Post by Dave Schultz on Apr 20, 2010 14:33:40 GMT -5
I have a dead generator in my 2 year old motor home -- and I need to get it fixed before a race. I'm sure I'll have to take it to a shop -- but I know that they won't get it fixed right or on time. Searches on Error code 27 for Onan generators show a lot of heartache -- and finger pointing.
Facts:
2009 Silver Crown Coach. Frieghtliner Coronado with Detroit motor bought from Becks Marine. (Happy with both of them -- but they're 1500 miles away)
The dealer and manufacturer are in Michigan, there are no dealers outside of Michigan, and the coach is out of warranty
Generator is a Onan Quiet Diesel 21500
Inverter is a Magnum
Symptom: Generator starts and immediately shuts down with three blinking lights -- meaning it needs service. Pressing stop once for the blinking error codes get two blinks, then seven blinks for an Error Code 27.
code 27
inverter lost PMA sensing
1 check wires between stator and inverter for loose or bad connection
2 ohm stator there are 3 pairs of wires check
t1-1 and t2-1
t2-1 and t3-1
t1-1 and t3-1
t2-2 and t1-2
t3-2 and t2-2
t1-2 and t2-3
.997-1.219 ohms at 70*
if winding open replace stator
3 replace controlSearching on the Internet shows this to be a nightmare with people claiming Onan people can't/won't fix, blame the inverter, the inverter blames the generator.....) I tried everything I could to diagnose the problem myself -- but I'm not getting anywhere.
Three things I should note are:
1. This first started at the end of last summer. We saw the 3 blinks and didn't know to go further for the error codes -- as we didn't know from them then. Changed the oil, and oil/air/fuel filters and the problem went away. Maybe 50 hours of operation later the same happened -- and while we thought that was pretty quick for shutting down for an oil change -- we again changed the filters. Over the winter -- we didn't run the generator as frequently as we should have -- but did run it at least monthly.
2. Last month when getting the motor home ready for the season -- the generator wouldn't start. We saw one of the three house batteries had blown off or melted off a corner of the case -- and replaced it. There are also three chassis batteries -- all Interstates Marine/RV batteries rated at 675 CCA.
3. After replacing the battery and charging the others -- the motor home had the three blinking lights after not staying running -- and so we again changed the oil and filters. It then ran for three days worth of running a couple of hours at a time -- although it didn't keep the batteries charged. We took the coach to a race -- and the generator wouldn't stay running -- and hasn't stayed running since.
The below is what we have tried/found:
* Found a 35amp circuit breaker on the inside fuse panel tripped and reset it
* Oil and water are full
* Found loose connections in the basement wiring panel -- and checked/tighten every wire on the panel, and any other connection we could find.
* Pressed the rest on the circuit board
* Tried to start with a load (AC switched on) and without a load
* Totally disconnected trailer to eliminate it (short/wiring) as a cause.
* Disconnected the power to the inverter
* Tried it with the generator's circuit breaker off
* Charged and replaced every (all six) house and chassis battery with new MAXX 29 Marine/RV Deep Cycle batteries sold at Wally World
None of this has done anything to change the code from being a 27.
I'm now at a loss at what else to try -- and it is most likely going to need to take it to a technician who will use a service manual and e/meter to diagnose. Problem is that where do I find this guy? I see people complaining that when they take to Onan -- they get it started and say no problem or can't get it to stay running and blame the inverter/charger/house wiring (which they won't touch) -- generally resulting in a wasted week and wasted money. Camping World down the road sucks. They've dropped the ball every time I've tried to do something with them -- in addition to the service appointment in the very distant future. I called at 7:50AM yesterday and got their "we're closed" Message. Called back at 8:15AM -- a human answered the phone and transferred me to a Service writer's voice mail. 24 hours later -- he's not returned the call. This is the third time in a year I've gone through this ritual.
Facts:
2009 Silver Crown Coach. Frieghtliner Coronado with Detroit motor bought from Becks Marine. (Happy with both of them -- but they're 1500 miles away)
The dealer and manufacturer are in Michigan, there are no dealers outside of Michigan, and the coach is out of warranty
Generator is a Onan Quiet Diesel 21500
Inverter is a Magnum
Symptom: Generator starts and immediately shuts down with three blinking lights -- meaning it needs service. Pressing stop once for the blinking error codes get two blinks, then seven blinks for an Error Code 27.
code 27
inverter lost PMA sensing
1 check wires between stator and inverter for loose or bad connection
2 ohm stator there are 3 pairs of wires check
t1-1 and t2-1
t2-1 and t3-1
t1-1 and t3-1
t2-2 and t1-2
t3-2 and t2-2
t1-2 and t2-3
.997-1.219 ohms at 70*
if winding open replace stator
3 replace control
Three things I should note are:
1. This first started at the end of last summer. We saw the 3 blinks and didn't know to go further for the error codes -- as we didn't know from them then. Changed the oil, and oil/air/fuel filters and the problem went away. Maybe 50 hours of operation later the same happened -- and while we thought that was pretty quick for shutting down for an oil change -- we again changed the filters. Over the winter -- we didn't run the generator as frequently as we should have -- but did run it at least monthly.
2. Last month when getting the motor home ready for the season -- the generator wouldn't start. We saw one of the three house batteries had blown off or melted off a corner of the case -- and replaced it. There are also three chassis batteries -- all Interstates Marine/RV batteries rated at 675 CCA.
3. After replacing the battery and charging the others -- the motor home had the three blinking lights after not staying running -- and so we again changed the oil and filters. It then ran for three days worth of running a couple of hours at a time -- although it didn't keep the batteries charged. We took the coach to a race -- and the generator wouldn't stay running -- and hasn't stayed running since.
The below is what we have tried/found:
* Found a 35amp circuit breaker on the inside fuse panel tripped and reset it
* Oil and water are full
* Found loose connections in the basement wiring panel -- and checked/tighten every wire on the panel, and any other connection we could find.
* Pressed the rest on the circuit board
* Tried to start with a load (AC switched on) and without a load
* Totally disconnected trailer to eliminate it (short/wiring) as a cause.
* Disconnected the power to the inverter
* Tried it with the generator's circuit breaker off
* Charged and replaced every (all six) house and chassis battery with new MAXX 29 Marine/RV Deep Cycle batteries sold at Wally World
None of this has done anything to change the code from being a 27.
I'm now at a loss at what else to try -- and it is most likely going to need to take it to a technician who will use a service manual and e/meter to diagnose. Problem is that where do I find this guy? I see people complaining that when they take to Onan -- they get it started and say no problem or can't get it to stay running and blame the inverter/charger/house wiring (which they won't touch) -- generally resulting in a wasted week and wasted money. Camping World down the road sucks. They've dropped the ball every time I've tried to do something with them -- in addition to the service appointment in the very distant future. I called at 7:50AM yesterday and got their "we're closed" Message. Called back at 8:15AM -- a human answered the phone and transferred me to a Service writer's voice mail. 24 hours later -- he's not returned the call. This is the third time in a year I've gone through this ritual.
The below is a couple of related links.
* Onan Generator Quits On Start With No Load - iRV2 Forums
* RV.Net Open Roads Forum: ONAN 4000 generator will not start: Error Code 27
* Motorhome Magazine Open Roads Forum: Tech Issues: Onan 7.5 Diesel genny problem
* Onan Generator Quits On Start With No Load - iRV2 Forums
* RV.Net Open Roads Forum: ONAN 4000 generator will not start: Error Code 27
* Motorhome Magazine Open Roads Forum: Tech Issues: Onan 7.5 Diesel genny problem
