Stop Engine Light

Gaetan Lavoie · 08-06-2007, 01:56 PM

This morning after starting my engine (2 to 3 min), a buzzer and the Engine Stop Light came on as well as the Display Panel came on with the words "Stop Engine". I turned the engine off although the oil pressure was up and the temperature was low and no abnormal noise from the engine was noticed. I waited a while and restarted the engine, no light initially however shortly after the buzzer, stop engine light came back on. I couldn't stop the engine right away since I was in the traffic. A short while after, the stop engine light disappear as well as the buzzer. I drove for a couple of hours after that and nothing abnormal took place.

Does anyone have any idea as to what happens here? I would appreciate your feedback.

Best Regards,

Gaetan Lavoie · 08-06-2007, 01:56 PM

This morning after starting my engine (2 to 3 min), a buzzer and the Engine Stop Light came on as well as the Display Panel came on with the words "Stop Engine". I turned the engine off although the oil pressure was up and the temperature was low and no abnormal noise from the engine was noticed. I waited a while and restarted the engine, no light initially however shortly after the buzzer, stop engine light came back on. I couldn't stop the engine right away since I was in the traffic. A short while after, the stop engine light disappear as well as the buzzer. I drove for a couple of hours after that and nothing abnormal took place.

Does anyone have any idea as to what happens here? I would appreciate your feedback.

Best Regards,

GaryKD · 08-06-2007, 03:16 PM

Gaetan,
Take a look at the engine coolant reservoir. Do not just look at the sight glass. Take the cap off and stick a rod in the tank to see where the coolant level is. Do this with the engine cold.

Sometimes, a low collant level will look okay in the sight glass, but still activate the alarm.

Gaetan Lavoie · 08-06-2007, 03:48 PM

Gary,

I removed the cap and checked the coolant level as you suggested. By God, it was well below the set level. A good thing that my driving was over a cool day (64 degrees F). The temperature never went over 180 degrees. So first thing tomorrow morning, I will be getting a gallon of Shell Rotella Extended Life Coolant.

Much appreciate your help Gary, thank you.

GaryKD · 08-07-2007, 07:25 AM

I'm glad to see the fix is simple and cheap. Every so often, we get lucky.

hicks1958 · 12-18-2007, 06:43 PM

HI,I HAVE A 2001 DUTCHSTAR PUSHER CUMMINS. YOU CAN CRANK IT UP AND IT WILL RUN FOR ONLY 40-45 SECONDS THEN SHUTS OFF. BUZZER IS BUZZING AND ENGINE STOP LIGHT COMES ON, NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE (PLEASE HELP) LEAVING TOWN THURSDAY THANKS!!!

Ronnie Bledsoe 2006 Dutchstar 43' · 12-19-2007, 12:51 PM

Gaetan, check with Spartan as there was a problem with the wiring to the sensor of the expansion tank causing a similar concern. You might also have a pressure check of the cooling system as it should not be using coolant.

Ronnie

Raca-roni · 12-21-2007, 04:05 PM

Ronnie,
I had that problem you mentioned with my DSDP. The sensor cable was rubbing the frame and shorted out the sensor. The other thing that happen was with the cable being very tightly routed along the frame it ended up pulling on the plug going into the sensor at the coolant tank and cracked the sensor.
Spatan informed me that 90% of the time when a "STOP ENGINE" situation happens it ends up being coolant related. Most of the time it is low coolant in the expansion tank.
When the coaches are new they will have a tendencty to drop the coolant level as the air works out of the cooling system in the engine. This is very common.

Ronnie Bledsoe 2006 Dutchstar 43' · 12-22-2007, 11:53 AM

Raca-Roni, we should start a thread for 2006 DSDP 43' and share are problems/concerns now that they are out of warranty. I love my unit and hope that my major problems are behind me. My Spartan warranty has 1 year remaining. Newmar and Spartan have really stepped up to resolve my issues. Newmar has been good on latent defects. My major concern now is the hoses from the Hydro Hot to engine for pre-heating water. 1 hose blew in the engine compartment and was replaced but not the return hose...so I'm holding my breath.

Ronnie