Generator will not stay running

[Norm Green]

I have now made it from Bend to Mesa.  BCS was able to take care of most of my needs.  However, after we left Bend, we stopped the first night at a casino in CA and when I started the generator, it ran for about 5 minutes and shut down.  I started it again several times and it mould run about 45  to 60 seconds and shut down again.  Looking at the fault code list it says to look for various fast flashing light combinations, like one rapid flashing light for high temp or two rapid flashing lights for oil pressure.  Well mine just continues to flash a single light about once every couple of seconds or so, not what I would consider rapid.  Anyway, looking for advice.  I have checked oil and coolant levels and they are all OK.  When it was running when I first started it was producing on both legs fine.  Thanks

[Steven Link]

Norm,
Just a thought...check your AGS settings and battery voltage. Turn the AGS off and try manually starting the generator again. My remote has a high and low voltage setting for the AGS. Low voltage = start, High voltage = shut down. Also the check the Temperature settings on the AGS.
My generator sometimes acts like this when the AGS settings are off. Be sure the oil and coolant levels in the generator are ok. Most gensets shut down if oil or coolant is low.

Steven Link

[Norm Green]

Thanks Steve, I have checked both oil and water and both are fine.  Not familiar with AGS.  Is this the Automatic Generator Start that you can set up on the Magnum panel.  If so, mine is not set for auto gen start.  If it is something different, please clue me in.  Thanks.

[Gerald Farris]

Norm,
It sounds like there is a possibility that you have an overheat shutdown. If you let the unit set until it is cold, and then start it up again, it should run until it heats up which will be from 5 to 15 minutes depending on several conditions. If this happens and you immediately restart it, shutdown will occur in much less than a minute.

An overheat condition without coolant loss can be caused by a slipping or broken belt as well as a malfunctioning thermostat. If the belt is the issue, you should be able to determine a reduced air flow at the generator cooling fan exhaust, but a thermostat problem will probably require an infrared temperature gun to diagnose.

Gerald
  

[Steven Link]

Norm,
Sorry, yes AGS = automatic generator start.  You might try turning the inverter off at the Magnum panel and then start the generator manually.
Do you have a generator start switch in the bedroom? If so...because I think that switch goes through the multiplex system I would cut off both 12 volt manual switches (one in the battery bay and one in the engine bay) wait a minute of so then cut both switches back on. This effectively reboots the whole coach. Be sure to disconnect from shore power before you cut off both of these switches so the coach has no power source at all.  I have to do this about every 2-3 months and then things that don't work will miraculously work again.  Go figure???
This will not work if like Gerald says you have a overheat problem. Good Luck!
PS If you get back to Tennessee and still have the problem go to my dad's shop in Nashville. Link Automotive on Lebanon Road. They do all my chassis and generator maintenance and are great at diagnosing and repairing problems.
Steven

[Steven Link]

Norm,
One more thing...When was the last time the fuel filter was changed? Could be just a clogged filter.
Steven

[Norm Green]

Thank you for the advice.  I will open up a couple of panels on the generator and take a look at the belt.  
I had our 06 Patriot serviced at Link Automotive a couple of years ago, very pleased with their service.  If I can't determine the problem with the generator, I will take it to them for service.

[Edward Buker]

Norm,

If you find it is an over heat condition and the belt is fine then it can also be the temperature sensor is defective. That sensor is right by the thermostat housing. If you search on my name I posted some IR gun readings for the oil pan, block, and radiator for my genset with a bad belt and a good belt that may help you diagnose if you are getting overheating without pulling things apart. You should be somewhere in the ballpark with these temp ranges.

Later Ed

[Jeff Watt]

I can't offer any advice, other than what I am still working on. I get a code 13. While in for coach serivce i asked the tech to check the genset. The best he can determine is that as soon as it runs for 30-40 seconds and it's controller determines that it is putting out low voltage, then it sends a signal to shut down the fuel pump. They contacted the cummins/onan service and they said to check the brushes - as far as the tech can tell it looked ok.

I guess I need to take it to a onan service centre.  

Jeff

[Steve Huber]

Jeff,
I had similar symptoms. Tech found bad fuel pump as main cause but also cleaned brushes while gen set was out.
Steve

[Phillip T Lago]

I had a very simular malfunction. I ended up replacing the generator circut board. very pricey. But no Problems since.

[Glenn Perkins]

I can't offer any advice, other than what I am still working on. I get a code 13. While in for coach serivce i asked the tech to check the genset. The best he can determine is that as soon as it runs for 30-40 seconds and it's controller determines that it is putting out low voltage, then it sends a signal to shut down the fuel pump. They contacted the cummins/onan service and they said to check the brushes - as far as the tech can tell it looked ok.

I guess I need to take it to a onan service centre.  

Jeff

Jeff,

If your travels take you anywhere near Albuquerque NM, the Rocky Mountain Cummins shop (1921 Broadway Blvd NE  Albuquerque, NM 87102  (505) 247-2441) has an outstanding Onan tech ... Ken Vick ... who has bailed us out of genset issues numerous times over the last 10 years.  In fact, that is the ONLY place I go given the chance ... this past summer we diverted to ABQ from a Texas to AZ trip because of a similar ... won't stay running ... issue and it turned out to be a simple carbon track issue in a connector ... a 5 minute ($0) fix.

Good luck,

Glenn

[Steve Hodgson]

I had this exact same problem in March of 2013. The Onan 10 Kw would start and then shut down in anywhere from 15 seconds to 20 Min. The year before I had the stator replaced and the circuit board while a Lazy Days. Less than 1 year later this problem occurred. to make a long story short when I returned to Lazy Days they found that the slip rings were corroded. I spend  the winters in Key West, FL so corrosion seems logical. At any rate they cleaned  slip rings and I make sure to run the generator every 1 to 2 week year around. I have not had any problems since that work was done. It cost about $250 to have the rings cleaned but that is a good place to start. I tried everything else (fuel filter, oil filter, fuel pressure, AGS and cooling) and the corroded slip rings seem to be the problem. Best of luck.

[Robert Mathis]

I went out to exercise my coach yesterday, cranked the main engine, started the genset, waited for air to build up. The genset ran fro about 90 seconds, and shut down. I started it back up and once again it shut down after a short time. I was down to about 1/4 tank of fuel (80 gallons used on Aladdin) and thought maybe it was sucking air. I drove about  25 miles, got everything warmed up and filled the tank. Genset started up , ran about 60 seconds and shut down. This repeated 4 or 5 times. I realized it wasn't fuel related and when I got home, opened the genst compartment and found the light flashing 3 blinks. To try to get the next message, I cleared it, turned off the breaker and started the genset. It ran fine for several minutes, then reset the breaker. It continued to run and pull all loads, including the heat pumps. Anyone have any ideas what could have caused this? I am going to start it again today and see what happens. It hasn't been run since September.

[Edward Buker]

If it repeats, get the code from the switch. How it shut down sometimes gives you some clues. If the genset was running at speed, then just abruptly stops, it is likely an invoked shut down due to a sensor responding to an issue. If it sputters or waivers in speed, possibly some abnormal exhaust smoke, and takes a bit of time to shut down it could be lack of air or fuel issues. If it does not happen again it could be that a sensor stuck, like an oil sensor, and the vibration and short use released it. That is just speculation, see if you get a code down the road a bit if it repeats. If the coach has been sitting and it is not in a secure building you may want to check that there are no nests built in the air intake and air filter area.

Later Ed