A generator that started and died, diagnosed instead of replaced
2016 Class A coach with Onan set, West Covina owner
Short answer. The generator would crank, start, run for roughly thirty seconds and shut down. It had sat unused for close to two years while the coach was in storage. Two other facilities had quoted a full generator replacement without putting the unit under load or inspecting the fuel path. The owner brought it in specifically for a second opinion before committing to a five figure replacement.
What the job involved
- Ran the set on a load bank to reproduce the shutdown under controlled conditions
- Checked control board fault history and verified the shutdown was fuel related, not electrical
- Inspected the fuel path from pickup through pump and found degraded fuel and a gummed carburetor circuit
- Cleaned and rebuilt the carburetor, replaced the fuel filter and tested pump delivery pressure
- Serviced oil, filter, air filter and plugs, then verified exhaust integrity
- Ran the set under sustained load to confirm it held frequency and voltage without dropping out
How it went back out
The set did not need replacement. Stale fuel from a long storage period had varnished a carburetor circuit, and the shutdown was the control system doing exactly what it should. The diagnostic hour was billed at the posted rate and credited against the authorized repair. The owner also received guidance on fuel management during storage, since this is the single most common generator failure we see on coaches that sit.
Ready to get a written estimate
We write estimates at the shop and bill your carrier direct. 30 to 45 minutes from West Covina on the 57 and the 91.