Heater Turned on in Cab, Motor Home engine shut down.

[AlbertWesker]

Hello everyone, I am new here. My name is Christopher and it is good to meet you folks. I bought my second R.V. recently. This is a 1988 Fleetwood Southwind. It has been running great with no issues since I purchased it last week. However, something odd happened this week. I went to start it up, I turned on the cab heater for the first time, not the furnace but the regular heater, like in a truck or car, and the blower and engine shut off. I was not to concerned at first, but I noticed I had no power at all to start back up. I tried to turn the R.V. engine back over, and it gives me no power. I have nothing, just dead. I cannot even turn the key to the left for accessory mode, there is just no power. Everything else in the R.V. works great. This summer I would love to get out on the road and travel, but it looks like I am stopped for now. Does anyone have any idea as to why turning on the heater would shut off the engine. I checked the fuses and they all seem to be good. That is, I checked the fuses in the cab, and then also under the hood. I am puzzled, thanks for any help good folks, and god bless my friends. Happy hauling and travel to you all! 🙂

[DryCreek]

Do the headlights or running lights come on when you pull out the switch (or turn it)? If so, then you are going to have to trace power - starting at the battery and working your way through all of the power distribution points, or maybe just jump to the ignition harness and start there......

[RLS7201]

Christopher,

When asking questions about your MH, it is always helpful to know what chassis brand you have. In you case, you could have a P32 Chevy, F53 Ford or an Oshkosh/Freightliner.
Always start with the simplest and lest expensive items when trouble shooting.
As previously suggested, check all battery cable connections and the battery its self.

Richard

[Matt_Colie]

I vote with K Charles.
Vehicles of this period had fusible links that were just short pieces of wire that were really too small, but had high temperature insulation. They fatigue, corrode or just plain break a lot. I just pull on the little piece of wire in front somewhere, and if it stretches and breaks, you have found the problem. The wire is available and any parts store.

Matt

[Matt_Colie]

I vote with K Charles.
Vehicles of this period had fusible links that were just short pieces of wire that were really too small, but had high temperature insulation. They fatigue, corrode or just plain break a lot.

Matt

[mtrumpet]

Fulltimers wrote:
One time I pulled into a gas station to fill up. After filling I experienced the same thing, No power at all. Turned out the battery just died right then and there.

Had the same thing happen to me on my old Dodge Dakota Pickup - drove all around all morning running several errands and no problem. Then at one stop, got in and nothing. Turned out my battery died right then and there on the spot. One good thing though...that stop that I made when the battery died was..an Auto-Zone store! How's that for luck?? They came out and tested the battery for me and sure enough it was toast. Went in, grabbed a new battery and was on my way.

Having said all of that, I would first "test" any of the possible fuses involved to be sure.

[Cobra21]

Fulltimers wrote:
One time I pulled into a gas station to fill up. After filling I experienced the same thing, No power at all. Turned out the battery just died right then and there.

I too have had this happen! Start by making sure the battery is good
and battery connections are good or get new ones.
Brian

[okhmbldr]

I'm voting for a bad battery. Probably a dead cell. Try to jump start with another battery. If it starts with a jump, then your battery is dead. I had the same thing happen to me on a GMC van. Working fine, then just quit. The battery wasn't a year old, so I thought it had to be something else, finally checked and it was a dead cell.

[ArchHoagland]

Ford or Chevy chassis?

[MrWizard]

one more thing, the blower motor might be bad, and yes you blew fuses

and will again the next time you try this

so IF you find blown , be sure you buy spares

[Fulltimers]

One time I pulled into a gas station to fill up. After filling I experienced the same thing, No power at all. Turned out the battery just died right then and there.

[fcooper]

By turning on the heater blower, you added a slight increase in electrical power required, and some connection, fuse, or relay could not handle the load. Since your battery did crank the engine before you turned on the heater blower, I would assume your battery is ok.

As BILL1734 suggested above, I would start by cleaning and tightening all battery connections. While cleaning battery connections, look for internal corrosion within the ends of the battery cables also. If no joy, then I would clean and tighten all grounds, followed by checking fuses, etc.

Good luck, and let us know the solution.

Fred

[K_Charles]

Old chevy had a useable link between the battery and the firewall. It's a hard to find fat spot in the wire harness. If it blows none of the fuses or the ignition switch have power. As said above, you have no power to acc or ignition so it most likely is not a fuse.

[MrWizard]

sounds like you blew the ignition fuse

the heater blower circuit should be on the accessorizes side of the key switch, NOT on the ignition side

start by checking the fuses under the dash and under the front hatch drivers side

all of the 'automotive/truck' stuff is just like any other car or truck

the rv house electrical is different

[Bill1374]

Try checking your battery connections and make sure they are clean and tight. Also check the ground strap at the engine. Check the battery voltage too.

Good luck.