mrfixit
Chief Chaotic Engineer
OK, I went over there to the My Freightliner first thing this morning and decided to check a few things out with the mechanic working on getting my INOP N14 that should be gone over; I have personally located and checked the ECM fuses, they are good. I checked the battery connections and they seem to be good. Checked condition of wiring harness and connectors, OK. Ground connection seems to be solid and clean.
There is a 3 volt drop between the battery terminal voltage and the two always-hot wires going to the ECM, but the mechanic here says that's not enough of a drop for major concern.
Checked voltage and operation of fuel solenoid; OK
The check valve that is at the entry port of the cooler plate behind the ECM was not functioning, apparently. The replacement valve has not arrived yet, but I suggested we get the plate ready for it, so we pulled the ECM (mounted to the plate) and found a bigger problem; The cooling plate itself is cracked, and there was a considerable amount of fuel that had leaked from this, apparently. The back of the computer had some old dirt and grease on it, and it seems when the last mechanic reinstalled the computer to the cooling plate, this should have been cleaned off, and the pressure from the foreign matter has cracked the cooling plate, and now THAT needs replacing as well; another day now waiting for a danged part...
I'm looking into other things that this could be: Investigating that voltage drop is job 1. it shouldn't be that much of a drop as there is no resister inline. Number two is to make sure the engine sensor is in good shape and not contaminated.
The ECM lights stay on while cranking. that's a good thing, as if it were a low-voltage problem the lights would NOT come on while cranking. Also I have to check to see if the new cooling plate will come with all of its valves and ports pre-installed. YAY.
I'm NOT having fun at this. I feel like my free time is being taken away from me and HAS been taken from me three loads in a row. Sure, I know it's an expense to be getting the truck repaired, but I am ALSO incurring expenses here that apparently I will never be reimbursed for. I don't mind the occasional effort to "help the company out" , but don't you agree, this is getting a bit ridiculous?
Frazzled and frustrated,
Tom
There is a 3 volt drop between the battery terminal voltage and the two always-hot wires going to the ECM, but the mechanic here says that's not enough of a drop for major concern.
Checked voltage and operation of fuel solenoid; OK
The check valve that is at the entry port of the cooler plate behind the ECM was not functioning, apparently. The replacement valve has not arrived yet, but I suggested we get the plate ready for it, so we pulled the ECM (mounted to the plate) and found a bigger problem; The cooling plate itself is cracked, and there was a considerable amount of fuel that had leaked from this, apparently. The back of the computer had some old dirt and grease on it, and it seems when the last mechanic reinstalled the computer to the cooling plate, this should have been cleaned off, and the pressure from the foreign matter has cracked the cooling plate, and now THAT needs replacing as well; another day now waiting for a danged part...
I'm looking into other things that this could be: Investigating that voltage drop is job 1. it shouldn't be that much of a drop as there is no resister inline. Number two is to make sure the engine sensor is in good shape and not contaminated.
The ECM lights stay on while cranking. that's a good thing, as if it were a low-voltage problem the lights would NOT come on while cranking. Also I have to check to see if the new cooling plate will come with all of its valves and ports pre-installed. YAY.
I'm NOT having fun at this. I feel like my free time is being taken away from me and HAS been taken from me three loads in a row. Sure, I know it's an expense to be getting the truck repaired, but I am ALSO incurring expenses here that apparently I will never be reimbursed for. I don't mind the occasional effort to "help the company out" , but don't you agree, this is getting a bit ridiculous?
Frazzled and frustrated,
Tom
