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Coach won't start

Yahoo Message Number: 70603

Greetings

I just went thru the laboring task of replacing my 4 8D house batteries and starter batteries and all voltages are fine and charger at float....
Everything on board as well as generator works fine, but when I went to try to start the coach there was nothing. The dash lights and alarms all work, but no starter activity.
Any simple thoughts would be appreciated before I get a service tech from Cat involved. Checked to be sure the emergency stop button was not pushed by mistake, and I'm OK there. Last time coach was run was last October.
Battery shutoff is on.

Is there an ingition fuse or something simple I'm missing? Thanks in advance...
Ed Myles

08 Intrigue #12260

Re: Coach won't start

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 70604
Ed,

Sorry for the simple idea but it is often the simple things we miss. Your coach should have two battery switches. One for the house and another for the chassis. You may have turned off the chassis last October and forgot about it. I would check the chassis battery disconnect.

Good luck.

George in Birmingham
'04 Allure 31038
George in Birmingham
2003 Magna 6298

Re: Coach won't start

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 70610
There is a master cutoff switch in the engine compartment, not sure if that is a fuel cutoff switch or master power switch for the 12 volts to the starter. It is worth checking that switch to make sure it is in the on position. Mine is a large round red push type switch.

Ray

2000 Intrigue 11040

Re: Coach won't start

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 70611

Than
Yes, that's the emergency stop button I referred to.  I checked that one too.

What is the ignition solenoid some folks refer to?

Re: Coach won't start

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 70612
Ed,

I believe the ignition solenoid is located in under the dash in the compartment in front of passenger side on my coach but I am not 100% sure of that, someone with a coach similar to yours probably knows the answer to that. The battery boost solenoid caused mine to have a no start problem, that solenoid is located above the battery compartment on my coach. One question, have you double checked all the battery ground leads to make sure one was left unconnected. It is easy to do that.

Ray

2000 Intrigue 11040

Re: Coach won't start

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 70613
?
Ed,

I would check the start solenoid probably near the back of the coach. You can check your manuals and it will give you the location on the coach.

Kevin

00 Affinity #5865

Re: Coach won't start

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 70634
If the idiot lites come on the master cutoff switch is on and there is some juice in the start battery not necessarily enough to activate the start circuit relays, however. You've already checked the emergency switch in the engine compartment.
The starter relay which was referred to is, at least in my coach, on right (passenger) side of the engine compartment down fairly low - about at the level of the top of the "bumper" below the Emergency Cutoff Red Button - nicely situated so it's kind of unhandy to get at. It's a small bell or cylinder shaped gizmo probably with three wires attached, one to the start battery, one to the starter solenoid (on the starter, and a relatively small one leading eventually to the start switch or relay up front. Some variants may have only two wires but the one from up front will be the small one.
In any case the relay is not protected from the elements, road spray from underneath the coach (poor design - they should be) and are notorious fro sticking especially after long disuse. Open the engine cover and listen while someone tries to start the coach and you should hear a fairly loud click from someplace back there. If not this relay may be stuck. Try giving it a rap with a screw driver handle and try again. Maybe the same type hangup can occur with the starter solenoid too but it's not so handy to get at. I've had vehicles with failures of both that required a fairly vigorous tap to get them to work until I got tired of two man starting and replaced the relay. It's an easy DIY job but be careful since one of those wires stays HOT even if the battery cutoff switches are off! Check with a voltmeter before working on any of those wires. If you're uncomfortable working with one of the wires hot then disconnect the battery ground terminals. It's an easy to find automotive part. Mine was a standard Ford part as I recall.

Good Luck,

Jim M

'02 Intrigue #11410 ISL 400

Re: Coach won't start

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 70637

Thanks so much for the detailed info...will try tomorrow when I can get back to the coach Ed

Re: Coach won't start

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 70639
You were looking for a possible simple answer. Is the transmission in Neutral? Is the transmission neutral switch good?

Steve

06 Allure 31299

Re: Coach won't start

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 70643
My solenoid was very accessible but tapping this did not help. So I got out the diagrams and found the starter and attached to that was the small starter relay box. I tapped that, the solenoid again and put some torgue (pushed/pulled) wires to starter and gave another try....and PAYDIRT!!!!! Not sure which did the trick, but certainly can do this again if this occurs again.
Thanks to you and all others for suggestions.
Very sincerely thankful
Ed Myles

08 Intrigue 530
#12260

Re: Coach won't start

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 70645
That's good news, Ed. With all the ideas you got, at least it did give you an idea of what might cause the problem. This group is fantastic at offering help, even though it doesn't always solve the problem. On my coach, the starter had to be replaced on my maiden voyage after having driven it on about 2000 miles. Cummins sent a mobile repair truck to my rig and changed the starter, nice that it was still under warranty!

Ray

2000 Intrigue 11040

Re: Coach won't start

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 70655
You bet Ray...this group is fantastic....saved my bacon several times.

And I learn new things always, even if the problem isn't solved thru the group.

Absolutely invaluable!!!

Ed
 08 Intrigue 530
#12260

Coach won't start

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 70672

Hi All

Didn't mean to start a semantics roar. I just whacked things that looked like what I was told to whack, didn't get electrocuted, and BINGO, she started. I'm happy. Maybe dumb and happy, but still happy. I am a physician, and when I lift a hood, and there's no on/off switch, I'm done. It's the good nature and help from the mechanical folks in this group I find generous , and invaluable.
Thanks to all who help...me and others in need...
I bank all this info for future reference, though as I age, I save the old e-mails instead of relying on memory.
Ed

'08 Intrigue 530
#12260
 

Re: Coach won't start

Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 70680
Ed,

I had to do some starter whacking myself a year ago. It only worked twice. Then after sitting a couple of months, it was off with old starter and on with a new one.
Once I got the old one off, it was obvious that there was some rust or corrosion on some of the starter bearing surfaces. I will spare you the semantics, but if the starter is what you are whacking, you may want to drive it to a shop for removal and inspection. Could save you having to get a tow, or an on-site service call.

Mike 03 Lexa.