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Topic: chassis battery is draining after just a few days (Read 537 times) previous topic - next topic

chassis battery is draining after just a few days

We have a 1985 33RB , which we love .... we bought it in February , and I bought a brand new chassis battery and put it in it when we bought it ... which I haven't had any issues with until recently . I just drove the motorhome 4 days ago , brought it home and parked it and everything was fine . Today I went out to start it , and there was absolutely no power in the motorhome anywhere , not even enough to turn on the radio .... my CB faintly turned on ... but that's about it .

The house battery needs to be replaced , the person I bought it from let both batteries die , but like I said ... the chassis battery was brand new in February and hasn't been giving me any problems until recently ... I had noticed that the last couple of times I tried to start it , it dragged a little ... but then it would fire up and start .

So does anyone have any ideas as to what might have happened ? I looked everywhere and I didn't see anything that might have been left on , so I decided to ask on here and see if anyone might have any ideas .... Thanks

Re: chassis battery is draining after just a few days

Reply #1 –
Sounds like somehow the house and start batteries are combined. A bad battery will pull down all the rest.
1994 U280, Build 4490
Deming, NM.

Re: chassis battery is draining after just a few days

Reply #2 –
On some of these coaches there was a large noise suppressor by the bed area. I would charge the battery and then unhook the negative battery cable and then place a 12 volt test light between the battery post and the cable and then pull fuses to see which one is creating the draw, could also be a bad alternator on the engine
previous 1984 35 ft ORED 250 HP 3208 Cat       
previous 1998 40 ft U295 CAI 325 hp Cummins
previous 2003 40 Ft u320 build #6140 450 Cummins M11.                                                         
1999 Mazda Miata
Ron, Nancy, Tipper the cat, Max The dog
1997 U 270 36 ft build number 5174 8.3 Cummins

Re: chassis battery is draining after just a few days

Reply #3 –
Loose alternator belt?

Best thing is to do as a previous poster suggested and 1st charge the battery properly.

Next I would start the engine and see iff you have around 14 volts at the battery indicating the alternator is charging.

You could go one step further and turn the headlights on and test for 14-ish volts again.

HTH
2003 U320 PBDS

Re: chassis battery is draining after just a few days

Reply #4 –
Check voltage at all batteries. Remove and clean all battery terminals. Check alt. belt. Check voltage when running. With low batteries, it should be around 14 volts.

Jump with a car with about 5 or 10 minutes with the cables connected before attempting to start.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: chassis battery is draining after just a few days

Reply #5 –
I agree with Red Tractor many times an item is left on or a switch is bad or there is a short. The quickest way to find the drain on the battery is by his method. I have been doing that on classic cars my whole life. Process will work here to.   
1995 U320 40', 2013 chevy sonic toad, my real love are corvettes have owned 30

Re: chassis battery is draining after just a few days

Reply #6 –
If you can put a trickle charger on it that might help keep it ready to go.  If you have not replaced the house batteries I would do that next// could be your boost switch is on and the cranking battery is operating lights etc. or you might try turning off the 12 volt switch.  Not sure where yours might be located ours are in the right side of the step entrance. 
Dan & Shirley Stansel
2002 U295 4020 AGDS Build#6054
Towing Buick Enclave & M &  G Braking
Emerald Bay, Lake Palestine, Texas
MC# 16650

Re: chassis battery is draining after just a few days

Reply #7 –
I'm not familiar with your dash & whether it has rocker switches .But from personal experience, they are easy to leave on. The rocker for the Allison trans would drain the battery real  quick if left on. Good luck. M
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: chassis battery is draining after just a few days

Reply #8 –
Mike,

I suspect you are the only one with a separate rocker switch for the Allison.  Recommended by a friend who was the head tech trainer for Steward and Stevenson Allison in Houston.  Set up that way to minimize interference (direct feed from battery, not from dash along with many many other "noise makers".
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: chassis battery is draining after just a few days

Reply #9 –
Quote from: wolfe10 –
I suspect you are the only one with a separate rocker switch for the Allison.
You are THE MAN!  b^.^d
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: chassis battery is draining after just a few days

Reply #10 –
I have a friend who was going through this same issue. New battery. Never had a problem before, but was suddenly finding his battery drained each time he went out to the coach after a day or two. He replaced the new battery (on warranty) and even the alternator. Came out to find the newest battery drained. Called and asked for help. I brought my electrical testing gear, had him hook a charger to the cable terminals and decided I would start checking from the engine bay. When I got to the engine bay gate, I could see illumination inside. The bay service light was on. He had never walked back and looked while the battery was connected. I switched it off, load-tested the new battery, recharged it, and he has not had a problem since.
Always check the obvious first.
Route 66_End to End....someday

  1986 36' Grand Villa
    2015 Jeep Patriot
        K1SLD Steve
        K9NIK Nikki
 

Re: chassis battery is draining after just a few days

Reply #11 –
Quote from: bofzwell –
  Always check the obvious first.

Bingo!  If there's a drawback to high-line coaches, it's things to pay attention to, especially lights!  b^.^d  Hey! Get it in gear, there's lots of Route 66 left out here in Arizona.
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'