Hi everyone I am a newbie been living in my RV since August 2015. I have a 1990 Safari Ivory 38 ft long Diesel Pusher. Its A Cummins/OshKosh Chassis? I keep reading these forums and i know this has been answered but im getting confused. Any ways I am having power issues. The dash lights and nothing will come on when the key is in ignition. It wont make any sounds no gauges nothing. The exterior lights will come on.History, I bought in Aug 2015 camped out for a few months in a few places no issues with power anywhere. Till middle of oct when we stayed in one location for 28 days. When we tried to start nothing happened. So we did the easiest thing fist check the battery. no voltage. So we went to store got another deep cycle starter battery (golf cart), We were able to start and drive fine to our next location. everything was fine till a few weeks later when we tried to start it just to make sure it was still working. nothing again. so we jumped it. got it started. Then we had to move a couple of times due to spaces and different locations for the winter every time we had to jump it. The other day we went to a store returned the Deep cycle battery found out it was completely dead so i traded it for the correct deep cycle stater battery for the rv. everything turned on no worries. 24 hrs later we tried again to get things fixed before the next move. Nothing no sounds no lights nothing.Im beating my head? Do we take the chassis battery out to get looked at? Do we try to find the ignition switch and change that? do we try to find the ignition solenoid? What do I do.. I need it fixed ASAP and cheapiest things first. Im having difficulties finding any schematics of this model anywhere. Where can I download one for the future. Its such an old RV im worried no one will have parts I have 3 days to fix. Please Help anyone, I need adviceThank You:h

Wow! I am sure confused, you replaced an RV battery? Golf cart? 6 Volt?The chassis battery is what needs to be looked at, what is the voltage currently? Check it with a multimeter. If you need to jump start, after it starts, check with a multimeter again. Is it charging off the alternator/ generator? You need a strong starting battery for the engine, not a deep cycle battery , the golf cart batteries (6 V) are for running the interior components, if you are not plugged in to shore power. And when you are plugged in, do you have a built in charger? Is it working?I don't mean to confuse, but I am not sure if this can be what you mean.

Yeah, I don't know how putting a 6V golf cart battery in place of a 12V did anything. Also, a battery never has "no voltage", especially after only 28 days without a charge. This would indicate either a problem with where you measured the voltage or the meter.No offense, but you really need to get off the internet and get on the phone. You need to find an RV tech that an figure out your issues. Even if we were able to remotely diagnose your issues, I don't think you have the technical acumen take the corrective actions necessary.

Give these two a callhttp://goldenmobilervanddieselservice.com/Father son team, really good - they will solve the mystery.BOL,

Busskipper wrote:Give these two a callhttp://goldenmobilervanddieselservice.com/Father son team, really good - they will solve the mystery.BOL,Sorry forgot the Phone Number - Mitch will take care of you.Golden Mobile R.V. and Diesel Service * P.O. Box 18582* Golden Colorado * USA * 80402: 720-415-9802

MeganRV I know this is not what you asked but, it doesn't seem that you know a whole lot about how the systems work and few of us did when we bought our first RV. Sometimes it is more expedient to go to a professional rather than ask for a step by step process to find a problem.There is a great shop in Golden, it is Tilden your complete car care center at 17981 W. Colfax Ave and the phone number is 303-279-5181. They are directly across the street from a campground we have used a couple of times. Tilden's was recommended by the staff and they have other recommendations. I delt with Kevin Davenport and I'll bet he'll not only find your problem he'll explain the system to you as he works.Just a quick guess about your problem is that the converter/charger isn't feeding the batteries when you're plugged in. You seem to have 12vdc because your not complaining about that.The more I think about your post, either you really don't know anything about RV systems or you are a troll. Either way you have my two cents worth.

Class A Motorhome Wont Start! | Good Sam Community

gfs1943
Explorer
Apr 08, 2016
OP -- any resolution on your problem yet?
Jim
Explorer
Apr 07, 2016
The least expensive way to handle this while you're traveling is to use a set of jumper cables (the cheap ones will work here...maybe pick up a set at a yard sale or thrift shop). Whenever you park and plug into shore power, just jumper the battery sets together so both sets, chassis and house, get charged by the converter.

Meanwhile, find a float charger 2 Amp or larger (WM has them at $20 or $2 at a thrift shop) and connect that to the chassis battery, plug it into an extension cord or nearby patio outlet.

Just remember to unplug things before traveling, and that the 2 6V batteries are wired in series and you want to connect the jumper cable to get 12V.
deandec
Explorer
Apr 07, 2016
That "huge chassis battery" is the one that starts your engine.

You probably need at least one chassis 12v battery that provides about 1,000 cca (cold cranking amps) to start your engine.

