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StacyBurleigh's avatar
StacyBurleigh
Explorer
Aug 15, 2015

Onan 5500 won't start- control panel beeps?!

Hello all ...started onan 5500 Itasco 2002 Suncruiser this morning and no problems as usual! Tried this afternoon and get a beep at inside coach by control panel and gensat starter chugs then stops chugs then stops ...generator never fires off and no codes. checked fuses-ok, have juice in both batteries-ok, have 3/4 tank full of gas-ok, ...patience faltering-not so ok :) Any ideas? Much Thanks Harry

=> Thanks to all!!
The beep sounds like a "low voltage" alarm complaining - that sounds like what I heard inside the coach! both engine/house batteries show good voltage and are new within the year and have been ok. checked connection at battery posts and gensat. gensat oil level good and replaced 4 mths back. Starter is kicking in and stopping, kicking in and stopping...I am hoping not to find a frozen gensat!! (groan...)
Will post back with results
Cheers Harry
  • enblethen's avatar
    enblethen
    Nomad
    Aug 15, 2015
    You could try push and hold the aux start switch, if equipped, while trying to start genset.
    Sounds like low voltage. Could be poor connection.
  • Vulcan_Rider's avatar
    Vulcan_Rider
    Explorer
    Aug 15, 2015
    First, check the oil in the generator....just for grins.

    I think your battery that starts the genset is NOT OK.
    IE.... not enough "juice" or a bad connection at the battery posts.
    The beep likely is a "low voltage" alarm OR a smoke detector complaining about the voltage.


    Looks like you have a class A so......
    Run the engine for a bit and see if the coach batteries come up enough to start the generator.
    Operate the "emergency start" switch while someone else tries to start the generator.
    If you are at a campground, see if someone can provide a jump to the coach batteries.

    If that's not the problem......you likely don't want to hear the alternatives.
  • Y-Guy's avatar
    Y-Guy
    Moderator
    Aug 15, 2015
    I have the same generator. For a while I could get it running but would die with in a few minutes. Then it wouldn't start. Are you looking for fault codes in the coach or at the switch on the generator? Do you hear the generator priming?

    I found this thread very useful.

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