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 .....nothingWhen 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 nothingI 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 nothingHas anyone encountered this before?Thanks for your replaysBob

Hi,Probably a bad ground in the cab. It will not be fun to find and fix it.

What rv do you have? Add that to your profile when you get a chance for quicker responses.Seems you are techno savvy enough to jump start it so grab a voltmeter and a long wire to hook to a good ground and see if there is any voltage under the dash. Any chance your rv has a "Salesman switch" that is needed to fire things up? When you hotwired the started did you have the key in the on position or did it run without that?Do your headlights work?

Can you run the generator? If so does that power up gauges etc? On a previous diesel pusher we had the alternator die and all gauges etc. died. Freightliner said to run the generator and all gauges came back, so we ran the generator while travelling until we got to a Freightliner dealer and had the alternator replaced.

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.

ok pianotunaThank 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 wrongWorse thing is I have to run it 100 miles with no gaugesBob

no power to gauges and will not start | Good Sam Community

bobpam54
Explorer
Dec 26, 2014
OK Wolfe
Thanks
Bob
wolfe10
Explorer
Dec 26, 2014
Bob,

You just did the proper test on the ignition solenoid and it passed.
bobpam54
Explorer
Dec 26, 2014
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
Nomad III
Dec 26, 2014
Hi,

When I lost power to my gauges and the heater fan it was a bad ground.
wolfe10
Explorer
Dec 26, 2014
The ignition solenoid is likely the one up front. Do you have a digital voltmeter? Test light? Want easy "how to test" instructions?
Ivylog
Explorer III
Dec 26, 2014
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
Explorer
Dec 26, 2014
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
Explorer
Dec 26, 2014
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
Nomad
Dec 26, 2014
Nest to the passenger seat could be a "salesman" switch to energize battery system.
bobpam54
Explorer
Dec 26, 2014
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

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