Engine won’t shut off: Part II

[jagpot]

TJ, several years ago I had a twin diesel inboard boat. It had different diesels than what your Cummins is, but I had an issue with one engine not shutting down. It turned out to be a bad switch that killed the fuel feed to that motor. On those older diesels you not only turned the key off but held a kill switch in to stop the fuel. So I guess what I'm saying is even modern diesels will stop once the fuel is shut off.

I can recall having a "check engine" light come on several times with my 2017 4369. I had it looked at by two different FL/Cummins service centers and one said it was some type of sensor for the DEF being too hot and the other said the code was simply a ghost code and no big deal. When I landed back in Florida with it on again I went to North Trail and they plugged up the computer and immediately said I needed a new DEF tower. Problem solved by an RV dealer......go figure.

Is a DEF tower the same as a DEF head. Hope not. because I have the issues you had mentioned and after they take care of some nox valve they are going to delve into the DEF issue.

TJ, several years ago I had a twin diesel inboard boat. It had different diesels than what your Cummins is, but I had an issue with one engine not shutting down. It turned out to be a bad switch that killed the fuel feed to that motor. On those older diesels you not only turned the key off but held a kill switch in to stop the fuel. So I guess what I'm saying is even modern diesels will stop once the fuel is shut off.

I can recall having a "check engine" light come on several times with my 2017 4369. I had it looked at by two different FL/Cummins service centers and one said it was some type of sensor for the DEF being too hot and the other said the code was simply a ghost code and no big deal. When I landed back in Florida with it on again I went to North Trail and they plugged up the computer and immediately said I needed a new DEF tower. Problem solved by an RV dealer......go figure.

 

[Nereus]

That’s bananas. Newmar should have fixed that

None of my slides will operate with the ignition switch in the ON position but two of them will operate when it is in the OFF position, even if the engine is running. The third slide (bedroom) will not operate with the engine running, even if the ignition switch is off. Yeah, I know…how does it know the engine is running? Beats me!

That leaves me in the position of needing to shut the engine off…somehow…in order to get the third slide in. I almost drove to the repair shop yesterday with the bedroom slide out, but thought better of it.

T

On my 2018 DS, the kitchen slide will retract with the engine running. The other two, the ignition key needs to be turned off in order to retract. The ignition key must be turned off to extend any of the slides. Discussed this with Newmar a few months ago while at the factory for new windows and they told me that it was designed that way for safety. We went round and round about the 2019 and above and they told me the interloc was placed on the parking break for those models. I couldn't convince them to reconfigure mine - that said, there is a work around.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

I would put in a jumper with switch to shut the fuel solenoid down. Being cleaver I would have my multi meter handy so the next time it happened I would see if power is still present at that solenoid. if it is not I would replace the solenoid. If I found power to the solenoid I would look for power on the relay coil, no power replace the relay. If there was power at the relay coil I would look for a computer issue, however with power turned off at the computer I would look to the key switch.

Now that said I don't even know if there is a solenoid, it may be the electric fuel pump. Or maybe something related to the injectors. I understand That modern diesels are not the reliable heavy weights of the past, that's why the old Ford trucks with the older generation of diesels are being rebuilt rather than discarded at the bone yards. another trick I might try is a switch on the computer power line so I could turn it off via computer. Funny thing about ECM units is if the problem is not in the system it won't spit out codes.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

On my 2018 DS, the kitchen slide will retract with the engine running. The other two, the ignition key needs to be turned off in order to retract. The ignition key must be turned off to extend any of the slides. Discussed this with Newmar a few months ago while at the factory for new windows and they told me that it was designed that way for safety. We went round and round about the 2019 and above and they told me the interloc was placed on the parking break for those models. I couldn't convince them to reconfigure mine - that said, there is a work around.

There doesn’t seem to be any commonality. On ours, the FWS and the kitchen slide will come in as long as the ignition switch is in the off position. The bedroom slide, however, will not; even with the ignition switch in the off position as long at the engine is running. Therein lies the rub with our current problem of the engine continue to run while the key is in the off position.

TJ

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

I ordered the replacement ignition switch today from Spartan. It was reasonably priced (I thought) at $31.37. I did get a shock, however, when I viewed the charge to my credit card; $65 and change. I called for an explanation and was told that’s what UPS charges for its normal “ground” shipping for a small package. Yikes, shipping rates sure have gone up!!!

TJ

 

[Neal]

That’s bogus TJ. My swag boxes run around $15. Bigger companies get much bigger discounts. You’ve been Spartaned.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

That’s bogus TJ. My swag boxes run around $15. Bigger companies get much bigger discounts. You’ve been Spartaned.

I think you are correct, @Neal. I’m just so tired of fighting the “motorhome battles” that I’m just going to throw money at the problems. Spartan didn’t even want to discuss providing the ignition switch under the warranty claim.

Now, if the part shows up tomorrow via UPS overnight, then I won’t be so aggravated. But for “UPS Ground,” I think I’ve been “Spartaned.”

TJ

 

[Neal]

Spartan didn’t even want to discuss providing the ignition switch under the warranty claim.

And that was my next question, internally. You'd think a company such as a chassis manufacturer could understand "good will" even with your last situation of showing up inside with the keys and the engine running. In the past month there have been so many red flags popped up, if you don't see them, you are blind to something absolutely critical. Sorry you've had to go through this TJ. Not the way any customer of any product should be treated.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

And that was my next question, internally. You'd think a company such as a chassis manufacturer could understand "good will" even with your last situation of showing up inside with the keys and the engine running. In the past month there have been so many red flags popped up, if you don't see them, you are blind to something absolutely critical. Sorry you've had to go through this TJ. Not the way any customer of any product should be treated.

It is what it is, @Neal; this, too, shall pass.

It isn’t confined to Spartan; this particular issue has been run up several flagpoles (Newmar, Spartan, Cummins) and the reaction has been the same. It seems to me that “customer service” employees in general are not empowered by their employers to actually think and resolve customer problems. The companies all seem to approach a situation Iike this as an attempt to scam them out of a part, so they have set up procedures that prohibit employees from actually doing what should be their basic job.

TJ

 

[Neal]

Regardless of who, TJ, I wish you were treated better in the end. I hate seeing people not treated with the customer service and respect we all deserve as valuable customers in these very expensive endeavors.