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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.
Quote:
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
Searching 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:
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.
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.
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.
Don't know him, never used him....Looks like he does mobile repairs.
Quote:
Bob's Generator Page
Bob Elder has 25 years factory experience with generators, and is military trained.
His experience includes:
Onan certified level 1, 2 and 3.
Onan, Generac, Northstar, Power Technology and Kohler.
RV, marine and standby.
Diesel, gasoline and auxiliary fuels
I spent all morning on the phone with Beck's Marine (who I bought the motorcoach from), Silver Crown (the manufacturer), a Onan Tech guy, and Southplains Cummins here in Houston.
They all agree that I've done everything that they'd do in the first couple of hours -- and that it has to be the generator (as the inverter works).
One of my better stroke of luck (very little in the last couple of years -- and getting worse by the day) is that the two year warranty expires 4/24/2010. Yes, I've been saved by the bell!
Anyway -- I have an appointment to bring it in at 11Am tomorrow. We'll see if they can fix it.
I've got a generator to charge batteries -- but I need 12,500 watts to run the motorhome and trailer. Slideouts, electric doors. lift, awning, three air conditioners, jacks, .....
I took the motor home to South Plains Cummins (last night) as the generator was in warranty until the 24th. They called at 7:30am for more of an explaination on what I did and what I knew. Called back again at 12:30 to say that they can't do anything further with it in the motor home and will have to pull it out.
Called me back at 4:30 to say they found the problem -- the stators burned up and took out something else with it. They say they have the parts and will have it fixed, reassembled, and back in the motor home by Friday.
I do like staying at the track, especially when they start calling the cars to the line at 8:45AM. We get up at 7AM -- and get the cars off the trailer and warmed up; on the chargers and fueled; and showered and breakfast. Staying at the motels has you getting up an hour earlier.
I don't know man, that extra thirty minutes your saving is sure eaten up trying to keep that rig going. Maybe NMCA starts that early, but most don't start till at least 9am.
__________________
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Onan Generator Error Code 27 
Linear Mode
