Resolved Broken down in Breckenridge....

[FloridaSon]

Too late to help you Neal but this might help others.

Sounds like something else is happening due to the quick change from yellow check engine to the red stop engine derate.

Rich W posted the Freightliner class slides that covers the issue. As I understand it, when the red stop engine and derate lamp comes on, it is too late for a parked regen.

This was a good reminder for me ( not good for Neal and I am truly sorry about that). I printed these out to take with me.

From RichW:
Instructions for using the shorting plug:

https://www.ourmotorhome.net/2017/docs/DPF_Regen_instructions.pdf

 

[FloridaSon]

Anyone that has performed the parked regen:

Does the TOAD need to be disconnected due to the high exhaust gases?

 

[Tnedator]

Good luck. I can relate to the holiday weekend issue. I left my coach at the RV park I was at this weekend, because I have a brake dragging and Coachnet couldn't locate a diesel tech that would come out on the holiday weekend.

Fortunately, it's only about 1:15 from home, and it's on a site that I lease, so I can leave it there as long as I want. Would have really sucked if it happened when I was on a trip and needed to leave Monday morning.

 

[Rich W.]

Too late to help you Neal but this might help others.

Sounds like something else is happening due to the quick change from yellow check engine to the red stop engine derate.

Rich W posted the Freightliner class slides that covers the issue. As I understand it, when the red stop engine and derate lamp comes on, it is too late for a parked regen.

This was a good reminder for me ( not good for Neal and I am truly sorry about that). I printed these out to take with me.

This is one of the reasons I think it could be a sensor. They don’t go from virtually no warning to stop engine - soot accumulation in the DPF is a gradual process measured by two differential pressure sensors and there are built in warnings and time to find a place for a parked regen if necessary.

So clearing codes and running the regen is the first step. I’ve found it essential to always have this capability with me when driving my coach. I was stranded by my emissions system three times before I took charge of it, learned it, now I stay on top of it. My goal is to never need a tow. Sometimes I think my approach is obsessive, and I’d rather spend my time and money on other things, but being stranded by the thing forced the issue. I call it my new unwanted hobby.

So Neal my advice is to get someeone out there with code clearing and forced/parked regen capability before resorting to a tow. And since your case isnt consistent with normal operations it should be a tech with Insite so they have full diagnostic capabilities.

 

[FLSteve]

Rich W posted the Freightliner class slides that covers the issue. As I understand it, when the red stop engine and derate lamp comes on, it is too late for a parked regen.

This was a good reminder for me ( not good for Neal and I am truly sorry about that). I printed these out to take with me.

Is this just a Freightliner procedure ... or does/will it work on Spartan as well?

FLSteve

 

[Rich W.]

Is this just a Freightliner procedure ... or does/will it work on Spartan as well?

FLSteve

I would expect differences since the emissions system controls on a Spartan chassis are different. But check under the dash next to the j1939 port and see if you have that plug. I found the diagram a little vague but the acutal plug is labeled and obvious (see pic). If you have that then the process should be the same.

 

[Neal]

I found a mechanic in the next town over (Peak to Peak Truck Service), I'm not sure why Coach-net didn't find them. While this saga is ongoing it's proven there is value in finding your own service center or being knowledgeable in the process.

Tech will be here between 9 and 10 AM Mountain time to clear codes and perform a regen. Yeah, there may be more to this saga but for now that's the first step as noted above.

When this is done, the question that begs to be asked, should we do a manual regen at some interval of time, such as every 6 months, a year, etc. as preventative maintenance? I realize this is supposed to be automated but when you're traveling to remote destinations, what precautions should you take.

@Rich W. I believe not only are you having to buy physical devices but you're having to pay an annual subscription? I'm still not sure it's something I want to invest in as (knock on wood) I've been problem free for 5-6 years now.

 

[Rich W.]

Yes OTR is an annual subscription of $600 which is suboptimal in my opinion, but its a good product. Its nice to have found something that works with all the other stuff out there. Insite is subscription based as well but much more expensive and beyond my needs/capabilities.

Also the OTR folks advise monthly parked regens as a maintenance item. They also have blogs that are often helpful and tech support, so its not just a device and app. The OTR app also has a comprehensive library of codes so you don’t have to research them, and then an additional page for each code with maintenance and/or repair instructions consistent with professional tech stuff such as Insite.

