Isata 3 chassis battery dead; using house batteries to start

[RolandRevenger]

The past few days, my Sprinter won't start unless I jump start it. Then it runs fine. I was wondering if anyone has used the button on the dash to utilize the house batteries to start their engine. I will be taking it to a service center to have the coach battery tested and replaced, if necessary, but curious if anyone has used the coach batteries to start the engine. Don't want to try if it causes too big of a drain on them. I tried to jump start using another car, but not enough power. Good Sam sent guy out and it fired right up. Anyone with real experience using the coach batteries to start their sprinter? Thanks.

[Riverbend]

They put that switch there for you to use. Guessing you have the standard issue AGM coach batteries, which are capable of a quick burst of cranking amps, which should be listed on the top of the batteries.

[Delco Bobby]

Originally Posted by RolandRevenger

The past few days, my Sprinter won't start unless I jump start it. Then it runs fine. I was wondering if anyone has used the button on the dash to utilize the house batteries to start their engine. I will be taking it to a service center to have the coach battery tested and replaced, if necessary, but curious if anyone has used the coach batteries to start the engine. Don't want to try if it causes too big of a drain on them. I tried to jump start using another car, but not enough power. Good Sam sent guy out and it fired right up. Anyone with real experience using the coach batteries to start their sprinter? Thanks.

Some jumper cables are almost useless. You should have the thick heavy duty ones. I learned that ages ago when my car wouldn't start with my jumper cables. A young lady came by and offered her cables. First time I saw ones that thick. Car started right up.

[caswelld]

Yup, had to use the house batteries on 2 occasions following storage. MB can’t seem to figure out how to make the ignition turn all the parasitic electrical off. Now when we store the Isata we disconnect the battery at the accelerator pedal. I learned that on the forum, too bad my dealer or Dynamax did tell me. Thanks guys!

When we get the I-3 out for the season I’ll install a house battery disconnect. I’ve had 4 RVs and none of the switches that were labeled battery disconnect actually did that. Thanks again to everyone on the forum.

Dave

[Larry-NC]

Originally Posted by Delco Bobby

Some jumper cables are almost useless. You should have the thick heavy duty ones. I learned that ages ago when my car wouldn't start with my jumper cables. A young lady came by and offered her cables. First time I saw ones that thick. Car started right up.

When it gets cold and motor oil turns to grease, it takes a LOT of amps to spin an engine. Even when you're running 5W-10 which most of us did, from October to April. In the 1970s, you couldn't even get 5W-10 except in the northern tier of states.

You needed the thickest cables you could get, copper, not aluminum, with cast jaws, not formed sheet metal. Many folks were embarrassed in the same way you were. When it got to -10 or below, the cables wouldn't immediately start the dead car. Often you had to connect the two cars, put the host car on fast idle, and go back inside for 10-15 minutes before the other car would crank.

Larry
(Everybody from Minnesota has a ten-minutes-from-death story, including me.)