Question Installing an ignition switch?

[Old-RV'er]

Ok, my best service experience in the west has been in two places. Believe you are near NW, so call Cummins coach care in Coburg, OR, and ask to speak with the service manager. Explain (assume you will be able to talk to him/her) and see if they can offer any insight. I have had my best success at that facility. Realizing spartan built chassis, and then installed engine transmission, et-al. The ECM, hopefully is in about the same location as FL. My fallback would then be the Freightliner dealer in Tolleson, AZ. I have no experience with spartan, must be some good ones, and maybe you have one in mind. Got to be someone, who cares enough to help you. We all do here, not much we can accomplish here though.

Ok, not germane but might be. Stored my jeep for month outside and when came back to get it, over next few weeks, just did not work correctly. Found out, mice had gotten into wiring harness under a cover in engine compartment, ate some insulation on wires (now built with soy based products) and the fix was a 1200 wiring harness, or the tech spliced them all back together individually, regardless 460.00 later car has run fine for last 5+ years after that experience. So my suggestion is to look around all over the place and see if mice have fed on some of your wires, realize this is a long shot, and even if reason, you might not see damage. I now keep mouse traps all over MH and Bounce dryer sheets in compartments, got the best smelling storage compartments around, and no mice. Yes, could be relay going bad, or fuel shutoff solenoid, but those should be covered under warranty. Let us know., as short of that, out of ideas. If your experience with Spartan, Cummins, and Newmar. We have our last RV period.

 

[Neal]

@TJ&LadyDi - do you have DEF HEAD protection mode enabled by any chance?

 

[flyboy013]

@TJ&LadyDi I can’t remember so I figured I’d ask - did you ask Spartan for a wiring diagram that’s specific to the ignition circuitry. They have provided me with specific diagrams in the past. Was just thinking that it might help identify test points.

Also, you mentioned an appointment for getting one of the AC units replaced. I’m curious what the problem is. While all three of my units work, the kitchen unit has always had a vibration associated with it that is more noticeable when sitting/standing in various places in the coach. Curious if your issue is for a similar problem.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

@TJ&LadyDi - do you have DEF HEAD protection mode enabled by any chance?

Not that I know of. I’m not even sure what “DEF HEAD protection mode” is. If that’s the software workaround that @redbaron and others have been discussing recently, then no, I have not done that.

TJ

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

@TJ&LadyDi I can’t remember so I figured I’d ask - did you ask Spartan for a wiring diagram that’s specific to the ignition circuitry. They have provided me with specific diagrams in the past. Was just thinking that it might help identify test points.

Also, you mentioned an appointment for getting one of the AC units replaced. I’m curious what the problem is. While all three of my units work, the kitchen unit has always had a vibration associated with it that is more noticeable when sitting/standing in various places in the coach. Curious if your issue is for a similar problem.

Yes, Spartan did provide me with a schematic of the ignition switch system, but it doesn’t really help much at this point. It doesn’t identify the engine shutdown circuit.

As for the AC, the center one (kitchen) has a frozen compressor. It just wouldn’t start one day; no symptoms prior.

TJ

 

[Old-RV'er]

All - FWIW department, related to this maybe. With chassis master switch off, house master switch off, nothing works on dash/coach. House master switch on, nothing works on gauges/ignition system at all. Chassis switch on/house switch on, everything works period. One exception, step comes out all the time, it's tied directly to battery with inline fuse to protect it. So do not understand why your coach would not shut down once master chassis switch was turned off, regardless of switch position. Now, yours is spartan, ours is FL, but switches do, what switches do. Something amiss here to me.

OK, another long shot. In the Alpine I had to change the alternator to higher amp output after maiden voyage to east coast for RV school. I waited till home. Used delco-remy brand as they had best warranty/output/cooling. It wired up different, and had couple of wires on old one, not needed on new one, something to do with load sense in OEM unit. I used that terminal on new one, made sure it all worked started, but engine would not shut down, but turned off master switch and coach died. Unhooked that lead, turned back on, everything worked fine. So, long shot here, but, could something be amiss in the alternator, which causes engine to not shut down? It would have to be intermittent, but you might look at it that way too. I would try to get into engine compartment and see if all connections on back of alternator, etc. are tight as well, because a lose connection will or could cause this to happen. Yeah, I hate crawling on the ground and being in tight places the older I get. if you go to, irv2.com/alpine forum and search on alternator replacement, you will or should find my post. If not I might still have it, but have to hunt it up.

 

[Neal]

Not that I know of. I’m not even sure what “DEF HEAD protection mode” is. If that’s the software workaround that @redbaron and others have been discussing recently, then no, I have not done that.

TJ

It's the keep your engine running mode in silverleaf

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

It's the keep your engine running mode in silverleaf

Seriously? Please elaborate. Is there really something like this in SilverLeaf? Remember, you are dealing with a “dinosaur” here and I’m feeling a tug on my pants cuff right now.

TJ

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

I'm convinced when I was having the same issue except it was on a Freightliner Chassis but with a Cummins engine, it was the fuel shut-off valve. Thankfully it only did it on that one trip, albeit happened several times on that trip, it never did it again for several years and several thousands of miles. I know you're frustrated beyond reason and I remember worrying for months is it going to kill the engine this time?

 

[Neal]

Not that I know of. I’m not even sure what “DEF HEAD protection mode” is. If that’s the software workaround that @redbaron and others have been discussing recently, then no, I have not done that.

TJ

Seriously? Please elaborate. Is there really something like this in SilverLeaf? Remember, you are dealing with a “dinosaur” here and I’m feeling a tug on my pants cuff right now.

TJ

Was hoping for that glimmer of hope that the sense of humor was still there, digging deep, but I think it's gone.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

Was hoping for that glimmer of hope that the sense of humor was still there, digging deep, but I think it's gone.

With this particular situation, the “sense of humor” has worn pretty thin!

TJ

 

[Old-RV'er]

I can completely appreciate that "sense of humor' has departed the building. I have been where you are and trust me, yes, humor can relieve stress, but does not help when trying to pull hair out and fix MH at same time.

 

[svoshop]

So, when the system does not shut off... Does anything else work. Example: If you hit the throttle does the engine RPM increase? Do the gauges still operate? When I shut off my ignition, I hear some air valve release pressure, does that happen on yours? Are there any signals that the ignition command has been altered at all?