Start with the fault the game names
Do not replace every part at once. The ignition checks several conditions, so one repair can reveal a second warning. Fix the current message, try the ignition again, and continue until it runs.
Work through the checks below in order. A failed check sends you to its repair action; a successful check moves you to the next system.
Check sequence · Schematic
- Engine fitted and working?
- If yes
- Engine cool enough?
- If no
- Install an engine or repair/replace the broken one.
- Engine cool enough?
- If yes
- Battery installed and charged?
- If no
- Wait for cooling and refill radiator water.
- Battery installed and charged?
- If yes
- Fuel in the tank?
- If no
- Install a battery, then charge or replace it if depleted.
- Fuel in the tank?
- If yes
- Handbrake off → movement test
- If no
- Add gasoline to the fuel tank.
Match the message to its next action
| Ignition message | What to do |
|---|---|
| Engine is not installed | Install an engine in its fitting point. |
| Engine is broken | Use an Engine Repair Kit or fit a working replacement. |
| Engine is overheated | Wait for cooling; refill the radiator with water before continuing. |
| Battery is not installed | Install a vehicle battery. Small flashlight batteries are a different item. |
| Battery is broken | Use a Battery Charger or replace the depleted battery. |
| Out of fuel | Add gasoline to the fuel tank. |
| Release the handbrake! | Release it before trying to move. |
If it stopped after a drive, check cooling
A vehicle that started at the house can still shut down later when its radiator runs dry. Let an overheated engine cool instead of repeatedly trying the ignition. Refill the radiator using water, then look for an engine-damage warning before driving again.
An Engine Repair Kit and radiator water solve different problems. Repairing damage does not replace the missing cooling liquid.
If the battery is empty, get a charger or spare
In the Demo, charging is an item action: hold the Battery Charger and use it on the vehicle battery, or remove the old battery and install a working one. Running the engine is not a recharge method.
If neither item is available, the practical recovery is to search the next roadside location and bring back a charger or vehicle battery. Take food and water before leaving the RV on foot, and keep its position and the return direction clear.
The engine runs, but the RV will not move
The handbrake warning is a movement problem, so hearing the engine run does not mean that warning has been resolved. Avoid using a fast drive as the test for a freshly assembled vehicle.
- Release the handbrake.
- Check the wheel fittings and that the steering wheel is installed.
- Keep the test close to the starting area until the vehicle moves and steers normally.
If only a co-op guest cannot use the ignition
Ask the host to try the same vehicle. A host-versus-guest difference points to a session issue rather than proof that the battery is empty. Official June Demo updates specifically fixed late joiners being unable to use the ignition and improved vehicle-state synchronization.
Keep both players on the current Steam Demo update and reconnect after the host has saved. Record the actual error if it persists; a historical patch fix is not a guarantee that every connection issue is solved.