Gdetrailer
PA
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Joined: 01/05/2007
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time2roll wrote:First thing I would do is get your voltmeter on the battery. Measure the resting voltage. And yes check both the house and the chassis batteries. Then observe the meter on the chassis battery while DW attempts to start. If it fails use the boost and continue to observe and record.
Post the results. Otherwise next time it starts you need to roll to the shop and get it looked at.
OPs first post did say they tried a new battery, they were not able to get the correct size but did try what they had bought with no joy. Then they returned the wrong size battery.
Battery is ruled out.
OP has a 2004, Ford Chassis, which would have 5.4 or 6.8 Modular aluminum engine.. Starter is in a bad place, gets very hot, gets very wet, gets very rusty, solenoid gets very crispy, terminals corrode and snap off.. Solenoid is located on the starter and it takes a beating there..
I HAVE been there with a 2003 Ford truck and a 2006 Ford truck, the starter when it is going south often will intermittently do a no crank a few times or even a yr or so before it totally dies..
This is a common symptom on these engines.
OPs RV is within the age to have that starter just fail (lack of miles means nothing to rust and rot), it is giving warning signals that it needs changed. Next time may be at a rest stop or lonely road somewhere instead of at home.
OP could try cleaning the solenoid terminal connections but I would bet that at least one will snap off when they try (been there, done that to) but you can't clean the one going into the starter the way it is designed.
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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Joined: 07/04/2006
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One thing I found on my rig was I needed to clean battery terminals often. Damonm changed the lugs on the positive lead to the wrong metal and the result was frequent cleaning.. I do SERIOUS cleaning (power tools) I finally re-wired with the proper connector and it worked much better.
Starters can be affected by heat. Sometimes a hot starter will not work when a cold one will.
Home is where I park it.
2005 Damon Intruder 377 Alas declared a total loss
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cavie
Port Charlotte Fl/ Hindsdale MA
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Joined: 04/28/2019
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Take the battery back and have it load tested. Then start with a multimeter.
2011 Keystone Sprinter 323BHS. Retired Master Electrician. Retired Building Inspector.
All Motor Homes are RV's. All RV's are not Motor Homes.
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kellem
Shenandoah valley,VA
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Joined: 05/07/2007
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Certainly sounds like starter going out.
Had an engine back in early 80's where the starter was located close to cat and unless you had time to wait for starter to cool off, climbing underneath vehicle and tapping starter with a hammer was necessary.
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time2roll
Southern California
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Joined: 03/21/2005
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Gdetrailer wrote:time2roll wrote:First thing I would do is get your voltmeter on the battery. Measure the resting voltage. And yes check both the house and the chassis batteries. Then observe the meter on the chassis battery while DW attempts to start. If it fails use the boost and continue to observe and record.
Post the results. Otherwise next time it starts you need to roll to the shop and get it looked at.
OPs first post did say they tried a new battery, they were not able to get the correct size but did try what they had bought with no joy. Then they returned the wrong size battery.
Battery is ruled out.
OP has a 2004, Ford Chassis, which would have 5.4 or 6.8 Modular aluminum engine.. Starter is in a bad place, gets very hot, gets very wet, gets very rusty, solenoid gets very crispy, terminals corrode and snap off.. Solenoid is located on the starter and it takes a beating there..
I HAVE been there with a 2003 Ford truck and a 2006 Ford truck, the starter when it is going south often will intermittently do a no crank a few times or even a yr or so before it totally dies..
This is a common symptom on these engines.
OPs RV is within the age to have that starter just fail (lack of miles means nothing to rust and rot), it is giving warning signals that it needs changed. Next time may be at a rest stop or lonely road somewhere instead of at home.
OP could try cleaning the solenoid terminal connections but I would bet that at least one will snap off when they try (been there, done that to) but you can't clean the one going into the starter the way it is designed. Yes I agree. In the end if the OP would quickly make the measurements it might show an aptitude to replace the starter. Or as I said... next time it does start get it into the shop.
Possibly a couple mild smacks with a hammer direct on the starter may get him rolling.
2001 F150 SuperCrew
2006 Keystone Springdale 249FWBHLS
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Lightning55
Pleasanton, CA
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Joined: 04/30/2019
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Sounds like a bad starter. There's an old fashion, low tech way to check it: When it won't turn over, get someone to hold the ignition in the start position while you smack the side of the starter with a hammer. If it starts when you smack it, you've got a bad starter. I've used this method many times through the years.
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mikemc53
Northern Michigan
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Joined: 02/28/2014
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Well, it was the starter. Found a mobile mechanic who was excellent!
2004 Holiday Rambler Vacationer 37PCT
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Gdetrailer
PA
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Joined: 01/05/2007
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Glad you got it fixed!
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djsamuel
Central Florida
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Sounds like a bad starter solenoid.
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MEXICOWANDERER
las peñas, michoacan, mexico
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Joined: 06/01/2007
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MY 1995 dodge spirit starter was self diagnosing. Hold the key on start and smoke rolled out
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