Community Forums

RonK · 01-07-2013, 07:39 AM

or cold weather problem.....

Just got the MH out of storage getting ready to leave for FL for the winter.
Engine starts fine, (block heater on), outside temp low 20's, but then the check engine lite and beeper comes on. Oil pressure climbs within 5 seconds.
I shut the engine down, wait for a few seconds and restart. Sometimes the alarm comes on and sometimes not.
The first time it happened was when I initially started it at the storage place and in addition to the check engine lite a "range inhibit" (i think that's what it was called) lite came on and it would not go into gear. After letting it warm up for a few minutes all seems fine and I drove it home with no problems, but each time I have started it in the morning it gives the check engine lite, then goes out after a few minutes.

Any ideas????
Thanks for all...

Coma · 01-07-2013, 09:14 AM

It should retain the code, I wold have it checked out.

RonK · 01-07-2013, 09:33 AM

Just a quick update, started fine this morning, as usual, no lite, 15 sec later check engine, ~30 sec later lite out.
shutdown, restarted, no lite!
Going to have service on the way to fl so will have it looked at at that time.

dons2346 · 01-07-2013, 11:08 AM

Check your coolant level when the motor is cold. Make sure it is at the proper level because a low level will cause the motor to act exactly like yours.

RonK · 01-07-2013, 03:18 PM

Don, you hit the nail square on the head!!
Talked to Spartan today and they reiterated exactly what you said.
The level was just right (low) to allow the alarm to go off until the engine warmed up ever so slightly then off it went.
The biggest problem is finding "Final Charge" coolant used in the cooling system. Bottom line is in our area you can't. Talked to the company OLD World International and they could not direct me to anyone to buy it from.
Called Spartan back and we "settled" on Prestone Dex-Tex coolant which is also an extended life OAT coolant. Filled it up to the sight glass and had no problems starting and no alarm.

Thanks all for the leads and info.
What a forum!!!

Ron K.

J Walker · 01-08-2013, 11:32 AM

You can top off with distilled water. This is an example of the need for an engine code reader. One visit to a shop due to lack of knowing the code would pay for it. Silverleaf VMSpc is what I and many others use.

spike45 · 01-08-2013, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonK

Don, you hit the nail square on the head!!
Talked to Spartan today and they reiterated exactly what you said.
The level was just right (low) to allow the alarm to go off until the engine warmed up ever so slightly then off it went.
The biggest problem is finding "Final Charge" coolant used in the cooling system. Bottom line is in our area you can't. Talked to the company OLD World International and they could not direct me to anyone to buy it from.
Called Spartan back and we "settled" on Prestone Dex-Tex coolant which is also an extended life OAT coolant. Filled it up to the sight glass and had no problems starting and no alarm.

Thanks all for the leads and info.
What a forum!!!

Ron K.

Spartan apparently knows little about engine coolants. The Prestone coolant is their organic acid light duty coolant meant for replacement of low levels of Dexcool as found in GM LD engines....Not Cummins diesels. If you did not put much in, no worries. Not much is defined as 10% or less. Final Charge is very often found in most truck stops like Flying J and Pilot. Truck Stop prices are no bargain. Another suitable substitute coolant would be Fleetguard ES Compleat OAT (red color) or Shell Ultra (yellow), Chevron Delo Nitrite-Free (yellow). All of these coolants are nitrite-free and are suitable for Cummins diesel engines. Dexcool and the Prestone product are strictly aimed at the light duty gasoline engine market with the exception of GM diesel pick ups with the Isuzu Duramax V8 diesel.