Stranded on 50

Jammer151 · 07-10-2018, 05:39 PM

Not a good day. Stranded on the side of interstate 50 just short of Lake Tahoe. Engine just died going up hill. Luckily found a safe place to pull over. Now trying to get a tow and they want $178 an hour and said they est a minimum of being 5 hours.

Engine idles for a bit then drops to 4K and then picks back up again. When you put it in gear and try to drive it will go about 50 yards and die.

RV Randy · 07-10-2018, 05:47 PM

Any check engine lights or other codes? What are your fuel and DEF gauges reading?

The erratic idle and dying under load almost sounds like a plugged fuel filter or low fuel or bad fuel issue. Could also be a high pressure fuel pump issue but thats lower on the list of possible issues. How long had you been driving since your last fuel fill up when it died?

RV Randy · 07-10-2018, 05:50 PM

Do you have Coachnet or similar coverage from Good Sam, etc? They should cover the tow, maybe towing coverage on your regular insurance policy?

Jammer151 · 07-10-2018, 06:24 PM

Strange as I’m not getting any check engine lights or other codes. Fuel is over half full and DEF is completely full. Because of the way it acting it does seem like something to do with the fuel system.

FYI on towing. Freightliner covers towing for 2 years. I purchased mine 7/2017 and they told me I’m covered till 7/2019. They cover $550 of the tow bill. They said once we get to the shop they will cut a PO to the tow truck driver and I would have to cover anything over $550.

When you call Freightliner do not choose the Motorhome/RV option. They consider us a “truck”. The Motorhome/RV option is for the class A chassis.

Bill Davis · 07-10-2018, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jammer151

Not a good day. Stranded on the side of interstate 50 just short of Lake Tahoe. Engine just died going up hill. Luckily found a safe place to pull over. Now trying to get a tow and they want $178 an hour and said they est a minimum of being 5 hours.

Engine idles for a bit then drops to 4K and then picks back up again. When you put it in gear and try to drive it will go about 50 yards and die.

What kind of vehicle do you have?

RV Randy · 07-10-2018, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jammer151

Strange as I’m not getting any check engine lights or other codes. Fuel is over half full and DEF is completely full. Because of the way it acting it does seem like something to do with the fuel system.

FYI on towing. Freightliner covers towing for 2 years. I purchased mine 7/2017 and they told me I’m covered till 7/2019. They cover $550 of the tow bill. They said once we get to the shop they will cut a PO to the tow truck driver and I would have to cover anything over $550.

When you call Freightliner do not choose the Motorhome/RV option. They consider us a “truck”. The Motorhome/RV option is for the class A chassis.

Could be bad fuel. I seem to remember these things have a water trap with a drain valve, may want to check the manual and give that a try. If its sediment it may require a fuel filter change.

Jammer151 · 07-10-2018, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Davis

What kind of vehicle do you have?

2017 Force HD

rskeans · 07-10-2018, 08:00 PM

Dynamax provides CoachNet for one year. That should be good to 7/18 or about right now. They should tow you to the nearest Freightliner dealer for no charge. They don't have a cost limit. I use Good Sam for that reason. Coach Net was just redundant.

rskeans · 07-10-2018, 08:05 PM

Just down the hill from you is a Freightliner dealer in Sparks. (775)331-2550

SIERRA FREIGHTLINER STERLING WESTERN STAR, INC.

1550 E. GREG STREET, SPARKS, NV 89431

Jammer151 · 07-10-2018, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RV Randy

Could be bad fuel. I seem to remember these things have a water trap with a drain valve, may want to check the manual and give that a try. If its sediment it may require a fuel filter change.

I’m thinking along the same lines as you. I drained about 8 oz using the drain off the main fuel filter and no water and the water sensor hasn’t alarmed either. I have been running the generator for hours and it has had no problems (pulls from the same tanks as the engine). Maybe fuel lifters going bad? Tow truck should be here anytime. Will keep y’all posted on what Freightliner discovers.

Gonefishing1 · 07-10-2018, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jammer151

Not a good day. Stranded on the side of interstate 50 just short of Lake Tahoe. Engine just died going up hill. Luckily found a safe place to pull over. Now trying to get a tow and they want $178 an hour and said they est a minimum of being 5 hours.

Engine idles for a bit then drops to 4K and then picks back up again. When you put it in gear and try to drive it will go about 50 yards and die.

I had an f250 2016 that did the same thing. I would **** it off wait 5 minutes or so and could drive another 20-30 miles before it would do the same thing again. If you believe the dealer they said it was something in the fuel tank that was blocking the fuel. Then I was told it had something to do with the def that was causing it to go into limp mode. End result was dealer finally fixed it and I later traded the truck 3 months later cause I started having the same problem.

Jammer151 · 07-10-2018, 08:28 PM

wfo9 · 07-10-2018, 09:21 PM

Following. Curious how reliable these engines are.. I was hoping they were rock solid, but the modern diesel BS has always concerned me.

With a diesel the problem is pretty much always fuel, but so many sensors, pumps and actuators... involved in that delivery path.

So do these always go to freight-liner, or do they sometimes send it to cummins?

AudiDudi · 07-10-2018, 09:26 PM

Almost sounds like a major vacumm leak. Did a hose pop off?

rskeans · 07-10-2018, 09:53 PM

IMHO, Since the VIN is Freightliner and the Cummins is just a componet of the VIN, I'd get it to Frightliner first.

**bclemens** · 07-11-2018, 08:22 AM

PS. just to clarify. As part of the chassis that we buy, we ALSO buy towing coverage. As Jammer stated, you get two years of towing coverage. Coachnet is fine and dandy, but not always equipped to handle rigs of this size.

It is considered a Freightliner extended warranty:
WAG-011 TOWING: 2 YEARS/UNLIMITED MILES/KM EXTENDED TOWING COVERAGE $550 CAP

sconnors11 · 07-11-2018, 09:12 AM

I sure hope it's something simple.

glsimms · 07-11-2018, 09:25 AM

Hope you get things worked out, that is one beautiful rig.

Sadly something I'll own only in my dreams or I hit the lottery.....

Jammer151 · 07-11-2018, 04:11 PM

Ok, back on road!!! Freightliner Sacramento was great. We got rig to them around 11 PM (they close at midnight). They were able to diagnose when they opened at 7:30 and had us ready by noon. The issue was a bad Power Net Distribution Box (PNDB). Luckily they had one in stock....replaced and all is well. I asked since they have in stock was this a common failure and they said it was very common.

rskeans · 07-11-2018, 04:24 PM

That's great that you are rolling again. It is a little disturbing that the PNDB ia a fairly common failure.

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