JOR
Oklahoma
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Joined: 08/10/2004
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We came home last night to find our Onan Generator was running. The coach has no automatic start systems in it. Has anyone had this happen to them? Is it possible for one to start by itself? Thanks
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Golden_HVAC
Fulltime, CA, USA
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Joined: 08/19/2003
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Do you have an electric refrigerator in your RV?
Some inverter's have a automatic start system, especially if the coach is all electric.
Fred.
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marvmarcy
Polson, MT, USA
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Are you absolutely sure you have no automatic start?? If not, then you had likely a start switch/relay fail.
JMHO
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2001 Volvo VNL42T420, ISX450/1650, super 10sp w/GearMaster
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LVJ58
Las Vegas, Nevada
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JOR, is your generator gas or diesel??
Jim & Sherry Seward, FMCA #F342207
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MuckSavage
South Jersey
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I've heard of moisture getting in the starting circuitry (solenoid, etc) Perhaps this is the case.
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plemons
Deer Park, TX
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This happened to me twice, the second time I happened to be outside and found the cause. It was caused by a cat jumping up on the generator and standing with its rear foot on the switch located on the generator. I solved the problem with a small plastic box and a piece of metal tape over the switch. This has been over two years ago and I have not had a mystery start up since.
Plemons
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Ames
South Central Florida
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Happened to us: We cleaned the connection for the remote start switch at the generator with contact cleaner and put dielectric grease on the pins.
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henrye
SC
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Joined: 10/25/2005
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JOR wrote:We came home last night to find our Onan Generator was running. The coach has no automatic start systems in it. Has anyone had this happen to them? Is it possible for one to start by itself? Thanks
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You don't specify your motor home but this was a fairly frequent problem on some FW motor homes some time back due to moisture coming down from above and wetting generator control panel causing genset to self start. Fix was to clean up control panel to remove any corrosion and then protect the control area with a cover.
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box710
albany ny
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I have an onan 6300 that did exactly the same thing. Never did find out the reason why, but the second time it happened the starter stuck and burned out. Its a good thing I'm smallbecause putting that starter in was a chore. I cleaned al the connections and put everything back together and it hasen't happened again.
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Norm Payne
Livingston, TX
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If you have an Onan 7.5 or 8.0KW diesel generator the problem is mositure and corrosion in the connector that run between the generator and inside switches. The wiring cable comes out of the top left side of the generator and connects to a cable that runs inside. Disconnect the cable and clean the pins and that will fix the problem. It is good to put some di-electric silicone on the pins to keep it from happening again. Many people have reported this problem and fix.
I don't know about the cat theory. Most diesel generators have the start switch at an angle and it would be hard for a cat to get enough pressure on the switch, and hold it down several seconds while the generator clicks and starts.
Norm
2005 Dutch Star 4015, Cummins ISL 370 hp
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