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Diesel Shutdown on Interstate
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Supporting Member of Barthmobile.com 1/21
Picture of Frank Strong
posted
The stangest thing happened on the way home ------.I'm on the Interstate cruzin along at 65 mph when all of sudden the dash gauges, lights and rear camera monitor started flickering off and on and the engine started sputtering. Finally, everything quit! The engine stopped and we coasted off the highway. Luckily, it started back up and we continued on with no more problems. We stopped at the next rest stop and checked fuses, wiring panels and battery terminals but found no problems. The engine temp gage never came back though --- stuck on cold.

What could cause a complete shutdown??? Especially on an old diesel with no electric controls. My Barth has the Cummins 8.3L with Allison 6 spd.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.


Frank Strong
1994 Regency 34ft
300 HP Cummins, 6 spd Allison
Spartan MM Chassis
 
Posts: 125 | Location: Walthall, MS/Ocoee, FL (Orlando area) | Member Since: 03-20-2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Supporting Member of Barthmobile.com 9/12
Picture of Carl Feren
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Hi Frank,


A similar thing happened to us on hwy 95 from Carson City to Las Vegas only our bus did not start up again. Ours is a 5.9L Cummins with a P7100 Bosch Mechanical Fuel Injector Pump.

In our case it was the fuel injector pump which had a stuck barrel & plunger, a perforated diaphragm and three scored barrels & plungers.

During the trouble-shooting process I learned quite a bit about the fuel system and how susceptible it is to damage from, water, air & debris in the system.

(1) Check your fuel water separator filter. Drain it if there is any visible water or debris in the sight glass. You can also look inside the filter itself to see if it is dirty.
(2) If it has been a while (over 5000 miles) since it was last changed replace it. [We have a Racor Model 245 with a 30 micron filter mounted just inside the right access door. I love it.]
(3)Crack the bleeder valve on the top of the fuel water separator housing and pump the primer (also on top of the housing). Look for air bubbles. If any bubbles appear, keep pumping the primer until the bubbles disappear. Close the bleeder midstream after any bubbles have disappeared.

Try this first; if it is OK then there are other things that we can try.

If you want please call me and I will go ver the whole trouble-shooting process.

Carl Feren


30'- 1992 Breakaway on Spartan Chassis
5.9L Cummins 190
Banks Powerpack
Allison 4 spd - 542B
9206-3805-30BS-6B
7KW Kohler Propane Genset
 
Posts: 159 | Location: All of North America | Member Since: 02-16-2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
"Host" of Barthmobile.com
Supporting Member of Barthmobile.com 1/19
Picture of Bill N.Y.
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Just a guess mind you... hmm

Your engine shutdown solenoid, as well as the rest of the engine controls, is now using your Water Temp gauge/wires as a new ground loop.

It sounds like a ground issue to me... mechanic But, I could be wrong. Will you be at the Florida GTG?


˙ʎ˙u ןןıq- „ǝןƃuɐ ʇuǝɹǝɟɟıp ɐ ɯoɹɟ pןɹoʍ ǝɥʇ ʇɐ ʞooן ɐ ƃuıʞɐʇ sı ǝɟıן oʇ ʇǝɹɔǝs ǝɥʇ„

Regis Widebody1990 Barth Regis Widebody
8908 0128 40RDS-C1
L-10 Cummins
Allison MT647 Transmission
Spartan Chassis
Regal Conversion1991 Medical Lab Conversion
9102 3709 33S-12
Ford 460 MPFI
C6 Transmission
Oshkosh Chassis



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Posts: 5924 | Location: Newburgh, New York | Member Since: 05-10-2003Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Supporting Member of Barthmobile.com 03/22
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As you noted some of the the issues during the initial engine loosing power were fluctuating electrical issues, I would also agree with Bill_NY about loss of electrical power to the engine run solenoid. Besides looking for a ground problem, i would look at the main relay in the electrical compartment (I think the panel is similar in the Spartan MM to the Breakaway), this is a known problem area, when that relay fails, it will shut down all electrical power that is provided while the key is in the run position.

It is a big round silver high power relay.



The "from key" show what I am referring to and the part number in on the box, I carry a spare!

