I have a 2004 E-450 Super Duty Chassis on my Jamboree 26Q. Ford says it's a 2004 year model California Taxifornia says it's a 2005
Went to start it last week. Needed to jump start it. I tried to jump with the emergency start button on the dash, nada. All it did was click. So I got my battery jumper box and it started right up. I cleaned the battery terminals, still clicks, use the jumper box and it turns over slow and then it starts right up.

I was going to get a new battery and go that route but I used my volt meter and it shows that the battery has a 12.9v charge on it.
In my youth I drove a Tow Truck, I think the starter is about to take a dump on me. Anyone else have this problem?

The part that puzzles me most is that I have a solar system and six 6v U2200 Interstate battery's on board. According to the solar control panel they have 13.8 yesterday at 1030hrs. These battery's were put in service in Jul-08 They should do something to make it start.

The Chassis battery is an Interstate Mega-Tron Plus 65 Battery, that's 4 years old. (Aug-08.) The voltage on the chassis battery shows 12.9 not hooked up. (both positive and negative cables removed)

Any ideas?
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How does it act when the starter is engaged and turning the engine? Does it drag, click or otherwise seem to be laboring?

I'm wondering if your starter solenoid isn't acting up? I'm running a '00 E250, 5.4 gas engine with original starter, 266K + miles so far. While its possible the starter itself is about to exit I've not seen too many starter only related issues with our chassis.

A friend's '99 E250, 5.4 gas with about 150K miles, original starter occasionally grinds but doesn't make full contact with the flexplate---letting off the key then hitting it again fires right up. So far this hasn't been a problem for him (too lazy to change the solenoid) but my guess is both of you have similar issues.

OTOH I don't know voltage alone is good enough indication whether your chassis battery has enough amps left to turn the engine. Could be a load test of it would reveal something useful.

Hope its nothing too serious!

 

W6PEA, are you a ham?

 

Yes...I hold an Extra Class license.

 

W9PSK here. Does this count as a contact? lol I is a general class licensee. Other than maybe trying the old tapping on the starter trick, I don't know what to suggest. You might need a new one.

 

I have a great Ball Peen Hammer, I guess I will try that before I spend the money for a battery and or starter.

 

does'nt your motorhome have a way to connect both start & house batteries? such as a switch= 1, 2, both...(my other m.h. had a relay that would connect both, so trk. would charge all of them)....J

 

Jerry,
Yes it does. But for some reason that switch doesn't want to work.(Next problem for mechanic). I went to the shop and they ran a load test on the battery and used a hydrometer on the battery. It had 2 dead cells in it. It also had a bulge on the right side under the ground terminal So much for a 85mo battery. Anyway they replaced it under warranty