Onan Microlite 2800 Generator Won't Turn Over

[No1UKnow]

Hi there! Trying to get the generator going on a 2006 Roadtrek 190 Popular in preparation for sale. It will probably need a new carburetor because it's been sitting. Meanwhile, I cannot get the generator to turn over, at least with the starter switch inside the van. It does nothing. DC Lights inside work. Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[topwop]

If your batteries are not fully charged it may not turn over. Have you checked the Voltage in them? Lights working don't draw too much so if the batteries are low they might still work. Have you tried starting your Roadtrek and see if the batteries are charging? If it starts up let it run for a few minutes then try to start the genny with it running. Always try the simple things first .

 

[No1UKnow]

If your batteries are not fully charged it may not turn over. Have you checked the Voltage in them? Lights working don't draw too much so if the batteries are low they might still work. Have you tried starting your Roadtrek and see if the batteries are charging? If it starts up let it run for a few minutes then try to start the genny with it running. Always try the simple things first .

Thanks for your response Which battery(ies) are used to start the generator? The main drive engine battery or the house?

 

[Holdmybeer]

Ordinarily the chassis battery. I always start the engine before cranking the generator.

 

[topwop]

Thanks for your response Which battery(ies) are used to start the generator? The main drive engine battery or the house?

I agree with Holdmybeer, the house batteries are used to start the generator, if you start the Roadtrek it adds kind of a boost to the house batteries as they get charged with the engine running.

 

[No1UKnow]

I agree with Holdmybeer, the house batteries are used to start the generator, if you start the Roadtrek it adds kind of a boost to the house batteries as they get charged with the engine running.

Hmmm... I asked AI "roadtrek 190 popular which batteries start the generator". The answer SEEMS to agree, though the part in ORANGE seems to indicate otherwise:

In a Roadtrek 190 Popular, the generator starts using the chassis (starting) battery, (????) which powers the engine, but the generator itself often relies on the coach's house batteries (like AGM or Lithium) for its own start/stop functions, with systems like VoltStart managing them, requiring a certain voltage (around 12V) for ignition, though you may need to check your specific model's manual.
Key Battery Types & Roles:

• Chassis Battery (Starting Battery): Powers the RV's engine and its starting functions, also powers lights when driving.
• House Batteries (AGM/Lithium): Run the living area appliances, lights, and often manage the generator's operation and charging.

Unfortunately, the House Batteries on this Roadtrek are way-gone. I'll replace at least one of the House batteries. The next task will be to drop the jenny and replace the carburetor, as the folks who bought this one three years ago parked it and never ran it. I'm sure the ethanol has killed the carb. Anyone ever done that on a 190?

 

[Holdmybeer]

Hmmm... I asked AI "roadtrek 190 popular which batteries start the generator". The answer SEEMS to agree, though the part in ORANGE seems to indicate otherwise:

In a Roadtrek 190 Popular, the generator starts using the chassis (starting) battery, (????) which powers the engine, but the generator itself often relies on the coach's house batteries (like AGM or Lithium) for its own start/stop functions, with systems like VoltStart managing them, requiring a certain voltage (around 12V) for ignition, though you may need to check your specific model's manual.
Key Battery Types & Roles:

• Chassis Battery (Starting Battery): Powers the RV's engine and its starting functions, also powers lights when driving.
• House Batteries (AGM/Lithium): Run the living area appliances, lights, and often manage the generator's operation and charging.

Unfortunately, the House Batteries on this Roadtrek are way-gone. I'll replace at least one of the House batteries. The next task will be to drop the jenny and replace the carburetor, as the folks who bought this one three years ago parked it and never ran it. I'm sure the ethanol has killed the carb. Anyone ever done that on a 190?

The generator doesn't have battery and doesn't therefore have anything to manage or charge. It starts from the chassis battery which can be charged either by the engine alternator when the engine is running or from an onboard charger when on shore power. Otherwise, the carburetor is not preventing it turning over. First things first.

