Location: Battery Isolation Manager

RLCASC · 10-13-2020, 02:52 PM

I have a 2011 Journey 34y.
Because the chassis batteries won’t charge either from shore power or from genset, I assume there is either a faulty LBIM or no factory install in that year.
The supplemental manual has a page devoted to LBIM, but I have not been able to locate anything that resembles picture.
If one was never installed, then I will go with a Trik l start to maintain the chassis batteries.
Has anyone with a 34y Journey installed a Trik l start, if so where did you find is the best place to mount it .

cbeierl · 10-13-2020, 05:15 PM

Take a look at View CB on page 4 of the Chassis Wiring Installation diagram for your coach. (Note that you can zoom in on the diagram to see the details better.)

RLCASC · 10-13-2020, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbeierl

Take a look at View CB on page 4 of the Chassis Wiring Installation diagram for your coach. (Note that you can zoom in on the diagram to see the details better.)

Thanks for reply.
I have seen that diagram. It appears that this area would have to be accessed from underneath the MH. Is that a correct evaluation of what I was viewing?
Do you have this unit on your 34y?

cbeierl · 10-13-2020, 10:00 PM

I don't have a 34Y--I'm strictly going by the wiring diagrams for your coach. If you look at View CA on the same page you will see the cover panel which must be removed to access the solenoids and BIM.

If you look at View AA on page 2 of the Body, 110 Volt Wiring Installation diagram for your coach you will see that cover panel in the left rear compartment below and beside the inverter.

**creativepart** · 10-13-2020, 10:33 PM

You have a panel of 12v DC push to reset breakers in a basement compartment that is adjacent to or opposite of your battery bank.

Below those breakers is a removable metal panel secured with screws in each corner. On that panel is a sticker that tells you the solenoids and battery isolator is behind the panel. Remove the panel you’ll see three things and a zillion wires. The BIM is the one in the middle, the two on either side of the BIM are your power cutoff solenoids. It looks just like the drawing.

RLCASC · 10-14-2020, 09:37 AM

Thanks for both replies, Heading to storage this AM to follow thru on your advice. After finding unit, will have to do research on how to determine if unit is defective. I do know that, even after being on shore power, I have had to use boost to start engine. This was on old batteries. I have recently replaced chassis batteries. Just want to be sure they are being kept charged.

**creativepart** · 10-14-2020, 10:33 AM

My new from purchase Adventurer had a non-functioning BIM and the result was zero charging the chassis battery from anything other than the engine alternator. I learned this after two weeks on shore power in a campground with the chassis battery dropping in charge during my stay. It wasn't enough of a drop to have to resort to bridging the two battery banks, but it was noticeable.

I had a small 110v battery maintainer left over from my travel trailer days and I was able to plug that into the inverter compartment's power receptacle and reach the chassis battery in a nearby location. I only used that when I was in a lengthy stay and on shore power - I didn't use the inverter to charge the chassis battery, ever.

I looked at the BIM a few times and decided it was too buried in a sea of electric cables and I added it to my "factory" list. The week I bought my motorhome I made an appointment at the factory service center 8-months in the future.

After the factory replaced the BIM everything works normal and the chassis battery is never more that a few volts lower in charge than the house battery bank.

RLCASC · 10-14-2020, 12:18 PM

CREATIVEPART:
Just returned from removing panel (on my MH all the resets are part of the panel). Found both BIM and those Zillion wires. I came to your conclusion as well, Too many wires to contend with. Will do more research to determine if truly faulty. Then if so, there is a Freightliner Service Center just a few miles away.. Thanks again

**creativepart** · 10-14-2020, 12:23 PM

Great!
Yeah, I didn't even want to reach into that mess of wires. Though, it's probably not as tough as it seems from just looking at it.

Since you are in North Texas, you might try getting an appointment at NIRVC Lewisville. They are now a Winnebago dealer and they do great work. They can be tough to get into because they are so booked up. But it's worth a try.

Oh, I just looked and you are in WAAAY NORTH Texas. Lewisville may be too far to go.

al1florida · 10-14-2020, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RLCASC

CREATIVEPART:
Just returned from removing panel (on my MH all the resets are part of the panel). Found both BIM and those Zillion wires. I came to your conclusion as well, Too many wires to contend with. Will do more research to determine if truly faulty. Then if so, there is a Freightliner Service Center just a few miles away.. Thanks again

Keep in mind that all this charging stuff in the RV is from the RV Mfg and not from Freightliner chassis MFG, so the Freightliner Service Center is probably not going to want to work on it.

A RV repair shop or mobile RV repair person is probably what you need.

**creativepart** · 10-14-2020, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by al1florida

A RV repair shop or mobile RV repair person is probably what you need.

That was my thinking as well. Freightliner can be picky when it comes to RVs anyway.

RLCASC · 10-14-2020, 04:14 PM

Thanks Creativepart & al1florida for the suggestions. We have Winnebago Dealer & Service, with the Freightliner Service within an 1/8 mile of each other. I have used the Freightliner for service and they will work on any issue. Worked on my roof air. Also there is always a steady stream of DPs there to be repaired or serviced. Also there is a generator shop that deals mostly with auto electrical issues and they too work on Motorhomes. So even though we don’t consider Lewisville very far away,( we visit Drs in Arlington) we have some very good Rv repair facilities here.