No Start / Relays clicking

[bryanaltier]

As a new owner of this 450 the first time this happened I though that it was something that I needed to learn.

The first time we went to Pine Mtn GA to see the Christmas lights at Calaway Gardens. got ready to leave and and noticed a very dim "ABS" light on the dash. When I turned the key the normal dash lights did not come on. The starter would not engage when turned to start, when left on ign the 2 relays behind the rear closet were clicking and all systems back there were flashing when the relays would make contact. With a meter found low voltage, around 7 volts coming on the the rear connections, same voltage to the front (under dash on passenger side).

Not knowing what do do I continued to try different things, no other lights on the dash and no power to the gauges. In checking things I turned on the headlights and hit the high beam switch, the blue hight beam light came one so I tried the key and all was back to normal. No issues.

This past week went to Myrtle Beach, and the way down there it rained on and off. Cruise control set. Several times when I would turn on the wipers it would knock the cruise control off. ??? Reset it and all was OK.

Ready to leave the beach yesterday and noticed the "ABS" light again. Same thing relays clicking in the rear no lights or gauges. This time I went right to the headlight switch and the high beam switch, after several clicks on each the blue high beam light came on and all was well again.

My thought is that there is a bad ground somewhere in this circuit, but where??? I have checked every ground I had found and all are tight and clean. Why would the headlight cause the power to drop off the entire dash?

Any thoughts from the 450 experts????

[bryanaltier]

Update.
Came home this evening. Coach has been sitting plugged in with heat on for 24 hours. Noticed that the "ABS" light was not nas when the key is turned on the relays click. No headlights with switch. Noted that I can control the "ABS" light with the dimmer switch for the gauge lights from bright to almost off.

Tried to stat and only got the clicking notice and the hour meter and odometer would only come one. When the relay was in.

Got manual out and it does not give info as when the location of anything.

Seems That the dash is trying to find ground. Tried 4 way flashers and they would flash and appeared that power was getting to thedash enact time they flashed.

Need some expert help! Thanks

[sfedeli]

So sorry to hear that YOU of all people are having electrical issues with a Wanderlodge!

Did you leave a window partially open?

(Couldn't resist the humor... I remember Mike Baustista's problems from MB a few years ago)

It sounds to me a like a low voltage issue with the engine battery bank. There could be a loose shunt connection or battery cable. Can you take your multi-meter back to the engine batteries and tell us the voltage across each of them?

[bryanaltier]

Checked batteries, good voltage. Seems that the issue is limited to the dash, leveling system and Headlights. Radio is good and numerous other systems working fine.

When the key is on the side marker light flash with the relay as it opens and closes.

Thanks Shane ....imagine that I am having electrical issues. Learning a new coach.

[isp2952]

Bryan, can you start it from the rear ignition?

[Mallie Lennon]

Brian, can you use a volt meter to tell where low voltage starts and ends?

[Dieselbird01]

Hi Brian,

Did you try connecting the house and chassis batteries together via the "Battery Connect" Rocker switch on the dash to see if it has any effect on the problem?

[giderich]

Brian, you may have a look at the connections on the back side of the ignition switch. You may find a loose push-on connection or a loose crimp.

Sorry to hear you are having trouble...pro'lly something simple.

[bryanaltier]

Will not start from the rear switch.

When I hit the aux battery switch nothing changes.

Normal:
Turn key to on, all lights on the dash come on, gauges come on. Turn key and engine starts.

Here is what I have:
Key in off position:
"ABS" light on in the dash.
"fault" indicator light on the leveling system
I can change the brightness of the ABS light the the gauge dimmer switch.
No headlights.
Normal power to things like the musical horn, radio

Key in the on position:
relays on back wall behind bedroom closet clicking.
As they click on the odometer and hour meter flash on
a couple of the lights on the dash also flash, one being the blue high beam light if I click them on (this is only for the time the relay clicks)
if I turn the headlight switch on the side marker lights flash with the relays

Key in start position:
same as above but when the relays click the starter with engage.

I have been trying to digest the wiring diagrams however they don't really tell you where anything is located.

I have opened the rear compartment and it appears that the 12 V relays are clicking. I can just them and get the engine started but still do not have any power to the dash or to the transmission control. (I have a video on my phone of this)

I mentioned that the first time I located low voltage coming to these relays as well as the 12V terminal under the dash passenger side. This was all with the switch off which I may be wrong, led me to believer that power was feeding back through a system and the actual power to the dash was not coming in. That time I turned on the headlights and bright lights and the dash lit up as it should and all was sell as if this heavy draw caused a relay to close ????

I tried that the second time, Sunday morning at the beach, and again started up and came home. Parked, hooked to 50 amp and turned heat on. Did nothing in the coach and came back out to notice the ABS light on again. This time the headlights are not working and have no effect on the issue.

Thanks for all your ideas, this thing has more relays and computers than the space shuttle and I feel sure that this is just something that has lost ground or power.

Sure miss being able to call Bennie or Alan at the factory to get answers.

[lcondosta]

Brian. Did you check the oil at the Beach. Try bypassing the mercury switch on the engine hatch. Remember that mikes bus would not start with the hatch up. The switch could be bad . Just a thought. Lee