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Generator Won't Start

MrMoke
Explorer
Explorer
Brand New 2013 Newmar Bay Star Sport 3310 . Hasn't really been out on the road yet except for my wife and I driving it back to Texas from California. Anyway, had no need to use the Cummins generator on the way back we just hooked up to shore power. Since we got it home I have run the generator twice to juice up the batteries mainly but also to make sure it works. First time, the genny started okay, ran for about 10 minutes then shut itself down, today it started also and did the same thing and now it won't start. I checked the propane feed and it is open, looked in the manual but nothing jumps out that I could be doing wrong. I am a newb, this is our first RV. Anyone got any suggestions about what I could be missing? I'll be calling Newmar, dealer tomorrow and would rather make sure its not something I am missing before I look dumb at the dealership!!
15 REPLIES 15

MrMoke
Explorer
Explorer
DSDP Don wrote:
No offense, but it sounds like you have not worked on anything mechanical, such as a generator. I would not do anymore until you can take it to a repair shop. It's under warranty, let them fix it. You do any damage and they may void your warranty.


No offense taken, but you are mostly wrong, I have worked on a great many mechanical things during my lifetime, motorcycles , cars, mostly when I was younger and my labor was cheaper than a mechanic's; lawnmowers, push and ride on, small yard tractors, where I can; and, I generally work off of written documentation and specifications where I can and solicit help as needed, which is exactly what i did in this case, I typically don't push buttons and fiddle with things without some understanding of what i am doing, in fact that really irks me when people do that, you are correct in that this is my first encounter with a generator, thank you for your input, The problem with your stance is that if everyone took that approach we'd never learn anything since everyone has no experience from the outset. I am in awe of the well meaning and very helpful feedback i have received, rv.net has a very active user base, the coach is going to Cummins Coach Care tomorrow, I filled the penny with oil and it started and ran okay, they agreed this was a good approach to determine why it wouldn't start, just need them to find the slow leak now and fix it under warranty, next problem is parking the coach at my workplace afterward, it's way too big to go in the building parking garage don't expect I'll find an answer to that problem on this forum! 🙂

prstlk
Explorer
Explorer
If it's new it's under warranty double check with manufacturer in most cases warranty starts from date of sale not the year. Have manufacturer direct to the nearest cummins coach care repair center. Most even have hookups so can stay with the rig if needed. I'm not afraid to take on most things but why mess with any repair if it's still covered?
Imho
2007 Keystone Challenger 5th wheel, Ford F350 Super Duty 6.7L Diesel, Short Bed, 2 dogs and the cat and rolling down the road full time since May 2014

DSDP_Don
Explorer
Explorer
No offense, but it sounds like you have not worked on anything mechanical, such as a generator. I would not do anymore until you can take it to a repair shop. It's under warranty, let them fix it. You do any damage and they may void your warranty.
Don & Mary
2019 Newmar Dutch Star 4018 - All Electric
2019 Ford Raptor Crew Cab

C-Leigh_Racing
Explorer
Explorer
The thing with the oil leak, when the genset is running, cooling air is being drawn through & around the engine, so an oil leak could be in one place & showing up somewhere else from the forced air pulling it.
Places it could leak, crankshaft seals or where a sealing gasket is located, part bolted onto the engine.

After dealing with these things for a few years, I believe a lot of times it is the rubber o ring gasket on the oil filter not sealing like it should. There have been a few times after a bit of genset use, once cool I've been able to tighten the oil filter up just a bit. Now that could have been from vibs causing the filter to be loose or either that o ring gasket srinking up, which I dont know, but that is one thing I have found.

If the genset oil pressure sending unit does not sense oil pressure, the control board will shut the engine down.
Neil

J_L_Rivera
Explorer
Explorer
the dealer is the last guy I'd go to.

-clean up the spilled oil.
-add oil to the full line.
-try and start the genny.
-while it's running, look around with a light and see if you can tell where it's dripping from.
-tighten the drain plug/filter. if you cant get to it or tell where it's coming from to repair yourself, take it to an independent RV/ Generator Mechanic.

