Windshield wipers cycling with chassis batteries removed?!?!

[PunksRV]

I pulled out my two 12-volt chassis batteries about a week ago to take them to my home and charge them as I don't have ac power at my storage location (the coach is not on shore power). The four house batteries remain in the coach as they are charged by a 100 watt solar system. The main disconnect for the house batteries is off.

Today my tenant called (my RV is at my rental home) and he stated that he has witnessed the windshield wipers cycle on several occasions. I don't see how this could be possible with the chassis batteries physically removed from the coach.

The coach is a 2006 National Tradewinds 40D on a Freightliner XC chassis with a 400 Cummins Diesel. Any ideas on what the issue could be or where to start on troubleshooting this would be greatly appreciated.

[PunksRV]

I did a bit more investigating and I'm still stumped. The chassis batteries are still out of the coach and I put my volt meter across the two battery leads to see if I could detect stray voltage on the chassis main circuit. Only showing 2.5mV.

I also checked the harness under the hood for potential rodent damage from chewed wires and found everything to be ok.

My coach does have an emergency boost switch but its a spring toggle switch that returns to the off position when you release it. It could be possible the relay is stuck though. I need to locate the relay though.

My coach is equipped with a monitor panel with a two way toggle switch and digital readout that shows the status of either the chassis or house batteries depending on which way the switch is depressed. As I expected it reads 14.5V on the house batteries but I was surprised to see 14.4V on the chassis batteries since they are physically not in the coach. This seems to indicate there is power getting to the chassis battery circuit. Another interesting note is that before I replaced the chassis batteries last year (due to age) I had noted that my entry step would not work with dead chassis batteries. With the chassis batteries out of the coach the entry step is operating each time I open the door! This is with the main house disconnect switch off.

My wiper controls are integrated into the Freightliner Chassis Smart Steering wheel. I don't believe there is any way to leave the switch in the on or intermittent position as its push button controlled and re-initializes each time the ignition is cycled.

My chassis batteries are now fully charged and I'm going to try and re-install them and start the coach. I'll also try and locate the emergency boost relay and pull it to troubleshoot.

Thank you all for chiming in on this problem and I'll keep you posted - Paul

[PunksRV]

Wes Tausend wrote:

PunksRV wrote:
I pulled out my two 12-volt chassis batteries about a week ago to take them to my home and charge them as I don't have ac power at my storage location (the coach is not on shore power). The four house batteries remain in the coach as they are charged by a 100 watt solar system. The main disconnect for the house batteries is off.

Today my tenant called (my RV is at my rental home) and he stated that he has witnessed the windshield wipers cycle on several occasions. I don't see how this could be possible with the chassis batteries physically removed from the coach.

The coach is a 2006 National Tradewinds 40D on a Freightliner XC chassis with a 400 Cummins Diesel. Any ideas on what the issue could be or where to start on troubleshooting this would be greatly appreciated.

Paul,

It seems I remember that the 12v isolation mechanism allows the engine alternator system to charge house batteries, but doesn't ever normally allow the house system to drain the engine batteries. Unless defective.

What may be the case here, in some situations the engine can be conveniently auto-started off the house batteries if the start battery is dead. By removing chassis start batteries (now acting dead, so to speak), this mechanism may now allow some house power to feed back to the ignition system. The wipers should not cycle anyway provided they are not set to periodic-wipe, but may operate randomly anytime if the wiper rest position shut-off contacts are corroded. This rest position switch normally makes the wipers run just until they land in proper down/off position after normal shut-off.

Wes
...

Interesting Wes. I'd have to have two issues happening at the same time then. Voltage jumping to the chassis circuit which I suspect may be happening and the wiper contacts which I assume would be in the wiper motor assembly.

[PunksRV]

Matt_Colie wrote:
Is it possible that a Trikle-Start or similar got installed?

Matt

No Matt, not since I've owned the coach and this is the first time I've experienced this problem.

[PunksRV]

JaxDad wrote:

Mandalay Parr wrote:
Sounds like the wipers are on your house batteries instead of chassis batteries.

My wipers can't operate without the ignition on or in the accessory position.

I believe my solar charge controller can charge an auxiliary 12-volt battery. I'll need to see how its wired and if the DIP switches are in the right position.

[Wes_Tausend]

PunksRV wrote:
I pulled out my two 12-volt chassis batteries about a week ago to take them to my home and charge them as I don't have ac power at my storage location (the coach is not on shore power). The four house batteries remain in the coach as they are charged by a 100 watt solar system. The main disconnect for the house batteries is off.

Today my tenant called (my RV is at my rental home) and he stated that he has witnessed the windshield wipers cycle on several occasions. I don't see how this could be possible with the chassis batteries physically removed from the coach.

The coach is a 2006 National Tradewinds 40D on a Freightliner XC chassis with a 400 Cummins Diesel. Any ideas on what the issue could be or where to start on troubleshooting this would be greatly appreciated.

Paul,

It seems I remember that the 12v isolation mechanism allows the engine alternator system to charge house batteries, but doesn't ever normally allow the house system to drain the engine batteries. Unless defective.

What may be the case here, in some situations the engine can be conveniently auto-started off the house batteries if the start battery is dead. By removing chassis start batteries (now acting dead, so to speak), this mechanism may now allow some house power to feed back to the ignition system. The wipers should not cycle anyway provided they are not set to periodic-wipe, but may operate randomly anytime if the wiper rest position shut-off contacts are corroded. This rest position switch normally makes the wipers run just until they land in proper down/off position after normal shut-off.

Wes
...

[Matt_Colie]

Is it possible that a Trikle-Start or similar got installed?

Matt

[Popsie]

JaxDad wrote:

Mandalay Parr wrote:
Sounds like the wipers are on your house batteries instead of chassis batteries.

My wipers can't operate without the ignition on or in the accessory position.

Unless your tenant is hallucinating, yes they can 🙂

[JaxDad]

Mandalay Parr wrote:
Sounds like the wipers are on your house batteries instead of chassis batteries.

My wipers can't operate without the ignition on or in the accessory position.

[Mandalay_Parr]

Sounds like the wipers are on your house batteries instead of chassis batteries.
I wouldn't worry about it.
There is so much RF floating around nothing surprises me.
So much electronics and so much computer controlled.
Might see if your wipers act up in a different location.

Btw. Why not have your solar charge your chassis also?