Motorhome non starter (1 Viewer)

Btg

Mar 4, 2012
117
49
surrey
Funster No
20,033
MH
coachbuilt
Exp
2008
Just been to try an start motorhome but everything dead no hab electric no cab electric won't start on jump leads ??
 

Jaws

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Sep 26, 2008
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This might sound like a very odd question but..

When you attached the jump leads did the dash light up and did the engine turn over ok ( but not start ) ?
 
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Btg

Btg

Mar 4, 2012
117
49
surrey
Funster No
20,033
MH
coachbuilt
Exp
2008
I had dash lights first day and a clicking but now nothing no lights on dash won't even open doors on cab

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Jaws

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Sep 26, 2008
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When you tried to jump it where did you connect the jump leads to ?
Fiat/ Pug / Renault all use a big multi connector thing on the positive terminal of the battery
If you connected the jump lead to somewhere on the big connector plate rather than on the actual battery terminal you have almost certainly blown one of the big plate fuses on the connection plate.
An easy mistake to make ( lost count of the times I have been called to sort the same issue out over the years ! )
 

jtp890

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May 16, 2014
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wakefield
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Dethleffs 7014
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13 years on n off
Help also needed
Renault started but no revs
Dont want to hijack thread so please pm me.
Just thought Jaws sounded right.

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Btg

Btg

Mar 4, 2012
117
49
surrey
Funster No
20,033
MH
coachbuilt
Exp
2008
Don't no where I went wrong but hope to call fiat camper aid out on Tuesday I've got call out but as might be my b up they might charge me or do I say it just won't start ?
 

TheBig1

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Nov 27, 2011
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totally flat engine battery, maybe even too flat to take a charge. jump starting a fiat is done using the terminal under the bonnet, not direct to the battery under the floor for the reasons stated, plus its a right royal pita to get at
 
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Btg

Btg

Mar 4, 2012
117
49
surrey
Funster No
20,033
MH
coachbuilt
Exp
2008
Oh dear hope they can start it on Tuesday think I'll act dumb cos that's what I think I was should have known better ,

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9

9526

Deleted User
It will almost certainly be a good idea to put the battery on charge (even if you have blown the fuse you will be better off trying for the restart with a charged battery and once it's been replaced)

You never know the fuse may be ok and it's simply a dead flat battery
 

Badknee

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Aug 25, 2014
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Living the dream.
Wot Micky sed, must have a battery with at least a little charge in it.(y)
 
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Btg

Btg

Mar 4, 2012
117
49
surrey
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coachbuilt
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Ok I'll see what happens on Tuesday thanks all

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Btg

Btg

Mar 4, 2012
117
49
surrey
Funster No
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MH
coachbuilt
Exp
2008
Got it started after leaving jump leads on for about 20 min fiat man said was only 2amp in battery so should have left leads on longer before trying to start I no better now but thanks all
 
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Btg

Btg

Mar 4, 2012
117
49
surrey
Funster No
20,033
MH
coachbuilt
Exp
2008
After getting mh going all good went to start again after couple of days started up first time went to check hab status no panel checked fuses blown 20amp fuse fitted new one all ok started up blew 20amp fuse this time behind cab changed that now seems ok but can't work out what blew them in first case ??
 

Jaws

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Sep 26, 2008
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It was when you tried to jump the thing..
Must have connected to the wrong place and most of the feed went to the hab battery(s) rather than the cab one

You do need to be VERY careful where you connect the jump leads to on a Fiat.. As mentioned, there is a tab under the bonnet on later models and it is the only really safe thing to use if you are unsure.

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Jun 16, 2014
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Almost a Newbie but not quite now.
Just as an aside and may help if you need to do this in the future.
You should always clip the earth lead to the engine, near the starter, then you are using the slave battery as a starter battery, and not trying to charge the vehicle battery through it.
Hope that makes sense. A tip given by a Scania instructor a long time ago.
 
Oct 5, 2012
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totally flat engine battery, maybe even too flat to take a charge. jump starting a fiat is done using the terminal under the bonnet, not direct to the battery under the floor for the reasons stated, plus its a right royal pita to get at
Absolutely, have made a mental note to RTFM before ever performing a jump start, as the negative jump start terminal on mine is right under the windscreen in the engine bay!
 
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Btg

Btg

Mar 4, 2012
117
49
surrey
Funster No
20,033
MH
coachbuilt
Exp
2008
Ye good points made just found out that if hab battery very low the two 20amp fuses will blow to save the battery's from too faster charge

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TheBig1

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Nov 27, 2011
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many many years! since I was a kid
Ye good points made just found out that if hab battery very low the two 20amp fuses will blow to save the battery's from too faster charge
no the fuse is to protect the wiring
 
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Btg

Btg

Mar 4, 2012
117
49
surrey
Funster No
20,033
MH
coachbuilt
Exp
2008
The fuse is to protect the battery from charging too quick as the mh battery can only take a slow charge when empty
 

pappajohn

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Aug 26, 2007
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The fuse is to protect the battery from charging too quick as the mh battery can only take a slow charge when empty
The fuse IS to protect the wiring......always is, always will be.
The battery will take everything the alternator can throw at it when it is flat.
If the alternator is putting out 150amps then that is whats hitting the battery.
If, as you say, the fuse will blow to protect the battery then how does the battery get any charge at all through a blown fuse ???

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dave newell

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Oct 31, 2008
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The fuse is to protect the battery from charging too quick as the mh battery can only take a slow charge when empty


No, as The Big 1 said the fuse is there to protect the wiring, if the intention was to limit charging current it would be a current regulator not a fuse. What can happen if the leisure battery(ies) is completely flat the alternator sees it as a big load and throws everything it can at it, up to 120 Amps which will upset a 20 amp fuse.

D.
 

jaytee74

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Dec 5, 2013
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durham uk
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coachbuilt swift royale
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of course if the vehicle battery had been left on trickle charge over the winter none of these issues would have arose. maybe something to note for the future. jt

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Sep 16, 2010
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Bungay Suffolk
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Hi Btg. The terminal They are all referring to is concealed under a black plastic cover in the engine compartment. Its about50mm square and when you flip its lid open, there is the terminal to connect to..
Mitch.
 

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