The smaller 12v deep cycle battery might start your generator (mine does). One typically finds these batteries on boats where double duty is required due to space limitations. These are not designed to start a large diesel engine.

When not driving, turn the chassis battery switch off (my switch is in the battery compartment.) Only the generator and the alternator recharge the engine battery in many rigs. Then when you have time, start chasing the cause of your chassis battery drain.

Shore power likely does not charge the chassis battery on your rig unless gadgets (like the trik-l-start) are added to your system.
Dick_A
Explorer
Apr 06, 2016
there are 4 house batteries different compartment, next to the inverter and converter/charger. One 12V Starter deep cycle battery and one huge chassis battery.

When you mention a huge chassis battery that may be the starting battery. Many diesel chassis of that era used a 8D starting battery which is about sixteen inches long X 8inches wide X about eight inches high. These dimensions are just a rough guess from memory as it has been many years since I used them on diesel generator sets.

I understand the four house batteries but do not see the reason for the small 12 volt deep cycle battery. I do not recall every seeing a deep cycle battery used to start a diesel engine.

Check the voltage on that large battery as that may be related to your problem.
ichudov
Explorer
Apr 06, 2016
MeganRV, your starting chassis batteries are the highest priority to keep operational.

If they get drained by unknown power drains, ten you ave two choices:

1) Find the power drain, or:
2) Disconnect chassis batteries after every use.

On my RV, my chassis batteries are Group 31 and I disconnect them by unbolting the starter cable.

Disconnecting them after driving seems to be the safest approach overall, well worth 2 minutes it takes.
Mr_Mark1
Explorer
Mar 21, 2016
I'm wondering if 'MeganRV' had 2 starting batteries and it was replaced with just one by the previous owner. Even my '81 Oldsmobile diesel had two starting batteries.

MM.
Raist11
Explorer
Mar 21, 2016
MeganRV wrote:
Thank you for some all of your advice. I am an Aircraft Mechanic/ Avionics I know how stuff works I understand power and how to trouble shoot.

I stated in my first post im confused of what everyone is saying. My first thought is simple straight to the power and grounds. Then Im gonna work from there. i just need advice to help work this out while i Wait

ps I did try the emery button pressed it in to see what happened and yes it will try to crank but to weak.

Well you shouldn't have any issues figuring this out. As for your chassis (starter) battery being dead, it's simple automotive troubleshooting. You have a new battery so it's not that (possible but not likely). You have something draining the battery, should be a simple hunt for you. I bet there's fewer wires in that motorhome than an airplane. Since you already know how power works and how to trouble shoot you're off to the races.
Ranger_Smith
Explorer
Mar 17, 2016
Sounds like you have a parasitic draw killing the battery. Could be the radio memory or anything else. I would just get the trikl- start for $50.00 and wire it in and it will keep the chassis battery up to snuff. Other option is a battery disconnect.
ricelake922
Explorer
Mar 17, 2016
I know this might sound crazy but this use to happen to me a lot. So when it did happen I would get the batteries boosted with my battery pack and it would start. It e dsl up I have a parasite and have never been able to find it. RV experts have also tried to find parasitic draw with no success. So if the coach is not plugged into shore power or running or on generator then I have a switch near the batteries that I switch off when not using the coach. This solution has been working and I don't ever forget to switch off.
MeganRV
Explorer
Mar 17, 2016
Thank you for some all of your advice. I am an Aircraft Mechanic/ Avionics I know how stuff works I understand power and how to trouble shoot. Sorry for confusing some people. I was confused at all the different stuff. I just need suggestions cause im new to this life style. and i dont know where anything is and finding parts is like finding a needle in a haystack! its a very old RV!

Im new to RVs. The old gentleman who sold it to me didnt show me much. I dont want to shotgun parts at it. Im not familiar to who to contact and where to go. Yes Im tight on money and on a time limit. got laid off stuck in an overpriced park $340 wk. and i have to budget so i can drive 900+ miles to a new job. Everyone is booked up for appoint. Camping world is giving me the run around. wont do this wont do that? so yes i wanted some quick help to get it started. Thanks to all of you

yes there are 4 house batteries different compartment, next to the inverter and converter/charger. One 12V Starter deep cycle battery and one huge chassis battery. in the engine compartment. house batteries read fine. The starter battery was bad the store checked it out it was drained so we bought a new one. They sold us the wrong one. yes they sold me golf cart battery, but i got that fixed and returned it for the correct battery and a professional. Thats when after 24 hrs we have no power on to start it.

I stated in my first post im confused of what everyone is saying. My first thought is simple straight to the power and grounds. Then Im gonna work from there. i just need advice to help work this out while i Wait

ps I did try the emery button pressed it in to see what happened and yes it will try to crank but to weak.