engine is toast. As far as your batteries are concerned you will need to straighten out the wiring before doing anything else so you know where everything goes. Those look like 12 volt batteries are they? If they are then they shold probably be wired in parallel together or maybe not. One battery might be your chassis battery and the other for your coach. Either way they both look like regular automobile batteries which I find starnge because one would think the other if used for deep discharging would be a deep cycle battery. You didnt say if you knew how to use a volt meter but I'm going to assume you do because you bought a rig thats going to require some work. So check your bigger cables and check to see what they are going to. Of course the ground wires will be running to the frame of your coach and you should have one running to the other negative side of the batteries tying them together. After getting your positive and negative wires straightened out you can then trouble shoot the no fuel condition, probably bad fuel pump or the carb is toast both because of the age and lack of use. A rebuild or a replacement is in order at the very least. The coil was removed for some reason so obviously there was an issue with spark one might assume. Good luck and I'm sure others will be along here shortly to offer advise.

Thanks for checking the photos ! I You are absolutely right that the coil is missing from the generator. I do have it and it was on the generator but i took it off when i was told by a friend mechanic that it would probably be that if anything. At the same time a Old rv specialist who spared me a minute of his time was convinced the coil pack would not be the issue and were in fact very reliable. He was more certain that it would be the control board ? mainly since the generator turns but gets no spark or propane. He is also the one who told me the thing about the oil pressure needing to build before propane or a spark would be sent , just so many possibilities I dont know what to try to test. I will put the coil back on the generator if you guy also do not believe it is the problem and instead will start where ever you all believe I should from the beginning. Currently the Rv runs great ,The interior lights work , the meter computer for water level battery and propane levels, fan , and pump all work with the current battery wiring. The microwave will not power on , the roof ac will not power on , and the stove does not get power or release any propane to light even when the Lp gas detector is saying the propane is on , and the tank was very recently filled ( 1 week ago and levels still the same so no leak). The refrigerator also powers on but just flashes NO AC and NO PROPANE I am going to give it my all today and just start over starting with the generator and testing the terminals with the multi meter again.

[chevRV87]

The stove also does not light due to no propane coming out of the pilots.

Usually the stove is the one thing that always works, so if it's not getting gas your first stop is the tank valve/regulator assembly. Gas is there, or it's not.


The microwave also will not power on

Are you plugged into shore power? Microwaves run on 120V AC. You should have an AC breaker panel somewhere.


@Mark_K5LXP I think you are right with this idea as that would explain the stove. I am not plugged into shore power and have no idea where the breaker panel for that is. Unless you are referring to the switch panel underneath the sink ? The below photos might be what you are referring to ? I am also not sure what the switch and plug there do. I just found them when you said it might be something like that . It is underneath the glove box on the passenger side. That will be in the photos below as well if you could please let me know what the switch does ? The way the breaker is set is how i have been testing the generator ( thats the photo with the switches flipped up and roof ac on top). Another big questions where can i find this fuel valve ? I have not been able to find one so far and i think that would be it for the propane. If i turn the stove on without power and put fire to the pilot it would light if any propane was making it , but it wont which is why i think i just need some help finding it and that should get the propane flowing again i believe. Maybe the old owner shut it off since it was just sitting for so long ,unfortunately I cannot ask him because he sadly passed away some time ago.

[92LandYacht]

Take a picture of where the propane tank connects to the regulator. If there is a device with wires coming out of it, then there is a gas shutoff valve with a switch somewhere. If not, there should be a turn knob that turns the propane on.

[Mark_K5LXP]

First place to check for propane is at the tank.



Just for absolute clarification, are you sure your generator runs on propane? That wouldn't be typical. Looks to me like there's a fuel filter and fuel pump in the picture, so my bet is it's gasoline. You can check the coil for function on or off the generator, odds are pretty good it's OK but you don't have to wonder or guess. There are continuity checks you can do with a meter, and also functional checks you can do with a battery and a spark plug. No magic or mystery here. Since your fuel supply is front and center to the unit you can verify flow to that point, from there you'd dive into the carb which might have issues from being idle. I wouldn't go nuts with a compression check, just spinning it over with your finger over the removed spark plug hole will tell you if it's got usable compression or not.

As far as your battery wiring, it's going to come down to quality time with your eyes and a meter. In a perfect world you'd find schematics and diagrams showing all the wire placements, colors and connections. In this world, it's up to you to make that diagram. Since you say a good portion of it works already, then you can document what's connected as being correct. Divide and conquer, pick one wire and figure it out, repeat as necessary.

I'm not sure how far back the use of power centers go, but even in 90's RV's all the AC and DC power was generally centrally located in a common electrical box called a power center. In it you'll find a handful of AC circuit breakers like you'd find in a house, and a set of automotive blade fuses for the DC loads. Ones I've seen are a nondescript panel, maybe with some ventilation slots under the refrigerator or stove, a cabinet or set of drawers.



Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

[Gary45]

https://www.djdlabs.com/onan-4-0-cck...r-restoration/

you might be interested in this , pics of carb, fuel filter bowl, etc.