My son went to move the old gal to our camping spot today and it's totally dead. The generator started and we have lights but nary a sound when the ignition key is turned on. My son stated the radio came on the first time he tried the key, thought he heard a pop and then nothing. guages and light are out. looking for ideas - checked the fuses under the dash cover and the looked ok. tried the AUX switch - heard the relay click but nothing else- so where else can we look before we call a rv mechanic $$$?? Engine battery appears to be fully charged

The first thing to suspect is the starter solenoid. These ride on top of the starter (usually - some Fords have a separate starter relay) - you didn't mention what you have.

Once located, the contacts can be jumped (But get someone knowledgeable to do it if you don't know the drill). If the engine turns over, that's likely the problem.

Whether it does or not, jump the solenoid hot contact from the battery positive. If it doesn't engage the starter, the solenoid is suspect.

The third test is to see if the solenoid is getting power; with a voltmeter between the solenoid coil hot and ground, see if there's voltage when the key is turned to "start".

If all this is Greek to you, don't try it - you can be dealing with several hundred amps of current, and that can do some damage if an error is made.

thanks for the reply - 1st- its a 454 gm, 2nd - none of the acc items work like the radio. I can understand the solenoid issue but that wouldn't cause everything to quit - would it?

This sounds very much like a defective ignition switch, a chronic issue on GM trucks (and still a problem in the '90s).

You might get a response by jiggling the key in the ignition. The switch is separate from the keyway, so you wouldn't have to re-key anything.

However, jumping the solenoid output terminal with the starter hot (+12VDC input) and testing the solenoid hot (from the ign switch "start" position) by jumping it to the battery is still useful. A dead short in either the solenoid or starter can cause two symptoms: 1) Dropping the voltage so far nothing on the dash will work, or, 2) Blowing the fusible link.

Another possibility is a blown fusible link, and that isn't always in an obvious place. Generally, it's a nondescript black oblong, a bit over an inch in length, 3/4" in width and depth. It will have large-gage wires attached, one at each end, and nothing else.

A final possibility - unlikely - is a relay powering the dash. This is common among pushers, as it's a distance from the batteries to the dash. When the relay is closed (by power applied through the ignition switch), power to the dash is on. However, if your batteries are in the rear, there's a possibility there is such a relay, and if its coil burned out, that could account for the "pop" your son heard. Its location, if there is one, is going to be a mystery. On my diesel pusher, it's in the front, to the side of the generator compartment.

If the accessories worked, but still wont start, it could be the neutral safety switch on the transmission or the shifter was inadvertently moved out of park. Yes, I've bumped the shift lever and wondered why it wouldn't start.

UPDATE and thanks....
Took my trusty meter to the site and measured the voltage across the battery - just about dead.. Son stated he jumpered the battery with his Ford superduty diesel and that didn't work - so it couldn't be the battery.. I took the battery back to good old costco and used my 3 year replacement warranty and got a new battey. Installed the new battery and guess what --- started like it should

Not the final answer yet -- I must have a current drain somewhere... its only been four weeks since it was last run, (unless something was left on) --

Still don't understand why jumpering the battery didn't allow a start and also why pressing the AUX start switch didn't allow a start...

Thanks for the help -

If the battery was completely dead, jumpering it won't help, as the dead battery sucks up the juice. The emergency start switch "jumps" the house battery with the engine battery.