Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: Mike Tomillo on November 17, 2015, 02:39:36 pm

Title: Re: Engine Didn't Crank Fast Enough To Start
Post by: Mike Tomillo on November 17, 2015, 02:39:36 pm
Funny you mention starting issues. I am sitting in Grants NM with fully charged house and chassis batteries and can' get enough motive force to spin this ISX fast enough to start. I bought this vehicle (2006 Phenix 440) last spring with 93K on it. it has always seemed to turn over slowly unless the house batts were engaged. Yesterday morning I left Raton NM and drove to Grants NM. We stopped at the Walmart there and when we came out the engine wouldn't crank. Called a local garage, they came out and jumped me and even with all the batteries engaged it barely started. I sat at the KOA here plugged in all night and the house and chassis batts all were showing almost 14 volts. I engaged the boost to start it and it cranked a few revs and was done. My guess is my starter is hosed. I haven't taken apart any cabling to inspect grounding issues.  Does anyone have any thoughts/experience on this one? BTW it was 38 degrees, so, not ridiculous starting conditions.
Title: Re: Re: Engine Didn't Crank When Ignition Switch Activated
Post by: wolfe10 on November 17, 2015, 02:48:18 pm
Mike,

How old are the chassis batteries-- while they may show a full charge, under load their voltage could drop significantly.  I would fully charge them and then have them load tested.

And, certainly, a loose connection on either positive or ground side can cause the same thing-- insufficient power at the starter.

Since it does not appear that boost helped, either boost solenoid is bad, house batteries are also low OR the issue is on the ground/negative side.  So certainly check the ground cable from engine to batteries.
Title: Re: Engine Didn't Crank Fast Enough To Start
Post by: Tim Fiedler on November 17, 2015, 02:53:36 pm
Start with removing, cleaning and tighten all battery connections.
Title: Re: Engine Didn't Crank Fast Enough To Start
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on November 17, 2015, 04:13:13 pm
BTW it was 38 degrees, so, not ridiculous starting conditions.
At 38 degrees, I would be using the block heater for minimum several hours before starting.  Anything you can do to lessen the load on the starter, such as warming the oil up a bit, is helpful.
Title: Re: Engine Didn't Crank Fast Enough To Start
Post by: Raymond Jordan on November 17, 2015, 04:22:15 pm
Would this coach have the Aqua-Hot engine pre-warm setting. That has always made cranking in colder weather real easy for my coach. Best of luck.
Raymond
Title: Re: Engine Didn't Crank Fast Enough To Start
Post by: John S on November 17, 2015, 05:52:42 pm
Your batteries are at the end of their life.  Check the grounds too but I bet you should look at new batteries as well as your starter.