Hope someone can help

[Marinelender]

Need some help folks....wife and I southbound on I-90 leaving Vermont...330 Cat in 39 Journey. Motor sounds great, winds up great, but will not pull up a hill. Fuel filter 2K miles old, I see no water in the filter....air cleaner indicator shows OK. Idles great, goes through the gears strong but as soon as I hit a long climb it's got no power and just keeps downshifting until I'm going over the top in 3rd at 30mph. Just before shifting (around 1500) when under full throttle I can feel a shudder. Trans fluid is up, clear and smells OK. Any ideas? Is there a good shop near me (I'm heading south towards home in FL). Thanks in advance

[bigskymt]

Sounds like a fuel delivery problem based on it losing power on a long pull. I'd start with another fuel filter in case you got some bad fuel and some injector cleaner based on your 'shuddering' that might indicate a miss from a dropped cylinder. Testing fuel pump pressure and flow would be further options.
Sorry can't help with a shop near you.

[movin-on]

Sounds like a fuel filter...Your 03 probably has the 1 fuel filter setup like my 02 Horizon does and it should be a 2 micron as required by Cat...Freightliner only installed one filter in those years...It doesn't take much to clog a 2 micron filter..I change mine every 4k and carry 2 or 3 spares with me ....If your coming thru NH, Milton Cat in Warner is a quality shop..Right off I-89...If your coming down I-93 thru the White Mountains, you can spend the night in my driveway and we can change the filter...Sounds like you have a 39QD as do I...

[BigSkyBob]

What kind of boost is your turbo delivering on grades?

[skigramp]

I suggest you get you coach to a CAT shop as soon as possible ...

There are several possible causes ... fuel filter, HUEY (sp?) pump, etc ... they will hook you up to an analyzer that willl pinpoint the problem ...

It will make the rest of your trip to FL much more enjoyable

[stardalo]

I have same setup on 36 foot Journey and had same problem. It was a clogged fuel filter. start by changing that and see what happens.

[Marinelender]

Thanks to all of you....we got to Freightliner in Springfield MA at 4:30 Friday afternoon. They put wife and I in the driver's lounge, diagnosed the problem (fuel filter), replaced it, sold me a spare and had us on the way in an hour. Think that would happen in most shops just before closing on a Friday? What great folks. Last fuel I bought the clerk was pretty nasty....apparently the fuel was too. Got a good hint from the mechanic....they fill the new filter with fuel before they install. He suggested I get and carry a small container of Diesel 911 to put in the filter if I ever have to replace it on the road. Thanks again for all your replies....a newbie can always depend in irv2

[movin-on]

Glad things turned out well...Just be sure that they put in a 2 micron filter...If it is an Alliance (Freightliner) filter make sure the last 2 numbers on it are 03....I'm assuming that you only have one filter...

[dsbike]

Glad to hear everything turned out good. Also glad to know there are still good people & good shops out there. Enjoy your trip south.

[RickO]

Glad it worked out. I found myself in a similar situation after being towed to a Cummins shop in Bakersfield... 4pm Friday before Memorial Day weekend!

I was fixed and on my way by closing time and that included a run up on their dyno!

Rick

[Snowwing]

Marinelender: Which filter did they change - the primary (Alliance) or the secondary (Cat) filter on the engine? Assuming of course that you have two. Thanks
Ron