"check engine" light/buzzer, puzzle

[soricobob]

In March, on the way back from Temecula, after driving about 150 miles, the check engine light/buzzer came on. I rolled my eyes (having been through the Spartan belt fiasco) and prayed for the best. Pulled over, shut engine, looked in engine compartment, re-started engine and went on our way. In May I brought the coach in for it's pre-summer check, and the dealer checked the codes, cleared them, said it was a DTL heat problem, nothing to worry about. The end of May, on the way to Vegas, same thing happened; then again after 100 miles, then again after 40 miles. I was going to go to the Cummins dealer in Vegas, but he got such bad reviews (rvrepair.com) that after calling the dealer who diagnosed problem I decided to wait until I got home to let him look. On the way home today, same thing after driving 158 miles, but nothing thereafter. The engine, transmission, turbo, and everything on the screen (trip tec) was looking fine. My speed is 5 or more under the limit. As a matter of fact the temperatures on the monitor went up afterwards (today) with no buzzer. Any ideas? I will bring the coach in for a look-see in a week or two.

[Perry White]

What's a DTL heat?

[soricobob]

Don't know, but thats what the Cummins "code" was.

[soricobob]

Just found out that the "check engine" light and buzzer was due to me not having 22 Cummins computer updates. When I brought the coach in for periodic checks I thought the RV dealer was checking the engine. He was, but not the computer updates. So, over the past year, without these updates, my engine was letting me know that it should be done. It will be in the future, now that I know I specifically must request it.

[MBnKen]

Thanks for the information Bob. I am not sure mine is up to date (2005 ISM). I better have it done too although I have never had the symptoms.

[Perry White]

If it's the ISM and built in 05 the original update was AG20214.09 The new one is AG20214.28. I just updated mine because I kept getting the low coolant alarm, and it wasn't low. No more.

[soricobob]

This is an update, because it happened again on the next trip. Since I got the coach back it has been in storage until "fall break" when we went to Laughlin. On the way, just North of Wickenburg, the check engine light/alarm came on. Noting it was about 110 miles since we started, and all temperatures were in the normal range, I pulled over, turned off the engine, waited 30 seconds and started it up again. Same thing happened 60 miles later (both, by the way after uphill grades). Stayed in Laughlin a week, and on the way home, after about 7 miles from Laughlin (and a steep uphill grade) the check engine/alarm goes again, and then after shutting it down and starting again, about 20 miles later on the hill into Kingman. But, it did not happen again on any of the big uphill grades between Kingman and Wickenburg (e.g. Joshua Tree). After getting home I called the "Cummins place" that reset all the codes, etc. and who charged $200 for their trouble. The manager said: 1. The next time it happens don't shut it off if I was near a Cummins place as they can best detect what is wrong when the alarm is sounding; 2. If I wanted him to check it again bring it in for free; 3. It might be a "phantom" code, which means it relates to nothing important. So, as the 6th grader in my wife's special education class advised: "I'd fix it by cutting the wire to to alarm" might be the best bet!

[Perry White]

Is the check engine lite staying on after it throws the code? If you cycle the key does it turn it off if it is staying on? Does it throw the code when you start lugging the engine? Once it throws the code it stays in the EMC wather you turn the key off or not. The check engine light will cycle but the code stays until you clear all active and inactive codes with Cummins Insite. Cummins is having trouble with the EGR expansion tube breaking right after the EGR cooler and if it leaks bad enough it throws a EGR pressure diff code. I wish you were close. I have all the software. Just for the heck of it. pull open the plate next to the bed and look down on top of the engine and you will see the accordian exhaust were it is breaking. You will have soot all over also. While your at it, check the exhaust flange leaving the turbo and see if it's not cracked. I have pictures if you want to see what I'm talking about. If your main exhaust coming off of the turbo does not have an expansion sleave on it, your exhaust is going to crack. Spartan will furnish you with the whole exhaust system from the turbo to the muffler if you ask them ,no charge. They know it was a problem. Look in the tips that A K has about it.

[Doc Mark]

I had the same problem 2 days ago, except I was on a down hill grade with the Pac Brake in the lo position. Alarm/check engine light came on, panic stop ensued (glad I had spare u-trou). Shut off engine. Checked oil, coolant & tranny fluid levels all OK. Start it up and 3 hours of alarm-free running. No fault codes or diagnostic codes showed up on the TripTek.

This happened a year or 2 ago and same answers from Cummins. With no codes they can't do anything.

I have not checked the version of the software.

Mark

[Perry White]

If you got an alarm and lite, the fault code is in the ECM and will stay there until it is reset with Cummins software. It will tell you the code and the Hrs it hit.

[Arch Hoagland]

"So, as the 6th grader in my wife's special education class advised: "I'd fix it by cutting the wire to to alarm" might be the best bet!"

He gets my vote!

[ottffss]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc Mark except I was on a down hill grade with the Pac Brake in the lo position. Alarm/check engine light came on,

Sounds like that oil pressure issue. A "weak" pressure spring in the pump. A fix is either a new spring or a washer under the spring. There is some controversy around this repair as well. Search the forum, I think there are several mentions of it in numerous other threads.

[ottffss]

Quote:

Originally Posted by soricobob ...my engine was letting me know that it should be done.

Actually the ECM doesn't know if its updated or not, hence the ECM will not throw a code for lacking updates.

Immediately when it throws a code toggle the Spartan display to the screen that shows the code and record it. I kept a voice recorder on the dash when I was having codes and would read off that display while rolling down the road - grab the engine hours too, InSight typically pulls hours not miles. In many cases you have just a few seconds to capture the code this way.

The Spartan display is the "old" Cummins SPN or CEL codes or something like that and InSight reads something entirely different, but matching the hours when thrown is the sure way to verify what the codes are and compare to InSight.

The ECM keeps a lot of historical codes in memory. Not sure why they are telling you to come in with the code lit. But use the method above and you can compare the ECM log to your specific code throws.

[MBnKen]

Perry and others,
You mentioned about the upgraded expansion sleeve. I know I have to get this done and thank you for the reminder and Spartan's willingness to provide parts. I thought I was going to have to pay for this myself. I will try to have it done in the spring when i get to a Cummins shop that I trust.

Do you know if Spartan supplies the parts to the Cummins shop and then I pay the labor? Will Spartan cover parts and labor if I go to Charlotte?

I have had our 2005 EXDP in the Cummins shop for several upgrades and service over the years but don't remember anyone upgrading the ECM. I have never had any check engine warnings in the 40,000 miles of driving so just put it off. I will have that done when I get the exhaust work done.

Thanks for any tips and thanks again for all the great information on the forum.