ahouse54
Castle Rock, CO
New Member
Joined: 03/03/2012
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
 Offline
|
Just bought a 97 Bounder model 34k. Bought it from an estate, had not been used much in last 2 years. Has about 25,700 miles. Problem is it will not start. Had bad chassis battery, replaced with 800amp. House batteries have charged up with shore power. Both sets read 12.6 volts. When I turn on disco switches by door I can hear a click from under the dash. When the main is turned on I hear a chirping noise from the dash. Lights, radio and dash lights work when I turn the key. But engine will not start on either main or aux batteries. I don't hear the starter click when I try to start it. But the kicker is that I can hook up my car with jumper cables and start it. Any ideas?
|
rk911
Wheaton IL
Senior Member
Joined: 05/30/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
does the engine crank or just nothing?
73,
rich, n9dko
www.bananaboatbytes.com
I know a guy who's addicted to brake fulid. He says he can stop anytime.
_________________________________
2000 Itasca Suncruiser 35U
'46 Willys CJ2A
'03 Jeep Wrangler TJ
'10 Jeep Liberty KK
|
ahouse54
Castle Rock, CO
New Member
Joined: 03/03/2012
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
The engine doesn't crank, only when I use jumper cables then it will start.
|
rk911
Wheaton IL
Senior Member
Joined: 05/30/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
my first thought is not enough voltage is getting to the starter. you've added a new battery. have you measured voltage at the solonoid and starter?
|
2inAlabama
Huntsville, AL
Senior Member
Joined: 01/08/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
Bad switch?
Just DH & DW
|
|
|
rk911
Wheaton IL
Senior Member
Joined: 05/30/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
well, the key switch must be good else it wouldn't start even with the jump. simple things first. i'd look for loose or corroded wires at the solonoid and starter. then, with the key on and 'cranking' measure the voltage at the solonoid and starter. my guess is there's not enough juice getting to the starter without the jump. something is loose or corroded.
|
ahouse54
Castle Rock, CO
New Member
Joined: 03/03/2012
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
no I haven't. It is just about impossible to get to the wiring into the starter. The engine is a 454 with a Banks kit and with the extra heat shields you can't see the wiring. I did pull the starter and had it tested and it is fine. I'm not that familiar with the ignition system in rv's. Any idea where the voltage drop is taking place. Seems like it would have to be after where both the main and aux batteries connect to power line to the starter.
|
OnaQuest
Old enough to be a
Senior Member
Joined: 01/15/2006
View Profile
|
It might be the starter relay. The starter relay, actually a small solenoid, is located inside the doghouse cover on the driver side wall, a few inches forward of where your foot would be when on the gas pedal.
The power from the ignition switch first goes to this relay which sends power on to the starter solenoid through larger wires. The starter solenoid then closes to send power to the starter motor through even larger wires. You can imagine what a loose or corroded connection, anywhere along the line, might do to your chances of starting. HERE is a simplified diagram of how it works.
|
rk911
Wheaton IL
Senior Member
Joined: 05/30/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
since the battery is new and the starter tested good then it's got to be a voltage drop due to loose or corroded connections. check the starter relay first and work your way down the line.
|
bsinmich
Holland, MI
Senior Member
Joined: 11/18/2000
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
OnaQuest wrote:It might be the starter relay. The starter relay, actually a small solenoid, is located inside the doghouse cover on the driver side wall, a few inches forward of where your foot would be when on the gas pedal.
The power from the ignition switch first goes to this relay which sends power on to the starter solenoid through larger wires. The starter solenoid then closes to send power to the starter motor through even larger wires. You can imagine what a loose or corroded connection, anywhere along the line, might do to your chances of starting. HERE is a simplified diagram of how it works.
A 454 is a Chevy Engine and if the chassis is a '96 or '97 it is the Vortec. I would use a voltmeter and have someone hit the key while you are down underneath checkinig the voltage at the starter and then working your way back until you find the drop in voltage.
2003 Newmar Mountain Aire, Workhorse W22, 2008 Saturn Vue, Falcon 5250, & US Gear Unified Tow Brake
|
|
|
