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RV Engine Shuts Off With Headlights On
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BiffRocko
New User
Mar 8, 2010, 4:12 PM
Post #1 of 6
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RV Engine Shuts Off With Headlights On
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My wife and I recently bought a 1977 RV with a Dodge engine. It runs fine with the headlights turned off. It even starts and idles with the headlights turned on. However, when the headlights are on, it turns off as soon as I change gears from Park to Drive. We recently installed a brand new engine battery. Our house battery is on it's last legs though. I'm wondering if this could be the problem or if it's something else entirely. Please let me know if more info is needed. Any help or suggestions are appreciated.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 8, 2010, 4:29 PM
Post #2 of 6
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Re: RV Engine Shuts Off With Headlights On
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Not sure what you mean by "House Battery" but I would be looking hard at all primary battery connections and cables - both ends. Can't you isolate RV functions from engine and driving functions? Perhaps the added load of headlights, lower idle from load drops current enough to stall it out. A guess but at the age those connections must be known good,
T
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BiffRocko
New User
Mar 8, 2010, 4:40 PM
Post #3 of 6
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Re: RV Engine Shuts Off With Headlights On
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The RV has 2 batteries. One for the engine and one for all of the lights and accessories inside the RV.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 8, 2010, 4:47 PM
Post #4 of 6
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Re: RV Engine Shuts Off With Headlights On
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Same suggestion and that's what I thought you meant. What I'm thinking is the battery for the engine can't run the headlights AND get proper power for ignition - a guess. You could check for voltage drop going below specs when headlights are on which would help to prove this.
1977! It could have needed new cables and clean ups of all connections a couple times already,
T
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nickwarner
Veteran
/ Moderator
Mar 8, 2010, 6:33 PM
Post #5 of 6
(2835 views)
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Re: RV Engine Shuts Off With Headlights On
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Also bear in mind that your alternator is trying to charge both batteries, and with a bad one you are putting it in full field when the lights are on. Tom is right about those connections, and it would be a good idea to replace the bad house battery along with getting the alternator tested out. My guess is its probably not up to par, and a combination of bad connections/ cables, bad battery and overstressed alternator are to blame for this condition. In an electrical system one bad thing will cause problems down the line in related components. I don't trust any electrical parts that have been around longer than I have.
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BiffRocko
New User
Mar 8, 2010, 7:30 PM
Post #6 of 6
(2834 views)
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Re: RV Engine Shuts Off With Headlights On
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I think you nailed it as a combination of alternator, the dead house battery, and a some wiring issues. Thanks for the reply.
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