Last week I got the oil changed on my motor home. On the way home I stopped for fuel. When I tried to start the rig nothing happened when I turned the key. The next time I tried to start the rig it fired right up. It started just fine after that until today. Today it acted up again. About half the time nothing would happen when you turned the key. I checked the voltage at the battery and got 12.59 volts. That seems a little low to me. The batteries are not quite 3 years old. When it does not start it does not even try to turn over Any ideas.

At one time I owned a 2003 Winnebago DP. As I recall, some owners had an issue with the ignition switch. Also, there are 2 or 3 relays mounted on the chassis near the starter that have had issues as well.

your battery is a little low. but I,d start at the cables take both off clean ,also check water level in battery charge .might even have a load test done.

If by nothing when you turn the key, you mean not even a click, but the dash lights come on, then I would suspect your neutral safety switch or the linkage to it. If you mean not even the dash lights, then the ignition switch itself. If you short across the starter will the engine crank? I had a sedan that would only start in cold weather. It needed a new neutral safety cable. The cable expanded just enough in hot weather to prevent the switch from activating. I was able to start the car for a while before the repair by hot wiring it.

When I turn the key all the normal lights on the dash come on. When I move the key to the start position the starter does not even engage.

Ours became sporadic, starting/not starting. The main wire bundle coming from the power plant in back was attached to the firewall in front. A slight tug on it and it came loose. Turns out it had never been crimped. The only thing holding it in placed was some shrink tubing. This after 11 years. So glad we found it as it had started to die going down the road. The connection was getting looser all the time. I had visions of going off a mountain after losing power. It would normally come right back, only being "disconnected" for a few seconds, but it was scary stuff. No more.Dale

2003 Itasca DP does not always start | Good Sam Community

hotjag1
Explorer II
Jun 11, 2017
wolfe10 wrote:

With a 2003 diesel pusher, he will have the Allison 3000 transmission. No "park". Not aware of one wired to have need for brake application either.

X2...there is no park and no need to push on the brake pedal. I had the same problem with our coach a couple of years ago. I cleaned all the cables/wires coming from the starter. One of the cables and a smaller wire attached to a 50 amp circuit breaker which I cleaned also.

I also cleaned the ground wire at the frame(it had a little rust on it). It has started flawlessly ever since. None of the connections looked that bad but they did have a little corrosive buildup at each connection. I guess that was enough to occasionally not allow the starter to turn over.

I would start by cleaning all your cable/wire connections. Cheap and easy fix if that is the problem.
SNOPRO711X
Explorer
Jun 12, 2017
Checked it our again today, it starts on the first try less than 1/2 the time. Most of the time if it did not try to start it will work the next time you try it or if you just hold the key. On a few occasions it took 4 or 5 attempts before it started. If the lights are on they do not dim if it does not start.
The battery connections checked out ok.

I am leaning towards a bad ignition switch. Tomorrow I will see what the Freightliner dealer has to say.
Sam_Spade
Explorer
Jun 12, 2017
SNOPRO711X wrote:

I am leaning towards a bad ignition switch. Tomorrow I will see what the Freightliner dealer has to say.

Worn brushes on the starter motor can do that too.
As can loose or corroded battery cable connections.
Also burnt contacts on the solenoid.

Having a meter connected at the starter when it fails can tell you a LOT about what the cause is. IF good voltage appears at the starter but it doesn't run......that's a bad starter.
SNOPRO711X
Explorer
Jun 15, 2017
It ended up being the magnetic starter relay.
hotjag1
Explorer II
Jun 16, 2017
SNOPRO711X wrote:
It ended up being the magnetic starter relay.

Thanks for the update. Just curious, where is the magnetic starter relay located? What wires or cable are attached to it?

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2003 Itasca DP does not always start

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