here's the issue:
installed a second battery (deep cycle) and a perko marine switch between this and the starting battery. How I did it was simply take all the wires that were connected to the starting batteries positive terminal and connect those to the perko switch common post. Then off the perko one wire to starting battery (1) and one wire to the rv battery (2); and they share the ground.
this has worked fine until about 2 weeks ago when the van wouldn't start. had the wiring re done from starter to battery, and things were fine. later noticed that the mechanic in the town I was passing through at the time had rewired this battery set-up too. He essentially made it not a switch, but an on-off for the second battery where the starting battery is always connected (with it's bundle of wires) and then there is a second wire which goes to the perko common post.
yesterday I switched this back since when wired as above both batteries drain when the deep cycle is on. however, I just got a call from girlfriend, on her way to western washington, that the van wouldn't start after stopped after driving a couple of hours. after a sit it started again.
so, I"m wondering is the issue the starter (which is apparently fine, pulling 12v)? or my novice wiring? should some of those wires stay connected to the starter battery? or something else?
weird thing is this was fine for about 4 months and I'd like to be able to use the second battery as a back up starting option (which is the idea of a switch).
never a starting problem until very recently. fuses all seem fine too....but I've read on other posts that it's sometimes worth changing ignition fuses even if they look fine..
edit: this has only happened after long drives (2 + hours)....
thanks for any thoughts