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palebiker · 03-05-2012, 08:07 PM

Bought a used 2000 Monaco Diplomat 36B. Cummins 275hp ISB Turbo Diesel Rear Engine. Allison MD 3060 6 Speed World Transmission w/Electronic Shifter. No manuals of any kind and never owned a diesel of any kind. Started out driving from Galveston, TX to Huntsville, TX on Friday night. Started having trouble with rear brake/turn signals. Intermittent flickering. Stopped for fuel (about half a tank) and the night at a truck stop in Huntsville. Started up the next morning and headed toward Texarkana. "warning" light started going on and off on dash. Stopped and couldn't find anything wrong. Started up again and after a few miles, "warning" light stayed on solid. After a few more miles, started losing power. Next the "stop engine" light came on. Stopped again and still couldn't find anything wrong. Decided it must either be bad fuel or fuel filter since we just filled up. Decided to limp in to next town (Henderson) and try to find mechanic. Nothing open on Saturday, so we stopped at an "Automotive Super Center" and got them to change the fuel filter. Nice people who went out of their way to get to us immediately. Started off again, and same problems began immediatly. Stopped again and started hunting for help. Finally got an off duty Cummins tech at a funeral to talk to us on the cell phone. After much discussion and checking the obvious (air filter, oil level, trans fluid level, coolant level, etc.) decided it wasn't fixable over the phone and with no tools. Decided to try to limp on home (another 600 mi) and try to find someone local to work on it. Managed to eventually get it up to 60 on the interstate by feathering the pedal and staying below 2000 rpms max, but every little hill was a new start. Pass 2000 rpm's in any gear and it was like you locked the brakes and did a nose dive. Stopped in Arkadelphia at a WalMart for the night. Didn't want to take any chances since we had not only power problems, but brake/signal problems as well. Went into WalMart and bought a screwdriver to check the light problem. Bad connections in the sockets. After some creative adjustments with a pocket knife and a paper clip, lights are working properly, at least temporarily. Started out again the next morning and amazingly, everything works fine. Made it all the way home with no other problems. Replaced the light sockets. Any idea what is going on? Is it fixed or should I keep looking for a mechanic.

LVJ58 · 03-05-2012, 09:05 PM

I don't own a DP, but it would appear something happened to cause the power loss. Even though it ran OK the next morning, personally I wouldn't feel comfortable until I had it checked thoroughly, perhaps having Cummins run a diagnostic check on the engine that hopefully would provide information as to what caused the power loss.

Best of luck and hope all turns out OK for you...

Heater · 03-05-2012, 09:50 PM

I own a Discovery with the 300 Cummings. I sort of had the same issue. It was the oil pressure sensor. I could turn it off and wait a few minutes and then it would be fine until I turned it off over night. The next day same thing, some days nothing it was all good. I e eventually replaced it flashed the computer and have not had any problems. It is probably a sensor. I would have someone take a look at it. If you are like me. When you are ready to go on a trip you don't want to have issues.

palebiker · 03-06-2012, 05:36 AM

Thanks. I will try to do that.

palebiker · 03-06-2012, 05:39 AM

Thanks. I agree, it is proabably a sensor. Just finding which one is the problem. Hopefully I can find someone who can run the diagnostics. I've been told a Dodge dealer can probably do it since they used the same engine in their pickups at that time.