EMERGENCY Roadside Help Needed

[Shan-man]

After a close-call -- I mean I thought I was gonna die -- I started experiencing some dragging in the engine under acceleration. We have been driving through torrential rain, and my close-call led to some sudden steering and deceleration, so I didn't give it much attention until my dash lights started to dim and then, finally, I noticed my volt-meter was reporting about 8 volts! We made it safely to a rest area and got the generator started... so we are safe and comfortable. I broke out my high-dollar battery charger and hooked it up and lo, it said that I have 12v at the battery! Then I thought it might be the built-in charger (remember, the genset is running) so I disconnect the wires... still 12v. I checked in the engine compartment and the alternator belt is still there. I'm running out of ideas. Does anybody have some advice for me? The alternator is only 5 years old, with relatively few miles. I am at a loss, and I really don't want to test AAA RV Plus tonight! Help! Please?

 

[ntsammy5]

Got any beer with you?

You can drink one while the mechanic is looking at the battery. That's the only advice I have, but drinking a beer is almost always good advice!

 

[kc5grw]

Sorry to hear about your problems.

Did you check your battery connections to make sure they are tight? You could still be seeing full voltage across the battery but a loose connection is going to create current flow problems.

Do you have another battery in the rig that you can swap out?

 

[FlaFortCampster]

BE SAFE. Let us know when you are back on the road and safe and sound.

 

[katejay]

Just a thought if possable you hydo planned or whent through a large puddle.Maybe your distributer cap got wet and you lost spark.I am not sure what you are driving but that use to happen to one of my trucks.Hope everything turns out allright.

 

[becky1960]

I have alternators fail on more than one occasion. While working as Police officer over the years we went thru alternators pretty fast even the huge 100 amp ones. Thats the first place to look or a loose belt due to rain..

 

[BearwithMouseEars]

You should be seeing at least 14 volts if you check the voltage at the battery with the rig running . Try checking the voltage at the battery under load . i.e turn on your headlamps and see if the voltage drops . Of course I dont think the battery is your problem as it would be to much of a coincidence after your RV lights , camera , action stunt show attempt . Hey at least your safe .
If your schedule permits , you could always rest overnight and try it in the morning and if it isnt better give AAA a call .

 

[liv luvs disney]

I am communicating w/ dh on the cell phone while trying to help you. Keep in mind I know NOTHING about vehicles let alone a mh. Dh knows more about vehicles, but little about mh. He says on an older model there could be a belt for the alternator that may be loose? Also said to disconnect the negative battery post while motor is running, if the motor dies, it's the alternator. Evidently alternators can go bad while new/newer. Could be serpentine (sp?) belt is loose? Advanced Auto tests batteries and alternators free of charge. I have a feeling I am not telling you anything that you do not already know. I am just wanting to help. (Where is the dang "sign" for FRUSTRATED?!)

 

[Shan-man]

Some capital ideas... I did have a beer, I did switch the batteries. Neither really helped my situation. The battery swap allowed me to start the moho again, but the volt-meter began to drop again. It seemed to level out at about 10v when the lights were off, but would continue to drop with the headlights on. It seems the alternator is failing slowly, giving me some output, just not enough. I think we are going to boondock here tonight and try flying low and slow without the lights tomorrow and try to find a repair shop... anyone know a good one near Mocksville, NC?

Oh BTW, yes, I did hydroplane, for about 300 feet at 60mph and doubt it slowed by 10mph in that distance. Doing it in a car is scary enough, doing it with 12000lbs of motorhome is heartstopping. I was lined up perfectly so my drivers-side wheel would land about the middle of the little BMW's trunk, the little Beemer that was stopped cold in my lane with no lights on. I've got no steering, no braking, just some final words to the wife, "we're going to hit... dear God no" and literally at the last moment a bit of traction and my front lurched right just 10-20 feet before impact (it may have been more, but it sure didn't feel like it) and somehow I found a gap between the two cars on my right, they had to have seen the wreck about to happen and begun to move over. I decelerated safely to the shoulder. I cannot believe that I didn't hit anything, or that the folks around me (and there were quite a few) were able to avoid crashes of their own in the midst of my flailing! That God would be so good to me is simply beyond my comprehension.

 

[ntsammy5]

After reading that I have more advice for you --- change your underwear!

