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Recently purchased a 1980 Sportscoach RV with a Dodge 440. The batteries will not charge so am unable to start the engine. What could be causing the problem? Do you think that the batteries should be replaced as maybe they are not able to hold the charge?
Really need some help!! Cannot afford to hire a mechanic to go through the engine. Can you tell me what the problem or problems could possibly be ???
You probably have a dead cell in the battery!! try hooking up a battery from your car or borrow one and see if it will start. Then we can go from there
I think it could be eather the batterys or the alternator not charging. What I do is jump start the motor to get it running,then remove the battery cables. If the motor quits its the alternator and if it stays running it more then likly the batterys.
If the batteries are more than five years old they most probably are not much good. If one or more cells are dead the battery will not take more than a surface charge which most likely will not be enough to make the starter work.
Start with good fresh batteries that have a full charge (I have found Interstate batteries do very well). In that way you know the batteries are not the problem.
Next, make sure the battery cables are in good condition and they are making good contact on the battery and on the starter. Sometimes corrosion from the battery posts will travel down from the terminal ends through the cable making the cable almost non-conductive.
Check the starter relay to see if it is operating properly.
If all of those items are in good repair and the starter still doesn't turn, jump across the terminals on the starter.
If the starter still doesn't turn, either the starter is toast or the cylinders are full of fuel or water making it so the starter can not turn.
It may not be a bad idea to pull the plugs before you start just to make sure the cylinders are not full. You can break a crank, flex plate, and other expensive items if you try to turn an engine that is "full".
Trying to analyze an electrical problem with out at least a volt/ohm meter is like trying to tell how much water is flowing in a pipe by looking at it. First, purchase a cheap analog (dial) type volt meter. Read and understand the operating instructions that comes with it.Next, attempt to slow charge the battery(ies), check the electrolyte level in the battery(ies) if possible. If the batteries don't show a charge after charging for awhile, disconnect the ground(-) cable from them and try again. If the battery(ies) now take a charge, then you have a constant draw on the system that's discharging the battery(ies), first place to look is the alternator diodes. With the ground cable(s) still disconnected, remove the large red wire from the alternator and isolate it from touching metal..Reconnect the ground cable(s) and see if battery(ies) will accept and hold a charge. If they do, then there is one or more "blown" diodes in the alternator, replace it.After that, connect your volt meter to the fully charged battery(ies) and record the volt reading. Turn on the lights and record the volt reading, should still be up over 11 volts. Next have someone attempt to crank engine with lights off. Voltage should not drop below 10.5 volts on good battery(ies) and starter. You can take the battery(ies) to a battery shop and they can do a load test on them for you if you want to.
Hi Glenn,
You have gotten some very useful information from everyone else here. I would like to add, check what I told Donna, on how to do a Drain Test with a Test Light.
Also, be Very Carefully when it comes to Battery's, you a playing with a Miniature Hydrogen Bomb. Don't Smoke around them, don't make Sparks of any kind,at any time, or KaBoom. If it smell's like Rotten Eggs be VERY Careful, it's Sulfated, and at it's most Dangerous stage.
The engine on my 1999 conversion van, which is an express work van before modifcations, will start but not keep running. It worked fine one day and later that day it would not start for us.
email Glenn Good
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