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nextlife's avatar
nextlife
Explorer
Oct 27, 2014

94 vectra with 12 volt situation

we have a '94 Winnebago Vectra. Doing normal starting and checking of things. Started generator 2 weeks ago, all good. This time generator just clicks, like low battery. Had batteries checked, they are good. Nothing 12 volt works unless on shore power. Also, prior to trying to start generator, we took engine battery out and had to remove house batteries to do so. In doing research we found reference to a switch in a couple of locations. One was under the step and another in a cabinet somewhere. Couldn't find either. All help will be appreciated.

2 Replies

  • Could be many things really. As JimM68 said. The engine batteries will be bigger in size and 12 volt (I dont know if your Vectra had 1 or 2 engine batteries) Likely 2. They should be connected pos to pos and neg to neg. The coach batteries could be several 6 volt, or a couple 12 volt. If 2 12 volt, then they are also pos to pos and neg to neg. HOWEVER, if they are a few 6 volt, then they wire pos to neg, and neg to pos, ETC. (ALWAYS TAKE A PICTURE OF YOUR BATTERIES AND WIRING BEFORE REMOVING THEM)

    Now there is a breaker near the batteries somewhere that could have thrown. (It does not look like a typical breaker) but more like a little black box with a small reset button "generally" on the bottom. Also, find your "battery disconnect" switch. If that is off. You wont have any 12 volt working.

    Now if you wired everything up right, and your reset is not tripped, and your disconnect switch is "on". Does your engine start? If so, maybe your coach batteries are simply dead.

    If all is good and your engine starts, Then (while your engine is running) press and hold your "battery boost" or "emergency start" button, and start the generator. (OR) use jumper cables from engine to coach batteries. Remember the Generator starts from the coach batteries. The Emergency start button literally ties coach and chassis batteries together.
  • I'd have to suggest that:

    If all was good before removing the chassis and coach batteries....
    And now the genie won't start....

    Something got screwed up when you removed and reconnected the coach and chassis batteries.

    Go back through all of it. My own, with 2 chassis and 4 coach batteries, of 2 different voltages, it is all kinda complicated.
    Remember each pair of 6 volts is a 12v battery...
    batteries are always 12 volts, so they are paired neg to neg pos to pos....