Question Limp Mode

[Too Little Too Late]

Stopped at a red light, and while idling for 20 ~ 30 seconds the check engine light came on. The light changes, the go pedal is to the floor, and we're crawling for about a block and a half. Then the check engine light go's off and power is restored . . . until we get to the next light. Because there was a stored code, "low fuel pressure during start up," we replaced fuel filters. No change. The next day we are SB 5 going to LA and came upon an upside down SUV. Traffic stopped and MH went into limp mode. A minute later after passing the accident and the go pedal is to the floor, count to 30, the check engine light went off, and we didn't have another problem all the way to LA and back home. Weeks later we went to Tahoe without incident, but on the return trip we were stopped at the traffic light on hwy 88 in Jackson and the check engine light came on. Limped across the intersection and another half a block when it recovered and was fine again. Any ideas out there?

 

[Trav_lr]

I had something similar. Cat C7 Fuel Pump: Essential Guide to Function, Failure, and Replacemen

Mine turned out to be two failing injectors and the huei (high pressure fuel pump). I replaced the fuel pressure sensor at the same time since everything was open. If yours turns out to be the same, you can get reman parts with warranty from a Caterpillar dealer for half the price of new. This helps too CAT ET 2025A – Caterpillar Diagnostic Software - Autotech Diesel.

 

[Too Little Too Late]

I had something similar. Cat C7 Fuel Pump: Essential Guide to Function, Failure, and Replacemen

Mine turned out to be two failing injectors and the huei (high pressure fuel pump). I replaced the fuel pressure sensor at the same time since everything was open. If yours turns out to be the same, you can get reman parts with warranty from a Caterpillar dealer for half the price of new. This helps too CAT ET 2025A – Caterpillar Diagnostic Software - Autotech Diesel.

Wow great information. I have since taken it to the Cat place, and their software said low fuel pressure, and low fuel pressure at start up. They had no idea where to look. We replaced a fuel filter, and my neighbor has a can opener to open it up and check the contents. Boy was I the big hit at the Cat place. All of the mechanics were in the office going over that filter material like a road map. A little more history - I have already replaced two injectors, and I wonder if contamination was the contributing factor.
Cat software? And licensed for five years, for a hundred bucks? I thought that software was proprietary, and not available to the general public. And if I got the software, how would I connect the Dell to the coach? Gosh, and then I'd have to get the Dell too. Everything here is Apple.
Wait till my wife hears that we're gonna take the bedroom floor up and throw more money down there. We've put thousands into this already. The previous owner did nothing good for this coach. When we got it, the transmission was a gallon low, and the crankcase was a gallon over. A pinched crankcase breather hose didn't help. Returning from our first trip, the back of the coach was covered with oil. While trying to get the coach to travel in a straight line I discovered that both front wheel bearings were loose. Four revolutions on the bearing nuts to get rid of the clunking wobbling front wheels. Anyway, it's all good . . .good conversation.

 

[Trav_lr]

I feel your pain….. since getting our Expedition, we’ve discovered the same thing. The PO seems to have done nothing to maintain the driveline. I had to replace the water pump, alternator, turbo flex pipe, idler pulley bearings, two injectors, the huei and multiple sensors. On the plus side, it runs like a champ now. Next on my list to do is the transmission and air brakes.

If you’ve got a good Caterpillar, Frieghtliner or other qualified shop, they will already have the PC only software. No iOS version that I’m aware of. You’d only want the software and cable for DIY. The proprietary USB/J1939 (?) cable plugs into a port near top center of radiator. I’ve since found two good shops in Wa & Or who have been really good to me. Not cheap, but very professional work ethic. The last time I was at the Oregon shop, they worked until 7:30 pm New Year’s Eve to finish my coach so we could continue our trip south.

 

[Too Little Too Late]

I feel your pain….. since getting our Expedition, we’ve discovered the same thing. The PO seems to have done nothing to maintain the driveline. I had to replace the water pump, alternator, turbo flex pipe, idler pulley bearings, two injectors, the huei and multiple sensors. On the plus side, it runs like a champ now. Next on my list to do is the transmission and air brakes.

If you’ve got a good Caterpillar, Frieghtliner or other qualified shop, they will already have the PC only software. No iOS version that I’m aware of. You’d only want the software and cable for DIY. The proprietary USB/J1939 (?) cable plugs into a port near top center of radiator. I’ve since found two good shops in Wa & Or who have been really good to me. Not cheap, but very professional work ethic. The last time I was at the Oregon shop, they worked until 7:30 pm New Year’s Eve to finish my coach so we could continue our trip south.

Oh my! You have thrown some bucks down there. Transmission? Ours is spending more time between gears than I think it should. It kinda floats between first and second, and then will lurch into second. I guess being a gallon low didn't help. We have Holt, a Cat place in Stockton. They're good . . . and expensive. I've had only one issue with them. I arrived to find a pretty girl taking my info and laying rags down. I thought, "wow, nice touch". After I picked the coach up and drove it home, I found the closet door laying off the side of the bed at a wacky angle, the carpeted plywood cover laying there at a different wacky angle, dirty rags laying everywhere, and all the floor bolts were cross threaded into the floor. It was a major pain to get them back out. A letter to corporate got me a substantial refund. Haven't seen the girl since then. Looking for LED headlights, and LED replacements for the 4" fog lamps. Have you changed any lighting? Reading above, there is another J1939? plug under the dash left of the steering column. Looked up BB,WA in maps. Nice. I have a lifelong friend living in Coos Bay, and family friends in Surrey.

