Hi Gang!
I have a 1987 Holiday Rambler Imperial, 40 foot diesel pusher. Last November I had an issue with starting, i.e., turn the key and nothing. It would eventually start but continued to get worse. It was diagnosed as a bad starter so the starter was replaced and worked fine for awhile. In March came out of a restaurant about 10:30PM, and would not start. AAA et al folks came and got it started. Next day, no start, again. And again some kind folks to the rescue and started so went to the shop of the folks who came to our rescue at the restaurant. Cleaned the battery cables and solenoids, thought it needed new ones, but could not get any. Everything fine (again). Unfortunately he cleaned the coach batteries and not the chassis. Got stuck at a rest stop and once again a trucker came to our rescue. Got to the campground and went to another establishment. After spending the day there, NEW batteries et al we were about to start up again, and you guessed it. So we spent the night and another starter was installed. I am now into this for about $2200. Got back to MA and was going to have my mechanic check it all out, but could not get it started because the brand new chassis batteries were dead. Mechanic got it started, brought it to his garage and diagnosed the problem as a bad alternator. Of course one could not be found to fit our classic, vintage bus and he put the old one back in as he was going to have to rebuild it and we had to leave on a trip. There was a battery charger in the battery compartment left from the previous owner (I think now I know why). Between the highway driving and the battery charger we have been OK for about two weeks, but have about two weeks to go on our trip before retuning to MA to have the alternator rebuilt (I think). I know this is rather lengthy, but has anyone else had a similar problem, and do you think it is indeed the alternator or something else that should be checked first?
Thanks,
"Coach Dave"
