Community Forums

Robf · 01-15-2019, 12:59 PM

Hello all, I have a 2016 DP on a freightliner chassis. On a quick trip from Houston all of my gauges died and then three seconds later came right back on again ??? Very strange. Anyone have a similar experience?

Robf · 01-15-2019, 01:02 PM

A little more information. I Purchased this new about 2 1/2 years ago. I have 28,000 miles, I was cruising about 70 miles an hour down the highway was not touching any gauges or messing with anything when this happened.

drivintin · 01-15-2019, 01:21 PM

Did you happen to have cruise control on and have it kick off? Do you use a ScanGuage or any other device like that?

Robf · 01-15-2019, 06:49 PM

I think i did have the cruise control on... no scanguage tho ...

Electra 225 · 01-15-2019, 08:30 PM

Several have mentioned this issue here including me. For me it happened once. The cause seems to be a mystery.
But, I would suggest this;
Check that your engine might be due a software update. I had mine flashed and brought up to date. The second thing I do is,
when turning the key on, wait for not only the glowplug icon to go out (as usual).......but also wait for the check engine icon to go out as well.....then start the engine. This allows for all system self checks to complete, and seems to avoid another glitch commonly seen; the low voltage warning.
Since I've updated engine software, and adopted the habit described above I haven't had either glitch since. (Knock on wood)
Hope this helps.

gatorcq · 01-16-2019, 06:09 AM

And many more over the years have reported either a bad ground or once of the interface calges connectors may be loose. Which really is what happens. Software will not do it. But the techs like to explain it anyway

txcpl · 01-16-2019, 06:24 AM

Had the same thing happen to me while driving one day. I took the coach to my local Freightliner dealer to diagnose and fix the problem. Turned out to be a poor connection under the dash. Check there first. If you take it to Freightliner, they have a lengthy procedure to find an electrical problem and it isn’t cheap. I know.

Good luck on your quest.

britcon · 01-17-2019, 09:44 PM

Happened 3 times to me. First time I had just pulled out of parking spot, idling while hooking up the tow.
Gauges went crazy - up / down / off / on. Backed back in to the spot and made appt with Freightliner AZ. Next day ran her in to town.Started and ran great of course. They checked everything - wiring loom from front to back. Could not find anything.
Next 2 times were on the road - nothing like running at 60 mph when cruise kicks out and motor shuts off - lasted a few seconds then came back thank goodness ! Pulled into next turnout - everything was acting normal again.
Someone here recommended going thru the electrical compartment under the driver, and making sure all the fuses and relays were plugged in tight. I did that - couldn't find any problems, but since then ( 3 Yrs ), no more issues.

VanDiemen23 · 01-17-2019, 10:43 PM

automatic circuit beaker resetting

powerboatr · 01-18-2019, 02:43 PM

hmmm. you are going to laugh..
check the wiring looms connectors under the dash. I found after i had similar events, took me years to track it down.

the two BIG wiring connectors were attached but the finger lock was not engaged. if i wiggled them while engine was running the gauges would flutter and other odd things. i then pushed them till the locks engaged and then wiggled them...no more problems.

fwiw...engine and drivetrain will run, without dash gauges or lights working.
it will kick off cruise to GET your attention on any fault, no matter the source.

Robf · 01-19-2019, 07:57 AM

Excellent advice and replies ! I received a recall on the instrument bar so I am going to take it in next week. Freight liner said it is a software update that is involved in the recall. Also while in there I will have them check out the dash Wiring while under warranty. The loose connections make a lot of sense to me. So if nothing else I will have a record of the problem. I will report back with the findings.

chasfm11 · 01-24-2019, 04:05 PM

Mine is a much older coach than yours. But I'm betting that the technology has not changed much. The problem that caused me to learn more about it than I ever wanted to know was my speedometer dropping out and coming back on intermittently.

On mine:
1. All of the gauge data is sent on a common buss. I can literally swap the plugs between my tach and speedo in the back of the gauges and both keep functioning normally. That is because each gauge is able to pick its data of of the common bus.

2. I got my wiring diagrams from Freightliner and carefully traced my speedo data to a loose connector between the transmission and the engine. At the ECM is where all of that data is combined. The engine was setting "missing speed data" errors for me, telling me that the problem was not in the common bus.
3. For yours, it COULD be in the common buss. While there could be issues in the display, if your speedo and tach went out too, I would start there. On the diagnostic port, the dealer should be able to verify that that the data is being sent. I bought the VMSpc package where I can link my laptop to that data port and see most of that same data. When my speedo dropped out and I had no speed data in the laptop, I knew that it wasn't a gauge problem, though many, including Freightliner tried to tell me that it was.

A Freightiner dealer worked on my problem several times without fixing it. When I finally fixed it myself, I knew that they didn't understand the architecture because they were in the wrong area. They wanted to keep charging me by the service call. It took two years (the problem was highly intermittent) before I did fix it myself.

Your mileage may vary.

bobsharon · 01-24-2019, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chasfm11

Mine is a much older coach than yours. But I'm betting that the technology has not changed much. The problem that caused me to learn more about it than I ever wanted to know was my speedometer dropping out and coming back on intermittently.

On mine:
1. All of the gauge data is sent on a common buss. I can literally swap the plugs between my tach and speedo in the back of the gauges and both keep functioning normally. That is because each gauge is able to pick its data of of the common bus.

2. I got my wiring diagrams from Freightliner and carefully traced my speedo data to a loose connector between the transmission and the engine. At the ECM is where all of that data is combined. The engine was setting "missing speed data" errors for me, telling me that the problem was not in the common bus.
3. For yours, it COULD be in the common buss. While there could be issues in the display, if your speedo and tach went out too, I would start there. On the diagnostic port, the dealer should be able to verify that that the data is being sent. I bought the VMSpc package where I can link my laptop to that data port and see most of that same data. When my speedo dropped out and I had no speed data in the laptop, I knew that it wasn't a gauge problem, though many, including Freightliner tried to tell me that it was.

A Freightiner dealer worked on my problem several times without fixing it. When I finally fixed it myself, I knew that they didn't understand the architecture because they were in the wrong area. They wanted to keep charging me by the service call. It took two years (the problem was highly intermittent) before I did fix it myself.

Your mileage may vary.

Just happened to me. All lights, gauges, indicators went dark or to zero. Engine and radio kept running!
When all came alive, it was just like I had started the vehicle...user checklist presented for clearing.

Wanderl0st · 01-25-2019, 05:47 PM

It happened to us three times during the last three days of our Alaska trip. Before we contact a Freightliner service center, we'll check all the connections and wires.

Good info here. Thanks.