Genset (2016 Tiffin RED PA37) won't start.

[Squealers]

Just picked up a new to us Tiffin yesterday. Check out went well. Genset fired up with ease. Drove 7 hours today. Pull into WM. Go to start genset and nothing but light rapid clicks like the battery is dead. Does anyone know if it's a dead battery? I'm assuming it has a separate battery. But not sure.

Coach only has 4K miles and is 7 months old.

Have half a tank of gas.

Any ideas would be great.

Thanks Keith.

[bobpie]

I guess you mean that after holding the start switch down for 15-20 seconds the genny finally started?
The light on the start button flashes as the generator is cranking!
It stays solid when running!
If you use the start button on the genny itself, you should press and hold it to prime the carb, and then press it the other way after 20 or so seconds to start. Good luck11

[Squealers]

Thanks everyone for your input. This site rocks!!!

[Squealers]

Wayne had it right!! That was it. Thanks Wayne. I owe you dinner!!

[rgatijnet1]

Have you gone outside and tried to start the generator with the switch right on the generator itself?

[wa8yxm]

Genset normally uses the HOUSE battery (NOTE: at least one Motor home the genset has a battery all to itself, do not know which models that is)

Normally when driving the ENGINE ALTERNATOR charges both the chassis battery and the HOUSE/Genset battery.. For some reason it appears yours did not.

Suspects include
Cut off switch in DISCONNECTED position (Aux battery off, Use/Store switch in Store, or however they labeled it, varies from RV to RV)
Bad isolator device (This is the device that connects the house to the engine for charging,, may also connect engine to house when shore power or generator running)
bad Battery
Bad connections

All the interior lights on. (or at least enough of 'em, each 2 light incandescent fixture draws about 3 amps)

Since it's a 2016,, Warranty may apply if bad______

For now, On the dash is a button may be labeled AUX START, EMER or Emergency Start, or BOOST,, Press and hold for 30 seconds, then try to start generator, Do not hold for more than a full minute.. Once generator starts hold till the auto transfer does it's thing and lights brighten.

[fpresto]

If it hasn't been run for a while, my manual says to hold the switch to the off position for about 30 seconds to prime then go to start.

[Squealers]

GPWayne wrote:
Flashing light on the start switch and rapid clicks?
Sounds like your fuel pump is priming. When the fuel pressure builds up the starter will kick in.
Hold the start switch down longer and it will start...15-20 seconds, That is, if you have more than 1/4 tank of fuel. The fuel tap for the Gene is at about the 1/4 fuel level in the tank. That prevents the Gene from using all the fuel out of the tank.

Wayne,

That's exactly what it's doing. I'll try holding it longer as you suggest. TY!

[DrewE]

It could be a poor 12V or ground connection at or within the generator, or a bad starter solenoid in it.

The generator starter is likely the single largest DC load for the house battery if you do not have a fairly large inverter. Mine uses around 90 to 100 amps when cranking. It does not take too bad of a connection to cause trouble at those currents.

[GPWayne]

Flashing light on the start switch and rapid clicks?
Sounds like your fuel pump is priming. When the fuel pressure builds up the starter will kick in.
Hold the start switch down longer and it will start...15-20 seconds, That is, if you have more than 1/4 tank of fuel. The fuel tap for the Gene is at about the 1/4 fuel level in the tank. That prevents the Gene from using all the fuel out of the tank.

[sch911]

Are the house batteries connected?

[Squealers]

newman fulltimer wrote:
Sounds more like a loose batt cable

I checked all the cables. All seem strong.

[Squealers]

Squealers wrote:

DrewE wrote:
Most commonly (but not universally) the generator starts from the house battery. Occasionally it's set up to start from the chassis battery. In either case, if the battery is too low you usually can start it by first starting the main engine so the alternator supplies some of the starting power.

It is a very rare setup for an RV generator to have a dedicated starting battery.

Thank you, I fired up the coach and still no turning over with the genset.

Tried the boost. Nada. Will try again.

[Squealers]

DrewE wrote:
Most commonly (but not universally) the generator starts from the house battery. Occasionally it's set up to start from the chassis battery. In either case, if the battery is too low you usually can start it by first starting the main engine so the alternator supplies some of the starting power.

It is a very rare setup for an RV generator to have a dedicated starting battery.

Thank you, I fired up the coach and still no turning over with the genset.

[Mandalay_Parr]

Use your battery boost which ties both sets of batteries together.
More likely batteries are shot. I would replace all of them and check all battery connections.