2012 Fleetwood Discovery Engine Starting Problem

[mikekeliher]

2012 Fleetwood Discovery 42m, 8.3 Cummins. 47700 miles. Present location Granbury Texas heading south. 

When I turn the ignition key switch to on, wait for the light bar to run the checks, than turn the ignition key to start the engine nothing happens. I have good dc voltage 12.7 at rest. The aux switch makes no difference. I've checked all house and chassis fuses. Also checked/cleaned battery terminals, disconnect terminals both house and engine tight. Relays checks are more difficult. Nothing looks burned or over heated. Starter and solenoid clean and tight.

Now the rest of the story. After doing all of the things above, trying to restart, frustrated i turned the ignition key to start without waiting for the light bar to clear, the engine starts right up! Seeking help.

 

[huffypuff]

Intermittent starter relay, solenoid? 

[mikekeliher]

Raining, Sunday that well be my first look.

[scottcampbell]

I had a intermittent solenoid on my 2004 Cummins ISC.  Mobile Mech. knew what the trouble was as he has run into this problem on a lot of coaches and farm equipment.  

Came back the next day and R&R'd the offending part.  That was nearly four years ago--no problem since.   

[mikekeliher]

Thank you. I had an opportunity to look at the battery control center. Very difficult to get the proper angle to pick out (ID) the starter relay. I have cleaned solenoid contacts. These are my focus. The solenoid will be first on my list. Thank you gentlemen! 

[hermanmullins]

Mike,

You can purchase the solenoid at any auto parts house, Be sure that the solenoid you get is a 12 Volt Continuous one. 

Herman

[wolfe10]

26 minutes ago, Hermanmullins said:

Mike,

You can purchase the solenoid at any auto parts house, Be sure that the solenoid you get is a 12 Volt Continuous one. 

Herman

AND, rated of at least the same amp capacity.

[manholt]

Brett is right.  Trying to use a Solenoid rated for a Fiat 500 will do nothing for a DP. 

[mikekeliher]

What I have found:

First I want to thank Gary Osburn for his help. I'm parked are Lazy L&L Campground in Canyon Lake. Gary is parked across the road and has the identical coach 2012 42m. Using his coaches relays we checked every fuse and relay starting in the forward compartment all the way to the rear fuse/relay panel for the chassis. Side note, these coaches have fuses in 6 different locations. Also in this location there are 2, 150 amp breaker/ disconnects for engine and transmission power feed. One of these main 12 volt feeds from the chassis batteries to the chassis fuse/relay panel hand a loose main power source cable. Turned out on post was strip and I replaced this breaker. We thought this was the source of my problem, wrong.

Conclusion, after all of this trial and error and breaker replacement I still had the same no start problem. With in this fuse/relay panel relay 1-4 are supposed to live. No dice. Gary and I were stumped. I called (oh yah did I mention that this is a Spartan chassis) the tech department and they told me that the relays are built into the panel. The replacement cost just south of $500. Gary than removed his panel from his coach, we installed it in mine and voila, it started like it is supposed to.... wait don't get too happy for me yet? I reinstall mine it than started like it is supposed to. Well I do believe that it is the starter relays built into this panel. I will post again if this happen another time. I will than spend the $500 to do the change.

Thanks again to Gary!

If this was done at a repair facility the cost would have been high.

[manholt]

Mike.

At least you know how to fix it, if it happens again!  I'm thinking that you re-set the computer or a fault code, when you disconnected and reconnected your panel.  Whatever the reason, glad your trouble free for now!

Happy trails

[mikekeliher]

Right from the beginning there wasn't any fault codes. That is another mystery I guess?

[manholt]

Quote

no fault codes.

Gremlins!  We all got them, and get them!