Coach Will Not Start

[Trige Gleim]

We joined the BAC today and this is my first post.  We own a 2007 Beaver Contessa with a CAT C9 engine.  We’ve owned it for only 7 months and its our first RV. 

I’m a novice when it comes to technical issues. Here’s the situation. The coach has been in outdoor storage all winter in Ohio, not plugged in.  The batteries were low so I removed them, had them charged and tested at a battery store and I put them back in the coach just recently. When I went to start the coach, thats when the problem was noticed.  I put the key in the ignition and turned it one click and the instrument panel lights came on and went through their cycle of flashing/beeping as normal.  Once that was done I turned the key to start it, and nothing happened. No click, no noise at all. I also noticed that the lights that normally come on for the Transmission Control Pad did not light up showing what gear the transmission is in. Additionally the Power Gear Pad which shows the airbag mode did not light up like it normally does. I know the batteries are good, I've cleaned the posts and terminals, and confirmed they are hooked up right, and I know there’s some power from the chassis batteries because I hear a beep when I turn the disconnect with from off to on. Additionally the power door lock operates when I have the chassis disconnect switch on but does not operate when I have the switch turned off. Again, I don’t have a technical background but I’m eager to learn, fix it myself, and save money.  You can recommend I check this or that but without great details/diagrams, etc, I will struggle.  Please ask for any more information that you need to help me resolve this problem. Thank you, I know I’ve come to the right place!

Trige

[Keith Moffett Co-Admin]

Trige
First let me say welcome to the Beaver family and club.  There are many more qualified here to answer your question than am I but lets get a start.  (pun intended)
Shooting from the hip I am going to ask about the batteries.  It is always suggested to take a few pictures of the wiring prior to removal of the batteries.  Did you do this?
There should be two wires (usually white about 16 ga.) that go to the batteries from the ignition.  Did you perhaps miss those?
Some of the CAT motors placed the blow bye tube just next to the starter.  The resulting oil residue can cause bad connections on the starter motor.  The fix is a simple cleaning of the connections on the starter.  Some folks have had the starter removed and serviced then reinstalled to this residue inside. 

Hope this helps

[Jerry Emert]

Welcome Trige!  Not very qualified to help but there have been many posts here and other forums about the transmission panel.  I keyed into one symptom you mentioned, the panel failing to light up.  There is a fuse that sometimes blows under or around that shifter panel.  If the transmission doesn't indicate that it is ready the engine won't start.  That panel failing to light up at start is the usual symptom.  Good luck.
Jerry

[Mike Shumack]

I would double check that you reconnected the batteries correctly.

I'm sure you know that the Coach batteries are different from the Chassis batteries.

Do you have a "Start Boost" switch on the dash? (which connects the Coach and Chassis batteries together while pressing/holding the switch (sort of like using jumper cables from Coach to Chassis batteries) to provide extra power for cranking the engine.

[LaMonte Monnell]

I would also like to mention that if you have no transmission panel lit up when turning on your key, that as Jerry stated, check your fuse under the transmission panel.

If that is blown replace it and see if your panel lights up. If so try to start your engine.

If that doesn't help at all recheck all the battery connections, its very easy to miss one or hook one up to the wrong post.

We are all here to lend a hand. Let us know if you need more help or if it started.

[Bryan Beamon]

Trige, also check your transmission ECM located in your service bay below the drivers seat and attached at the top of the bay. There is a multi-pin connecter that can come loose.

[Steve Huber]

Trige,
Check F4 in the electrical bay (below dvr seat). It is the Shift Panel Ign fuse. Shift panel must have power to send neutral signal to engine ECM which enables start circuit.
See attached list and diagram.
Steve

[Trige Gleim]

Trige
First let me say welcome to the Beaver family and club.  There are many more qualified here to answer your question than am I but lets get a start.  (pun intended)
Shooting from the hip I am going to ask about the batteries.  It is always suggested to take a few pictures of the wiring prior to removal of the batteries.  Did you do this?
There should be two wires (usually white about 16 ga.) that go to the batteries from the ignition.  Did you perhaps miss those?
Some of the CAT motors placed the blow bye tube just next to the starter.  The resulting oil residue can cause bad connections on the starter motor.  The fix is a simple cleaning of the connections on the starter.  Some folks have had the starter removed and serviced then reinstalled to this residue inside. 

Hope this helps

I did take pictures see attached and let me know if anything looks wrong.  I'll consider your other suggestions.  Thank you.

[Trige Gleim]

I would double check that you reconnected the batteries correctly.

I'm sure you know that the Coach batteries are different from the Chassis batteries.

Do you have a "Start Boost" switch on the dash? (which connects the Coach and Chassis batteries together while pressing/holding the switch (sort of like using jumper cables from Coach to Chassis batteries) to provide extra power for cranking the engine.

Hi Mike,  I have tried the boost with no luck.

[Trige Gleim]

I would also like to mention that if you have no transmission panel lit up when turning on your key, that as Jerry stated, check your fuse under the transmission panel.

If that is blown replace it and see if your panel lights up. If so try to start your engine.

If that doesn't help at all recheck all the battery connections, its very easy to miss one or hook one up to the wrong post.

We are all here to lend a hand. Let us know if you need more help or if it started.

Hi LaMonte,  I assume I have to remove the side panel under the transmission control to get to the fuse?  Can you describe what the fuse box looks like and if there are multiple fuses how do I identify the correct one?  Is it possible that this also has impact on why my Power Gear display does not light up either.  See attached.

[Trige Gleim]

Trige, also check your transmission ECM located in your service bay below the drivers seat and attached at the top of the bay. There is a multi-pin connecter that can come loose.

Hi Bryan,  I'm not sure how to locate this without a picture or more details.  I will try to find this connector but I'm a novice at this type of thing.  Thanks.

[Trige Gleim]

Trige,
Check F4 in the electrical bay (below dvr seat). It is the Shift Panel Ign fuse. Shift panel must have power to send neutral signal to engine ECM which enables start circuit.
See attached list and diagram.
Steve

Hi Steve,
I'll try to make it back over the coach later today.  I printed the diagram and reference pages, thanks!  Is it possible that this fuse also impacts other items on the panel?  As I mentioned to another member, the Power Gear pad (I attached a picture to that post) does not light up either.  If I remember correctly it can be turned on or off any time without the ignition switch being on.

[Neal E Weinmann]

Other posters may be spot on with regards to the tranny panel needing to light, but I’d like to touch on one thing I noticed in the battery picture...is the picture from before removal or after reinstalling? If it’s after reinstalling, I’d start there and thoroughly clean both sides of all the cable ends to insure sound connections and current transfer. The starter is a major current draw and weak/dirty connections are the first things that link the batteries to the starter and need to be clean and firmly tight.

[Steve Huber]

Trige,
Not sure on where the Valid system gets its power. Verify you have 12v on one side of F4. If not, then verify that 12V is present on the 2 large lugs (chassis & house) on the right side of the panel, about 1/2 way up.
Steve

[Trige Gleim]

Other posters may be spot on with regards to the tranny panel needing to light, but I’d like to touch on one thing I noticed in the battery picture...is the picture from before removal or after reinstalling? If it’s after reinstalling, I’d start there and thoroughly clean both sides of all the cable ends to insure sound connections and current transfer. The starter is a major current draw and weak/dirty connections are the first things that link the batteries to the starter and need to be clean and firmly tight.

Hi Neal,
The picture was prior to removal.  I cleaned the cable ends and posts the best I could before re-installing.  Thank you.