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I have a 78 dodge 440 in a tioga and it runs great and then dies out and when I go to turn it over to start again the battery only makes a click. After it sits and cools for a bit it starts right up. Acts like the fuel gets cut off but why won't it turn over until it sits or cools down? Any help would save me $$$ since it cost me $350 to tow her home.
Kevin Moore
Had a 79 Pace Arrow with 440. I did have to change the starter once...it just quit!
I had problems with loss of power (I called it bogging down), especially on the road when the engine was hot. Replaced fuel filters for both tanks (located on inboard side of entrance step adjacent to the exhaust muffler), and found another in-line filter just before the engine driven fuel pump...I removed that one and things improved. Many people with that era Class A motorhomes had fuel problems and some installed electric fuel pumps near the tanks to "push" the fuel to the engine and some relocated the fuel line to the outside of the frame rail to keep it from the exhaust heat. I never did either.
Sounds as if yours is stalling shortly after start up, I would check the fuel pressure and volume of flow. I did some modifications in the engine compartment which did eliminate the "hot engine box" effect, but that is another subject.
Sounds like the battery does not the amperes it needs to turn over. Take the battery out and have a load check on it. If it fails the load test the battery is done. On the other issue it maybe having a vapor lock. Vapor lock comes when the fuel line that is metal either mild steel or aluminum. So check the line ans see if it is hot.
Motor homes are notorious for cooking the starter. A overheated starter can reduce the ability of the starter to turn the engine and prevent the solinoid on the starter from engaging correctly. If the battery checks it will need to have the starter draw tested when it is failing to start. Some of the things I have done to cure problem units is a cold air duct to cool the starter and making new heat sheilding. Good Luck
A vapor lock fix is easy. The simplest way to do is to cut the ends of the metal fuel line about 1.5" from the ends. Then replace the metal with whatever size fuel line with rubber hose. Use good hose clamps and make sure the line will not rest anywhere near the exhaust manifold.
I'm pretty sure I figured out the problem let me know if this sounds right. First I did the taking off the positive side of the battery and it kept on running then realized I still had the coach deep cycle battery hooked up. So I unhooked the coach battery and started it up, then took off the pssitive cable off the engine battery and it died right away which leads me to believe the alternator isn't working does this sound right??
Thanks everyone for all the help.
Kevin M.
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