Turn the key, Won't even click - NEED HELP FAST!!

[Adria Haynes]

Gang,

Our Memorial weekend trip was semi-ruined when our 1980 35FC
wouldn't stay running due to a fuel restriction problem. Since
then, I rebuilt the Racor, got it running like a top as recently as
a few days ago, and replaced all 4 batteries.

This is Sunday afternoon and we are scheduled to leave for our 10
day family vacation on Thursday morning - which means today is
critical for preperations.

I also just read the tutorial on here about how I was supposed to
have been starting the generator. Like a moron, I thought maybe I
would do the same with the ignition key and see if it fired up any
faster. So I turned the ignition key backwards for about a 3 second
count, then went to start it and got NOTHING. NO click, NO NOTHING
AT ALL. I know the new batteries are full since the gage on the
dash says so as well as the one where you switch the bus to run on
generator power - under the dinette in the doorway. I checked all
the battery cables and all are tight. The interior lights all fire
right up with full brightness. There IS power inside the bus.

My first thought is that I may have a bad ignition switch, since -
well, you know how it makes that buzzing sound when you have the key
on with it not running and the "low air" light comes on? It wasn't
even doing that - then it started to with the key "on". Being fancy
with the key THIS time is the only thing I have ever done different
on trying to start it in my life.

Please, please, please help me gitter goin'. I really need this
thing to run like new. I've got me, 3 kids and a wife all DYING to
camp in it in 4 days, our reservation was made over 6 months ago,
the campground is almost 4 hours away, another guy is counting on me
to pull is boat up for the group, and a group of 10 other sites of
family will be waiting for us - who have already made fun of me this
year once because "they paid less for their brand new travel
trailer than I did for my antique - and theirs starts every time".
They think they are much funnier than I do.

I know it sounds like a simple problem, but I already test drove it
for 50 miles just last weekend and assumed it was ready to rock, and
I don't have much time to consider this anything but panic mode
really at this point.

Thanks in advance if anybody can help.
John,
810-869-2356 if you're not a typer.

[fwernlein]

John, sounds like the starter switch at dash is likely problem. Are
you able to do a few dianostic steps? Use a a voltmeter, and a
helper so you have enough hands...and confirm:

*take out dash start switch (disconnect batt first), then reconnect
battery and check the connections for a tight fit and sort out the
switch connections...find source 12tv, check for volts, then turn to
on and start and test terminals to see if the switch is working.
*that you are in fact getting 12+ volts TO the starter solonoid (big
relay mounted on starter) from the battery. This will be big
terminal stud. Check the ground..typically a strap...is it tight
and clean at terminal ends?
* are you getting the 12vt actuation volts to the soloniod when key
is placed to start? This terminal will be a smaller one...voltage
here activates the solonoid, closing the relay, sending start
voltage via the "big" battery cable to the starter motor. If you
get the volts to the solonoid, but not cranking starter motor, your
soloniod may be problem.

Frank
85FC33
Woodbridge, Va.

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Adria Haynes"
<mrbeebody@n...> wrote:
> Gang,
>
> Our Memorial weekend trip was semi-ruined when our 1980 35FC
> wouldn't stay running due to a fuel restriction problem. Since
> then, I rebuilt the Racor, got it running like a top as recently
as
> a few days ago, and replaced all 4 batteries.
>
> This is Sunday afternoon and we are scheduled to leave for our 10
> day family vacation on Thursday morning - which means today is
> critical for preperations.
>
> I also just read the tutorial on here about how I was supposed to
> have been starting the generator. Like a moron, I thought maybe I
> would do the same with the ignition key and see if it fired up any
> faster. So I turned the ignition key backwards for about a 3
second
> count, then went to start it and got NOTHING. NO click, NO NOTHING
> AT ALL. I know the new batteries are full since the gage on the
> dash says so as well as the one where you switch the bus to run on
> generator power - under the dinette in the doorway. I checked all
> the battery cables and all are tight. The interior lights all
fire
> right up with full brightness. There IS power inside the bus.
>
> My first thought is that I may have a bad ignition switch, since -
> well, you know how it makes that buzzing sound when you have the
key
> on with it not running and the "low air" light comes on? It wasn't
> even doing that - then it started to with the key "on". Being
fancy
> with the key THIS time is the only thing I have ever done
different
> on trying to start it in my life.
>
> Please, please, please help me gitter goin'. I really need this
> thing to run like new. I've got me, 3 kids and a wife all DYING
to
> camp in it in 4 days, our reservation was made over 6 months ago,
> the campground is almost 4 hours away, another guy is counting on
me
> to pull is boat up for the group, and a group of 10 other sites of
> family will be waiting for us - who have already made fun of me
this
> year once because "they paid less for their brand new travel
> trailer than I did for my antique - and theirs starts every
time".
> They think they are much funnier than I do.
>
> I know it sounds like a simple problem, but I already test drove
it
> for 50 miles just last weekend and assumed it was ready to rock,
and
> I don't have much time to consider this anything but panic mode
> really at this point.
>
> Thanks in advance if anybody can help.
> John,
> 810-869-2356 if you're not a typer.

