Electrical glitch

[Mark Hoovler]

Pulled the motorhome out of storage and the steps keep going in and out and the power to the dash instruments goes on and off.  What would cause this type of operation.  Should I be looking for a short in the wiring somewhere?

Appreciate any help,

Thanks much

06 Monterey Laguna 4

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

Mark,
Assuming they are related, check the voltage at the ignition solenoid. If ok check at output of CB 36 and CB 37 to see if voltage is constant.
Steve

[Carl Boger]

Mark,

As Steve suggested,I would start by checking the voltage to the switch and at the switch.  If the stairs think the engine is being started they will retract.  If the door is open they will try to extend.  I would also check the ground to the switch and dash.

Most steps have a plug on them that you can simply unplug to see if the two issues are related or if one goes away when the steps are taken out of the equation. 

Hopefully this will be an easy problem to fix

[Mark Hoovler]

voltage seems to go in and out

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

Is voltage varying at the ignition solenoid or at a circuit breaker? Which one? If at a circuit breaker but not at the solenoid it is either a bad circuit breaker or an overload (short) downstream from the breaker. If at the ignition solenoid, check for a problem in the rear run box.
Steve

[Mark Hoovler]

Is the run box in the rear  where the big solenoid is located? 

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

Yes, Should be rear bay on pass side. Was voltage varying at solenoid?
Steve

[Mark Hoovler]

The voltage at the solenoid was 7v dc.  After going thru all the circuit breakers again.  CB-9 seems to be the culprit with a short to groundon one of the legs/wires coming off the breaker.  Next task will be to find the short on that circuit.  (bay lights/batt. outlet)
Keep you posted.
Thanks

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

Mark,
With the wire that shows gnd disconnected from CB9, does the battery voltage go up to 12V+? If not, charge the batteries before trying to track down anything (other than the short to gnd) as low battery voltage can result in some weird symptoms. Be sure to chk voltage on both chassis and house batteries.
One other item, did you have the  engine running when you noticed the varying battery voltage? If not were you on shore power, generator or batteries?
Steve

[Joel Ashley]

I have to agree with Steve, the first thing to check is voltage at the batteries.  If for some reason the engine would crank and start, but bats weren’t subsequently at full power and the alternator not working when you came out of storage, low chassis voltage can cause the symptoms you describe.  Indeed, devices of all kinds, 120v, 12v, 3v, can behave with on/off cycling, etc., when diminished voltage pushes incomplete current.  Remember that many an alternator has gone belly up trying to replenish banks that weren’t first charged via post or genset.

Joel