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Old 05-31-2019, 05:41 PM   #1
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Model: 24ft Chateau
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THOR #9537
Rv won't start

Hello everyone, this has happened 3 times. I am at the park and have the antenna up. I bring it down before I am about to leave the rv will not turn on. I turn the switch everything goes dark. I know it's not the battery cause the cab light will remain on and radio still work. Usually I hear a click just before it turns over. My son thinks the antenna has a shut off switch and that's why it's not working. We raised it up and down several times and nothing. But 5 to 10 mins later it starts. Could this be the problem? Next will take it in to my rv dealer.

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Old 05-31-2019, 05:48 PM   #2
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Sorry forgot to add 2013 Chateau class C
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Old 05-31-2019, 06:09 PM   #3
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Hi, well I don't know your coach but the engine not starting should have nothing to do with your manual TV antenna. You are probably thinking about lockout relays that prevent certain RV devices from working if the ignition is on.....like slides, TV, steps retract, etc.


Sounds like your engine starter system has a problem and it could be anything from a discharged chassis battery; bad ground in starter circuits; loose chassis battery connections; bad starter relay; bad starter motor; bad ignition switch etc. I am attaching a generic F53 starter schematic which is just to give you an idea of what a typical starter circuit looks like. The A marking in lower left corner......connects to the A marking near the top. I would first check your chassis battery to see if it is fully charged (12.6 vdc unloaded) and that it has clean and solid wiring connections.
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Old 05-31-2019, 06:10 PM   #4
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Forgot the generic starter schematic:
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Old 05-31-2019, 06:23 PM   #5
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I agree: this ia a starter and/or battery issue.
Think hoe many sales of TV antennas would be lost if they put starter interlocks on them!
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Old 05-31-2019, 08:08 PM   #6
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Originally Posted by Ricksplace55 View Post
I turn the switch everything goes dark. I know it's not the battery cause the cab light will remain on and radio still work. Usually I hear a click just before it turns over.
Nothing to do with your antenna - there is no interlock.
You have a poor connection in your chassis battery circuit.
I suspect the cab light and radio are powered from your house batteries.
Check your chassis battery connections.
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Old 05-31-2019, 11:28 PM   #7
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Good evening, thank you for all your inputs. My mechanic checked and found a bad relay in the fuse box under the hood. He used a spare that came in the box. I kind of figured that the antenna had nothing to do with it but all three times when we had the antenna up it would not start. It's funny we would raise it up and down several times and a couple of minutes later it would start. Another fireside story to tell our RV friends. Thank you again.
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Old 06-01-2019, 02:54 AM   #8
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Glad you are back in business. Thanks for letting us know what your problem was.
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Old 06-01-2019, 01:56 PM   #9
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What is the name of the relay that has battery size cables on it. It’s on the driver side of engine. Mine wouldn’t start until I jumpered across the two large wires then started. Need to replace but don’t know what to ask for. Is it the bird.
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Old 06-01-2019, 02:39 PM   #10
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Rick,
Glad to hear that it was an easy and quick thing to fix.
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Old 06-02-2019, 01:28 AM   #11
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Originally Posted by Hugh.vines@att.net View Post
What is the name of the relay that has battery size cables on it. It’s on the driver side of engine. Mine wouldn’t start until I jumpered across the two large wires then started. Need to replace but don’t know what to ask for. Is it the bird.

I don't know your coach but if it uses the BIRD system then it sounds like it might be the chassis disconnect relay.....assuming you were basically connecting the chassis battery to the ignition/starter system with your jumper. The best approach might be to remove the known bad relay (take pictures of how it was connected first) and take care to tape up disconnected wires so you don't do any unintentional welding. See if the relay has any markings on it and go on line to see if you can source it. Failing that take it into your RV Dealer parts person together with coach details and see if they can replace it.
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