onan 4k problem

[Wetranger]

my onan 4k ky was clicking when trying to start, and would eventually turn over and start, until it wouldnt, it would prime ok, so i replaced the solenoid, and it also needed a start switch at the genset, when i replaced the switch, the light stayed on, on the switch, now if i try to start it, the prime comes on, but i have no power on the starter side of the solenoid

 

[DonTom]

my onan 4k ky was clicking when trying to start, and would eventually turn over and start, until it wouldnt, it would prime ok, so i replaced the solenoid, and it also needed a start switch at the genset, when i replaced the switch, the light stayed on, on the switch, now if i try to start it, the prime comes on, but i have no power on the starter side of the solenoid

Welcome.

Did you check the voltages under load (of trying to start) at the battery as well as on the thick cable on Onan?

Are you trying to start it from the genny itself or the control box?

Is it the switch on the genny itself that you replaced?

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Isaac-1]

Also check for corrosion on any of the battery cable connections, this sounds like voltage sag

 

[Kirk]

when i replaced the switch, the light stayed on, on the switch, now if i try to start it, the prime comes on, but i have no power on the starter side of the solenoid

It sounds like you made a mistake when connecting things. To do more than guess, I'd need a lot more information.

 

[Wetranger]

No problem connecting, i think the control board is the issue, the switch is just a plugin, other tan that, there is two battery cables and 3 wires that are molded into place

 

[Wetranger]

Welcome.

Did you check the voltages under load (of trying to start) at the battery as well as on the thick cable on Onan?

Are you trying to start it from the genny itself or the control box?

Is it the switch on the genny itself that you replaced?

-Don- Reno, NV

i am not getting power to the starter side of solenoid, the two wires that connect to solenoid both ohm as ground while wires are on them, when i push start, the fuel pump comes on but nothing to the starter, i am thinking control board, because it had been clicking while trying to start it, but would eventually start, i cleaned all connections, but they werent dirty, and all of a sudden, it wouldnt do anything but prime, the fuel pump would come on, but no power to the starter, it has a new starter two years ago,

 

[DonTom]

because it had been clicking while trying to start it, but would eventually start,

Sounds like low voltage to me. Did you measure it at the cables under load? How old are the house batteries?

What it sounds like, if it's the solenoid clicking, that the voltage drops low when you try to start so then the solenoid drops out. It then gets full voltage while no load. So then it tries again. So then it is click-click-click-click. And still possible to start, if it can start really super-fast.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[DonTom]

i am not getting power to the starter side of solenoid,

What is the voltage on the solenoid coil (across the thin wires on top) when you try to start?

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Wetranger]

it shows both being ground

 

[DonTom]

it shows both being ground

Disconnect both wires and test between the top contacts on the solenoid on a 1 times scale on an ohmmeter.

And post the readings here.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Wetranger]

2.0

 

[DonTom]

2.0

2 ohms doesn't sound right. Sounds way too low. I can compare with mine (also is an Onan 4K) in a couple of days when I get back to Auburn, CA.

What make & model VOM are you using?

Now check the voltage across the two loose wires NOT connected when you try to start.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Wetranger]

Also check for corrosion on any of the battery cable connections, this sounds like voltage sag

I HAVE TWO 1 YEAR OLD LITHIUM 400 AH NEW CABLES, NO CORROSION, 14 VOLTS, ON SOLAR TOO, MY PROBLEM IS CONNECTED TO ALL THE WHITE WIRES, BEFORE TOUCHING ANYTHING, THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED, THATS WHY IM THINKING CONTROL PANEL, I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH ONE BEFORE, SO I DONT KNOW HOW THEY ACT WHEN FAILING

 

[Wetranger]

2 ohms doesn't sound right. Sounds way too low. I can compare with mine (also is an Onan 4K) in a couple of days when I get back to Auburn, CA.

What make & model VOM are you using?

Now check the voltage across the two loose wires NOT connected when you try to start.

-Don- Reno, NV

UN PLUGGED THE TWO WIRES WERE OL, I CHECKED THE OLD SOLENOID AND IT WAS 4.1, I DONT KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN BY VOM, IM ASSUMING VOLTMETER, ITS A FLUKE

 

[DonTom]

THATS WHY IM THINKING CONTROL PANEL

Control panel or control board?

Use the start switch located right on the generator and see what happens. IIRC, the control panel can be unplugged.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[DonTom]

ITS A FLUKE

VOM=Volt-Ohm-Meter, such as your Fluke.

What model Fluke? I need to make sure it is being used correctly when on ohms.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Wetranger]

VOM=Volt-Ohm-Meter, such as your Fluke.

What model Fluke? I need to make sure it is being used correctly when on ohms.

-Don- Reno, NV

323

 

[Wetranger]

THE FLUKE DOESNT HAVE ANY OPTIONS FOR OHMS, IT IS ONLY 1 SETTING

 

[DonTom]

THE FLUKE DOESNT HAVE ANY OPTIONS FOR OHMS, IT IS ONLY 1 SETTING

Yes it does.

Fluke 323 Clamp Meter For Commercial/Residential Electricians, Measures AC Current To 400 A,Measures AC/DC Voltage To 600 V, Resistance And Continuity, Includes 2 Year Warranty And Soft Carrying Case​

The omega sign (below) is "resistance and continuity" which means ohms.

The one above the "V". Do you have the test leads for it? To check for ohms, there MUST be no voltage on whatever you're checking.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Wetranger]

yes