Complete Chassis Electrical Failure

[Catpowered]

Just a couple of miles from home after a 4 hour drive from the cool mountains, our 04 Meridian just flat quit! I looked at the Allison selector and a little "x" showed up. The engine was idleing for about a minute and then died. Total chassis electrical failure. All gauges showed normal, no warning lights. Ater thinking about this for a minute, I suspected possibly the fusible link from the chassis batteries. I opened the access door and sure enough, the link was melted. I immediately disconnected the engine batteries to keep them from being drained. So, here I am, Sunday afternoon, drove home in the dingy and waiting for Freightliner to open tomorrow morning. Meanwhile, the coach is parked on a busy street with the warning triangles out. Anybody experience anything like this and what was the cause?

[Dadeaux]

For that link to be melted it was excessive drain and excessive drain usually is a short somewhere.

[KIX]

Use a VOM and check for continuity between the chassis side of the fusible link and the chassis. If you indeed have a short you should also have continuity. I would suspect an alternator short which may only show while the alternator is turning. Hope this helps you avoid a tow

[Catpowered]

Thanks, KIX. I shall try the continuity check this morning.

[Catpowered]

Checked the continuity of the positive side of the batteries (disconnected the negative side) with the coach frame and it is a dead short somewhere. Had it towed to the local Freightliner service center, let the pro's sort it out.

[KIX]

Let us know what they find, please.
I'm still thinking the alternator may be shorted.

[RJay]

It's possible that a diode failure on the bridge rectifier can cause a short to ground.

[Catpowered]

As Paul Harvey used to say, "Here is the rest of the story". Freightliner called and said that a major battery cable had shorted out on the coach floor just above the rear axle. It was very tight against the floor and very difficult to access. They have to replace the entire cable which is now on order. They will re-route the new cable to prevent this from happening again. Estimated cost: 4 hours labor plus parts, around $800. Arrrg!

[KIX]

That sounds like a Winnebago caused issue. You could call Winne Customer Service .... they may agree to participate in the payment.

[Catpowered]

Originally Posted by KIX

That sounds like a Winnebago caused issue. You could call Winne Customer Service .... they may agree to participate in the payment.

Good advice, KIX. I e-mailed Winnebago with photos of the burned battery cable and copies of the Freightliner repair bill attached. They agreed to cover fifty percent of the bill. My faith is restored in belief that Winnebago is a quality company!

[KIX]

Happy to hear Winne helped.

[JohnRR]

Originally Posted by Catpowered

Good advice, KIX. I e-mailed Winnebago with photos of the burned battery cable and copies of the Freightliner repair bill attached. They agreed to cover fifty percent of the bill. My faith is restored in belief that Winnebago is a quality company!

Thank you for the update.

[clarkgriswold]

My first thoughts were pretty negative that this happened on the Winnebago....then I read the remainder of the thread. Hurray for Winnebago! It supports my thinking when I was looking for our current RV to only look at Winnebago. Thanks for posting.