Onan gas generator keeps shutting off

[k8devin]

I have a 2003 Ford Chinook Concourse with an Onan gas generator. It keeps shutting off on me. I replaced the spark plug thinking that was the issue, but it wasn't long before it shut off by itself again. I live in Brooklyn, NY and am having a hard time finding a place in the NYC metro area that can service it. Anyone have any suggestions or know of anyone/anywhere in my area that can help me? Thank you.

[whemme]

I can tell you from my experience that the mostly likely cause of your generator stopping after running 5 to 30 minutes is a defective electric fuel pump. It seems to be characteristic of the Onan fuel pumps as they age to initially supply enough fuel to run run for a while after startup and then the fuel pressure generated by the pump just slowly reduces until there is insufficient pressure to keep the carburetor bowl full.

Another possibility is that if your oil level is too much over filled, the oil will foam up due to the crankshaft beating on the top of the oil. After some time too much foaming will cause a decrease in oil pressure and the oil pressure sensor with then shut the engine down.

[BruceMc]

After a couple years of satisfactory service since we purchased our C in 2010, our Onan 4K microquiet started acting strange - it would run for 10 minutes or so then die. It had a new filter and there was plenty of fuel in the tank. I set up another fuel filter with a transparent body inline just before the carburetor inlet and let it run. When it died, there was no fuel in the filter, yet there was fuel at the inlet to the pump.

I replaced the pump and it has been fine since. I'd bet your pump has failed as well.

[1donald]

Might want to check if the Oil Sensor is working properly? We had the same problem on our 2007 Roadtrek 210 P & they finally discovered that the Oil Sensor was defective. Replaced & worked fine after that.

[booboo98498]

What I meant to say is that since repair, I have run it for quite a few hours. I usually run it for 2 or 3 hours at a time. Pacific Northwest (equates to lots of tall trees that take out power lines when the wind blows) and power failures for days on end and the wife doesn't like to be without a heater, microwave, TV, VCR, DVD, Coffee Maker, George Foreman grill, etc. Ha-ha, I gest. We keep the freezer and refrigerator in the house going on an extension cord. Only TV channels we get is shopping and can't have the wife watching them all the time, I'd be broke in a heartbeat!!

[booboo98498]

I had an issue with a Onan 2800 generator that would run for about 20 minutes and then stutter and stop. Wait a few hours and same thing would happen. The shop I took it to found a bad fuel pump. Have not had an issue with the generator since and it has been running for about 35 or 40 hours. The generator is in a Roadtrek 190P. Currently has 163.5 hours.

[Arizona_Kid]

There's always the peanut gallery that has to make a useless comment.
What you consider arguing I consider helping someone get in the correct forum so they can get help from owners who have the same model RV, and generator.

[darsben]

Handbasket wrote:
It may help us to help you if you told us more, like the specific model and symptoms. Name plate data & number of hours. How long it runs before shutting off, how hot the weather is, if it shuts off when a load is applied, and can be restarted immediately.

I'm not sure if it applies to the 4000, but I believe Onan had quit using the low oil level sensor from its little brother 2800 by then.

It would probably be better if the mods had moved the thread to the tech forum, even tho' it _is_ a class C. That's where the very few Onan techs still hang out that haven't been driven away.

Jim, "Mo' coffee!"

Sadly peoples arguing probably drove him away without any help

[Handbasket]

It may help us to help you if you told us more, like the specific model and symptoms. Name plate data & number of hours. How long it runs before shutting off, how hot the weather is, if it shuts off when a load is applied, and can be restarted immediately.

I'm not sure if it applies to the 4000, but I believe Onan had quit using the low oil level sensor from its little brother 2800 by then.

It would probably be better if the mods had moved the thread to the tech forum, even tho' it _is_ a class C. That's where the very few Onan techs still hang out that haven't been driven away.

Jim, "Mo' coffee!"

[Admin]

Class C and moved to Class C

Admin
RV.net

[Arizona_Kid]

I don't want to argue with you, but you need to learn the definitions of a Class B, and a Class C.
The Chinook Concourse is built on a truck chassis, also called a cut-away. If it's built on a cut-away chassis it's a Class C, You may have been confused by the term Class B+ which is just a marketing term for a small Class C. Even if, on the Internet, it's called a Class B, or B+ doesn't make it so, it just makes for an easier sale.
Here is the link to Go RVing (RIVA consumer site) just click on any of the RV pictures for the definition of that type.

Size has nothing to do with the "Class" of RV, it totally depends on the type of chassis.

If you still don't agree with me that's cool, enjoy the Chinook, and I hope you get your generator fixed.

Class C



Class B

[k8devin]

Great suggestions, thank you!!

Also, Cummins website does indeed look like it has several places I can call and get prices for servicing. However, hopefully the others will be cheaper than the Bronx location which I already called; they quoted me the outrageous price of $155 an hour with a four hour minimum for any diagnostics and servicing! Gimme a break.

And again, I can assure you it's a class B. Google Chinook Concourse Class B Motorhome. It's a 21" camper van.

[path1]

1775 wrote:
The Onan Cummins website has a directory of service centers. You will find one on LI or across in NJ.

X2

[Arizona_Kid]

k8devin wrote:
My Chinook is definitely a Class B. Engine gas level is well above a quarter tank, and there is plenty of oil in the generator.

Well, it is definitely not a Class B, and that's why your other post was moved to the Class C forum. There are several Concourse owners in the C forum, and that's where you will get the most help. For it to be a Class B it would have started off as a "van".
Chinook Concourse posts in the C forum.

As for the gen-set, poor some Seafoam directly into the carb. It may help, and won't hurt anything.

Edited to add this. 99.9% of the gen-sets in Class B's are the Onan 2800, I'm pretty sure you have the Onan 4,000, so most of the info you get in this forum will not be for the 4,000.

[darsben]

In SOme Onan Generators there was a problem with the routing of the gas lines and to the electric fuel pump mounted on the generator. Those genny's would experience vapor lock which would shut down the engine. The cure for them was moving the electric fuel pump off the genny to a spot in the genny compartment.
Could this be happening to you?