Hello, new to the group and can't get RV to start.

[OregonizedDave]

Hello, my name is Dave and I am new to rving. I love it so far but I have a lot to learn about my motorhome. I have a 1993 Fleetwood Pace Arrow with a Chevy 454.

I am at the end of a week of dry camping and can't get my rv to start, any advice I can get will be greatly appreciated.

I am not connected to power and have not been running the generator. A few days ago the lights starting getting dim so I started the engine and let it run for about 45 minutes and then the lights were fine. This happened several times over the last couple of days and I let the engine run for a while each time.

The last time it started was Friday morning. When I came back friday afternoon everything was dead and it would not start. No interior lights, no dash lights, no cell phone charger, nothing.

I tried to jumpstart it with no luck. I have two six volt batteries and one 12 volt battery that were brand new three weeks ago. I pulled the 12 volt battery and had it charged at a shop. Reinstalled and still nothing.

I checked the fuses under the fridge and in the battery control center under the hood and everything is fine. Maybe I am missing a fuse box somewhere? Seems like an ignition fuse is bad.

Any ideas? I'm humbly hoping I missed something stupid and easy...

Thanks in advance for the help,

Dave

[kerrlakeRoo]

OP seems gone, would be nice to know if he ever tried to start the Genny to get the whole system recharged.

[gbopp]

Welcome to the forum. I have a 96 Southwind, similar to your Pace Arrow.
Whenever I get a little corrosion on the battery terminals i have problems similar to yours. However, you removed/replaced the battery so you probably cleaned the terminals.
Make sure all connections are clean/tight and the battery is charged before diagnosing the problem.

[MrWizard]

Forget RV, think about truck
Your telling about the chassis battery and running gear
You should have separate engine and RV batteries
You should be able to use the RV side and not affect the engine side
How many batteries do you have ,?

Chevy 454 has a know problem with starter circuits and battery running down when sitting, so many people install a battery disconnect in the negative lead of start battery, to use when parked and save the start battery

House and engine,/ chassis should be on different batteries
If not, time to some how and fix that
Also install the disconnect on the engine battery

You went for days using the batteries,
Lights , water pump, phone charging? TV?
And you did not run the generator so the built in charge converter Could maintain the batteries ?

That's not a good idea
Run it everyday for a couple of hours and you might not ever get stuck again
All batteries have to be charged when you use them
These are not lithium cell phone batteries, they need to, Not be run dead, you can't use them until dead then recharge, like you phone

Just remember what happens to you car battery when you leave the lights on and run it dead a few times.. but bye battery, time to by new

[darsben1]

More than likely your battery switches need to be turned on again.
In my fleetwood the switches are above the door. One is labelled Chassis the other house. Press the chassi or main to on and then your coach should start

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Nothing? Dead? Or cranks but will not fire?

Chassis wiring has fusible links coming off of starter motor. Slide under coach. Braille smaller wires connected along with large starter cable. Do any of them feel like rubber bands? If yes, they have blown meaning either a short or old age.

Triple check large battery cables for chassis especially ground cable where it attaches to engine or frame. Shine-up connections.

Without process of elimination underway possibilities are endless.

[Lwiddis]

Dave, you need a hour reading basic RV electrical. When the lights dim you are way too low on your house battery charge. Being "way too low" ruins batteries.

[enblethen]

Batteries could be bad.
If you have a toad or a neighbor, use jumper cables to the 12 volt chassis battery to get it going. After 10-15 minutes try to start the genset. It should have enough charge. The charge relay under the hood should energize after chassis battery has some charge. It (charge relay) will if it is good charge the system.
If you have a meter, check the charge relay for voltage after main engine has run. The voltage on each side of the relay should be what the alternator is putting out.
If you push the "aux" start button on the dash you should hear a click from the charge relay. The charge relay and the aux start uses the same relay.

[SidecarFlip]

I have to ask why you didn't use your genny? 45 minutes on your engine alternator isn't enough to charge your house batteries, not even close.

Sounds to me like your batteries are toast, all 3.