Very uncharted and bizarre territory this evening.....

[bhuppert]

Went to the bedroom this eve and heard an engine running outside the window. (I live out in the country...should not be the case) Opened the window and it was the motorhome generator running! Went outside (9mm in hand not sure what the hell is going on) and sure enuff the genny is on. Nobody in the motorhome it started itself. Push either off button and it starts back up when you let you finger off it. ?????? Had to turn off all the coach batteries to get it to stop restarting. Guys I am going to need some help on this one. The only hints I can give is that the hour meter has never worked and over the last month the start switch next to the meter (that never worked on the main coach control panel) stopped working. It's that time of year for mice in WI but I really do not think that is it. 1st thing that comes to mind is the genny motherboard or whatever they call it. But I am only guessing. I hope someone has heard of something like this and gives me an option that doesn't involve shotgunning parts.

[grtharris]

Been there done that. Clean the low voltage connect at the generator with an electronic spray cleaner/dryer and lube with a dielectric grease. Usually happens when the humility is high.

[Mr_D]

Yes, it does happen, usually (as was said) water/moisture gets into some of the circuits and shorts them out enough to start them up.
Earlier this year our PowerTech 8.0 KW liquid cooled gen fuel pump would run all the time and the gen would quit after a few minutes. Kept trying to run it and it finally kept running and the pump would quit when turned off just like normal. Never did figure out the cause but it's working fine now.

Oh yes, we need more info like brand/model/fuel type etc. when posting.

[1ciderdog]

My 7.5 Onan quiet generator did start on its own a couple of times - moisture in the connector was the reason.

[vsheetz]

Aliens? Or maybe ghosts (it's that time of year)?

[Selah2]

Ours will start automatically if the batteries get too low.

[bhuppert]

sorry onan emerald 5000. Going to try the connector this weekend. As far as I can tell you better be handy or have a big checkbook to own an RV. Lucky I'm a little handy....

[Izzyblueye]

Your observation on RV'g is spot on. However the payback is worth it.

[frankdamp]

I'd rather have your problem than mine! I've been trying to figure out why my Onan 5500 WON'T run. I have a nasty suspicion that whatever makes the innards not compatible with ethanol-treated gas may have gone bad.

Ah, well, we never use it anyway (just once in three seasons, plus the monthly "exercise). I'll have to get it fixed before I try to sell the RV, but for now it's just ride-along dead weight.

[Luckiest Dreamer]

Ours has a setting that will automatically start the generator when it is needed if the inverter or the lack of shore power requires it. I know that every MH has different features so cannot comment otherwise on yours. I believe the first thing you should do is reread your manual to check on the settings for it's use.

[HicksRA]

I hope mine doesn't do that. It's in a storage facility with 150 gallons of fuel in the coach.........

[bhuppert]

Originally Posted by HicksRA

I hope mine doesn't do that. It's in a storage facility with 150 gallons of fuel in the coach.........

Right! I was just super glad I heard it running. Going to dive into it 2mrrw and see what I find. It was plugged in charging the batteries so they were not at all low. As for not starting that was the problem this spring. The carb is not supposed to be cleaned but it'sjust like any other carb, Take it apart and clean it. They gum up fast. Run a few cans of sea foam thru it when ur done. Runs like new now so much so I don't even need to want it to run....

[Selah2]

We went to the storage facility to pick up our coach and the motorhome parked next to us had the generator running. No one was there. We notified the facility to contact the owner. No idea now long it had been on ....
Be sure to turn your auto start off when storing.