no power to gauges and will not start

[bobpam54]

Hello all you smart technical people.





i have a good one for you.
We are ready to go south and I go out to start the motorhome and .....nothing
When I turn on the key there is suppost to be lots of lights and alarms sounding.. I get nothing...When I try to start the motor nothing
I checked all sorts of places with my volt meter and I have power in all my places ... Batteries are up fine.
The next thing that I did is crawl underneath the motor and jump the starter...voila starts right up and runs good. But still no gauges working reading no oil pressure, no air pressure,no voltage.no fuel .. no nothing

Has anyone encountered this before?
Thanks for your replays
Bob

[bobpam54]

OK Wolfe
Thanks
Bob

[wolfe10]

Bob,

You just did the proper test on the ignition solenoid and it passed.

[bobpam54]

Yes Wolfe I have digital multi meter
The solenoid up front has power on one side with no key on. When I turn on the key it has power on the other side also

Bad ground can do some crazy stuff with power...for sure..

I will keep checking

I got an appointment with a mechanic on Tuesday
Bob
How would I test it Wolfe 10?

[pianotuna]

Hi,

When I lost power to my gauges and the heater fan it was a bad ground.

[wolfe10]

The ignition solenoid is likely the one up front. Do you have a digital voltmeter? Test light? Want easy "how to test" instructions?

[Ivylog]

The battery is good enough to start the engine. Running the generator is when the alternator has failed and the battery is going dead... usually have to hold the boost switch in to charge engine battery from the house batteries/inverter/charger.
Not sure that a bad ground at the dash would stop the key from starting the engine as it put 12V to the starter solenoid (no need for a ground)... so I'd say you are not getting any power to the dash.
*I'd start at the engine battery disconnect switch... no it does not disconnect the starter from the batteries on a diesel and work my way forward finding 12V.

[bobpam54]

OK Wolfie
You could be on to something. I have solenoid in the compartment in the front where the generator is. I have a solenoid in the back near the starter.. There are solenoid all over this thing...
I have lots of plug in modules in where the fuses that have something to do with ignition

I just can't figure this out and I guess I'll have to take it to the garage..

Thank you guys for your efforts
Bob

[wolfe10]

Turn on the dash HVAC fan (assuming yours only runs when the ignition is to ACC or ON).

Turn key to ON. If not fan, first suspect is the IGNITION SOLENOID. Let us know if you find the solenoid and if you have a digital voltmeter. We can talk you through testing it-- very simple.

[enblethen]

Nest to the passenger seat could be a "salesman" switch to energize battery system.

[bobpam54]

wow lots of replys now

I have 03 newmar dutchstar. cat c7 330 hp
yes I can start the generator..I will try that now but not sure about why that would help...But I'll try anyway..
I have been looking for secret switches on the coach but I have not found any

These things have a ton of relays and fuses onboard...Maybe its one of those

The batteries seem to be up to snuff..I have big battery switch in the rear beside the motor..I have in the cupboard above the entrance to the coach a switch that says ....use/store..but thats house battery and not sure if it affects motor battery

yes I have power in all my fuse boxes

I am thinking it might be a relay somewhere

[tommy_g]

What type unit do you have? Could it simply be the battery cut off? My old gasser has cutoff switches for both house and chassis.

[PRodacy]

More than likely you need a new battery. Voltage can be OK but current output is probably insufficient. A partial short in the battery can prevent a jump from being effdctive. Since it starts by going directly to the startrr. A ground problem is unlikely.

[bobpam54]

ok pianotuna
Thank you for your reply...
I guess I will have to run this thing into the garage and see if they can find it...
I am thinking that it might be something simple but I could be wrong

Worse thing is I have to run it 100 miles with no gauges

Bob

[enblethen]

Is this on the Cat chassis?
Do you have power to the compartment fuses under the driver's seat area in exterior compartment?
Check to make sure battery disconnects are in operate mode.