[Adria Haynes]

Thank you also Frank. The solution was simple and embarassing but
could very well have been more. It's "fixed" now and I thank you
very much for your help.

John

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "fwernlein"
wrote:
> John, sounds like the starter switch at dash is likely problem.
Are
> you able to do a few dianostic steps? Use a a voltmeter, and a
> helper so you have enough hands...and confirm:
>
> *take out dash start switch (disconnect batt first), then
reconnect
> battery and check the connections for a tight fit and sort out the
> switch connections...find source 12tv, check for volts, then turn
to
> on and start and test terminals to see if the switch is working.
> *that you are in fact getting 12+ volts TO the starter solonoid
(big
> relay mounted on starter) from the battery. This will be big
> terminal stud. Check the ground..typically a strap...is it tight
> and clean at terminal ends?
> * are you getting the 12vt actuation volts to the soloniod when
key
> is placed to start? This terminal will be a smaller one...voltage
> here activates the solonoid, closing the relay, sending start
> voltage via the "big" battery cable to the starter motor. If you
> get the volts to the solonoid, but not cranking starter motor,
your
> soloniod may be problem.
>
> Frank
> 85FC33
> Woodbridge, Va.
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Adria Haynes"
> <mrbeebody@n...> wrote:
> > Gang,
> >
> > Our Memorial weekend trip was semi-ruined when our 1980 35FC
> > wouldn't stay running due to a fuel restriction problem. Since
> > then, I rebuilt the Racor, got it running like a top as recently
> as
> > a few days ago, and replaced all 4 batteries.
> >
> > This is Sunday afternoon and we are scheduled to leave for our
10
> > day family vacation on Thursday morning - which means today is
> > critical for preperations.
> >
> > I also just read the tutorial on here about how I was supposed
to
> > have been starting the generator. Like a moron, I thought maybe
I
> > would do the same with the ignition key and see if it fired up
any
> > faster. So I turned the ignition key backwards for about a 3
> second
> > count, then went to start it and got NOTHING. NO click, NO
NOTHING
> > AT ALL. I know the new batteries are full since the gage on the
> > dash says so as well as the one where you switch the bus to run
on
> > generator power - under the dinette in the doorway. I checked
all
> > the battery cables and all are tight. The interior lights all
> fire
> > right up with full brightness. There IS power inside the bus.
> >
> > My first thought is that I may have a bad ignition switch,
since -
> > well, you know how it makes that buzzing sound when you have the
> key
> > on with it not running and the "low air" light comes on? It
wasn't
> > even doing that - then it started to with the key "on". Being
> fancy
> > with the key THIS time is the only thing I have ever done
> different
> > on trying to start it in my life.
> >
> > Please, please, please help me gitter goin'. I really need this
> > thing to run like new. I've got me, 3 kids and a wife all DYING
> to
> > camp in it in 4 days, our reservation was made over 6 months
ago,
> > the campground is almost 4 hours away, another guy is counting
on
> me
> > to pull is boat up for the group, and a group of 10 other sites
of
> > family will be waiting for us - who have already made fun of me
> this
> > year once because "they paid less for their brand new travel
> > trailer than I did for my antique - and theirs starts every
> time".
> > They think they are much funnier than I do.
> >
> > I know it sounds like a simple problem, but I already test drove
> it
> > for 50 miles just last weekend and assumed it was ready to rock,
> and
> > I don't have much time to consider this anything but panic mode
> > really at this point.
> >
> > Thanks in advance if anybody can help.
> > John,
> > 810-869-2356 if you're not a typer.

