Battery location on 1995 U300

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Battery location on 1995 U300

May 25, 2022, 09:05:40 am

We can't get our U300 to start. It's in an awkward position to access the start batteries.
Our four house batteries are two on one side of the coach and two on the other.
The 3 start batteries are between those in the middle of the coach.
I we took two of the house batteries out, could we access the start batteries that way, instead of from underneath?

We need to check the cables and possibly take the start batteries out to check them individually and if need be replace.
Thanks, Susan

Re: Battery location on 1995 U300

Reply #1 – May 25, 2022, 09:19:41 am

It would help if you included the model and year of your coach in you signature.

Re: Battery location on 1995 U300

Reply #2 – May 25, 2022, 09:20:23 am

Never heard of batteries in the middle.
It's a U300?

Re: Battery location on 1995 U300

Reply #3 – May 25, 2022, 09:32:37 am

Maybe because there are so many. I don't know if that's how they were put in originally or not.
We bought it from a guy in California two years ago.
It was a repossession and they listed it on EBay.
We had them replace all the batteries before we flew out to pick it up and drive it home to Ohio.
It's possible they could have changed the position.
They are definitely difficult to get to.
It is a 1995 U300 and has three start batteries and 4 house batteries.

Re: Battery location on 1995 U300

Reply #4 – May 25, 2022, 09:34:20 am

Any photos of your battery set up?
Where is the boost solenoid located? Pics of it?

Re: Battery location on 1995 U300

Reply #5 – May 25, 2022, 10:09:49 am

Quote from: FourTravelers – May 25, 2022, 09:34:20 am

Any photos of your battery set up?
Where is the boost solenoid located? Pics of it?

Yes—please post pictures! I believe a typical setup on that model would have the three starting batteries on the passenger side just behind the rear wheel with an access door.

Re: Battery location on 1995 U300

Reply #6 – May 25, 2022, 10:49:45 am

The 36 footers have the 3 engine/start batteries back at the rear bumper.

Pierce

Re: Battery location on 1995 U300

Reply #7 – May 25, 2022, 11:07:35 am

This is a picture the seller sent me when they put the battery's in. They were having issues starting it because it wasn't plugged in.
It took us a month to arrange to fly out to get it.

Re: Battery location on 1995 U300

Reply #8 – May 25, 2022, 11:21:13 am

Quote from: Rocky1down – May 25, 2022, 11:07:35 am

This is a picture the seller sent me when they put the battery's in. They were having issues starting it because it wasn't plugged in.
It took us a month to arrange to fly out to get it.

It looks as if the batteries are stacked in the passenger-side compartment just ahead of the rear wheels. How many batteries are in that location and what is their configuration? Do you know anything about that custom kill switch? Also—just curious—which engine do you have?

Re: Battery location on 1995 U300

Reply #9 – May 25, 2022, 11:24:22 am

Susan and Bob, Are there any batteries located at the rear of the coach, behind the rear access door and just above the rear bumper? my 1994 has 3 start batteries located in a tray just to the front of the rear bumper. When you open the rear access door they would be just over the bumper ledge...

Re: Battery location on 1995 U300

Reply #10 – May 25, 2022, 11:34:48 am

I know you can see two house batteries on the passenger side in the compartment pictured and the other two house batteries are accessible in a compartment on the drivers side.
When we had the starting issue last week at the place that put new windshields in, Bob had to crawl under the coach from the back to hook the battery charger up so they have to be right in the middle between where the house batteries are.
Our engine is a Cat 3176.

Re: Battery location on 1995 U300

Reply #11 – May 25, 2022, 11:44:08 am

The seller added the kill switch because they were having issues starting it. They had to move it every couple days because it was parked on the street outside their auto auction site and if they had left it in the same spot it would have been ticketed.
It took us a month to arrange to fly out to pick it up.
It turned out the problem starting it back then was there was a pinhole in the fuel line which we've since corrected.

Re: Battery location on 1995 U300

Reply #12 – May 25, 2022, 11:54:20 am

This is a picture of the drivers side house batteries

Re: Battery location on 1995 U300

Reply #13 – May 25, 2022, 11:56:28 am

This is a picture of all I can see of the start batteries

Re: Battery location on 1995 U300

Reply #14 – May 25, 2022, 12:54:21 pm

If the chassis (starting) batteries are in good condition then something is wrong if they won't hold a charge for at least several weeks. You need to check to see what is drawing current when the vehicle sits with nothing turned on. They're should be almost no current draw. If there is then you need to correct it.

Re: Battery location on 1995 U300

Reply #15 – May 25, 2022, 01:38:06 pm

Those Optima start batteries sure look old. Those batteries need to be checked to see if you have a bad cell draining the start batteries. While the cables are disconnected give them a good cleaning whether you need new batteries or not. While at the cables, clean the ground cable where it connects to the frame rail.

Mike

Re: Battery location on 1995 U300

Reply #16 – May 25, 2022, 01:52:34 pm

I have no way of knowing if the seller actually put new batteries in or if he bought used ones.
Bob is going to try to take them out to check their condition tonight and also check the cables.

Re: Battery location on 1995 U300

Reply #17 – May 25, 2022, 03:52:49 pm

Very strange.....I have the identical coach 95 U300 Cat 3176B. We have 2 8D house batteries drivers side and 3 Start batteries Passenger side.

Hans

Re: Battery location on 1995 U300

Reply #18 – May 25, 2022, 04:25:16 pm

Amazon.com: OTC 3181 130 Amp Heavy-Duty Battery Load Tester : Automotive

Amazon.com: FJC (45118) 1000 Amp Carbon Pile Battery Tester : Automotive

These show the actual capacity or lack of. This is very similar to what I have used for years. The new small electronic ones are suppose to work but Ive always loaded to test. Wear eye protection working around batteries please.
Scott

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Re: Battery location on 1995 U300

Reply #19 – May 25, 2022, 06:50:33 pm

The boost solenoid and isolator should be mounted on the frame behind the left rear wheel. You can check voltages there and also find out if the boost solenoid is working.

Re: Battery location on 1995 U300

Reply #20 – May 25, 2022, 07:17:37 pm

The photo below (from OP's post up above) looks just like the house battery setup on our '93 U280. If so, then, as Ron said, the battery isolator and boost solenoid are probably mounted on the metal plate directly aft of those batteries. See yellow arrow.

Re: Battery location on 1995 U300

Reply #21 – May 25, 2022, 08:31:19 pm

Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie – May 25, 2022, 07:17:37 pm

The photo below (from OP's post up above) looks just like the house battery setup on our '93 U280. If so, then, as Ron said, the battery isolator and boost solenoid are probably mounted on the metal plate directly aft of those batteries. See yellow arrow.

Exactly the same as our "93 U300.

Pierce

Re: Battery location on 1995 U300

Reply #22 – May 26, 2022, 11:38:20 am

Just an update. Bob didn't take the batteries out yet but he did take out the starter and is having it checked today and possibly rebuilt.
There is a repair shop right next to where he works.
He told the guy there what it was doing and he said it sounded like it could be the starter.
We took a trip to Nashville a month ago and it ran great and started right up after being parked all winter so it seems hard to believe the batteries would be bad.
Should know more this evening.

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