 

[Trav_lr]

No specific issues with transmission but I want to have it serviced and fluid changed so I have a benchmark. It does however shift like yours between 1st to 2nd .... maybe that's normal? I did the LED headlight conversion but not the fog lights. My headlight assembly is Ford/Nissan. Knowing how RV mfrs slap things together, there's no guaranty yours are the same but I the part numbers at home. We changed all the interior pillow lights from bedroom to cockpit to integrated LED fixtures, they were a mix of original and replacement incandescents and some of the on/off switches were broken. Now they all look alike. One of the two large florescent ceiling fixtures didn't work so we replaced both with new integrated LED fixtures. They are the exact foot print but are less than 3/4" vs. almost the 2" thick originals. The basement light fixtures did not need to be changed so just replaced the incandescent bulbs with LEDs.

 

[Too Little Too Late]

No specific issues with transmission but I want to have it serviced and fluid changed so I have a benchmark. It does however shift like yours between 1st to 2nd .... maybe that's normal? I did the LED headlight conversion but not the fog lights. My headlight assembly is Ford/Nissan. Knowing how RV mfrs slap things together, there's no guaranty yours are the same but I the part numbers at home. We changed all the interior pillow lights from bedroom to cockpit to integrated LED fixtures, they were a mix of original and replacement incandescents and some of the on/off switches were broken. Now they all look alike. One of the two large florescent ceiling fixtures didn't work so we replaced both with new integrated LED fixtures. They are the exact foot print but are less than 3/4" vs. almost the 2" thick originals. The basement light fixtures did not need to be changed so just replaced the incandescent bulbs with LEDs.

Yeah, I did the engine oil and trans fluid myself right after we got the coach. Someone else also said the shift was normal, so maybe it's okay, but in the back of my mind I keep thinking I should have done the trans filter too. Ford/Nissan? When you can, I would appreciate a part number? I can look it up and see if it's the same. And some pictures of your interior LED lamps please. The fluorescent tubes over the refrigerator went out so I put led tubes in the old fixtures. A huge difference, almost too bright, but please send me a picture of the thin replacements you found. And lastly I have done nothing with the basement fixtures yet. I was thinking LED strips. I have a case of them left over from another project, and they have built in magnetic reed switches so they would turn on when I open the doors. And from another thread - Good luck on the CW test. It's not too difficult. If I can pass it twice, you should have no problem at all. I have never used CW since then, but there's something nostalgic about preserving one of the first methods of radio communication. I think it would be fun to know it like the back of my hand, but making that first CW contact scares me to death.

 

[Trav_lr]

The bus is in storage so I'll get photos when I can. In the mean-time, search this number B0D51J28DM on Amazon. These interior LED replacements are identical to the lights I installed (mine don't have a brand logo). They are also available direct from Alpha Leisure in Fontana CA. LED RV LED Ceiling Interior Light Fixture 1450 Lumen with Touch Dimmer Switch 12V 20 x 6" Natural White 4000-4500K With White Trim These are direct plug n play and work with the the two wall switches.


The replacement ceiling pillow fixtures look exactly like the originals only with integrated LEDs instead of incandescent bulbs. The wall sconce bulbs and under cabinet reading light bulbs over the sofa and in the bedroom can be replaced with LEDs as well. I'll need to look for that info. The bulbs in the basement pillow lights are 1156, the LED equivalents are cheap. I think I paid less than $3 each. Since changing them, I don't think I've ever turned them on!

Headlights are from 1996 to 1998 Mercury Villager/Nissan Quest mini vans. The bulbs are HB5.
The headlight assemblies are TYC 20-3563 (right side) TYC20-3564 (left side). I'll get a photo when I go over to storage.

 

[Too Little Too Late]

The bus is in storage so I'll get photos when I can. In the mean-time, search this number B0D51J28DM on Amazon. These interior LED replacements are identical to the lights I installed (mine don't have a brand logo). They are also available direct from Alpha Leisure in Fontana CA. LED RV LED Ceiling Interior Light Fixture 1450 Lumen with Touch Dimmer Switch 12V 20 x 6" Natural White 4000-4500K With White Trim These are direct plug n play and work with the the two wall switches.

View attachment 30091
The replacement ceiling pillow fixtures look exactly like the originals only with integrated LEDs instead of incandescent bulbs. The wall sconce bulbs and under cabinet reading light bulbs over the sofa and in the bedroom can be replaced with LEDs as well. I'll need to look for that info. The bulbs in the basement pillow lights are 1156, the LED equivalents are cheap. I think I paid less than $3 each. Since changing them, I don't think I've ever turned them on!

Headlights are from 1996 to 1998 Mercury Villager/Nissan Quest mini vans. The bulbs are HB5.
The headlight assemblies are TYC 20-3563 (right side) TYC20-3564 (left side). I'll get a photo when I go over to storage.

No pictures necessary. What you have here is great. I already replaced all the incandescent interior lights with those same LED fixtures. Now I'm looking for something a little different. Maybe surface mount. Anyway, thanks for all the LED info. That rig is an ongoing project that will never be finished.