[George Lowry]

John,

You needn't be embarrassed... There are many of us that have found
the problem to be the "nut that holds the wheel". At least you found
your problem without a $550 tow job off a freeway on a Sunday -- but
that is another story. Glad you got it going. Enjoy your vacation.

George Lowry
'95 WBDA 4203
Spearfish, SD


Adria Haynes wrote:

> Thank you also Frank. The solution was simple and embarassing but
> could very well have been more. It's "fixed" now and I thank you
> very much for your help.
>
> John
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "fwernlein"
> wrote:
>
>>John, sounds like the starter switch at dash is likely problem.
>
> Are
>
>>you able to do a few dianostic steps? Use a a voltmeter, and a
>>helper so you have enough hands...and confirm:
>>
>>*take out dash start switch (disconnect batt first), then
>
> reconnect
>
>>battery and check the connections for a tight fit and sort out the
>>switch connections...find source 12tv, check for volts, then turn
>
> to
>
>>on and start and test terminals to see if the switch is working.
>>*that you are in fact getting 12+ volts TO the starter solonoid
>
> (big
>
>>relay mounted on starter) from the battery. This will be big
>>terminal stud. Check the ground..typically a strap...is it tight
>>and clean at terminal ends?
>>* are you getting the 12vt actuation volts to the soloniod when
>
> key
>
>>is placed to start? This terminal will be a smaller one...voltage
>>here activates the solonoid, closing the relay, sending start
>>voltage via the "big" battery cable to the starter motor. If you
>>get the volts to the solonoid, but not cranking starter motor,
>
> your
>
>>soloniod may be problem.
>>
>>Frank
>>85FC33
>>Woodbridge, Va.
>>
>>--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Adria Haynes"
>><mrbeebody@n...> wrote:
>>
>>>Gang,
>>>
>>>Our Memorial weekend trip was semi-ruined when our 1980 35FC
>>>wouldn't stay running due to a fuel restriction problem. Since
>>>then, I rebuilt the Racor, got it running like a top as recently
>>
>>as
>>
>>>a few days ago, and replaced all 4 batteries.
>>>
>>>This is Sunday afternoon and we are scheduled to leave for our
>
> 10
>
>>>day family vacation on Thursday morning - which means today is
>>>critical for preperations.
>>>
>>>I also just read the tutorial on here about how I was supposed
>
> to
>
>>>have been starting the generator. Like a moron, I thought maybe
>
> I
>
>>>would do the same with the ignition key and see if it fired up
>
> any
>
>>>faster. So I turned the ignition key backwards for about a 3
>>
>>second
>>
>>>count, then went to start it and got NOTHING. NO click, NO
>
> NOTHING
>
>>>AT ALL. I know the new batteries are full since the gage on the
>>>dash says so as well as the one where you switch the bus to run
>
> on
>
>>>generator power - under the dinette in the doorway. I checked
>
> all
>
>>>the battery cables and all are tight. The interior lights all
>>
>>fire
>>
>>>right up with full brightness. There IS power inside the bus.
>>>
>>>My first thought is that I may have a bad ignition switch,
>
> since -
>
>>>well, you know how it makes that buzzing sound when you have the
>>
>>key
>>
>>>on with it not running and the "low air" light comes on? It
>
> wasn't
>
>>>even doing that - then it started to with the key "on". Being
>>
>>fancy
>>
>>>with the key THIS time is the only thing I have ever done
>>
>>different
>>
>>>on trying to start it in my life.
>>>
>>>Please, please, please help me gitter goin'. I really need this
>>>thing to run like new. I've got me, 3 kids and a wife all DYING
>>
>>to
>>
>>>camp in it in 4 days, our reservation was made over 6 months
>
> ago,
>
>>>the campground is almost 4 hours away, another guy is counting
>
> on
>
>>me
>>
>>>to pull is boat up for the group, and a group of 10 other sites
>
> of
>
>>>family will be waiting for us - who have already made fun of me
>>
>>this
>>
>>>year once because "they paid less for their brand new travel
>>>trailer than I did for my antique - and theirs starts every
>>
>>time".
>>
>>>They think they are much funnier than I do.
>>>
>>>I know it sounds like a simple problem, but I already test drove
>>
>>it
>>
>>>for 50 miles just last weekend and assumed it was ready to rock,
>>
>>and
>>
>>>I don't have much time to consider this anything but panic mode
>>>really at this point.
>>>
>>>Thanks in advance if anybody can help.
>>>John,
>>>810-869-2356 if you're not a typer.
>
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