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Kahoona · 09-22-2021, 09:06 AM

Hi
We are in Buxton NC with a generator 8K diesel that won't work. We need a Onan or Cummins dealer who can do the electrical work. Small chance it will need to be removed from our Class A to do it but I hope not. We have been in touch with Cummins Sales and Service in Chesapeake and Near Raleigh NC about a week ago. Both are polite and asked questions but never get back to us with any kind of date or time. They both said they were a month back in appointments though. I understand. We can handle that if we have a rough date or an assurance that they will do the work. Hoping to find someone who can assure us that they will work on it.

shootist · 09-22-2021, 10:22 AM

Take the 12v battery cables off the back for 20 minutes and reinstall. That will reset the board. Quite often it's the problem.

rssnape · 09-22-2021, 12:56 PM

Is it running but not making power? Or not running? Does it crank? Sputter and quit? What are the symptoms.

rssnape · 09-22-2021, 12:58 PM

When was the last service? Is it giving any codes?

Kahoona · 09-23-2021, 11:50 AM

Thanks all but it has to go to a person experienced in Onan 8K Quiet(ish) diesels. Since you asked.... We started with the well known "fuel pump won't shut off and engine won't crank" problem which a Generator guy on the mainland fixed temporarily by disconnecting the P-8 connector and cleaning it out. On the way back to Buxton we got a "no oil pressure fault and shut down". No it wasn't the oil filter. I replaced oil and filter and no change. We found that the previous owner had worked on the P-8 10 wire connector and reassembled it without any of the seals. It had been drinking windshield washer fluid for years. Contacts are screwy. Both of those faults can be caused by a bad ground anywhere from the dash to the engine oil sensor. I understand that I am as likely to do damage as to fix it. Don't want to throw a rod or score the cylinders.

The old timers at Smokestack spent a bunch of time with me and that was the conclusion. They know a lot.

Cummins Onan gets $170 an hour

but they will fix it. They will get every penny I have but it will be fixed. I just have to find one that has time or a similar shop with an Onan trained tech.

BirchyBoy · 09-23-2021, 12:41 PM

Try Rex and Sons in Wilmington. I’m not sure if they maintain diesels or not but it’s a good dealership.

Kahoona · 09-25-2021, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BirchyBoy

Try Rex and Sons in Wilmington. I’m not sure if they maintain diesels or not but it’s a good dealership.

Thanks. I will give them a call.

Kahoona · 09-28-2021, 12:41 PM

I got a callback from Cummins Sales and Service. Since it had been only three weeks since I had called I was happy to hear fro them. We made the three hour drive from Buxton NC to Chesapeake VA and stayed at a campground so we could be there for the 9:00 appointment. Loraine was very helpful. Long story short the tech didn't feel like doing the job that customer service had scheduled for me. Lorraine talked to the district office and some other people and arranged for us to come back at eight am and they would take the generator out ($500) so he could look at the wires more easily, fix the wires, check the oil pressure switch and do whatever it needed. then another five hundred to put it back in. Since nobody else would look at it I agreed to let them do it. I really would like that generator fixed. Tomorrow at eight I bring it in and hope they fix it. Life in covid times where customers outnumber skilled techs. Others will wait months.

Kahoona · 09-29-2021, 01:23 PM

Arrived at eight Wedsday AM. They took it right in. A couple of hours later the generator was still in the RV and I began to wonder it they would get it done that day. Somewhere after noon it was removed and I was told that an estimate would be sent to me by email as soon as the owner had time to figure it out. I was allowed to have the RV back (without the generator.) We went back to the campground to wait. I was told that they could order the fan belt and oil pressure switch as soon as I approved the estimate but the boss had to make the estimate first. She said that if I got the estimate today it could be worked on Friday if they had tome and the parts came. I added another day to our campground stay, grateful to at least have our RV back. I have no actual complaints. I need it done. I'd approve the work yesterday if I could.

Kahoona · 09-30-2021, 08:01 AM

Wednesday around 4: received estimate from Lorraine by both phone and email as promised. $2835.00. The problem is the oil pressure switch. This also included a fan belt at my request which will keep me from having to have the generator removed to do the 1000hr service later. Although it seems insane this is pretty much Onan Cummins standard pricing, a thousand of it is the R&R of the generator. May have it back on Friday some time. Less than a week would be good for these days. We will see.

Kahoona · 10-01-2021, 08:35 AM

Friday.
Can't get it in till Monday. Tech that worked on it is off Friday. It is working on the bench by itself though. Work on the unit is complete. I still have some misgivings. The plug that connects to the P-8 is where I felt there was a problem. I know for a fact that some contacts don't meet and the water seals are gone. I suspect they will need more time once this gets realized.