Battery Question

[Stearn]

I have 2019 Leprechaun 26 DSC Chevy 4500 Express. They put a battery underneath on the drivers side. Today I tried to start it only to find a dead battery, but something kept clicking , sounded like a solenoid for the starter. I took off cable from the battery in the engine compartment. It didn’t shut it off ! Seems like the battery I disconnected isn’t the starting battery, it’s the one under the MH . Hoping someone can help me understand how all this works !

[Aussieguy]

Is there a battery in the engine compartment?
I would think that would be the starting battery.




If the battery under the seat says something like marine or deep cycle

then that will be the house battery




look to see if there is a switch that allows you to combine the house and starting battery
saves you using a jumper cable

[Stearn]

There is no battery under the seat, it’s tucked under near the generator . You have to crawl under the MH to access it. Ours is not equipped with emergency start. Seems like I have two batteries for the front and two under the steps.
I am scheduled for service tomorrow, hope to learn more .

[Aussieguy]

sorry thought you said under seat...


90% sure the starting battery will be the one in the engine compartment
follow the red cable and see if it goes to the engine fuse box

[Aussieguy]

if you have 2 batteries in the front both are supplying power to starter ?
sounds weird to me...... aftermarket?



couldn't find any info in the owners manual
https://forestriverinc.help/#/coachm...ation-14-en_us

[Stearn]

Yes, I disconnected the battery by the engine , and solenoid kept clicking. I turned on the ignition again and put in gear noise stopped. Tried again very weak but started. I then hooked up the cable I disconnected on the battery under the hood . ????

[Aussieguy]

found this thread may help?
https://www.forestriverforums.com/fo...is-230569.html



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without seeing what you got it is hard to workout and explain how your batteries work


If you can ...

take it to whoever you bought it from (or any repair place) and ask them if they can explain your batteries and how to maintain them.


even if they charge you a few bucks to test batteries / go through your system and explain it to you
it will be money well spent.


otherwise hopefully some

[Stearn]

Thanks , I totally agree! Planning to get answers tomorrow. I was hoping someone else might have the same set up, to hear what they may have experienced . Seems like a strange deal .

[Reverse_snowbird]

Originally Posted by Stearn

Thanks , I totally agree! Planning to get answers tomorrow. I was hoping someone else might have the same set up, to hear what they may have experienced . Seems like a strange deal .

Please let us know what you find out.
The two batteries in the steps are your 'house' batteries. I have no idea about the other battery.

One thing you need to know is that in those Class C motorhomes, the house batteries and chassis battery are usually connected. Find out if there is an emergency start. It would be unusual if you didn't have one... That's usually the click you're hearing. Perhaps it's an automatic switch?

[Stearn]

I know the two batteries under the steps are house batteries. Normally the battery in the engine compartment is the battery to start the engine and operate the accessories. What I don’t understand is the extra battery under the MH. The emergency start is not on my unit, my previous mh had one . I will post my findings . Thanks for helping !

[TimLG]

Aussieguy's link is the answer. RPO code TP2 description shown below. If you use the chassis lights or dash power outlets with the key off, the battery underneath provides the power so the primary (starting) battery does not run down.

"TP2 Battery, 600 cold-cranking amps primary, isolated 2nd
heavy-duty 770 cold-cranking amps, allows 2nd battery to be
used when the vehicle is not running without affecting ability to
start the vehicle"

[Stearn]

I have replaced both batteries, the one underneath checked bad and the one under the hood marginal. Aussie guys post he referred, seems to be the best explanation I have found. I bought maintenance free batteries , so hopefully, no more dead battery issues. Next time I take my GM car in , I hope to have a talk with someone that works on medium duty trucks. Thanks to all !

[Aussieguy]

if the truck sat around a long time
OR the batteries were Old
Then that explains why they went out

Otherwise if you can't think why they died keep a good eye on them for a while


check your voltage
with and without the motor ON
same check while on generator and shore power


with no external power battery's should be about 12.6v
with power while charging they should be 13.6 or above

[Stearn]

My unit is a 2019 , with a 2017 chassis, so over five years with two years just setting. When tested one was bad the other marginal. One would wonder why not eliminate the one battery , and put in a battery boost switch ? One less battery to replace . I wonder how hard it would be to add a battery booster?