Just picked up a new to us Tiffin yesterday. Check out went well. Genset fired up with ease. Drove 7 hours today. Pull into WM. Go to start genset and nothing but light rapid clicks like the battery is dead. Does anyone know if it's a dead battery? I'm assuming it has a separate battery. But not sure. Coach only has 4K miles and is 7 months old. Have half a tank of gas. Any ideas would be great. Thanks Keith.

Most commonly (but not universally) the generator starts from the house battery. Occasionally it's set up to start from the chassis battery. In either case, if the battery is too low you usually can start it by first starting the main engine so the alternator supplies some of the starting power.It is a very rare setup for an RV generator to have a dedicated starting battery.

Sounds more like a loose batt cable

Use your battery boost which ties both sets of batteries together. More likely batteries are shot. I would replace all of them and check all battery connections.

DrewE wrote:Most commonly (but not universally) the generator starts from the house battery. Occasionally it's set up to start from the chassis battery. In either case, if the battery is too low you usually can start it by first starting the main engine so the alternator supplies some of the starting power.It is a very rare setup for an RV generator to have a dedicated starting battery.Thank you, I fired up the coach and still no turning over with the genset.

Squealers wrote:DrewE wrote:Most commonly (but not universally) the generator starts from the house battery. Occasionally it's set up to start from the chassis battery. In either case, if the battery is too low you usually can start it by first starting the main engine so the alternator supplies some of the starting power.It is a very rare setup for an RV generator to have a dedicated starting battery.Thank you, I fired up the coach and still no turning over with the genset.Tried the boost. Nada. Will try again.

Genset (2016 Tiffin RED PA37) won't start. | Good Sam Community

DrewE
Explorer II
Mar 06, 2017
Most commonly (but not universally) the generator starts from the house battery. Occasionally it's set up to start from the chassis battery. In either case, if the battery is too low you usually can start it by first starting the main engine so the alternator supplies some of the starting power.

It is a very rare setup for an RV generator to have a dedicated starting battery.
newman_fulltime
Explorer II
Mar 06, 2017
Sounds more like a loose batt cable
Mandalay_Parr
Explorer
Mar 06, 2017
Use your battery boost which ties both sets of batteries together.
More likely batteries are shot. I would replace all of them and check all battery connections.
Squealers
Explorer
Mar 06, 2017
DrewE wrote:
Most commonly (but not universally) the generator starts from the house battery. Occasionally it's set up to start from the chassis battery. In either case, if the battery is too low you usually can start it by first starting the main engine so the alternator supplies some of the starting power.

It is a very rare setup for an RV generator to have a dedicated starting battery.

Thank you, I fired up the coach and still no turning over with the genset.
Squealers
Explorer
Mar 06, 2017
Squealers wrote:
DrewE wrote:
Most commonly (but not universally) the generator starts from the house battery. Occasionally it's set up to start from the chassis battery. In either case, if the battery is too low you usually can start it by first starting the main engine so the alternator supplies some of the starting power.

It is a very rare setup for an RV generator to have a dedicated starting battery.

Thank you, I fired up the coach and still no turning over with the genset.

Tried the boost. Nada. Will try again.
Squealers
Explorer
Mar 06, 2017
newman fulltimer wrote:
Sounds more like a loose batt cable

I checked all the cables. All seem strong.
sch911
Explorer
Mar 06, 2017
Are the house batteries connected?
GPWayne
Explorer
Mar 06, 2017
Flashing light on the start switch and rapid clicks?
Sounds like your fuel pump is priming. When the fuel pressure builds up the starter will kick in.
Hold the start switch down longer and it will start...15-20 seconds, That is, if you have more than 1/4 tank of fuel. The fuel tap for the Gene is at about the 1/4 fuel level in the tank. That prevents the Gene from using all the fuel out of the tank.
DrewE
Explorer II
Mar 06, 2017
It could be a poor 12V or ground connection at or within the generator, or a bad starter solenoid in it.

The generator starter is likely the single largest DC load for the house battery if you do not have a fairly large inverter. Mine uses around 90 to 100 amps when cranking. It does not take too bad of a connection to cause trouble at those currents.
Squealers
Explorer
Mar 06, 2017
GPWayne wrote:
Flashing light on the start switch and rapid clicks?
Sounds like your fuel pump is priming. When the fuel pressure builds up the starter will kick in.
Hold the start switch down longer and it will start...15-20 seconds, That is, if you have more than 1/4 tank of fuel. The fuel tap for the Gene is at about the 1/4 fuel level in the tank. That prevents the Gene from using all the fuel out of the tank.

Wayne,

That's exactly what it's doing. I'll try holding it longer as you suggest. TY!

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