Generator shutting down while in motion

[Charger1204]

My generator will run all day long sitting still but a few moments after driving down the road it shuts off, I'm leaning towards a ground issue, any other possibilities? Thanks for any help or suggestions.
Brad
2010 Winnebago Vista 26p *****I HAVE A ONAN 4000 GENERATOR**** sorry I didn't mention that to begin with!

 

[Isaac-1]

How much fuel do you have in the tank, generators use a separate higher fuel tap versus the engine so they can't suck the fuel tank dry and leave you stranded somewhere. Typically this means the generator will not run if you have less than about 1/4 tank of gasoline.

 

[RV_Lee1]

Dont quote me but I've heard they have other safety features and will shut off if the oil is low too, could be low and once it starts sloshing around it shuts off

 

[LarsMac]

Both are good suggestions.
The only thing I could add is that even when you have half a tank, the sloshing could let air into the intake line. I don't know how much air it can suck before the genny would shut down.
I wouldn't completely eliminate the loose ground idea without confirmation, but those seem a lot more likely. If the ground was "loose", I would expect to find evidence of that fairly quickly.

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

What kind of generator is it? Units like the Cummins will flash a code indicating why they shut down.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[ferfer]

Possible traveling causes lower air flow to generator. What is your speed when shuts down? Will the generator start after waiting a period of time?

 

[DonTom]

Dont quote me but I've heard they have other safety features and will shut off if the oil is low too,

They also shut off when the oil level is too full. It should NOT be to the full line, but less than halfway up. There are many videos on that. Don't believe the info in the Onan manual. The full line is way too full, perhaps with most Onan gennies.

-Don- Auburn, CA

 

[Charger1204]

How much fuel do you have in the tank, generators use a separate higher fuel tap versus the engine so they can't suck the fuel tank dry and leave you stranded somewhere. Typically this means the generator will not run if you have less than about 1/4 tank of gasoline.

Full of gas

 

[LarsMac]

So, what leads you to the notion that it is loose ground?

 

[Charger1204]

The oil level is perfect and all the grounds that I've found are tight, I'll have to see at what speed it shuts down at on my trip today. Thanks for all the responses. I'll update when I have more information and it's an onan 4000 generator.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Please state the generator brand & model, so we don't have to guess what can cause it to shut itself down. Most Onans of the last 20+ years give shutdown codes and have sensors for oil level and power output, but not all of them. And the larger ones have more self-diagnostics.

Update: Checked the 2010 brochure and it shows the 26P having an Onan Microquiet 4000 using gas rather than LP. Sound right?

 

[Charger1204]

So, what leads you to the notion that it is loose ground?

It had this problem when I first got the RV along with some other issues with the AC like a pinched wire from the factory that had exposed bare wire and was blowing a fuse. I found a loose ground on the frame then and tightened it up and all was good. I found information about if there is a voltage drop, the gen would kick off as a safety feature. I might have to take all the ground wires off and make sure there is good contact to the frame. The folks that had this before me, lived near the ocean and there is more rust on bolts and fittings than I would like.

 

[Charger1204]

What kind of generator is it? Units like the Cummins will flash a code indicating why they shut down.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

It always seems to cut out when I can't pull over to check the flashing codes! at the most inconvenient time.

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

Unless the battery is disconnected, the code will be stored until you can retrieve it. It will initially flash the first level fault code for 5 minutes after shutdown but the code is still there and can be reactivated by pressing the stop button 3 times within 5 seconds.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[Mr Lars]

Depending on the design and air circulation in the compartment that houses the generator, this maybe your issue. Air temperature can also be the issue.
Our class A has suffered from this for as long as we have owned it.
Hot days, will run all day long sitting still, get going down the road early cool morning, no problem, when temperatures get above the mid to upper 80’s later in the day the genny will stall, it did help to install a vent louver on the compartment door, that helped somewhat, now it stalls when temps hit 90

 

[DonTom]

The oil level is perfect

Is your "perfect" near the "add" line as it should be and nowhere near the full line?

I am assuming an Onan genny and I do not know if it also applies to any other makes.

What make & model is it?

-Don- Auburn, CA

 

[Kirk]

but the code is still there and can be reactivated by pressing the stop button 3 times within 5 seconds.

That should be the first step in troubleshooting.

 

[Charger1204]

Please state the generator brand & model, so we don't have to guess what can cause it to shut itself down. Most Onans of the last 20+ years give shutdown codes and have sensors for oil level and power output, but not all of them. And the larger ones have more self-diagnostics.

Update: Checked the 2010 brochure and it shows the 26P having an Onan Microquiet 4000 using gas rather than LP. Sound right?

Yessir

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Older Microquiet 4000's don't give diagnostic codes but I think your 2010 model should do so. See this manual for reading the diagnostic code and the meaning of them.

 

[Charger1204]

I apologize for the delay in posting, I have the Cummins Onan RV QG 4000 genny and it shuts down within a couple of miles of starting. I haven't checked the codes when it does and I haven't tried to start it after it shuts down while driving down the road. I hope to do this soon to try to figure out what's going on.
Thanks for all the replies and suggestions. I just don't have time to do the things I want to do on my RV as retirement still eludes me!!