Sprinter RV Coach Batteries Not Charging 

Wow great Job! 7 years later and still great information. I had the exact same issue, same symptoms on my 2022 forest river sun-seeker Sprinter MBS based on your video and the comment of another person, I found the reset switch under the driver seat with the big red wire. I had called Lazy days rv and just as you described all they want to say is it is the battery's. the rv was parked in shade and did not get sun to charge batteries and my fridge runs off batt. so it died and drained the chassis batt also so I had to jump start the van, it took like 20min to charge enough to start must of tripped it then. thank you so much.

OK! Found mine. It was not under the driver seat. The 150amp BUSS is right at the positive terminal on the battery in the engine compartment for those with a Mercedes Benz engine. This got me on the right track! It WAS blown! Thank you!

Wow, Great video. You just saved me a lot of money. Here is my story. I am from Canada and purchased a used Mercedes sprinter 24ft motorhome by Forest River from someone who initially purchased from the USA. I had the same problem, engine not charging the coach batteries. I brought the unit into a RV repair shop and was told they couldn't touch it because it wasn't CSA approved. It would probably be close to $1500 to have it CSA certified. After watching your video I decided to see if that was the problem. Sure enough it was. The solution was even easier. The Buss fuse now has a reset on it. Works perfect now. Thanks again . Ken

I for one never think your videos are too long - you have a good way of putting things over mate.......keep it up please!

Thank you for the video. I have a 2009 Winn view and my coach batteries do not charge while driving. I have some relays under the passenger seat and they are all good. I have not look under the driver seat so I will take a look when I get to my motorhome in a week.

Excellent detective work, as well as helping to fill the information gap about this common area of problems with coach battery power. I had great hope when I went looking for the 150 amp fuse under the driver's seat of my 2012 Sprinter chassis Pleasure-Way Plateau. Alas the configuration of cables was very different and I'm still looking for that fuse.

Mars1952, I know this is an fairly old vid but sure glad it's up and that you took the time to make it. I just picked up a 2007 Winnebago View built on a 2006 Sprinter chassis. The engine/chassis battery is under the hood and the house batteries are under the main entry step to the coach. When I bought the RV, the coach batteries were charged and everything worked as should. After about a week of showing people the rv, doing some minor stuff to it to get it ready for state inspection, I found the coach to be dead. I can plug into shore power and get everything in the coach to function. I've driven the truck multiple times but still nothing, so I believe the coach batteries aren't getting charged and just happened to run down over the week while doing things in it. Your video has given me a few things to look at now once I get it back from state inspection. Thanks for taking the time, and yes, I have read quite a few comments from people that just say replace the batteries. The batteries in this coach are only 2.5 years old according to previous owners records he kept.

Nice debugging work. Very helpful!

Awesome video these are the exact symptoms our fleetwood has. after new batteries and power converter we are still having the issues especially with our stairs. Awesome video love the way you explained it all

Thank you for all the details and your solution process.

just wanted to mention that the solenoid controller can also be the culprit. In your case, you obviously found the correct fault site. Thanks for the great video.

Exactly the man I needed to hear. Thank you !

Great video. Thank you! I've been having the same problem on my Coachman.

Thanks for taking the time to share.

Good info about the charging system. Due to a low charging, I replaced chassis battery, alternator and both pristene belts. With engine running, I get just over 13 volts. Dealer told me this was normal. I now have an issue with a chattering relay in the box under the rider's seat. I wish I could talk to you or text to get more info. Bob

Great video. The 150 amp 32V fuse that you found and replaced from under the driver seat, is just too big to fit on the ‘buss bar’ from the coach positive battery post. You need to get the OEM Fuse 150Amp for Mercedes which is a lot smaller. Your set up (fuse under seat) works just the same…

Hi Good Vid an Rundown Explanation Our 3500 2008 has same problem not staying charged that Iam working on now in FL I read on the Web Sprinter Blog that the all Factory wires need to be changed from the engine To the House I will be checking the House Bus Bar Thanks Bob V

Excellent comprehensive video, well done! This "dinosaur" fuse reputedly has a relatively high failure rate over time due to warm/cold cycles , or other cause which results in the fuse metal to move slightly, eventually severing the connection to the end of the fuse, causing an open circuit. A solution to fuse problems would be to replace the fuse/fuse holder with a heavy duty 150 amp circuit breaker designed for 12 volt use. (the original fuse labeled 150 amp/32 volt is designed for 12 volt circuits). Most should simply bolt on in place of the original fuse holder, and are not very expensive. I saw the Scorpion brand 150 amp heavy duty breaker for about $25.00 on Ebay. All newer, quality boats have breakers. I replaced all the fuses in my older boat with marine/auto breakers, all on a nice looking panel - now I can easily see a tripped breaker rather than mess with fuses.

excellent diagnosis and explanation!