 

[Minnie&Mickey]

Wow! That's so scary! I'm glad to hear that everyone is okay.

Hope you are able to solve the problems with your MH.

 

[liv luvs disney]

Some capital ideas... I did have a beer, I did switch the batteries. Neither really helped my situation. The battery swap allowed me to start the moho again, but the volt-meter began to drop again. It seemed to level out at about 10v when the lights were off, but would continue to drop with the headlights on. It seems the alternator is failing slowly, giving me some output, just not enough. I think we are going to boondock here tonight and try flying low and slow without the lights tomorrow and try to find a repair shop... anyone know a good one near Mocksville, NC?

Oh BTW, yes, I did hydroplane, for about 300 feet at 60mph and doubt it slowed by 10mph in that distance. Doing it in a car is scary enough, doing it with 12000lbs of motorhome is heartstopping. I was lined up perfectly so my drivers-side wheel would land about the middle of the little BMW's trunk, the little Beemer that was stopped cold in my lane with no lights on. I've got no steering, no braking, just some final words to the wife, "we're going to hit... dear God no" and literally at the last moment a bit of traction and my front lurched right just 10-20 feet before impact (it may have been more, but it sure didn't feel like it) and somehow I found a gap between the two cars on my right, they had to have seen the wreck about to happen and begun to move over. I decelerated safely to the shoulder. I cannot believe that I didn't hit anything, or that the folks around me (and there were quite a few) were able to avoid crashes of their own in the midst of my flailing! That God would be so good to me is simply beyond my comprehension.

Just read this to dh and he asked if you have checked for a pedestrian in your grill. What a close call. Thank the Lord ya'll are safe. I hope ya'll can get some rest and get things working in the morning.

 

[kc5grw]

This reminds me of an incident many years ago where I almost went through the middle of a moho. I had been stopped at a traffic light when it changed green. I was accelerating pretty rapidly away from the light and was probably up to 40-45 when a yahoo in a moho pulls across my path and STOPS. I was in the center southbound lane of a 6 lane divided city street. I jumped on the binders and the brakes locked I was lisding straight and it looked like I was going to go straight through the middle of the moho. At the last possible second I actually went into an oversteer situation and was able to regain traction and accelerate around the front of the moho. It was a pretty scary situation and I really don't see how I avoided missing the guy. I remember seeing nothing but grill out the passenger side window as I passed in front of the guy.

 

[liv luvs disney]

Too bad ya'll are not close by and I don't have a fresh batch of toffee cookies baked.

 

[Shan-man]

Thanks to all of you for your advice, and just listening to my woes. Olivia, even if you were giving the worst advice on record you would be a doll in my book for all the effort you took to help... but it is good advice. I think I will try to limp to the nearest Advance in the morning.

 

[JPG]

Shan....Glad you guys are OK!!! Sounds like the alternator to me. Be safe and let us know how you are doing.

 

[liv luvs disney]

Thanks to all of you for your advice, and just listening to my woes. Olivia, even if you were giving the worst advice on record you would be a doll in my book for all the effort you took to help... but it is good advice. I think I will try to limp to the nearest Advance in the morning.

Well you can kiss my grits! I told you I knew NOTHING about vehicles! I was trying to relay what dh was telling me on the cell phone-and he was going in and out due to bad service. I was typing what he was saying and of course he was just going by what I was trying to tell him in a panic. I am just glad ya'll are safe. Now I'm going to dream of you limping down the side of the interstate first thing tomorrow morning. Hope you find an Advanced Auto before it gets too hot.

 

[stpetedisneydad]

Glad to hear that God was by your side and helped avert disaster.

Although most autoparts stores can test alternators don't they have to be removed and brought into their store to be tested? You may want to pull into the first repair shop you find and see if they can run some tests with a volt meter. Here are a couple links for tests you should be able to do yourself if you have a meter. Good luck!!

http://www.wikihow.com/Check-an-Alternator

http://www.2carpros.com/how_to/battery.htm

 

[motofamily]

ShanMAn Where are you at? NC VA or Where? PM me if you need me.

 

[dfchelbay]

Glad you are all safe and out of that dangerous situation. My heart was pounding and my stomach was in knots reading what you went through...ugh...hopefully you will be rewarded handsomely with a visit to the Fort...IMMEDIATELY!