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Topic: U320 will not start including generator. (Read 871 times) previous topic - next topic

U320 will not start including generator.

 I have a 04 U320 with 500 hp Cummins . Yesterday I went to start engine after it sitting a month, turned over very slow then quit,dead switch,same for generator,dead. ( Green light lights faint,then nothing.)  Chassis batteries show 14.6 on big battery pack ,jump start connect at engine,just a click,click at remote start button. Coach Is  connected full time to 50 amp .  Now today I tried again at dash, same thing,nothing , but now after I pushed diyanostics button with switch on screen went blank,now I have another problem !  Anyone know what's going on. .?    ( chassis batteries were replaced 6 months ago by Cummins in Little Rock ).
We are winter Texans, in the hill country. come April we try heading back north to our cottage on Lake Superior. pull a 28' alum trailer ,BMW X5 onboard. We have a U320 2004  coach no. 6274 500 hp Cummins ,  has glass dash/ special maple interior.  . AH  model AHE 130 03X  Foretravel owner 3 years and holding,.....downsized from Country Coach Concept bus.

Re: U320 will not start including generator.

Reply #1 –
What is voltage at HOUSE batteries?

What is voltage at CHASSIS batteries?

A little confused, as HOUSE batteries are the "big battery pack".

What happened when you used the BOOST SWITCH?
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: U320 will not start including generator.

Reply #2 –
Voltage at chassis batteries terminals ,reading was on portable booster pack ( Mack Tools).  Which we also used lugs at engine in attempt to start.  Sorry for the confusion.  Everything else works on coach. Trans " N" lights up leveling pad works,low air buzzer works. But now after I pushed the diyanoist button the CT screen went blank. It was working and showed no faults,ofcoarse only fuel gage part registered as engine was not running.  Also , boost switch lights up red. I think it was working when I first started to activate key start but engine was not fast turning. Actually this has happened before in Texas, a small town mechanic jumped something in engine compartment with a foot long #10 wire.? That's why we went to Cummins......they never found a problem. And it's started normal since ( slow turn over never changed even in summer. It's about 20 here now Aquahot runs a lot. ( I will need fuel in a week or so ).
We are winter Texans, in the hill country. come April we try heading back north to our cottage on Lake Superior. pull a 28' alum trailer ,BMW X5 onboard. We have a U320 2004  coach no. 6274 500 hp Cummins ,  has glass dash/ special maple interior.  . AH  model AHE 130 03X  Foretravel owner 3 years and holding,.....downsized from Country Coach Concept bus.

Re: U320 will not start including generator.

Reply #3 –
Where are you located?
Chris
1999 U 320 DGFE
Build Number 5523
Chris & Elka Lang
In the field, Lonoke AR

Re: U320 will not start including generator.

Reply #4 –
I am in Marquette,mi.  ( Upper Michigan )
We are winter Texans, in the hill country. come April we try heading back north to our cottage on Lake Superior. pull a 28' alum trailer ,BMW X5 onboard. We have a U320 2004  coach no. 6274 500 hp Cummins ,  has glass dash/ special maple interior.  . AH  model AHE 130 03X  Foretravel owner 3 years and holding,.....downsized from Country Coach Concept bus.

Re: U320 will not start including generator.

Reply #5 –
A quick/free beginning is to clean and tighten all connections at the battery and engine.

Then charge up both battery banks.  If plugged into shore power, turn on the boost switch.  If boost is working, that ties both battery banks together so inverter/charges House bank and through the boost switch it charges the chassis bank.

But, if chassis battery voltage below 12.0 VDC, I would start with an auxiliary charger.

Be sure when you turn on the boost switch to VERIFY that it is working.  Easy place is the BATTERY ISOLATOR, as each outer lug goes to a different battery bank.  With boost on, voltage should read exactly the same.
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: U320 will not start including generator.

Reply #6 –
Clean start/engine battery terminals and posts then jump start with your toad after connecting jumpers and idling for 15 minutes. No jumpers? Drive and buy a HD pair. If you have a start battery connection problem, the boost solenoid won't start the main engine. Then drive to an electrical shop and have them fix it. Being stuck in cold weather with colder on the way is not good.

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

Re: U320 will not start including generator.

Reply #7 –
If you have a 12 volt test light put it on each side of each connection. It will only light up if there is resistance across/at that connection. Clean and reassemble. Light should not light after cleaning.
Burrrr. Too cold for me. Good luck
Scott

Re: U320 will not start including generator.

Reply #8 –
Well , part of the mystery is solved.........after laying in new fallen snow at 11 degrees, my hardy road service guy found a cooked starter motor , main terminal with a very loose nut and signs of melted insulation.........6 hours later,in dark of night,a new starter brought new life to the Cummins. The welcome sound of an engaging starter,subsequent white smoke and final coming to life was music to our ears !...... sadly , the generator still will not engage , a in shop fix is in the Wings now.  Tomorrow I refuel,keeping the trusty Aquahot supplied with diesel till we already to head south to warmer and friendly climbs. There is always something extra , like 2 broken hose clamps at the turbo, obvious results of a poorly designed sans muffler design, another more perminate fix once we can get inside the shop.  I am still banking on the generator to have a poor ground under the dash....we will see soon I hope.
    Thanks to all who took the time to address my problem , electrical can be a real crap shoot , we have all been there before !
We are winter Texans, in the hill country. come April we try heading back north to our cottage on Lake Superior. pull a 28' alum trailer ,BMW X5 onboard. We have a U320 2004  coach no. 6274 500 hp Cummins ,  has glass dash/ special maple interior.  . AH  model AHE 130 03X  Foretravel owner 3 years and holding,.....downsized from Country Coach Concept bus.

Re: U320 will not start including generator.

Reply #9 –
It's gets so cold in the upper Peninsula of Michigan the cows give powered milk. Some even have utter failure. Glad your motors running.
1995 U320 40', 2013 chevy sonic toad, my real love are corvettes have owned 30

Re: U320 will not start including generator.

Reply #10 –
Quote from: joeszeidel –
It's gets so cold in the upper Peninsula of Michigan the cows give powered milk. Some even have utter failure. Glad your motors running.

 Just glad that darstar is finally able to moooo ve
In restless dreams I walked alone.
Narrow streets of cobblestone.


'93 U225
Build 4337
'14 CRV Toad

Re: U320 will not start including generator.

Reply #11 –
Aw yes , but those 2 months of summer are worth it !  ( We still have ice flows on the big lake in June ! )
We are winter Texans, in the hill country. come April we try heading back north to our cottage on Lake Superior. pull a 28' alum trailer ,BMW X5 onboard. We have a U320 2004  coach no. 6274 500 hp Cummins ,  has glass dash/ special maple interior.  . AH  model AHE 130 03X  Foretravel owner 3 years and holding,.....downsized from Country Coach Concept bus.

Re: U320 will not start including generator.

Reply #12 –
 Not related , but yesterday Dean Foods filed for Bankruptcy, stating milk sales across this Northern Tier are down considerably. ( Jibberts Dairy  is owned by Dean Foods ) Dairy product sales are slow in general everywhere. Exports are in part  a big contribution.
We are winter Texans, in the hill country. come April we try heading back north to our cottage on Lake Superior. pull a 28' alum trailer ,BMW X5 onboard. We have a U320 2004  coach no. 6274 500 hp Cummins ,  has glass dash/ special maple interior.  . AH  model AHE 130 03X  Foretravel owner 3 years and holding,.....downsized from Country Coach Concept bus.