Very useful video explaining the functionality of the electrical system! BTW, as an alternative to removing the fuse to check continuity (zero ohms), you can simply run the electrical system and measure the VOLTAGE DROP across a fuse - it should read zero volts if the fuse has continuity (isn't burned out). I'm surprised to see folks run batteries down to 10.5 volts - doesn't going under 12v starts shortening the life of the battery?

I wish you had a shop where I could bring my 2009 Winnebago View and have you go over my electrical issues. I just had an inverter installed and it’s constantly chirping. Problems and no one seems to have any answers...

information very helpful! Thanks!...if you can't trouble shoot "everything" you don't need an RV or boat...! you stayed with it and I Commended you Sir! please tell me where you got the fuse again, did not catch that...thanks!

Very good video, we have that problem, battery was completely dead, we had it checked and we bought a new battery, that also went dead. We check the fuse in this video and it was fine. Someone mentioned a solenoid valve, do you know where it is? we also checked every fuse there is, they are all fine. 120 v power is working fine when plugged in.

Thank you

I have a similar that problem, but I have a Mercedes sprinter coachmen galleria! Can anyone tell me where to find that Fuse?

I have a 2007 Winnebago View built on 2006 Dodge Sprinter 3500 chassis. The engine running does not charge the coach batteries. Does anyone know the location of the "bus fuse" ?

I just saw one of these Dodge Sprinters (without the camper) for the first time a few months ago. Thought it looked a bit European. Biggest damn van I've ever seen. Troubleshooting electrical problems on modern cars is a complete PITA. Good for you on the fix.

thanks for the info

We have the same problems.Thanks

Just had this same problem. Wish I found your excellent video before. My other symptoms are onan generator displays low battery and "short circuit" and will turn itself off if shore plug plugged into coach to run 120V systems in RV. Any idea about this?

This just might be the solution to my problem! I have a 2009 Dodge Sprinter powered by Mercedes, four winds chateau… Will update if this is the issue! The alternator has NEVER charged the battery and have been trying to figure out why!

Does Your ohm meter have a beep function? I find that useful when I need to hold things or Im down inside a tight spot. The Burnt out Fuse happened due to vibration, and poor quality. When a 150 amp fuse blows things are 'warm" in the area. It may happen again, have seen these re mounted on a suspended mount, rather than bolted to floor.

Hey @mars1952 I'm terrible at electrical. When you have your voltmeter testing if the coach batteries are charging where are you attaching the voltmeter?

What's the best way to store house batteries in the winter months when not in use?

FYI: engine alternators with single point regulators do NOT charge deep cycle batteries fully. They will eventually be killed by absense of proper charging regimes. See 3 stage chargers and inverters for more info. Batteries are expensive and will be killed by improper charging. Even solar has the ability to charge batteries properly. Good luck . . .

Great video !!!!

OK, so to date how is the RV , what issues if any with the diesel have you had ? I find myself looking at these Sprinter based rv, for the simple 6cyl diesel and pretty good mpg. I'm trying to stay DEF deleted with the years. That era crap I hear cosy a BUCK to keep going, Well hope all is well and your still getting out RVing.

I have a 2014 Prism Sprinter rv and the house batteries aren't charging. I had it plugged into my house for 8 days and it won't charge

kewl, my coach battery is not charging preriod. think ists a fuse as well

I’ve had the solenoid switch go out, and you’ll get the same symptoms.

Great article and good timing for us. Drove 2007/2008 Navion 200 mi home yesterday and today house batteries will not start the generator but chassis started immediately. I'll check this buss fuse first after we charge the house batteries. Any suggestions to source the 150@/32v fuse?

nice persistance

Hello again. Now dealing with chasis battery going flat. After 1 week approximately 11.7v left on a battery (new 01/16) which is not enough to fire the V6 diesel up. Us of the battery boost switch from the coach has not enabled started of the chasis engine and not even enough to roll up the windows on the chasis/cab. We jumped started from our pickup and drove for 20 minutes to bring battery to a condition where it would start the engine. This time when we walked away from the Itasca Navion I disconnected the ground switch (next to the throttle pedal). Is this appropriate and is this kind of drain normal. We have not started a search for "vampire" current yet. Hope posting here is ok as I did not see a direct email and have had little luck searching forums for this item.

What?

And THIS diesel is a night and day difference from the Powerstroke you own. Be careful...........

OLD Good Mercedes Sprinter copy