Community Forums

DSRamblers · 01-07-2020, 06:51 AM

Started coach today and dash showed "column drive off". I assume that means comfort drive. It did not feel like it was working. Any ideas on what to do on this situation. Thanks in advance for your comments.

chuckster52 · 01-07-2020, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSRamblers

Started coach today and dash showed "column drive off". I assume that means comfort drive. It did not feel like it was working. Any ideas on what to do on this situation. Thanks in advance for your comments.

There is a thread on here..have to search it,that gives instructions on how to reset Comfort control....C

KenSherwin · 01-08-2020, 03:17 PM

That is not enough information to tell anything. Were there any diagnostic code numbers?

DSRamblers · 01-08-2020, 03:33 PM

Ken

There were no code numbers. Just said "column drive off" on instrument panel. I am on a Freightliner chassis

KenSherwin · 01-09-2020, 11:06 AM

Then a technician will have to use the diagnostic program to find the problem.

Chief Alen · 01-10-2020, 03:17 PM

When you drive a little it wakes up.

BillW1 · 01-13-2020, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSRamblers

Started coach today and dash showed "column drive off". I assume that means comfort drive. It did not feel like it was working. Any ideas on what to do on this situation. Thanks in advance for your comments.

I had the same problem but I didn't get a message on the dash...it just didn't work. I tried the reset procedure and driving, etc. but nothing worked. Had to take it to a Freightliner Dealer.

Freightliner Dealer never heard of it and tried to divert me to Newmar. I had to show them (using some of the stuff posted on this site) that it was really Column Drive purchased from TRW and installed by Freightliner.

They spent the better part of the day working with FCCC to try and figure out what the problem was. They wound up reloading all the software in the comfort drive computer module. After that it worked again. Thankfully it was all under warranty.

Thanks to this forum for informing me about Comfort Drive so I could talk the Freightliner Dealer into accepting responsibility for it and tell him a little about how it works.

And...thanks to Fyda Freightliner in Zanesville, Ohio for really providing excellent, timely service on the Comfort Drive. They are really nice people to work with and you can't say that about every Freightliner place you might go to.

Bill

Xmcdog · 02-04-2020, 09:13 AM

Is this a common issue?
Comfort drive is on my wanna have list when we buy next winter.

Steele · 02-06-2020, 12:23 PM

Not very often that I’ve seen issues reported. Some yes but not too many.

Also the engineer for TRW has stickies at the top of this board and has answered questions of members when asked. I think his name in Ken Sherwin.

Ricci · 02-06-2020, 02:30 PM

Hi - I'm going to piggy back on this discussion. Since new our DS would act like the Comfort Drive was constantly stuck at the 3 position. Spartan has been excellent in chasing down the issue and being supportive. Today I tried a temporary fix to see what it would do. For the first time since I got the coach in August the CD worked! The engineers are trying to determine the issue and they seem to be on track. There is a communication issue between the CD and the digital dash. The CD needs to hear from the controller in milliseconds and for some reason that is not being properly done. I don't believe I am alone with this issue and am posting just in case someone else is working on the same issue. Looks like a fix is getting closer.
Big cheers to Spartan for their investigating this problem and a high level of support.

Tom

az99 · 02-07-2020, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricci

Hi - I'm going to piggy back on this discussion. Since new our DS would act like the Comfort Drive was constantly stuck at the 3 position. Spartan has been excellent in chasing down the issue and being supportive. Today I tried a temporary fix to see what it would do. For the first time since I got the coach in August the CD worked! The engineers are trying to determine the issue and they seem to be on track. There is a communication issue between the CD and the digital dash. The CD needs to hear from the controller in milliseconds and for some reason that is not being properly done. I don't believe I am alone with this issue and am posting just in case someone else is working on the same issue. Looks like a fix is getting closer.
Big cheers to Spartan for their investigating this problem and a high level of support.

Tom

Did it work as advertised as far as all the claims of staying in lane, wind correction etc. ?
I have the Spartan/digital in a late 19' that does nothing except make the steering harder or softer and try to rip the wheel out of your hand when parking.

Ricci · 02-07-2020, 01:34 PM

Hi az99 - This is our second coach with Comfort Drive and I would not be without it. The problem I was having is that the unit is not communicating with the dash and apparently misses a cue from the digital dash. The one on the previous coach the CD was fantastic. Until you have driven in west Texas with a 40 mph crosswind you haven't experienced what it can do for you. Experiment and find what works best for you. It will not help on a gusty day and you have to learn what setting works best under different conditions.

Tom

fagnaml · 02-07-2020, 01:55 PM

DSRamblers --

I had the very same "issue" when I took my Ventana LE for a ride this past weekend (2/2/20) for the first time in six weeks and had the message "Drive Assist System Off" appear on the Freightliner dashboard message screen. I tried toggling through the message screen but did not see the "Column Drive Off" message again. As such, I didn't know if the message was "real" or not and proceed to drive the Ventana. The message was definitely "real" as the steering wheel was much "stiffer" to turn!

During my 30 minute ride the Comfort Drive system did not "turn on". The only thing I could thing of trying was after returning to the RV storage facility, turn off the engine, let everything "sit" for ten minutes, then restart the engine. For whatever reason this sequence "worked" and the Comfort Drive System was back to normal.

I haven't had time to discuss with Newmar what happened and why.

fagnaml · 02-10-2020, 05:22 PM

During lunch today I called Newmar Customer Service and discussed my Comfort Drive issue with a very professional customer service rep by the name of Rick. He stated that there is a relay for the Comfort Drive system that on some rare occasions that does not energize properly when the ignition switch is turned on with the end result being the Comfort Drive system will not "start-up". When that happens, the Freightliner message window on the dashboard will say "Drive Assist System Off".

When I turned off the re-started my engine, the relay energized properly and the Comfort System came to life.

Rick stated that if I have this problem again to call him and Newmar will provide a new relay with installation instructions.