Community Forums

Stretch · 12-08-2004, 02:21 PM

Has this ever happened to anyonw else?
Last week I was drive our 03 40fdts when the endine died in the middle of a busy intersection. Luckily I wasnt going fast. The problem was ------no power steering---- and the brakes did not seem to work. I know I can muscle the steering manually, but it is hard to do. The brakes are what bothered me the most. I did stop. I restarted the engine, no problem.
This has happened three time in 18,000 miles. I think it happens only when engine is relatively cold. I had driven only 1 mile.

Stretch · 12-08-2004, 02:21 PM

Has this ever happened to anyonw else?
Last week I was drive our 03 40fdts when the endine died in the middle of a busy intersection. Luckily I wasnt going fast. The problem was ------no power steering---- and the brakes did not seem to work. I know I can muscle the steering manually, but it is hard to do. The brakes are what bothered me the most. I did stop. I restarted the engine, no problem.
This has happened three time in 18,000 miles. I think it happens only when engine is relatively cold. I had driven only 1 mile.

ggbanks · 12-09-2004, 03:52 AM

Hi Stretch, Yes this has happened to me before. It happened on another motorhome I had and the cummins people determand it was the engine computer. It also happened on my alpine. This time cummins found a loose connection behind the battery cutoff switch which intermitently shut off the power to the engine. You should have Cummins run a fault check on the engine, they can probably find the exact cause. Good Luck

Stretch · 12-09-2004, 08:17 AM

Thanx George, I will take it to cummins, and let them have a look

dkgreene · 01-01-2005, 08:45 AM

This has happened to us in our 03 and 04 coaches. It always did it when we had just started out in the morning and the coach was cold. Cummins in Ocala, FL helped debug it and we found if we turn the Jake brake off until coach is warm we do not have the problem.

You might try it and see if it helps.

GI Joe · 12-15-2008, 05:15 PM

I had that happen a dodge station wagon sometime ago only I was in the "mumford lane" going about 70mph. It was as though I reached up and turned off the ignition. It was the engine computer...when it got hot it shut down. I know that's not an RV but hey it could be applicable. By the way...I have never bought another Chrysler product either. Lesson learned!

EngineerMike · 12-16-2008, 04:51 AM

Diesel engines don't stall per say, unless there is a problem. Once the compression ignition cycle starts you have to stop the fuel to the engine to shut it off. In fact all versions of stalling devolve to some form of shutting off the fuel. Now that diesel is fully electronic, there are many more ways to shut off fuel, so an informed search is required to isolate & repair the fault. It likely won't go away by itself.

SRAlpine · 12-20-2008, 09:47 AM

On our last trip, our 2003 Alpine/400-ISL died several times when coming to stops. Several times it died at the end of interstate off ramps and a couple of times in intersections. In our case it hasn't happened when the engine is cold. I took it to the first Cummins place on our route each time it happened. None of them was able to find the problem.
I too am concerned about the poor performance of the brakes and steering and really don't know what to do. My rig has been in it's garage since we got back (except for short monthly "maintenance" drives). It would be nice to be able to afford to just leave it at the Cummins place and tell them to work on it until it's fixed.
Good luck with your problem. Please keep us updated.