1998 chevy p30 motorhome ignition switch problem
 

Driving to LODRS in Lebanon valley, and radio and wipers stopped working. It is a 1998 winnebago chevy P30 7.4L 454 automatic motorhome

Pulled into rest stop and when shut off, would not restart. The Part of fuse panel that powers ecm and trans is dead when ignition switch turned on. We hot wired it from the CB radio port on fuse panel to power those fuses. Also, found the fuse for starter wire and if we power that, engine cranks.

When came home, checked fuseable links off starter and seem okay.
Checked fuseable links on firewall and they seem okay also

Any ideas would be helpful

Re: 1998 chevy p30 motorhome ignition switch problem
 

Check the bulkhead connector on the firewall. P vans and G vans have had problems there for some time. Especially if the chassis builder mounted it in a bad place on a P van where it sees water regularly. I will be honest and tell you if I see one now days it does not get fixed with new terminals like we did it back in my dealership days. It gets a wire straight through the bulkhead connector and sealed up as best as I can. New terminals just come back with the same problem after a few years. I know its not "right" to do it that way but it works, lasts a long time and is cheap which is what my customers want on a older model stuff.

Just thought of something
You did check to make sure the Ignition switch is ok. I know it sounds dumb but when we are frustrated we sometimes forget the easy stuff looking for a bigger problem.

Re: 1998 chevy p30 motorhome ignition switch problem
 

Had a similar problem with my motor home. The problem is that the ignition switch cannot handle the current. Workhorse (the chassis manufacture) has a fix for it which is a 40 amp relay and some wiring changes. I changed the ignition switch too. Mine is a 2001 P32 chassis and the ignition protection relay was workhorse part # WCCW8002060 it contains thr relay a 40 amp fuse wiring harness , terminal and instructions. The ignition switch is most likely fried too fortunately it's a common GM switch go to http:/oemys- performance.com/whpartspxx.htm look under P chassis, then steering column and there is a list of manufactures and their part numbers for the ignition switch.


Hope this helps. :)

Re: 1998 chevy p30 motorhome ignition switch problem
 

thanks for input, is there a easy way to check ignition switch?

Re: 1998 chevy p30 motorhome ignition switch problem
 

Well it's in the steering column and it's not too difficult to get to, you don't need to drop the whole column . If the problem is as I expect you will see a darkened brown burnt terminal and or a burnt wire.
If it is what I suspect you may get it to work for a while by just installing a new switch but eventually it will fail again and probably not when your at or near home. Putting in the relay to handle the current and use the switch to control it is a better more perminate fix.
You could also down load the wiring diagram from the Internet. (Look. Under workhorse chassis manual, the wiring digrams are in the back.)And use a test light to verify the output to and from the switch.
Also Chech out http://www.oemys-performance.com/ , look under dyi projects ignition switch fix.
Good luck.

Re: 1998 chevy p30 motorhome ignition switch problem
 

Thanks for all the info, It was the ignition switch, what a pain to change. Will look at adding the relay in future so this does not happen again.

Re: 1998 chevy p30 motorhome ignition switch problem
 

Your welcome, glad I could help :)