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Battery Light On All The Time
I have a 1996 Vogue XL 40 that has the large 24V engine driven alternator that runs a Carrier O5G OTR air conditioning system and a smaller one connected to the gear box to charge the house batteries. This past weekend, after a 2 day stop, upon starting it up again, the red battery symbol dash light came on and stayed on. Everything worked as it should with exception of the OTR air conditioning – it would not come on. The dash amp gauge output was steady the whole way at 28-29 amps. We just ran the roof airs all the way back to Texas from Arkansas via generator power (Not as good an option by any means). Can anyone explain what I should do in diagnosing this problem? Thanks in advance for any help!
Blake Hardegree
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21 Replies
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Its a relay under driver side window compartment. Also Controls radiator fan clutch as well. Our fan clutch wouldn’t engage into high, a/c not working until we replaced it on our 2000 Featherlite Vogue 45 XL double slide
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Thank you! I will check it out and let you know what I find.
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If it is not that, starting around your model year a Vanner Monitor model 70 was used to warn of high or low voltage, or battery imbalance.
If you have a monitor of that type, check voltages at the base of the monitor, usually located on the bulkhead near the chassis batteries and check to insure voltages are within range as stated on the Vanner website. If they are within range the light could be caused by a faulty monitor. I believe battery hi-lo voltage range is 24 to 30.
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So I turned the key on AC (not started) in order to make the battery light on the dash panel illuminate, opened the top driver’s side electrical panel door, found the relay marked “blower” and pulled it then looked at the dash and the battery light went off. I’m hoping this is good news. NAPA Auto parts has a replacement but are closed for the night so I will buy one in the morning and see if it works. BTW Jon, thanks for the Vanner advice. Here is a pic of the one I have. If you zoom in, you can see its manufacturer’s date of MAR 28 1995. This is not the specific one you mentioned but do you think it works the same way?
Thank you guys! You don’t know how much I appreciate people like you who are willing to jump in and add their expertise. May your buses be bug free!
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That is an equalizer and it is one of the devices the Vanner monitor checks. It is how the correct relationship between the 12 and 24V systems is maintained.
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Blake. You will need to buy a relay without a resistor for non rectified power. Napa PC discount was about $26 bucks
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Last purchase of relays was from Prevost, a bag of 10 for $40.
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I replaced the relay with the exact same type as came out. Found it at NAPA for an overly priced $29.50. That didn’t do the trick so I looked in the engine compartment again and had to bend down and look up to the ceiling where I found the Vanner 70. Jon, I tested the voltage between ground and 24V posts and it read 28.3. That should be within limits shouldn’t it? If so, I suppose my next course of action is to replace the Vanner 70, huh? Here’s a pic of the Vanner BTW.
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Blake your Vanner sounds like it is bad. Your voltage is correct, and assuming the relay was not the issue the Vanner could very well be the culprit.
If the light bothers you just disconnect the output terminal and the light will go out.
The 70-A model was prone to failure. I think the current version 70-E (at least I think it is an E) has been reliable.
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That’s an old outdated Monitor Blake, unless there has been an update the EM70D is current. I had to replace the monitor on every bus I owned.
Jeff and Lindsay
91 Marathon XL -
On the 1991 XL I owned it was the monitor. Changed to new model and light went away. Just a plug and play if I remember right.
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Blake, our bus still has the Vanner EM70A. From what others have said I guess we’re lucky it hasn’t failed. I’ll order a new one.
Here a Vanner pdf link: LINK -
Don, as long as it is working leave it. But if you get a dash light for voltage or balance, just stop, verify the voltages are OK, remove the signal wire and order the replacement.
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Hey Jim! I know about relays, But! A relay with a resistor is new to me, I replaced the 2 relays for the fan clutch and Prevost sold me relays with resistors, What is the resistors for?? And what does the resistor for?? Top pic is the new relay from Prevost w/resistor middle pic is the OEM that came out of fan position and the bottom relay was in the box of junk that came with bus, I ask this question before What is this for?? but no luck
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Thanks for all the help guys! I did have a phone conversation with a Vanner rep and he was very helpful in getting me in touch with a retail outlet that not only sells the new Vanner model, but also works on buses and trucks with Transicold systems. He is out of Irving Texas and is very knowledgeable about how these systems work. It will come in some time after Labor Day and I will install it then. I told my wife that we might just go ahead and order/replace the ’95 Vanner 60-100C Voltmaster Equalizer while we are at it. Thanks again!
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