Thats my advice, but I'm a pretty good mechanic and do it all myself.
Lake Front Property
2007 Itasca Spirit 31C
2008 Crestliner 1800 Super Hawk

BTPO1
Explorer
Explorer
I don't think that I would at this time add any oil. I would be more interested in finding out how the oil leaked out of a new generator. Maybe the oil filter was not tightened or some other problem. If it were mine and it was new it would be going back to the dealer even though I could fix it. JMO
Jack
2003 Rexhall Vision 27'
2019 Chevrolet Equinox
States we have been to with this MH

MrMoke
Explorer
Explorer
Update :- Still don't know if it is gas or LP vapor, I was suspicious of the oil in the bottom and checked the oil level, it was right on 'add'! being as the gene has less than 6 hours on it I think I am going to have to get it looked at. There's a good covering of oil that is dirty on a round protrusion on the underside of the compartment that I am going to say is the oil filter based on the Onan/Cummins website diagram, it looks like a slow oil leak that has finally got bad enough to cause the two shutdowns after 10 mins I previously experienced and now it is low enough to not start. Thank you all for your help and especially bullydogs1 who was right. I guess first thing I should do is get some 15W40 oil, top it off and see if it will start before taking it in for warranty service.

Trackrig
Explorer II
Explorer II
When you say there's oil sitting in the bottom of the generator compartment, are you talking about a few drops or enough that the bottom of the compartment is covered with enough oil to effect the oil level in the engine?

Bill
Nodwell RN110 out moose hunting. 4-53 Detroit, Clark 5 spd, 40" wide tracks, 10:00x20 tires, 16,000# capacity, 22,000# weight. You know the mud is getting deep when it's coming in the doors.

MrMoke
Explorer
Explorer
Wow, Than you all for the feedback! I've only started it from the dash remote before so this time I went to the gene itself, it is in fact an Onan/Cummins RV QG 5500 which according to http://power.cummins.com can be gas or LP fueled, I'll have to see if I can find which model it is specifically. I'm just going by what the salesman told me in the very brief walkthrough we did when we picked it up, wouldn't be the first time a salesman told me something that was incorrect. Gas tank is full (less 6 miles and ~15 minutes idling, LP is showing 3/4 tank. There's seems to be oil sitting in the bottom of the gene compartment, I don't know if that is normal or not.

hershey
Explorer
Explorer
I'm in Bev & Kens camp. I'd bet a Krispy Kreme Doughnut to a shiny penny that it is indeed fueled from your MH's fuel tank. If anywhere around 1/4 tank it will run out of fuel. Add some fuel to the tank and give the lil' bugger another try.
hershey - albuquerque, nm
Someday Finally Got Here
My wife does all the driving - I just get to hold the steering wheel.
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Expedition - Chevy Equinox

Dale_Traveling
Explorer II
Explorer II
Beverley&Ken wrote:
Two questions. Are you sure that your generator is fueled by propane? Most MHs on gasoline chassis come with a gasoline powered generator. The new Baystar units come with the Onan/Cummins 4000 unit which is gas fueled.
How much gasoline in the MH? 1/4 tank or less and the generator pickup is out of the fuel/gasoline supply. This is to ensure the engine will have fuel to leave, rather than the generator using it all.

Ken
I had the same first thought. Would expect a 2013 gas chassis rig to have a gas generator.
2006 Hurricane 31D built on a 2006 Ford F53

Beverley_Ken
Explorer
Explorer
Two questions. Are you sure that your generator is fueled by propane? Most MHs on gasoline chassis come with a gasoline powered generator. The new Baystar units come with the Onan/Cummins 4000 unit which is gas fueled.
How much gasoline in the MH? 1/4 tank or less and the generator pickup is out of the fuel/gasoline supply. This is to ensure the engine will have fuel to leave, rather than the generator using it all.

Ken
2006 Winnebago Outlook 29B E-450.
2012 Honda CR-V AWD
Blue Ox Aventa LX tow bar and Brake Buddy Vantage.

trop-a-cal
Explorer
Explorer
Most have oil pressure sensors that shut down when bad or sending signal pressure is too low. Yours may have a sensor on the propane to not run when tank is low. Run the name and model to the web and read the operations manual if you don't have a hard copy.

bullydogs1
Explorer
Explorer
When the gene shuts down there should be a code that flashes in the switch...also, check the oil...low oil and it will shut down...your oil is either on the cusp..or the gene is overheating or the gene is getting a false overheat signal....let us know what sequence the light in the gene switch is flashing..also, is this a gas generator?..I believe it is run by gasoline in your tank..make sure you have over a quarter tank of fuel ..assuming you have a gas coach.
Stuart and Stella Denning
2016 Entegra Aspire 42RBQ
The 3 Bulldogs (Daisy, Sylvie and Stashie)
2018 Equinox Diesel (TOAD)