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lpasekof · 09-19-2021, 08:37 AM

I have a 2003 Winne Journey DL with a CAT 3126e. About 125,000 miles. Up until today the motor has been flawless.

I completed an 800 mile trip from NM to TX about 2 months ago. Ran fine.
The rig has been parked since then. Went out to start it and thhhttttt. The starter turns over very well, it just won't start....doesn't even want to try.

First guess, dirty fuel filter. Changed that, no joy. So here my questions start.

When the key is ON does the fuel pump activate? I would think so as fuel injection requires a lot of pressure. If this is the case I would expect to get positive pressure in the fuel/water separator. I do not.

Depending on the answer to this question would push me to check the fuel pump. Obviously I could disconnect the fuel line from the fuel/water separator but if the fuel pump is not active when the key is ON then I'd need to know how to activate the fuel pump.

The other question, is there any type of fuel filter between the tank and the fuel pump? My motor is not lucky enough to have both a fuel filter AND a water/fuel separator....just the later.

wolfe10 · 09-19-2021, 08:43 AM

Does your fuel filter housing have the Caterpillar manual primer pump? If so, use it. Tell us if it is easy to pump (air in fuel system) or hard (fuel is non-compressible) and has to open the return check valve for you to pump it.

lpasekof · 09-19-2021, 09:05 AM

No. I have to prefill the filter. No pump.

I did notice while poking around in the interweb someone mentioned something about the Odometer reading 1,888,888. Mine DOES read this way. While I've not found anything that specifically says "if the odometer reads XXX, you have this issue", but I'm guessing ECM.

gatorcq · 09-19-2021, 07:06 PM

First NO FUEL PUMP inside of tank.
Second, try this locate the Injection Actuation Pressure Sensor (IAP). If it starts then replace it.

Third, is there black smoke ? too much fuel
Fourth, Is there white smoke? No / less fuel.

There are others, But I suggest using the Search Function in this specific forum.

Cat · 09-19-2021, 08:02 PM

As stated there is no electric pump.

I understand changing the fuel filters but you may have made it harder to determine what the problem is. Unplugging the sensor is a very good idea, as the sensors do go bad. Unplugging it will allow you go start it if it is the sensor.

But since you changed the fuel filters and you have no priming pump it is very very difficult to to get all the air out of the fuel system. It usually takes several long periods of cranking the engine to prime the filters and this is after you have correctly prefilled the filters.

So now if you unplug the IAP sensor and doesn't start it could be because the fuel system has not fully purged the air out. And the original reason it didn't start was the sensor. Try to make sure the fuel system is bled out. Crank the engine 15-30 seconds then let the starter cool off for 5 min. Then do it again, and again and again. Key thing is to feel the starter and just don't extremely hot before letting it cool. Good Luck

Skip426 · 09-19-2021, 08:23 PM

Info on the 3126 no start conditions and what to try .

pdf says for B series but common info for the E and C-7
The second pdf has the Caterpillar codes , so worth a read if you can pull any codes.

ALSO , your Freightliner chassis has a single inline 20 amp fuse that supplies battery power to the Cat ECM , that needs to be located and tested . probably within 2' of the chassis battery positive terminal.

My filter/separator is on the suction side of the mechanical lift pump section of the HEUI pump , and the second filter is on the pressure side , 65 psi .

lpasekof · 10-05-2021, 09:22 AM

Well, it turns out my ECM has failed. Cost me $1000 to find out! Now the question is on replacement. Freightliner wants $3850 for a replacement OE ECM. There are aftermarket ECMs available for around $800. Either way it still has to be programmed and installed.

So the question would be has anyone tried aftermarket ECMs? If so, what were the results?

Cat · 10-05-2021, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lpasekof

Well, it turns out my ECM has failed. Cost me $1000 to find out! Now the question is on replacement. Freightliner wants $3850 for a replacement OE ECM. There are aftermarket ECMs available for around $800. Either way it still has to be programmed and installed.

So the question would be has anyone tried aftermarket ECMs? If so, what were the results?

I have not used a aftermarket, but Caterpillar offers exchange ECMs. Have you called a Caterpillar dealer and get a exchange price from them.

lpasekof · 10-10-2021, 07:08 AM

Haven't done that. Only called Freightliner. There is a CAT equipment dealer across the highway. I'll give them a visit.

JNSNWT · 10-10-2021, 07:31 AM

I don’t know anything about this fellow but found him offering a “ $619 Repair & Return ” on Cat ECM.

https://catecm.com/product/3126-ecm-adem-3/

lpasekof · 10-11-2021, 08:37 AM

I've seen those ads. There are lots of them. If you check the reviews most are mixed. A lot of complaints of warranty and customer service.

I'm going to ask the mechanic doing the work about his experience. If he has a source he believes is reliable I'll go with rebuilt/after market.

Cat · 10-11-2021, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lpasekof

I've seen those ads. There are lots of them. If you check the reviews most are mixed. A lot of complaints of warranty and customer service.

I'm going to ask the mechanic doing the work about his experience. If he has a source he believes is reliable I'll go with rebuilt/after market.

I'm going to back up a little. Why do they think it is a ECM? Ecm failure is normally no communication or it loses the FLTS and the FTS setting. Too many times I've heard stories of the mechanic says it is the ECM, then later it was the ECM and the Heui pump, Thats pure BS. Ecm will not fail at the same time as a HEUI pump and one cannot cause the other to fail. I've been involved in at least a hundred different failures of pumps and or ECMs. And when someone says they were both a problem- they didn't troubleshoot it properly. ECM failures do happen but it is not very common. And quite a few ECM failures were actually HEUI pump failures not ECMs
Beware alot of techs have not worked or troubleshoot HEUI systems. Especially since they are getting older. Safe Travels.

bpu699 · 10-23-2021, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cat

I'm going to back up a little. Why do they think it is a ECM? Ecm failure is normally no communication or it loses the FLTS and the FTS setting. Too many times I've heard stories of the mechanic says it is the ECM, then later it was the ECM and the Heui pump, Thats pure BS. Ecm will not fail at the same time as a HEUI pump and one cannot cause the other to fail. I've been involved in at least a hundred different failures of pumps and or ECMs. And when someone says they were both a problem- they didn't troubleshoot it properly. ECM failures do happen but it is not very common. And quite a few ECM failures were actually HEUI pump failures not ECMs
Beware alot of techs have not worked or troubleshoot HEUI systems. Especially since they are getting older. Safe Travels.

What’s the scoop on the ECM battery mentioned elsewhere? If that dies, will it start?

Cat · 10-23-2021, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bpu699

What’s the scoop on the ECM battery mentioned elsewhere? If that dies, will it start?

Usually the engine will start but not run very well and has low power. It also usually loses the fuel settings FLS or FTS, it can also lose some custom parameters. It also will give a diagnostic code of critical parameter not programmed and the timing offset has been lost and engine needs to be timed.
Safe Travels