Cummins ISL drive train shudder with low Jake Brake setting

Harry B · 04-16-2007, 04:13 PM

Last year I got Freightliner involved to resolve a shudder in the drive train while the Jake Brake was in the low setting. This shudder occurred just before the Jake Brake dropped out in second gear (1200-1000 RPM).

Anyway I gave FL and Cummins some time to resolve this and after talking with Freightliner first and then with Cummins last week, it appears they now have a solution to the problem.

It involves some minor rewiring and a software update of the ECM. The bottom line to the solution is that they intend to have the ECM switch the Jake Brake to the high setting (Engine brakes on all 6 cylinders) at 1400 rpm's if you were driving with the Jake Brake set to the low setting (Engine brakes on 3 cylinders).

This makes sense. I wanted to see the effect of this and tried doing manually the above solution by changing the switch from low to high at 1400 rpm in second gear and it works like a champ. I anticipated increased engine braking all of a sudden when switching to the High Jake setting at 1400 rpm's but this was not the case.

I am going to set up an appointment with Freightliner and get the change implemented

The reference to this change is Freightliner Service Solution # 2314. Cummins references it with Cummins bulletin # 4021421 which cross references to Cummins Notification # E05001 for those that are also interested in getting this problem resolved

Harry B · 04-16-2007, 04:13 PM

Last year I got Freightliner involved to resolve a shudder in the drive train while the Jake Brake was in the low setting. This shudder occurred just before the Jake Brake dropped out in second gear (1200-1000 RPM).

Anyway I gave FL and Cummins some time to resolve this and after talking with Freightliner first and then with Cummins last week, it appears they now have a solution to the problem.

It involves some minor rewiring and a software update of the ECM. The bottom line to the solution is that they intend to have the ECM switch the Jake Brake to the high setting (Engine brakes on all 6 cylinders) at 1400 rpm's if you were driving with the Jake Brake set to the low setting (Engine brakes on 3 cylinders).

This makes sense. I wanted to see the effect of this and tried doing manually the above solution by changing the switch from low to high at 1400 rpm in second gear and it works like a champ. I anticipated increased engine braking all of a sudden when switching to the High Jake setting at 1400 rpm's but this was not the case.

I am going to set up an appointment with Freightliner and get the change implemented

The reference to this change is Freightliner Service Solution # 2314. Cummins references it with Cummins bulletin # 4021421 which cross references to Cummins Notification # E05001 for those that are also interested in getting this problem resolved

Harry B · 05-02-2009, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harry B

Last year I got Freightliner involved to resolve a shudder in the drive train while the Jake Brake was in the low setting. This shudder occurred just before the Jake Brake dropped out in second gear (1200-1000 RPM).

Anyway I gave FL and Cummins some time to resolve this and after talking with Freightliner first and then with Cummins last week, it appears they now have a solution to the problem.

It involves some minor rewiring and a software update of the ECM. The bottom line to the solution is that they intend to have the ECM switch the Jake Brake to the high setting (Engine brakes on all 6 cylinders) at 1400 rpm's if you were driving with the Jake Brake set to the low setting (Engine brakes on 3 cylinders).

This makes sense. I wanted to see the effect of this and tried doing manually the above solution by changing the switch from low to high at 1400 rpm in second gear and it works like a champ. I anticipated increased engine braking all of a sudden when switching to the High Jake setting at 1400 rpm's but this was not the case.

I am going to set up an appointment with Freightliner and get the change implemented

The reference to this change is Freightliner Service Solution # 2314. Cummins references it with Cummins bulletin # 4021421 which cross references to Cummins Notification # E05001 for those that are also interested in getting this problem resolved

I had this change installed on my coach in April 2009 and the shudder problem is gone. It required a wiring change and an ECM update and all is well now. Engine brake is smooth as can be now. That took 3 years to resolve but persistence paid off.