1997 Winnebago Vectra Drove home. Turned MH off. Wouldnt start.Odd Part is:1. battery cables good and have continuity.2. Took battery and had it tested. is GOOD3. Get no power to front of bus. No horn, no lights, and no ignition.HERES THE ODD PART: WAS TRACING THE CABLES FROM BATTERY AND TRACED THEM INTO THE BOX MARKED "BATTERY MODE SOLENOID AND DISCONNECT RELAY LOCATED IN SIDE HERE"Opened that box up and when I would hit try and reset the "Coach Breaker Panel" fuse... I could at times get the lights , horn , and even ignition to turn on. But when I would try to turn the key to the start position... wasnt enough power. As i said the battery has been checked and is good. Now im back to where nothing will come on.thanks in advancejohn

loose/corroded battery terminal(s) or connectors? do you have a salesman's switch that got flipped? what happens when you use the 'battery boost' switch? have you tried substituting one of the 12v coach batteries to see if it will start?

What is the actual battery voltage? Battery could have shorted internally.Battery connections may "look" great but be corroded where it isn't visible. The only real way to know is to take them apart.

ScottG wrote:Battery connections may "look" great but be corroded where it isn't visible. The only real way to know is to take them apart.X2. Always check the terminal connections to make sure they are clean and tight. A little terminal corrosion makes our 96 Southwind act weird.

Coach Breaker Panel" fuseHERES THE ODD PART: WAS TRACING THE CABLES FROM BATTERY AND TRACED THEM INTO THE BOX MARKED "BATTERY MODE SOLENOID AND DISCONNECT RELAY LOCATED IN SIDE HERE"Opened that box up and when I would hit try and reset the"Coach Breaker Panel" fuse... I could at times get the lights , horn , and even ignition to turn on. But when I would try to turn the key to the start position... wasnt enough power. i think you already answered your own question bad disconnect solenoid. go to a auto store an get a 12v test light or a volt meter and see where the power stops one lead to ground=(frame)the other lead to each connection in the power path see where it quits. these work great12v test light if you can get it to light the head lights leave them on and turn the key if they go out you have a bad connection,"Coach Breaker Panel fuse",solenoid,or battery. what battery are you looking at coach battery or engine starting battery?

ShastagaryI'm looking at the engine battery. Are u saying it could actually be the "coach battery panel fuse?" As well as one of those solenoids in there behind the panel. I took the battery out and had it tested...it showed to be good

Now power to engine/lights/horn battery is good

35 Replies

shastagary
Explorer
Sep 10, 2017
a bad connection can pass low current just fine when you try to start it the high current draw will make the connection spark and go bad until the current draw goes back down. i suspect the next connection right after the battery check the connections at the starter.
base1957
Explorer
Sep 10, 2017
Thinking about what u said about the steps retracting...
Seems mine don't retract when I start it but rather when I put it in gear.
Also, I seem to be getting over 12 v from positive cable, thru the solenoid in the panel fuse box..I'll check and see how much I'm getting at the fuse box....I've tightened battery cables and checked em...
shastagary
Explorer
Sep 10, 2017
Yes power at panel with exception of one fuse marked instrlps...5amp replaced it
Headlights come on , side running lights on, radio on...when I turn key to start position...all go out..then in a minute door lamp comes on... then after another few minutes headlights will come on...it's like they charge up a bit
bad connections can do that
base1957
Explorer
Sep 10, 2017
Yes power at panel with exception of one fuse marked instrlps...5amp replaced it
Headlights come on , side running lights on, radio on...when I turn key to start position...all go out..then in a minute door lamp comes on... then after another few minutes headlights will come on...it's like they charge up a bit
shastagary
Explorer
Sep 10, 2017
if you get to where there is no power at the dash again turn on the head lights (does ignition have to be on for that) and start wiggling wires around till they come on start at the battery
shastagary
Explorer
Sep 10, 2017
with your test light turn ignition on and the fuses have a spot on the face of them you can touch your test light to
base1957
Explorer
Sep 10, 2017
How do I check it at the fuse panel under the dash?
Also...funny ...but door entry light will. Come on but when I try to turn on headlights or ignition key...door entry light goes out
base1957
Explorer
Sep 10, 2017
How do I check it at the fuse panel under the dash?
shastagary
Explorer
Sep 10, 2017
it can be a challenge but once you figure it out you will know a lot more about your coach and what to look for if it ever happened again. its a process of elimination. have power at dash fuse panel?
base1957
Explorer
Sep 10, 2017
: 09/10/17 09:10pm Link | Quote | Print | Notify Moderator
need to start at the battery the positive cable should go to the starter SOLENOID then a thick wire should go to a 12v fuse panel that controls the dash and ignition,headlights etc. is it under the dash?

Fuse panel is under dash, left side of driver sest

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Now power to engine/lights/horn battery is good

35 Replies

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