Generator Question

Is the APU an Onan Microquiet?
If so, it may be a fuel drain-back problem.
This is not uncommon, and there is a cure.
If you hold the stop side of the switch with it not running, this enables a "prime" circuit that will run the fuel pump to bring fuel back to the unit. It usually needs to get held for 10~15 seconds.

Try that.

Matt

Matt_Colie wrote:
Is the APU an Onan Microquiet?
If so, it may be a fuel drain-back problem.
This is not uncommon, and there is a cure.
If you hold the stop side of the switch with it not running, this enables a "prime" circuit that will run the fuel pump to bring fuel back to the unit. It usually needs to get held for 10~15 seconds.

Try that.

Matt

Next time I start it I will try that. Is this normal or do I need to fix or replace a bad part?

Thank you!

If it is an Onan, yes that is normal and holding the "stop" button to prime the fuel is part of the starting procedure.

We have an '03 Itasca with the Microquit generator. It has that fuel pump feature. But the fuel does not drain back like you are talking about. So ether that is not common or we are lucky that it doesn't.

On our Onan MicroQuiet, I hold down the "stop" side of the generator switch to prime the fuel as mentioned, and hold it down until the light in the switch lights. This usually takes 5-10 seconds.

rivercity22 wrote:
My 2011 Jayco Greyhawk generator starts right up if it only sits for a day or so but takes a really long time to get started after sitting for a few days.

Is this normal?

Our Onan is the same way. It does help to prime it for what seems like a long time. It starts worse in cold weather too. I mean, I've always been able to get it started, but it definitely doesn't fire right up unless it's been running yesterday or today.

Would this *prime* switch be on a 1994 model 4000 Onan Emerald Plus series?

Our 2004 vintage micro quiet has a "sticking" choke problem where some times the choke does not choke. Turn out, some of the time, the choke thermo spring sticks in the open position. If this is the problem, next time it does not start right away, open the access panel and play with the link from the choke valve to the control thermo spring, see if it moves freely.