dddlin
North Carolina
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Joined: 06/18/2007
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We have a 1998 Newmar Dutchstar, 38', with a Cat 300. Yesterday while exiting a highway, our coach went totally dead. The motor quit and all electric functions ceased completely. We were in the middle of the exit ramp and could not even turn on our emergency flashers. Even the electric seat would not work. After about two minutes, the motor restarted and everything worked perfectly. No problems since. However, we are concerned and don't want to be in this situation again. Has anyone ever experienced this same problem? Any ideas as to the cause?
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djevans
Tennessee
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Joined: 03/24/2002
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Well, if it was a thermal "auto-reset" breaker, it's a big one. (not likely) I'd start with the basics, and check battery and chassis connections. Make sure all are clean, tight, and no corrosion. (esp. grounds)
Don . . . near 36.171N 086.784W, TN near here
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DUTCHSTARWEST
GREECE NY USA
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This may be of some assistance.. under the hood, you will find a number of electrical modules.. they are for a number of systems,and act as electrical controls.. some are for the 4way flashers, and others are as marked.. what happens in a rare case is the modules can become lose with in the containers.. when this happens, they shake lose and interrupt the current flow.. check them out.. there can be other mod,s in other compartments doing likewise.. hard to diagnose as it will be intermittent..
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Twomed
On the road USA
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CAT says "clean and tighten engine ground annually". Most folks don't...most are lucky. I would suspect you were unlucky. Check all 12 volt grounds.  And positives. I put a wrench or screwdriver on every possible electrical connection AC and DC once a year.
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ghamblen
Wilder, ID
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Exact same thing happened to us but our coach is a Workhorse W22 gas. Turned out to be loose connection where the fusible link from the battery is attached to the fuse block. Tightened the connection and put a second nut on it. No problem since.
Gary & Mary Hamblen
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Todger
Newville, Pa., USA
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Your situation would indicate a ground problem. Or on rare occasions the main battery + terminal. Once the battery + reaches the fuse panel the output are individually fused. Ground problems come and go and are very hard to diagnose. I would check all grounds.
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dddlin
North Carolina
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Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. Don spent several hours searching for all the grounds. He found one that was loose and one that was questionable. After fixing them, we crossed our fingers and hoped the problem was solved. Not so. After spending two weeks on Cape Cod, we drove to NY Adirondack Mts. No problems on the drive, even stopping for fuel. However, just as we slowed down to turn into our distination, everything went dead again. After two minutes, it started right up and no problems since. We are thinking it might be the alternator. Any comments?
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T&A
SE Michigan
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Since you checked ground connections can I assume that you checked battery terminals as well? When I had intermittent problems on a trip it turned out to be a bad aftermarket battery connector. There was enough resistance that the terminal had actually begun to melt and a drip was hanging off. I got off easily. Replaced it with a new connector and I was back on the road.
Terry
Terry & Amy
2004 Hurricane 30F on P32 Workhorse Chassis
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hohenwald48
Hohenwald, TN
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If it turns out to be the alternator it would sure surprise me. When it happens do you just lose the chassis electrical or do the house electicals (kitchen lights, bath exhaust fan, etc) go out also? If you lose house and chassis electricals then I would look around the "Emergency Start" components as that is usually the only place the house and chassis electricals come together. Also, since it "fixes itself" after sitting a few minutes I would check all thermally operated overload devices. I am also starting the doubt if a ground is likely because of the "fixes itself" after sitting symptom. Really sounds like some kind of temperature operated auto reset circuit breaker.
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mdock2
palatka, fl
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We also have a 98 Dutchstar Cat, and are having the same problem. whatever it is trips when I'm puting the jacks down, 1 side ok, other side half way down will trip, and cause a total shut down. On our last trip out, the unit shut down just as we were rolling to a stop. It has only started the rolling shut down since i added a heat sheild in the engine compartment. The only thing in the area of the heat sheild is the breather, hoses and a computer module. out next trip out i'm going to put heat sheild over the module and see if that stopps the rolling shut downs. I've also noticed that the engine temp has gone up since adding the sheild also. Am thinking about adding fans after i have the engine checked for leaks. Any suggestions would help....
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