Engine problem

Bruce H · December 7, 2016

I have a 2006 Gulfstream Sun Voyager 8.1-liter GM Vortex V-8. 2 brand new house batteries, chassis battery is 95% charged. 2 weeks ago I started it to bring the slides in. Tonite I wanted to excerise it. Went to start it and only got a click when I turned the key. All lights came on but engine would not turn over. Now, I'm no engine rocket scientist, so could this be a bad starter or cellinode or is there something else I'm forgetting?

Thanks in advance

Bruce

gjhunter01 · December 7, 2016

Do the lights dim when you turn the key on to start? It's possible the battery cables are loose or corroded that attach to the battery or the starter, I would check that first. A less likely cause is the starter going bad, sometimes you can tap on the starter with a small hammer while someone else turns the key.

Greg

Pat & Pete · December 7, 2016

You might try cycling the key on/off a few times to see if the motor will crank .

If it does , then look at the starter relay and/or solenoid .

Jimalberta · December 7, 2016

You wanted to exercise your engine? Why would you want to do that?

Chris-n-Dennis · December 7, 2016

Sounds like chassis battery having problems while your coach battery bank is fine. Quick test: turn on headlights and/or radio at dash, then attempt to start. If headlights dim out or radio dies then chassis battery is probable culprit. See if you have and can use a Boost or Aux Start switch to temporarily use the coach battery system to assist.

Kirk W · December 8, 2016

. Tonite I wanted to excerise it. Went to start it and only got a click when I turned the key. All lights came on but engine would not turn over. Now, I'm no engine rocket scientist, so could this be a bad starter or cellinode or is there something else I'm forgetting?

Yes, it could be a starter but it probably is a low battery. Phantom loads that drain RV batteries are a very common problem and the reason that so many of them have a battery disconnect to turn off the battery and prevent that kind of discharge. While the battery should not discharge in only two weeks, that is not a rare problem. I suggest that you start by using a digital volt meter to measure battery voltage as it takes far less to power your lights than it does to crank the starter for a big block engine.

Dale P · December 11, 2016

Your statement "chassis battery is 95% charged" how did you test this?

mscans · December 11, 2016

Yes, it could be a starter but it probably is a low battery. Phantom loads that drain RV batteries are a very common problem and the reason that so many of them have a battery disconnect to turn off the battery and prevent that kind of discharge. While the battery should not discharge in only two weeks, that is not a rare problem. I suggest that you start by using a digital volt meter to measure battery voltage as it takes far less to power your lights than it does to crank the starter for a big block engine.

The battery disconnect switch isolates the house batteries not chassis. Chassis connect is needed for starting, outside lights, stairs, radio etc. and is not on the disconnect swith.

Kirk W · December 11, 2016

The battery disconnect switch isolates the house batteries not chassis. Chassis connect is needed for starting, outside lights, stairs, radio etc. and is not on the disconnect swith.

That just depends upon what you have. There are isolation devices for either one or both. Our previous motorhome had a disconnect from Intellitek that had two controls and two disconnects.

gjhunter01 · December 11, 2016

I have a 2006 Gulfstream Sun Voyager 8.1-liter GM Vortex V-8. 2 brand new house batteries, chassis battery is 95% charged. 2 weeks ago I started it to bring the slides in. Tonite I wanted to excerise it. Went to start it and only got a click when I turned the key. All lights came on but engine would not turn over. Now, I'm no engine rocket scientist, so could this be a bad starter or cellinode or is there something else I'm forgetting?

Thanks in advance

Bruce

Hi Bruce, do you have any feed back on how it turned out.

Greg

Barbaraok · December 11, 2016

The battery disconnect switch isolates the house batteries not chassis. Chassis connect is needed for starting, outside lights, stairs, radio etc. and is not on the disconnect swith.

We have two, one for house (located by the stairs coming into the coach, and one for chassis, located in the bay with all of the things for the chassis. Should never assume that what is true for one's coach is true for all coaches.

pjstough · December 11, 2016

The OP said he heard a "click" when trying to start the motorhome, so that would tell me that the problem is not a battery disconnect switch. My guess would be a bad battery cable connection, or a problem with the solenoid. If it were me, I would get under the motorhome with a big screwdriver and short across the posts on the solenoid.

Pat & Pete · December 12, 2016

Hi Bruce, do you have any feed back on how it turned out.

Greg

I'm waiting for an answer , also .

oldride · December 12, 2016

Do you have a slide out. It may be a safety issue.

Ray,IN · December 14, 2016

The OP said he heard a "click" when trying to start the motorhome, so that would tell me that the problem is not a battery disconnect switch. My guess would be a bad battery cable connection, or a problem with the solenoid. If it were me, I would get under the motorhome with a big screwdriver and short across the posts on the solenoid.

I'm betting on your answer. He MUST make sure the transmission is in park/neutral and park brake is set before using the screwdriver for safety-sake.

pjstough · December 14, 2016

Coincidentally, on Sunday when we got ready to leave Yuma where we had been parked for a week, when I went to start the motorhome, I got the "click" sound but no start. I checked the battery voltage and it was ok, so I got out my big screw drive, crawled under the RV and shorted across the posts on the starter, and it started right up. I am guessing I need a new solenoid, as this is the second time this has happened in the last year. I have since stopped and started the engine a few times with no problems, but issues like this seldom fix themselves.

As a side note here is a video on the topic. https://www.amazon.com/Progressive-Industries-EMS-PT30C-Portable-Protector/dp/B003AL23TC/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1481663488&sr=8-3&keywords=progressive+industries+ems-pt50c+portable+surge+protector+50+amp

Pat & Pete · December 14, 2016

Coincidentally, on Sunday when we got ready to leave Yuma where we had been parked for a week, when I went to start the motorhome, I got the "click" sound but no start. I checked the battery voltage and it was ok, so I got out my big screw drive, crawled under the RV and shorted across the posts on the starter, and it started right up. I am guessing I need a new solenoid, as this is the second time this has happened in the last year. I have since stopped and started the engine a few times with no problems, but issues like this seldom fix themselves.

As a side note here is a video on the topic. https://www.amazon.com/Progressive-Industries-EMS-PT30C-Portable-Protector/dp/B003AL23TC/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1481663488&sr=8-3&keywords=progressive+industries+ems-pt50c+portable+surge+protector+50+amp

We had the same . It only gets worse . Make work of replacing that solenoid , unless you don't mind crawling under the rig ...

Dale P · December 23, 2016

Statement "You wanted to exercise your engine? Why would you want to do that? ".

To prevent being stuck in the camp ground like he is now.

Barbaraok · December 23, 2016

It isn't the engine that's a problem, but batteries. You can check batteries without starting engine.

mscans · December 23, 2016

We have two, one for house (located by the stairs coming into the coach, and one for chassis, located in the bay with all of the things for the chassis. Should never assume that what is true for one's coach is true for all coaches.

Never saw that, thank you, I stand corrected. Must be used on higher end units NOT in my price range!