DandD2015 wrote:
My wife and I have had some problems starting the Chinook Concourse we just bought.
First, I turn the key and it goes clickclickclick but does not turn over. I wondered if I left the headlights or something else on.
Second, I use the boost system---press the switch and turn the key to let the coach batteries jump start it. The first two times I did this, it worked.
Third---and this was just on Friday---when the built-in boost system didn't work, I took my JNC and connected to the battery terminals. Attempt A: no joy. Reseating the clips, it turned over. It looks like there's a little (not a lot) bit of corrosion on the terminals. Hmm.
In each case, when I drive it a bit then stop, restart, it's fine. Right after jump starting it with the JNC, the volt meter was a little above center---and it read there for the rest of the trip.
We've never owned a motor home before and we're not sure what's standard and isn't. We're also not sure what the last owner did that might have modified it etc. For instance, the first time we drained the battery I think it was because of the in dash Sirius stereo. I didn't realize: it was wired "hot." You can listen to it with the ignition switched off completely---so if you forget to turn it off, you can come back later and have a dead battery. The one we discovered recently: the power windows are also wired hot. Wow.
We also have a Tripp Lite charger/inverter. As we were leaving the Chinook today my wife said, "Hey, why are those lights on?" It said it was inverting---but we weren't plugged in to shore power and we didn't have the generator running. I switched it to charge only. As she was saying that would seem only to affect the coach batteries and not starting the car, but I'll throw it in.
As mentioned above we didn't jump it with the built-in boost system. We *tried* but it wouldn't work. I tried starting the generator---nothing. Once I got it jumped, ok, managed to get the generator running.
And to reiterate, every time I get it started, the needle goes to middle of the scale, where it should be.
My theory would be that the battery has power but that maybe the terminal connection is loose. Except if that's true, why doesn't it give us problems the entire trip?
Nothing quite makes 100% sense...anybody care to weigh in?
I have exactly the same issue with my (recently purchased) used Chateau Citation. My engine battery will go dead if the motorhome sits in the driveway for more than a week. I've taken the battery out to have it load tested and it checks out fine. I've taken it on a 24 day trip with no issues because it was driven every day. It also has (what I think) is a recently installed Sirius Radio and that is where I will concentrate my efforts to see if I can track down this problem. For now I've taken out the battery and stored it in my garage for the winter.. and I will monitor it to see if it still loses voltage while sitting in the garage like it was while in the driveway. I suspect it will hold its charge now that it's disconnected. I do have the Sirius Radio manual showing the correct wiring so next spring I will take out the radio to see if the wiring was done properly. Apparently there is a constant live 12V connection (which keeps the clock on time) and another connection which is supposed to be live only when the ignition switch is turned on. There is a third connection shown (I forget what that is supposed to do and I don't have the manual available here right now) but I will track that down as well to see if I can resolve this problem. At least I will now be able to tell if the battery is the problem since it's no longer in the motorhome!
