| Author |
Message |
carl mci9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 15, 2004 - 10:55 am: | |
I have not started my 79 mci 9 8v71 for about two months. I tried to start it yesterday and when I tried to start it it turned over several times but not enough to start it. (to cold here in Ohio) I then put as small amount of either it the cup on top of the engine. The Engine turned over and was about ready to start. I let off the start start button and when I tried again all I get is clicking.
My coach has been hooked up to my inverted and it keeps the batteries charged.
Has anyone had this problem before and any help in the direction I should look would be helpful.
thanks carl mci 9 |
TWODOGS (Twodogs)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 15, 2004 - 11:10 am: | |
BATTERY CABLES SOUND DIRTY |
TWODOGS (Twodogs)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 15, 2004 - 11:13 am: | |
poor electrical connection...you really need a block heater also...sure would make it easier on the starter... |
Airless in Mississippi
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 15, 2004 - 11:30 am: | |
Battery is dead jumpstart it with a 24 volt source |
gillig-dan
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 15, 2004 - 4:17 pm: | |
Take a voltmeter across each connection while trying to start (may take two people). Bad connections have voltage across them. Good will read near 0 volts.
Gillig-Dan |
BrianMCI
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 15, 2004 - 6:01 pm: | |
Two Dogs has the right ideas...
The first thing to do would be to determine the charge state of your batteries.
With the batteries disconnected measure voltage across the pos and negative terminals...
If you have 12.5 volts or better your batteries should start your coach.
The best thing to do then would be to disassemble, clean and properly re-tighten every electrical connection in the starting system, as well as the wiring from the inverter.
If your battery voltage is under 12.5 I'd charge
them with a seperate charger.
After they were charged, remove the surface charge on the batteries and test them again.
If the batteries still are below 12.5 they need to be replaced.
One rule of troubleshooting electrical systems problems is set in stone: Always start with good batteries that are fully charged.
Having some way to warm the engine before attempting to start in a cold climate saves you having to replace your starter at a much earlier date.
Brian |
TWODOGS (Twodogs)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 15, 2004 - 6:21 pm: | |
starter rebuilds are about 300.00 |
Stephen Fessenden (Sffess)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 15, 2004 - 9:12 pm: | |
When I have batteries that do not perform well even though charged I usually find a dry cell, too little water in at least one cell. Or you may have a shorted cell. Nothing beats a hygrometer for finding out that a battery is no longer good. I like the floating ball type because they are so easy to read and unbreakable if plastic. I have one fastened next to my batteries. You are looking for one or two cells that float 2 fewer balls than the rest. If you find that on charged batteries, replace both batteries at the same time. |
Niles
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 15, 2004 - 9:17 pm: | |
Carl - cold weather is the first time you find out your batt's are going - Load test if the above doesn't work - Niles |
bruce king
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, November 16, 2004 - 12:02 am: | |
If the starter doesn't get enough amperage it will just click. I'd suspect the batteries first.
You can't reliably tell if a batter is dead from
the voltage of the battery. A cold battery will show a lower voltage because it's cold, and a bad batter will show a lower voltage because it has bad cells, and they are indistinguishable.
Pull both batteries and go to your local 8D battery dealer, and have them load test them. You may find that the rear battery is dead, and the front one is fine, or vis a vis. The battery may even show good voltage but fail a load test.
This happened to me because NJ transit decided to tap some 12v off the rear battery, which caused it to discharge completely even when the bus batteries were disconnected using the rotary switch. If you fully discharge a battery it harms it (per ample powers primer, www.pwrtap.com) and as few as 3 discharges will kill a battery.
It's also cheaper and easier to do than anything else -- a good place to start. a new 1400 cca 8D costs $150 or so in seattle. |
BrianMCI
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, November 16, 2004 - 7:53 pm: | |
Bruce, actually voltage is actually a very good indicator of state of charge and battery health...over time. You are right, A bad battery can read a normal voltage once charged, but not for very long, and, once the surface charge has been pulled off, if a battery is losing tenths of a volt as you watch the voltmeter, there's a good chance you have a bad battery. Check it again at the end of the day and if it reads below 12.5 it's time to buy batts.
Brian |