Resolved Broken down in Breckenridge....

[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……