 

[topwop]

Hmmm... I asked AI "roadtrek 190 popular which batteries start the generator". The answer SEEMS to agree, though the part in ORANGE seems to indicate otherwise:

In a Roadtrek 190 Popular, the generator starts using the chassis (starting) battery, (????) which powers the engine, but the generator itself often relies on the coach's house batteries (like AGM or Lithium) for its own start/stop functions, with systems like VoltStart managing them, requiring a certain voltage (around 12V) for ignition, though you may need to check your specific model's manual.
Key Battery Types & Roles:

• Chassis Battery (Starting Battery): Powers the RV's engine and its starting functions, also powers lights when driving.
• House Batteries (AGM/Lithium): Run the living area appliances, lights, and often manage the generator's operation and charging.

Unfortunately, the House Batteries on this Roadtrek are way-gone. I'll replace at least one of the House batteries. The next task will be to drop the jenny and replace the carburetor, as the folks who bought this one three years ago parked it and never ran it. I'm sure the ethanol has killed the carb. Anyone ever done that on a 190?

If you have 2 house batteries you need to replace both of them as you can't have 1 good one and 1 bad one working together. It's possible you only have 1 - 12V for the house, I happen to use 2 - 6v, in which case you would only need one.
As far as the generator goes we bought ours in 2020 from the original owners, so it was 14 years old, and the genny only had 22 hours on it. I was a bit concerned but after listening to some other owners in the Roadtrek groups I purchased new batteries, filled the gas tank with gas and added 3 cans of Seafoam to it. It started and I just let it run for a few hours. It was good for a couple years then I had to replace the fuel pump and have some other work done to it. So if it's me I'm trying the Seafoam first just to see what happens. I'm 71 now and there's no way I'm crawling under that thing to drop the genny.
Please don't rely on AI for your answers just join a few Roadtrek Groups on Facebook, or other platforms, as the folks there are really knowledgeable and more than happy to help with any questions you might have.
Good luck!

 

[No1UKnow]

If you have 2 house batteries you need to replace both of them as you can't have 1 good one and 1 bad one working together. It's possible you only have 1 - 12V for the house, I happen to use 2 - 6v, in which case you would only need one.
As far as the generator goes we bought ours in 2020 from the original owners, so it was 14 years old, and the genny only had 22 hours on it. I was a bit concerned but after listening to some other owners in the Roadtrek groups I purchased new batteries, filled the gas tank with gas and added 3 cans of Seafoam to it. It started and I just let it run for a few hours. It was good for a couple years then I had to replace the fuel pump and have some other work done to it. So if it's me I'm trying the Seafoam first just to see what happens. I'm 71 now and there's no way I'm crawling under that thing to drop the genny.
Please don't rely on AI for your answers just join a few Roadtrek Groups on Facebook, or other platforms, as the folks there are really knowledgeable and more than happy to help with any questions you might have.
Good luck!

At least your jenny started. What do you do if it doesn't start at all, like this one?

 

[No1UKnow]

The generator doesn't have battery and doesn't therefore have anything to manage or charge. It starts from the chassis battery which can be charged either by the engine alternator when the engine is running or from an onboard charger when on shore power. Otherwise, the carburetor is not preventing it turning over. First things first.

Yep. I am aware the jenny has no battery but was uncertain as to which battery is used to start it. Still am, to some degree. Above, you say the chassis battery is used to start the generator, but @topwop says it's the House. the AI response tends to indicate the House as well. My chassis battery is well-charged, but not the House batteries

 

[Holdmybeer]

Yep. I am aware the jenny has no battery but was uncertain as to which battery is used to start it. Still am, to some degree. Above, you say the chassis battery is used to start the generator, but @topwop says it's the House. the AI response tends to indicate the House as well. My chassis battery is well-charged, but not the House batteries

Gemini does say your coach uses the house batteries to start the generator, so you'd need to.fix that issue before anything else. Your own AI query is saying two things however. And TopWop is right, replacing only one battery won't work.

 

[topwop]

At least your jenny started. What do you do if it doesn't start at all, like this one?

First you have to get a good house battery in there to see if it will even crank. If you have a different vehicle you can borrow the battery out of, just to see if it will crank, hook it up and see what happens. If not since you said the old house battery/batteries are shot replace them first, since you're going to have to do that anyway, and see what happens.