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Question

I have a 1989 Southwind motorhome. I used it this summer, then parked it until October. When trying to start the engine, the batterery appeared to be low. (Clicking at starter.) I fully chrged the batteries and now can not get the power to the dash. No power at the ignition or dash panel. Resulting in the engine will not turn over. Nothing was changed at the time I parked the coach.I used the same proceedure as many times before. Is there something that has happened that I can check. XXXXX@XXXXXX.XXX

Submitted: 143 days and 2 hours ago.
Category: RV
Value: $15
Status: CLOSED
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Optional Information

Year: 1989
Make: Chevrolet
Year (other): Southwind
Make (other): Southwind
Model: 1989
Engine: 454

Already Tried:
Checked voltage from batteries. Tried to trace out wiring to starter. Charged batteries. Checked all fuses in dash and panel.

Posted by RANDALL 143 days and 2 hours ago.

Info Request

Hi: Thanks for coming to Just Answer with your question. My name is XXXXXXX XXX perhaps I can assist you with this. Did you disconnect the batteries to charge them? Did you happen to check them for reserve cranking amps to be sure they weren't shorted out?
Get back to me and lets see if we can resolve this for you. All the best, R.J.

143 days and 2 hours ago.

Reply

I charged the batteries in place. I did replace one battery with a smaller cranking amp. The exsisting was 1050 ca and the new one had 825ca. I even applied a battery boost to the batteries to get better cranking amps. I'm getting 12v out of both.

Posted by RANDALL 143 days and 2 hours ago.

Answer

O.K. Are you sure you didn't leave any wiring off when you changed out the battery? Are they hooked up exactly the same? The first thing to check is to be sure you didn't accidently turn the disconnect solenoid off or disconnect it. This would be like cutting off all the battery power to the dash and starter. Either it is off or maybe malfunctioning. Get back to be and lets see where we are. All the best, R.J.

143 days and 2 hours ago.

Reply

There are two solenoids coming from the batteries . They both have power on both sides. When I take a voltage reading from the neg post on the batteries to the chassis, I get a voltage reading of 12 volts. Could the solenoid be closed?

Accepted Answer

One will be for the coach and one for the house batteries. When they are "on" you should get a reading of at least 12VDC on the posts coming in and out of the solenoids. You would put one test lead on the negative of the battery and use the other to test both sides of the solenoid. For this purpose, polarity isn't an issue as we are just looking for voltage. If this gives you the correct reading, then I would next see if there might be a fuse that went bad. Check all of those. There should be a manual that came with the coach that would tell you which one is which. There may be a smaller solenoid that controls just the dash and ignition switch. Does anything else run that works on 12 volts? If you have a manual, there should be a diagram that shows what the various solenoids connect. These will be small black units about an inch and a quarter square and plug into the power block. I just moved to Florida and don't have access to all my notes, so I don't have those specs right at my fingertips. Get back to me and let me know what you find.
All the best, R.J.

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Expert: RANDALL
Pos. Feedback: 98.6 %
Accepts: 744
Answered: 10/28/2009

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