Help - engine died while driving on roadtrip

wfrauch · 09-10-2021, 09:16 PM

Hi folks -

2019 Thor Vegas V10, died abruptly whil driving, got safely pulled over.
Appears to be electicral power to engine.
Engine will not crank, no apparent power to gauges, etc.
ODB-II connection does not have power either (my scanner says "no power - ECU).
House generator starts, so we have a/c in the 100 degree weather.
Roads where pretty rough, I wasnt watching gauges (volts) so didnt notice any abnormal. Belts (so far) look ok.
Any ideas would be appreciated before towing!

GTM41261 · 09-10-2021, 09:25 PM

Check battery connections make sure nothing is loose. Double check that you have a good ground. Sounds like a loss of 12V. Quick test Does the horn work or lights?. It is possible if you have good battery voltage that you lost a ECU

wfrauch · 09-10-2021, 09:56 PM

Thanks for the quick reply, DTM.

Horn honks, headlights come on ok.
Crawling underneath engine, it the pulleys I can see have belts on them.

Judge · 09-10-2021, 10:23 PM

Maybe this video will help….

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BnjmKxLLIkY

taylorbob1 · 09-10-2021, 11:29 PM

- try replacing the large starter fuse in engine compartment with the AC fuse as in the video

- Emergency start on dash that connects the house batteries to the chassis battery. Does it work?

- BIM solenoid on drivers side of engine compartment? If that is bad it could be not allowing power from chassis battery to engine.
There’s a way to circumvent/over-ride it and connect all chassis power cables together

**16ACE27** · 09-11-2021, 12:21 AM

Look under the steering wheel where the chassis wiring harness connects to the ignition wiring harness - they have been known to be loose/have a poor connection. I suspect you'll be calling FORD Roadside Assistance (part of your 5 year warranty) for a tow to the nearest capable Ford dealer.

Bob Denman · 09-11-2021, 12:45 AM

X 2... This is a Ford issue

wfrauch · 09-11-2021, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

X 2... This is a Ford issue

Agreed - just wanted to try to leverage the plethora of experience with you all! Thanks

taylorbob1 · 09-11-2021, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wfrauch

Agreed - just wanted to try to leverage the plethora of experience with you all! Thanks

And????
What’s the status???

wfrauch · 09-11-2021, 04:21 PM

The MH is now sitting at a repair shop, which is closed on Saturdays.
I went to MH, tried the Emer start, which didn't do anything - but I did hear a relay click 2x.
I checked and reseated all connections under the dash on drivers side at the fuse panel there. It has four cable bundles that run into it. The connections look all clean and new, but re-seated them anyway.

I still cannot get the relays in then engine compartment to come out, even using a pair of pliers. Its an awkward reach, without taking the engine cover/cowling completely off.

I know the chassis battery is ok, because headlights come on bright, and horn works.

Time for the pro's to tackle it, and I will search on Ford forums for more things to try.

Thanks!

**EA37TS** · 09-11-2021, 04:58 PM

Good luck with the repairs. Are you boondocking with the broke vehicles like we did our first breakdown or hotel it?

How far from the home base are you?

wfrauch · 09-11-2021, 05:10 PM

Thankfully, we were on our way home, and was about 120 miles from home.
The tow truck only had two seats, so my wife had to sit on my lap.
Pretty cramped ride "home", stiff and sore climbing out of that tow truck.

Cheers!

jscanlon · 09-15-2021, 06:07 PM

I recently had a similar issue with my 2011 ACE. 48k miles. Fortunately, I was back in my storage facility when it died. Engine didn't crank but had battery power. Emergency start didn't work.

Called a mobile mechanic and found it was a bad starter. I may have been able to repair the starter, but as long as he was under the hood and the age of the RV, I just bought a new one. Took the old starter to Autozone where i bought the new one and received a $50.00 credit for core charge.

wfrauch · 09-15-2021, 06:21 PM

Thanks -

The indy shop I have it at has been able to get a bit of time spent on it, and have so far been able to test and see that all the relays (PDC, ignition power, run/start fuse and relays) are all good. They're slotting more time for it later this week.
Its a busy shop, and I think they're busy for a reason!

Cheers

taylorbob1 · 09-15-2021, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jscanlon

I recently had a similar issue with my 2011 ACE. 48k miles. Fortunately, I was back in my storage facility when it died. Engine didn't crank but had battery power. Emergency start didn't work.

Called a mobile mechanic and found it was a bad starter. I may have been able to repair the starter, but as long as he was under the hood and the age of the RV, I just bought a new one. Took the old starter to Autozone where i bought the new one and received a $50.00 credit for core charge.

Except OP has no power to gauges or OB2 connectors
If starter was bad, he’d still have gauges working

sip · 09-15-2021, 06:57 PM

This could be anything really ranging from bad battery connections, fuses and relays, loose connectors ... as all already mentioned ... but also critters having chewed up random wires around the chasis.

If fuses are fine, one thing to visually inspect with these large RVs imo is all the wires looms and grounds for sign of animal activity

Jchadwi · 09-15-2021, 08:19 PM

We had a similar issue with our 2018 29M. Cruising down the highway and the engine died. The short version of the story is a Ford truck dealer replaced the pcm, under warranty. Any good tech will be able to diagnose the problem.

IDguy · 09-15-2021, 08:30 PM

He said it died while driving…so starter not involved.

5 days now. No news?

Grumpy Grampa · 09-15-2021, 09:14 PM

Check all connections going to and from alternator . Sounds like bad alternator.

Good luck. Keep us posted.

Thanks

Roadking · 09-15-2021, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wfrauch

Hi folks -

2019 Thor Vegas V10, died abruptly whil driving, got safely pulled over.
Appears to be electicral power to engine.
Engine will not crank, no apparent power to gauges, etc.
ODB-II connection does not have power either (my scanner says "no power - ECU).
House generator starts, so we have a/c in the 100 degree weather.
Roads where pretty rough, I wasnt watching gauges (volts) so didnt notice any abnormal. Belts (so far) look ok.
Any ideas would be appreciated before towing!

Same happened to me!! Flatbedded to ford dealer. Wiring harness chafing caused anti theft to activate. Somewhat common said Ford dealet

You may also like: