Generator won't stay running

There are 2 things that cause the problem you are having. One is cheap and one is exxxpensive. In my experience most of the time it is the expensive fix. It will either be the voltage regulator or a relay.The voltage regulator is the expensive part. I have a number for both but these numbers may not work on your generator. When you go for parts be sure and have all of the generator Nameplate Data. Saves a lot of time. The voltage regulator # I have is 305-0809-01 and the relay # is 307-1886.

Good work and thanks the the update. Now just keep thinking happy thoughts any time you are near the coach. It can read you mind you know.

Good deal, and thanks for posting your solution for future reference!!

Thanks for posting the solution!!!

Doug

IT'S ALIVE!!!!

I know it's been quite a while since I posted this query but I want to thank all the people who responded and helped me trouble shoot my generator problem.

I finally fixed my generator. It cost me about $130 for a new circuit board and took me all of maybe 30 minutes total to remove the faulty circuit board and install the new one. The generator fired right up and kept running! I have other service I need to perform on the generator such as replace the oil and filter so I didn't run it very long, but for the few minutes I ran it the generator worked great.

Steve

One final note Geo.

Mine did exactly that--the salesman ran the generator and it ran fine producing voltage. Then about halfway on my first trip it stopped working just like I described.. What happened is that the wire nut was not tightened properly at factory and when we put enough vibration on it it worked loose, started sparking when we ran the generator and then shorted--thus no voltage produced. Thus like mine, it may have produced voltage at dealership but a short trip is enough to change the conditions. Good luck!

My 1995 had the same problem and the wires leading to gen. were corroded and shorted. Cleaned them up and works like new. The wire harness that has a small plug that plugs into gen set. trace back to splice.

Pogoil.

I want to thank all y'all for sharing your ideas and insights with me regarding my generator problem. I will first double check the oil level, maybe just overfill it a very little, or better yet temporarily disconnect the low oil switch and see how it runs (and replace the switch if needed). I know the generator's making electricity because when I bought the rig it was having the same problem but the salesman ran it to show me that the rear AC would work. FWIW when I purchased my RV a year ago it was a monument to neglect, I've been sorting out its many problems on a priority basis as funds become available. That said, if need be I'll replace the circuit board later in the year when more $$$'s become available, but as K Charles said, start with the easy (and cheap stuff) first.
Steve
PS when I do finally get it running I'll post what I found the problem to be so that others may benefit from my problem.

Although you indicated the oil was full, check the oil level AGAIN and AGAIN to be SURE the crankcase is full. If the oil is even a slightest bit under the full mark, the generator will behave exactly as you describe.
I serviced my Onan 6300 and refilled the crankcase with the specified quantity of oil. It would start and run as long as I held the start switch, but release the switch and it stopped. After much checking and many suggestions from very helpful posts, and MANY of them urged me to check for low oil level, I did go back and manually check the dip stick oil level. Oil was not quite up to the full mark on the dip stick, and so I added enough oil to bring it to the full mark on the dip stick. Now remember I had already filled it with the Onan specified amount, 3 1/2 quarts, BUT the final solution was the oil was not up to where it should be and the generator would not run. Filled the crankcase and it started up and runs just like it should. SO the moral of this is CHECK and FILL the oil to the fill mark on the dip stick.
Good Luck
CarlGeo

When the Onan shuts itself down there will be a series of flashes on the button at the generator. That's the error codes referred to by a previous poster. You count the number of flashes then go to the Onan site and reference them in an online manual.

I just had the same problem with a brand new Onan. Turns out the generator detected no output voltage being produced so it is designed to shut down under that circumstance as well as others mentioned.

Went to a Cummins dealership and they found the problem in 5 minutes. A shorted out wire nut. The error code I gave them helped immensely to zero in and charges were minimal.