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Generator Woes

2000 PowerTech 12K in my U320.  Estimated hours, 4500 - 6500. 
Traveling to Elk City, Oklahoma, our generator ran fine.  Staying at my sisters and yesterday morning took the coach to a shop in town for a brake inspection.  When I fired the coach up, the generator would start right up but only run for 1 maybe 2 seconds then shut down.  No indicator lights on the front panel to suggest what the problem might be.  Today, I have replaced both fuel filters and checked fuel pump for adequate flow, switches and fuses.  No change.  I am looking for any other simple checks that I can make to possibly determine the problem.  The closest PowerTech approved service center is in Oklahoma City, about 115 miles away which is not a problem for us to travel there.  Or can anyone recommend a shop in the Oklahoma City area that can work on it? 
Bill and Joyce, The House2 and Dashboard Pig III
2000 U320 4210 CAI (The House2)
Build # 5733
2019 F150 King Ranch FX4

Re: Generator Woes

Reply #1 –
Sounds like it could be a bad oil switch.

Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Generator Woes

Reply #3 –
Have you checked the latching relay?
Mine was tripping so I replaced it.
Been working fine

Frank & Daisy
NO LONGER  "looking for the perfect Foretravel
36' or less non slide preferred."  She has been found and is ours.
2003 U320 36' non slide  Unit 6103
Cummins ISM 450
Allison 4000MH

Re: Generator Woes

Reply #4 –
Frank, what was your generator doing when you replaced the latching relay.  About 2 months ago I ordered a new latching relay but it never showed up.  I will try to source one and replace it.  Have already replaced all other relays.  I will check / replace the oil sensor today and see if that fixes it.  Happy Independence Day everyone!
Bill and Joyce, The House2 and Dashboard Pig III
2000 U320 4210 CAI (The House2)
Build # 5733
2019 F150 King Ranch FX4

Re: Generator Woes

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Bill B –
Frank, what was your generator doing when you replaced the latching relay.  About 2 months ago I ordered a new latching relay but it never showed up.  I will try to source one and replace it.  Have already replaced all other relays.  I will check / replace the oil sensor today and see if that fixes it.  Happy Independence Day everyone!

Are you going to diagnose and find the failed component, or are you just going to keep swapping parts? Because it sounds like swapping parts hasn't given you the desired outcome thus far.
1998 U270 34'

Re: Generator Woes

Reply #6 –
If you remove the wire from the oil sensor, and the generator runs, it's the sensor
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: Generator Woes

Reply #7 –
Hi Bill,
Mine would run for a bit and shut down.
At first a cleaning of a connector in front of the generator resolved it for a while.
But then it started shutting down again.
I replaced the relays es52 inside the control box with no change.
While I was looking for loose wires to a connection I noticed the latching relay was tripped.
Reset it a couple of times and same issue so I replaced it.

I had spoken to John Kerbs about it and he said he had similar issue. He replaced the latching relay which looked good on the outside but showed signs of failure inside when he opened the relay .

Hasn't happened again .
Power went out last night due to weather and ran gen for 4 hours without issue.

Happy 4th
Frank & Daisy
NO LONGER  "looking for the perfect Foretravel
36' or less non slide preferred."  She has been found and is ours.
2003 U320 36' non slide  Unit 6103
Cummins ISM 450
Allison 4000MH

Re: Generator Woes

Reply #8 –
Frank, oil sensor checks ok.  Disconnected it and still start but no run.  I will check the latching relay.  Had a hard time locating the service manual online but I just downloaded it so maybe that will help.

Kruse, I can only diagnose as far as my abilities allow.  Swapping out 25 year old relays with new ones seems like a good idea to me.  They are not expensive and may save a problem down the road, just my thinking.  And you are correct, swapping parts has not given me the desired result.  However, if changing inexpensive parts keeps me out of the $170.00/hr shop, I will swap the parts.  It's just my time and a little money.
Bill and Joyce, The House2 and Dashboard Pig III
2000 U320 4210 CAI (The House2)
Build # 5733
2019 F150 King Ranch FX4

Re: Generator Woes

Reply #9 –
Quote from: Bill B –
Kruse, I can only diagnose as far as my abilities allow.
Does your generator have an ES52 controller?

If YES, did you read the link I provided?

If no, read the link. It is very possible the LED light that tells you WHY the unit is shutting off is FAILED.

If no ES52, provide more info on unit specifics (like maybe post a picture of the wiring diagram?!?).  Or, just swap parts. Or pay a pro to fix it.
1998 U270 34'

Re: Generator Woes

Reply #10 –
Quote from: Bill B –
Frank, oil sensor checks ok.  Disconnected it and still start but no run.  I will check the latching relay.  Had a hard time locating the service manual online but I just downloaded it so maybe that will help.

If it's not in the Generator Manuals section of the Media Library:

https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?media/album/generator-genset-manuals.204/

would you mind uploading it to that album?  I'm sure it will help others in the future.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Generator Woes

Reply #11 –
Michelle, the manual I downloaded is already in the library and is the operators manual, not a service manual.  I should have looked on the forum.
Bill and Joyce, The House2 and Dashboard Pig III
2000 U320 4210 CAI (The House2)
Build # 5733
2019 F150 King Ranch FX4

Re: Generator Woes

Reply #12 –
You can ohm out your latching relay or bypass it to rule it out.

Mark
The selected media item is not currently available.
Mark and Tanya
Milton , Florida
US Navy Veteran (DV)
1999 U270 Special 40' CAI , 2015 Jeep Wrangler Sahara

Re: Generator Woes

Reply #13 –
Thanks Mark.  The latching relay appears good.  Disconnected in and out wires and verified switch opens and closes when 12v applied to coil when engine starts.  Jumped the in and out wires and same failure.  I have not found a full wiring schematic that is for my vintage generator. 
Bill and Joyce, The House2 and Dashboard Pig III
2000 U320 4210 CAI (The House2)
Build # 5733
2019 F150 King Ranch FX4

Re: Generator Woes

Reply #14 –
Update: Generator back up and running after the ES52 was replaced and properly set up by Sanson at Keith Risch RV Service. 
Bill and Joyce, The House2 and Dashboard Pig III
2000 U320 4210 CAI (The House2)
Build # 5733
2019 F150 King Ranch FX4