Engine Won't Crank 2003 Winnebago Brave

[cook4570!]

My 2003 Winnebago suddenly stopped engaging the ignition. All the warning lights are on but the switch will not crank the bus.

 

[mtb50]

Sounds like a starter problem. Make SURE it's in park lay under it and get someone to try and start and tap on it ever so easy with a small hammer.

 

[Waterbug]

Using a hammer to tap on a starter has been a bad idea, since the '60s. Modern starters have high tech ceramic magnets. If you feel comfortable using a hammer on your ceramic dinnerware, go for it. It is a lot more likely to be a bad battery, battery connection or starter solenoid.

 

[Morich]

Back on the farm, we always kept a set of old pliers to make the path across the worn out solenoid!
There's about the same amount of room under an RV as under a tractor.
But I'm still not in favor of the idea!

But it may be more productive to do some looking/testing to see if the signal is getting from the key to the solenoid and if that is making contact.
One of the more common problems may be dirty cables connecting things.

 

[be happy]

I had I guess the same problem on my 07 Meridian. I first thought it was the batteries, which I guess helped. I would turn the key to start and nothing would happen. I would try a few times and finally it would turn over. When I took my coach in for oil change my mechanic informed me that my starter was just about gone. Old starter replaced, now coach starts just like new.

Case in point check starter

 

[Morich]

A new starter is often a cure as they are often built with the solenoid built so that the two are replaced at the same time.
But I tend to like to know the small parts like cables are not the cause as those may get cleaned as the starter is replaced and we never know the difference!

 

[klook]

Ignition switch can be bad also. That is why checking that the solenoid is being powered when the key is turned to start is a good idea.

 

[bigbAZ]

Battery>ignition switch>neutral safety switch>starter relay> battery cables>starter solenoid>starter. It could be any of those. Sometimes they will start in neutral if the NSS is bad or out of adjustment, or if you jam it toward park while turning the key. Is there any clicking? Are the headlights bright and what happens to them when you turn the key to crank? Have you tried wiggling the battery cables at the terminals?

 

[klook]

What is the chassis manufacturer? Ford, Chevy? Van?

 

[Russ-USA]

Year or so ago our Vista 32YE would not start. Crawled under the chassis and found a loose wire to the starter solenoid. Check the simple things first. Battery and connections often times fail. Starters and solenoids are also very prone to failure.

 

[Journey39n]

I had the same problem with my 2003 Itasca Horizon. Turned out the ignition switch was just a very hard turn to get the starter to engage sometimes. Hope your problem is as easy to solve.

 

[Morich]

What is the chassis manufacturer? Ford, Chevy? Van?

Sometimes it seems like folks confuse forums with wishing wells?
Throw a nickel in and assume the answers pop up without having to actually do anything more?
Post a two line question and get ten replies but the group gets no more info !

 

[Winn2021]

My 2004 Brave 34D.... The ground was so corroded in the starter/solenoid, I had to cut it off. Changed out, cranked right up!

 

[klook]

I have 2 old Fords. 92 and 04 with the same ignition switch. It came up in a forum on the old 92 that when you turn the ignition to the start position, which is spring loaded or momentary contact, you are actually pushing a rod or extension in the column and these get sticky with age from all the old grease hardening up. This is actually happening in the 92 and cold weather makes it worse.

 

[Winn2021]

1998 Ford. Same issue, but also ended up was a ground problem....