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grunt9800's avatar
grunt9800
Explorer
Feb 26, 2016

Engine will only start with AUX Battery Start

Hello everyone,

Did a quick search and couldn't find an answer. I have a 2002 Minnie Winnie 31c with the E-450 chassis. Here's my problem: I have her in storage right now and when I went out for my monthly check, the engine wouldn't start, only clicking when I turned the key. Also no window or door lock functionality. AUX start works as advertised. So I figured, dead chassis battery = get new chassis battery (it was fairly old anyway). Head to Wally World, get new battery and throw it in. Same thing happens; turn key over and only get clicking. Interior lights, radio, headlights, windows and door locks all work. It just won't start. Again, AUX start works. I let the engine run for about 30 minutes or so. Could it be that the chassis battery isn't charged enough? I don't have a voltmeter to test the new battery. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Class C
  • j-d's avatar
    j-d
    Explorer II
    Feb 26, 2016
    Good. Let us know what you find. We've had recent cases where the cable ends looked good but had poor connections internally. If you have jumper cables, you could use them to bypass the battery cables. Just be sure the one you put from positive battery post to fender-mounted "relay" solenoid goes to the one the other end of the Battery Cable attaches to. Connect to the other one (leading down to Starter) and it'll crank right then.
  • grunt9800's avatar
    grunt9800
    Explorer
    Feb 26, 2016
    j-d wrote:
    The Linked Wiring Diagram
     suggests to me that the AUX connects the House Battery to the Chassis Battery terminal of the Starter Relay (perhaps called Starter Solenoid, more on that in a minute). This suggests a problem with the Chassis Battery Connections or Cables. As noted, check GROUND as well as the Hot Side.

    This vehicle has TWO Solenoids. The one in the fender liner sends power down to another solenoid mounted on the Starter Motor. I'm calling the one one on the Fender Liner the "Starter Relay" and it looks like The copper terminals are to Battery and Starter, the small ones are to the wiring that energizes the Relay/Solenoid. It's probably what you're hearing CLICK. Then it sends the power down to the Solenoid on the Starter Motor, shown on top of Starter


    Thanks for the info. I'll check the solenoids and the battery cables.
  • j-d's avatar
    j-d
    Explorer II
    Feb 26, 2016
    The Linked Wiring Diagram
     suggests to me that the AUX connects the House Battery to the Chassis Battery terminal of the Starter Relay (perhaps called Starter Solenoid, more on that in a minute). This suggests a problem with the Chassis Battery Connections or Cables. As noted, check GROUND as well as the Hot Side.

    This vehicle has TWO Solenoids. The one in the fender liner sends power down to another solenoid mounted on the Starter Motor. I'm calling the one one on the Fender Liner the "Starter Relay" and it looks like The copper terminals are to Battery and Starter, the small ones are to the wiring that energizes the Relay/Solenoid. It's probably what you're hearing CLICK. Then it sends the power down to the Solenoid on the Starter Motor, shown on top of Starter
  • grunt9800's avatar
    grunt9800
    Explorer
    Feb 26, 2016
    enblethen wrote:
    Do you have a battery disconnect on the chassis battery? Try cycling the circuit by turning off and then back on.


    That is an excellent question. Where would that be located?
  • enblethen's avatar
    enblethen
    Nomad
    Feb 26, 2016
    Do you have a battery disconnect on the chassis battery? Try cycling the circuit by turning off and then back on.
  • grunt9800's avatar
    grunt9800
    Explorer
    Feb 26, 2016
    ronfisherman wrote:
    Check ground connection from chassis battery to frame. May need to removed and cleaned.

    I checked (what I assume to be) the ground connection to the frame and everything looks clean and tight. The RV hasn't moved in the last 6 months or so.
  • j-d's avatar
    j-d
    Explorer II
    Feb 26, 2016
    If I had to guess, you have a failed battery terminal connection, and it happens that the AUX is connected in a way that it bypasses that failure point. Something may be loose or dirty, AND it's possible for the cable connection inside it's "sealed" terminal to have failed. I'll try to find the wiring diagram and see if I can confirm that.
  • ronfisherman's avatar
    ronfisherman
    Moderator
    Feb 26, 2016
    Check ground connection from chassis battery to frame. May need to removed and cleaned.

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