Onan Generator 4000

Bordercollie wrote:
Your house battery should be tested under load. Often a new deep cycle RV battery and clean tight connections make all the difference.

THIS.

And the generator starter makes and excellent load.....if the connections are good and the solenoid hasn't failed.

Sufficient voltage is not getting to the starter.
Trace the voltage and see where it is being lost.

Start with your meter probes right on the battery posts while pushing the start button (the actual battery posts, not the cable ends or clamps). If it goes below 10, your battery most likely is NOT good.

There may be a corroded ground connection from generator to frame. It could be a bad remote start switch/relay in the power panel. Could be a corroded ground connection from house battery to frame. Clean and tighten battery clamp connectors. Try starting the generator using the switch on the generator itself with truck engine running. If the house battery is old with sulphated plates it may show over 13 volts but voltage may drop way down when cranking the generator. Your house battery should be tested under load. Often a new deep cycle RV battery and clean tight connections make all the difference.

Checked the battery voltage and it is fine.It is Gasoline.

Your battery is dead.

(If you give us more information, we can give you a better answer.....but that likely is the problem.)

Gasoline Diesel, or Propane fuel?

As photobug says, clicking pretty much invariably means low voltage at the starter. That could be due to a weak or discharged battery, a poor connection somewhere along the way (either ground or power), a bad start solenoid, etc.

If it's a weak battery, often you can get by if you start the main engine so that the alternator and chassis battery are connected via the battery isolator and help power the generator starter. That can be helpful to get out of a bind if you're stuck somewhere.

check your voltage at the starter. does it sound like your car after you left the lights on? could be low house batteries. plug the thing in and leave it overnight and see if that helps. also check the battery terminals for corrosion.