HTH


Ed
94 30' Breakaway #3864
30-BS-6B side entry
New Cummins 5.9L, 375+ HP
Allison 6 speed
Spartan chassis
K9DVC
Tankless water heater
 
Posts: 2177 | Location: Los Gatos, CA | Member Since: 12-08-2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Picture of beeoh
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curious what the "light?" is under the wire tie left side electrical compartent?


Bob and Jan Orr
Canadian Barth owners
94 30ft. Breakaway/3116 Cat/ Allison 5 speed/ Gillig
 
Posts: 196 | Location: Qualicum Beach,Vancouver Island | Member Since: 06-20-2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Supporting Member of Barthmobile.com 03/22
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quote:
Originally posted by beeoh:
curious what the "light?" is under the wire tie left side electrical compartent?
That is the "dummy" load for the brake light circuit, after I replaced the tail/stop lights with LED lights, there is not enough resistance to ground when the brakes are off (brake lights off) to allow the cruise control to operate. I have been meaning to add and additional circuit that would take the place of the light but haven't gotten around to it yet.


Ed
94 30' Breakaway #3864
30-BS-6B side entry
New Cummins 5.9L, 375+ HP
Allison 6 speed
Spartan chassis
K9DVC
Tankless water heater
 
Posts: 2177 | Location: Los Gatos, CA | Member Since: 12-08-2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Glassnose Aficionado
Supporting Member of Barthmobile.com 2/09
Picture of Danny Z
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I was sure you were the victim of a low-level flyover by a cloaked Zygorthian Death-Star Recon vessel, but these guys make a good case for an alternative explanation.


79 Barth Classic
 
Posts: 3478 | Location: Venice Fl. | Member Since: 07-12-2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Supporting Member of Barthmobile.com 5/10
Picture of Marvin+Doris
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Most likely a bad ground. Our 94 Volvo semi tractor used to have its moments, all the gauges would go crazy, the speed would get stuck even when we slowed down, the rpms pegged out, the digital odometer would add miles sitting parked and the jake brake would not come on. The dash lights would quit. Recommending an exorsism Mischief


1999 Bluebird Custom 33' 8.3 Cummins diesel pusher

Former owner 1989 Barth Regal 25'


 
Posts: 1313 | Location: Big South Fork TN | Member Since: 09-29-2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Supporting Member of Barthmobile.com 1/21
Picture of Frank Strong
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Thanks for your reply's. They all sound like good possibilities especially the engine run solenoid. However I think that cloaked Draconian/Zgorthian death star ship has been following me around for the last three years. It certainly explains a lot of my problems.
I'll keep you posted on my troubleshooting progress.

Thanks again!


Frank Strong
1994 Regency 34ft
300 HP Cummins, 6 spd Allison
Spartan MM Chassis
 
Posts: 125 | Location: Walthall, MS/Ocoee, FL (Orlando area) | Member Since: 03-20-2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Supporting Member of Barthmobile.com 1/21
Picture of Frank Strong
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This is a progress report. I have replaced the engine run solenoid and it seems to have fixed most of the problems. The old one got so bad that sometimes I could turn on the ignition (before starting)and nothing would happen, that is nothing would turn on. The new solenoid fixed all.

The engine temp gauge turned out to be a loose connector on the back of the gauge.

In the process of trying to reach the gauge, I discovered the access panel for the dash and have attached some pictures for your info. This panel was a lot easier to use than trying to remove the whole dash (as I have done in the past). Notice the neat sticker with all the paint codes on the underside of the panel.




Thanks again for all your help and the neat pictures.


Frank Strong
1994 Regency 34ft
300 HP Cummins, 6 spd Allison
Spartan MM Chassis
 
Posts: 125 | Location: Walthall, MS/Ocoee, FL (Orlando area) | Member Since: 03-20-2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Supporting Member of Barthmobile.com 6/17
Picture of Richard_Muise
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Had this same problem on my maiden voyage with the Barth. Replaced the solenoid and I've never had the problem again.


R.P.Muise 1994 Breakaway/Cummins 5.9/Allison transmission/Spartan Chassis
 
Posts: 662 | Location: Hampden, Massachusetts | Member Since: 10-13-2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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