I was a beta tester on their last upgrade and had a some of suggestions, some of which they have incorporated into the program (they continue to refine and update) including I am told, the ability to use the app without an internet connection. So if that works (I haven't tested it) that would be resolve my main issue with it.

 

[Tnedator]

I don't have any code reader/resetter for my coach, and now I'm wondering if I need to. Is that the only way to do a manual regen? I know when they changed my def head the mobile tech hooked up a laptop, and I "think" kickeed off a regen.

 

[Rich W.]

I don't have any code reader/resetter for my coach, and now I'm wondering if I need to. Is that the only way to do a manual regen? I know when they changed my def head the mobile tech hooked up a laptop, and I "think" kickeed off a regen.

Look at the posts above for a link to performing a manual/forced/parked regen for Freightliner coaches. Also a regen will do nothing for DEF system related problems as regens occur in the DPF which is physically AFTER the SCR where the DEF magic happens.

Parked regens are a way to keep your DPF clean, delay having it removed and baked, and get the most life possible out it before replacement. You should be ablle to go well over 100k miles before DPF service or replacement with routine regens.

And yes I think anyone driving a motorhome equipped with a DOC/SCR (DEF)/DPF system should have code reading/clearing capability, and perform routine regens. I’ll stay off my soap box here, but suffice it to say that these systems are fragile and fraught with failures that can easily leave you stranded, and something beyond a simple code reader is necessary to get you going again.

 

[Neal]

Actually it's not the same for FL coaches, mine is older and has the shorting connector, newer ones I believe are done differently and possibly via the dash. @Tnedator has Spartan.

 

[Rich W.]

Actually it's not the same for FL coaches, mine is older and has the shorting connector, newer ones I believe are done differently and possibly via the dash. @Tnedator has Spartan.

Yes and trucks have a switch on the dash allowing easy, quick, efficient regens. I guess they think motorhome operators aren’t qualified for such controls. I also wouldn't be surprised if the new digital dash in FL coaches provides a different means of performing regens.

I have no idea how Spartan has addressed this over the years and/or is facilitating it currently. It would be interesting to hear from some Spartan chassis owners new and old (2010 to current) on this.

However they are all using Cummins engines and emission systems. The differences are in the chassis mounted controls which seem to be primarly how DEF is handled (tank, DEF header, and pump) because the rest is supplied by Cummins (DOC, SCR including doser, and DPF). So for code reading and clearing, and running regens with an external adjunct, they are all more or less the same - ie, the same after-market devices will work for either.

 

[Tnedator]

Look at the posts above for a link to performing a manual/forced/parked regen for Freightliner coaches. Also a regen will do nothing for DEF system related problems as regens occur in the DPF which is physically AFTER the SCR where the DEF magic happens.

Parked regens are a way to keep your DPF clean, delay having it removed and baked, and get the most life possible out it before replacement. You should be ablle to go well over 100k miles before DPF service or replacement with routine regens.

And yes I think anyone driving a motorhome equipped with a DOC/SCR (DEF)/DPF system should have code reading/clearing capability, and perform routine regens. I’ll stay off my soap box here, but suffice it to say that these systems are fragile and fraught with failures that can easily leave you stranded, and something beyond a simple code reader is necessary to get you going again.

I'll dig in and see what's needed for a Spartan.

RE: Def, I don't know why, but I believe the techs run a regen after replacing the def head.

Anyway, back to Neil's adventure (hoping I never have one on a trip).

 

[Rich W.]

I'll dig in and see what's needed for a Spartan.

RE: Def, I don't know why, but I believe the techs run a regen after replacing the def head.

Yes they do, although why I don’t know why either. Maybe GP, or as a general system health thing, rule-out, maintenance….?

Anyway it will be interesting to hear about the Spartan system (maybe a separate thread in the Cummins forum) and hopefully a visit from a traveling tech will get Neal back on the road with specific info as to why this happend, if it will happen again, and what to do to prevent it.

I don’t mean to hi-jack this thread, but it does point out that all this emissions stuff can leave you stranded and the more you know about it the better. Maybe an emissions forum is in order….

 

[J&JD]

Maybe an emissions forum is in order….

Please start one beginning with a list of parts needed and where to obtain them to build the DEF sensors bypass unit. That would really be appreciated. I think many of us procrastinators are ready to make one.

Now, back to @Neal’s predicament……