Dashboard Warning Light

[gmccausland]

Okay, after storing coach for the winter, she started up first time, but I have a yellow warning light on the dash. I have a 1999 newmar Dutch Star 3835 with Cummins 300 HP Diesel Pusher with air brakes. I did notice that the oil pressure guage seems erratic, bouncing a bit more than it should. I only had the engine running for a bit and then shut it down due to another issue that crept up. I am not sure how big a deal this is, but I am going to fire it up tomorrow and take it for a drive (will try for an hour) to "break" in after the winter. It may clear up. I am leaning a bit toward the oil pressure sensor/sending unit. The engine is a 300 HP Cummins. Anybody have any input? Price for the sensor? I am hoping it is nothing serious as there seems to be no issues with engine, electrical or anything other than the strange oil pressure guage. Thank you to all who have input. I do really appreciate it.

George

[dons2346]

Is it just a plain yellow light? Nothing written on it? Maybe you should look at the owners manual and see what the light is for. It could be for a number of things.

[Monacoach]

My warning light came on a couple of times but after shutting engine down and starting back up the light went out. Manual states that the warning light means an "out of range condition exists and engine should be serviced asap" no idea what that means but usually its just a faulty or sensitive sensor.

[gmccausland]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dons2346 Is it just a plain yellow light? Nothing written on it? Maybe you should look at the owners manual and see what the light is for. It could be for a number of things.

Good idea, but it gives it as a generic warning light. I may pick up a scanner as my mechanic buddy suggested and see what error codes are in the computer for the chassis. I appreciate the input. Thanks. I will post the final result hopefullly in the next 48 hours in case someone else has the same issue.

George

[gmccausland]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monacoach My warning light came on a couple of times but after shutting engine down and starting back up the light went out. Manual states that the warning light means an "out of range condition exists and engine should be serviced asap" no idea what that means but usually its just a faulty or sensitive sensor.

I think you may be correct as I am leaning towards that as well. The symptoms I see could be masking something else, so I am going to borrow/buy a automotive scanner and see what the error codes are in the chassis computer. If it shows an out of spec oil pressure gage, I will post it here as it may go away after I drive it. I will then check all the wiring for we all know, field mice like to chew!

George

[J Walker]

George
An automotive scanner won't work but a Silverleaf VMSpc will. It is a good investment. If your MH is a Freightliner you can call them and ask what the oil pressure reading should be if you short out the terminals on the oil sensor. It could tell you whether it is an oil pressure sensor problem. I would definitely check this out soon since it might actually be a low or high oil pressure, but that is not likely.

[gmccausland]

Quote:

Originally Posted by J Walker George An automotive scanner won't work but a Silverleaf VMSpc will. It is a good investment. If your MH is a Freightliner you can call them and ask what the oil pressure reading should be if you short out the terminals on the oil sensor. It could tell you whether it is an oil pressure sensor problem. I would definitely check this out soon since it might actually be a low or high oil pressure, but that is not likely.

Sorry, I should have said I was going to look at Silverleaf. I have been thinking of that for a while and now I have a real reason. Started MH up today in storage, drove it for 50 miles and no issues but the yello light does stay on. Tomorrow I am going to check a few other items but the engine is purring, no overheat and all guages seem to be in good shape.

Thanks to you and everyone else for the help.

[spike45]

The yellow dash lamp is an engine fault code indicator. You would need to have the fault code read by Cummins Insite program. Likely it will be fault code (FC) 143, low oil pressure but still in operable range. Change the filter and oil. Get the FC cleared. You do not want to hear that it is FC415, oil pressure critically low. You can measure filter pressure drop if you know where to install one gauge to see the oil pressure before the filter and the other gauge to see the pressure after the filter. Cummins specification for plugged filter is 25 PSID (differential). For example, pressure before is 75 psi while pressure after is 50 psi. The differential pressure is 25 psi. The filter is plugged.

It is still possible the pressure sensor in the main oil rifle passage (after the filter ) is our of range and needs replacement. Check the filter Delta P (differentail) as outlined above.

Gary, a field service engineer for Cummins/Fleetguard

[gmccausland]

Quote:

Originally Posted by spike45 The yellow dash lamp is an engine fault code indicator. You would need to have the fault code read by Cummins Insite program. Likely it will be fault code (FC) 143, low oil pressure but still in operable range. Change the filter and oil. Get the FC cleared. You do not want to hear that it is FC415, oil pressure critically low. You can measure filter pressure drop if you know where to install one gauge to see the oil pressure before the filter and the other gauge to see the pressure after the filter. Cummins specification for plugged filter is 25 PSID (differential). For example, pressure before is 75 psi while pressure after is 50 psi. The differential pressure is 25 psi. The filter is plugged. It is still possible the pressure sensor in the main oil rifle passage (after the filter ) is our of range and needs replacement. Check the filter Delta P (differentail) as outlined above. Gary, a field service engineer for Cummins/Fleetguard

Gary. Thanks. That is great advice. I was going to change oil and run the system by the local Cummns dealer for an insight readout. Small fee but they said if it was a "history" type of flag, they would reset it for me. Thank you very much for the advice.

[gmccausland]

Okay, ran it by a local Cummins mechanic and he read the error code and it is reading low pressure initially and setting the flag, but after a few minutes, or in my case a few minutes and a tap on the sensor, it reads normal.

So final analysis seems to be a bad sensor as I cleaned contacts and it still is intermitent until warm. Oil pressure is fine on both sides of the filter so the filter appears to be good.

So, as soon as I have the sensor replaced, if all errors go away, we are good.

I will update this thread shortly.

[jwlaurie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmccausland Okay, ran it by a local Cummins mechanic and he read the error code and it is reading low pressure initially and setting the flag, but after a few minutes, or in my case a few minutes and a tap on the sensor, it reads normal. So final analysis seems to be a bad sensor as I cleaned contacts and it still is intermitent until warm. Oil pressure is fine on both sides of the filter so the filter appears to be good. So, as soon as I have the sensor replaced, if all errors go away, we are good. I will update this thread shortly.

Over and above all else I've been told many times by many knowledgeable people that whichever yellow light comes on it can be driven OK as long as it's on steady. If it is flashing then there is a serious fault and it needs immediate attention.

[gmccausland]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwlaurie Over and above all else I've been told many times by many knowledgeable people that whichever yellow light comes on it can be driven OK as long as it's on steady. If it is flashing then there is a serious fault and it needs immediate attention.

I agree. I was told that also and that unless the stop engine now light comes on, that it was probably an intermittent fault.

Have a new oil pressure sensor comiing in as it appeared to be a poor sensor.

If that fixes it, I will post it here.

Thanks to all for the advice. Hopefully I can help others like the help I have been getting.

George.

George

[wa8yxm]

Have you checked your Oil? I mean that could indicate

1: Low oil
2: Dirty oil filter
3: Other problem (most likely cause)

[jwlaurie]

Did I mention that after 8 trips to two different dealerships I finally got my "check engine" warning light to stay off/ Yup, 8 seperate days spent chasing the problem, which, according to the fault code reader was both the the indicator system itself and at the beginning an oxygen sensor.

It wasn't until I finally lost my cool and demanded restitution that they hooked the truck up to the factory tech's who remotely diagnosed the problem and voila . . . . light has been off for about 1200 kms now, knock on wood. . . .

The truck is a 2010 Dodge 3500 Diesel 4X4 and fortunately still under warranty.